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I don't know what to say. My wife has her heart on living Baltimore City..
Is it a simple choice? Live w/ people breaking into your car, or house, robbing you on the street or move to the burbs?
Is it neighbors robbing neighbors? Is the criminal presence so thick that they can case and hit 3-4 targets a night and no one notices? Or is it totally random, ie everyone on Bank street wakes up to busted windows on Tuesday b/c one guy crashed through the neighborhood looking for a fix?
She's thinking that Fells Point is going to be like our neighborhood in Dallas where you can walk a few blocks, not cross into a couple of areas and be fine. We have a simple rule in Dallas; If you cross the river, watch yourself. Baltimore doesn't seem to have any rules.
Looking at the stats, and reading it sounds like Baltimore is just a mix on every street. Unpredictable, and constant stress.
Frankly, it looks a lot more like Detroit, near the Casinos, where I used to live (and would never go back)
Is this really the best that Baltimore City has to offer?
It is difficult to compare Baltimore with Dallas or even Detroit because Baltimore has a much more dense population. I have never felt afraid in Fells Point, neither when I lived there or when I go there which is quite often. I do think there is a lot of partying going on in the area which definitely at times requires a police presence.
Your message reeks of panic without experience. I would suggest visiting the area; both during the daytime and at night to become more acquainted with it. It is nothing like you describe.
Fells point isn't that bad... but it isn't without its problems either. I think things will be a different than what you are used to, but still doable. Thousands of people live there every day and get by okay. The problems with fells point is that it isn't very far removed from some bad areas of town and there is a lot of traffic there from people that don't live there visiting the many many drinking establishments. Alcohol doesn't exactly bring out the best in people sometimes and the concentration of bars and people makes it one of the rougher of the "nice" areas of Baltimore. I like visiting Fells and it probably would have been fun to live if I was just out of college and single or something, but I wouldn't live there now that I'm 30, married, and own a few nice things. If you want to live in the city, but want a little more sanity... I'd suggest looking at the other side of the water in the Federal Hill and Locust Point area. With Federal Hill, I'd get as close to Locust Point (300-400 block and higher of E Fort Ave and the surrounding streets) to put some distance between you and the major bar area which surrounds cross street market. This area is good in that its surrounded by water on 3 sides and the rest of federal hill on the other making it fairly insulated from the many problematic parts of Baltimore. The closer you get to that, the more of the narrow streets, parking hassles, and property crime by drunk people you'll get. You won't be totally immune to that stuff, but you have a little distance between yourself and it and you can still walk to all that stuff when you want. We live in that section and its reasonably good. I'm a few blocks from the harbor, have a nice view of it from my deck, can walk to the Cross Street/Charles street within 10 minutes, the stadiums within about 20 minutes, the inner harbor area within about 15 minutes, the grocery store in about 5 minutes (granted the shoppers is pretty ghetto-fab but its passable). There are two nice parks close by, one with a public pool. I can be on I-95 in under 5 minutes. Fort Mc Henry is a little over a mile away which is a nice walk too. Parking can be annoying at times, but we have one parking spot behind the house (wife gets that one, of course) and its only a few times a year I have to park the second car more than two blocks away. I've always felt safe... I wouldn't go wandering around at 4am, but I walk the dog or go to the grocery store or gym at 9-10pm regularly without any fear. You still need to empty your car and lock your doors, etc... but nothing much more than common sense things. I'm not a huge Baltimore fan, but I'm stuck here for work for a couple years and I think we picked a good area to live in.
The problems with fells point is that it isn't very far removed from some bad areas of town and there is a lot of traffic there from people that don't live there visiting the many many drinking establishments. Alcohol doesn't exactly bring out the best in people sometimes and the concentration of bars and people makes it one of the rougher of the "nice" areas of Baltimore.
Fells Pt. has changed a lot in the past few years. I'd consider Federal Hill near Cross St. or Canton near the square to have more problems with rowdy bar patrons than Fells Point these days, though there probably are a few problem locations for residents like the recently-shuttered Cheerleaders.
I've lived around Baltimore's Harbor for over 35 adult years and was born in Baltimore. I moved to Fells Point in 1989. It was less gentrified, less expensive and less crowded...but it was safer. Crimes tended to be bar fights or between people who knew each other. Maybe that's because there weren't any Mercedes coups and million dollar houses then.
Slowly, I've realized I have changed many of my daily routines because of safety issues. If I'm going to be out and away late at night, I'll take a cab so I don't have to park and walk even a block. In the winter, when streets are deserted, it can be dangerous even in the morning. I see more and more groups of teenagers prowling about day and night. The bums and addicts hang around the square every single day. I can't have small packages delivered in the mail for fear of theft. I'm less likely to open the door to a knock unless I'm expecting someone. Don't walk up Broadway alone or late. If your car is broken into it's now your fault for leaving anything at all on the seat. Police are almost invisible. Taxes are now completely outrageous and services dwindle almost monthly. If you have kids...forget it. Neighborhood schools are crap. We get used to these things and put up with them because we love urban life. I love my neighbors on my street. I love having dozens of choices for fun within a few blocks. I love having 1200 miles on a three year old car. But...multiple active community associations don't seem to be able to get action or help from City Hall on any of these issues. Hey, they know we're all devoted Democrats so politicians don't have to worry.
