Moving to Jacksonville. Leaning towards living near the beach

[Ambitious]

Hey guys,

I posted on the main introductions board. I'm a 23 year old guy who just graduated from the University of Florida and I'll be moving to Jacksonville for work in December.

I don't know anyone in Jacksonville, and I'll be working near the UNF campus. I'm posting on this section of the forum because I wanted advice specifically about living near the beaches. Where in this area would you recommend living? Any specific apartment complexes/neighborhoods? Keep in mind the commute to the UNF area, I don't want to spend a ton of time driving each way.

For reference, I can afford about $900 a month rent or less, and I am not into the drug scene (only mentioning this because I heard this can be a concern near the beaches.) 

Thanks for any advice and I'm looking forward to moving to your city!

[JeffreyS]

The Beach is a fun scene at 23.  Drugs there but you can take it or leave it.

[cayohueso]

Welcome to real life here in Jacksonville. You will find no more drugs here than in Gainesville if you aren't looking for them. If you are going to work near UNF, the Southside area (north of Beach Blvd.) all the way to Fort Caroline has many decent apartments. To the south is Mandarin, also many good locations. You could also find a rental house for what your budget seems to be. I would stay away from most of the newer areas around Tinseltown (on Southside Blvd) unless you like going EVERYWHERE by car. You could swing some places even up to San Marco or Riverside but you will have a longer commute. The Beaches are laid back...like any other beach community but be warned..you will come to know the J. Turner Butler Blvd. as a hellish commute...even though it may seem very close on a map. If I were you...I would really look into the Southside or Mandarin areas.

[Ocklawaha]

Drugs are worse near the Naval Station, just as bar's, strip clubs, and lower rent tend to follow the troops. As you know from the University, anytime you get 30,000 20 year old's in one place you can expect some HIGH times.

Since the massive hurricanes of the past, my rule of thumb say's the closer to the beach one lives should be directly proportionate to the ability you have to replace all of your stuff.

WELCOME HOME!

OCKLAWAHA

[aj_fresh]

The Beaches are laid back...like any other beach community but be warned..you will come to know the J. Turner Butler Blvd. as a hellish commute...even though it may seem very close on a map.

JTB is no longer an issue. From beaches to UNF, 15 minutes top. Got to love 3 and 4 lane highways

[Bativac]

I lived at the beach while attending UNF back in '04 and '05. The commute was around 20-30 minutes, but I was all the way down in Neptune Beach. If you're further south you can cut the commute time in half, probably. I'd stay south of Beach Blvd if you can.

I had 3 roommates and we rented a house on the corner of Cherry Street. It was $1,800 a month but between 3 of us it wasn't too bad. You can find smaller houses (ours was 2 stories with a shack out back... where I lived) for much less. Apartments too, though a lot of the cheaper apartments are pretty small.

The beaches are fun but I got tired of living so far from everything (movie theaters, work, family) that I moved back towards the core. But I think everybody in their 20s should live at the beach for at least a year or two. Bring your bicycle.

[fieldafm]

But I think everybody in their 20s should live at the beach for at least a year or two. Bring your bicycle.

+1

I lived in a 2br/1ba in Jax Beach off 19th and 3rd and paid $800/mo.  That was in 2003.  Also used to live in Marsh Landing before the apartments were converted into condos in 2002. 

From friends of mine that have rentals out there, you can get a nice small condo or duplex/triplex in South Jax Beach for around 800-1000/month.  With the widening of JTB, the commute to the St Johns Town Center/Gate Parkway area is less than 10 minutes non-peak and around 10-15 minutes in traffic. 

[duvaldude08]

If you are anything like me, and have traffic and driving, regardless of the commute time, I would advise you stay around the UNF area. There are some VERY nice place in that area that are in your price range. I would advise browsing around the st johns town center and gate parkway area, MAYBE southside blvd as well. ( Im in m 20's by the way)

[simms3]

^^^You grew up in West Palm Beach if I am not mistaken from one of your other posts?  Traffic here is a breeze no matter where you are, so if you are a normal amount of "traffic averse" then you should be fine wherever you choose to live.  And JTB is 9 lanes (4/5) in some parts and traffic flows pretty well.  It used to be pretty slow back when JTB was 4 lanes total (2/2) from the Beaches all the way to 95.

[duvaldude08]

^^^You grew up in West Palm Beach if I am not mistaken from one of your other posts?  Traffic here is a breeze no matter where you are, so if you are a normal amount of "traffic averse" then you should be fine wherever you choose to live.  And JTB is 9 lanes (4/5) in some parts and traffic flows pretty well.  It used to be pretty slow back when JTB was 4 lanes total (2/2) from the Beaches all the way to 95.

No I did not grow up west palm. I was borned and raised here. wrong guy 

[Ambitious]

Yes I'm from West Palm Beach. I'm the right guy 

Thanks for all the advice. I think I may live near the Town Center somewhere close to work now. I can still go to the beach a few times a week if I want...and won't have to pay more/commute to live next to the beach.