Christian Street Townhomes

I have loved where I live and would be happy to stay there for my entire time in Baton Rouge. The location is excellent - walking distance to the lakes (and even to the stadium for games if I feel like it), restaurants, and shopping. It's very close to I-10, but any noise from the highway isn't noticeable inside. The people in the neighborhood are largely friendly, outgoing, and inviting; we have done Secret Santa and a crawfish boil since I've moved in. There have only been a couple of instances of neighborhood drama. The only reason I didn't rate this location a 10 is because there is occasionally crime in the area. My neighbors have doorbell cameras and have caught people looking into their cars or stealing, and there is occasional violence in the surrounding area (one shooting in the past two years). Regardless, I feel very safe there and largely isolated from criminal activity; it's a city, it's no less safe than other areas, and often much more safe.

The townhome I live in is owned by my roommate, another first-year graduate student in my program at LSU; I got lucky with this, since she is a very chill and accommodating roommate/landlord. Though the rent is on the expensive side given my income, the fact that it includes all utilities, will never change, is in a great area, and is just affordable makes it completely worth it. The neighborhood (off of Perkins Rd. by the I-10 overpass and within a few blocks of the lakes) is excellent - I have great neighbors, a handful of whom I have gotten to know pretty well; the area is very close to grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and the lakes; and the property itself (as well as others in the same complex) is in good condition with plenty of space. I am very much looking forward to spending as many of my graduate years here as I can. Though these townhomes are privately owned, at least a couple of them are rented out; there are often signs at the entrance to the complex with a number to call for rental information.