The next house I buy will be outside the city borders. I'm looking for an older, small town-like atmosphere at least where there's a coffee shop and some kind of main street. Sadly, though Fell's Point is my home, I've had enough.
It seems clear that there is no safe place in the city of Baltimore.
The attitude of 'It's not that bad' permeates this and all Baltimore related forums. Honestly, the crime stats, and anecdotes from residents paint a clear picture that what people in Baltimore consider 'not that bad' is a result of being desensitized to crime and danger.
Every other thread here is "Maybe moving.. heard such and such is dangerous"
Even the apologists say things like 'all major cities have these problems'. Not throughout the entire city they don't. I'm a business traveler, and lived in lots of places. Not just hotels, but long term apartments. I've lived the life in several major downtowns.
I can say that no other city's residents have warned me to take a bottle of water out of my car so the windows don't get smashed in.
Since June 11th, in Fells Point there have been 204 crimes reported to police. Of those, only a handful (most of the murders) were in the public housing projects.
Of all crimes, here's a breakdown:
27 Agg. Assaults
26 Burglaries
107 larcenies, ranging from broken-into cars, stolen bicycles, pickpocketing, and a few shoplifters.
21 muggings
10 stolen cars.
3 Murders
It's not that bad as long as you don't walk, bike, have a car, nice things in your house, or go out for a drink.
So, I'll ask a different way. Is Fells Point the best Baltimore has to offer for urban living?
your assessment about not having clear boundaries is right on
in DC, there's a general progression upward in neighborhoods as you head NW, and you can sense it when you drive/walk, in NY, same thing happens as you head south from Harlem to the upper east/west sides, in Boston, things improve block-by-block as you head north from South End/Roxbuy to ultra expensive Back Bay
but in Baltimore, you step one way and you're suddenly in a bad area, Fells Point/Inner Harbor is a great area, but I've found some very shady areas waking just a couple blocks away
Kenny, I am new to the city, too, and I hear you when you say, "Honestly, the crime stats, and anecdotes from residents paint a clear picture that what people in Baltimore consider 'not that bad' is a result of being desensitized to crime and danger."
Before I came here I figured the statistics were exaggerated. I had never seen The Wire, and wouldn't believe what I saw in a fictional TV show, anyway. I was wrong. What no one is telling you is that this city has a notorious, deeply entrenched, by now multi-generational, heroin epidemic. I didn't know this particular detail before I moved here, but I started seeing the junkies around, so I googled 'Baltimore' and 'heroin.' I have read several articles that say 9% of the 650,000 residents are addicted to it. There is no way in hell that every city has a drug problem like this. Really. And to make it worse, people come from the surrounding areas to buy, because Baltimore has a reputation for cheap, high-quality junk, so there is an even more deeply entrenched drug trade here.
Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be a cohesive plan for doing anything about it, and it would take something like military force, combined with a complete revolution in the way we deal with addiction to turn it around, and I am not exaggerating even a little bit. One of the articles I read talked about mass arrests of the ADDICTS, the idea being that the shame and possible loss of income while they sat in jail awaiting arraignment on their misdemeanor would get them to turn their lives around. How can law enforcement be so clueless about a problem that has been plaguing this city for half a century? It's really hard to understand.
The mayor is currently busy fighting her bribery scandal, so it seems like the residents who are not addicts or drug dealers are left to their own devices to fight for improvements in the city. Honestly, I don't see things improving substantially, ever. The people who aren't drug addicts are surely nice enough, and a lot of people really love this city and are working hard to make it as livable as possible, but it remains royally screwed for the time being.
As for Fells Point, I can't really speak with any authority. My cousin lives in Federal Hill, though, which is close to Fells Point, and he's a pretty conservative guy. I kind of get the idea that he finds it to be the safest part of the city, and he's lived here his whole life. I really liked that area when I was walking around down there.
Last edited by thisteensy; 08-11-2009 at 01:03 PM..
This is the link for crime in the Fells Point area from July 18 to August 1 of this year.
In studying the map, I notice there were three aggravated assaults, two of which occured in the Perkins Housing Project east of Broadway. There were at least 16 cars broken into. There were three burglaries, one stolen vehicle.
I'm not quite sure where you are getting your information from, but I suggest either the Baltimore Sun or the Baltimore Police Department. There are bogus websites out there that like to paint as negative a picture of the city as possible.
Much of what thisteensy is saying is valid. Baltimore does have a major issue with drugs. And... very little has yet to be done about that. Sadly, it does effect everyone's life, even those who do not participate.
But I stand by my statement I made before as I have no reason to lie. I have never felt unsafe in Fells Point both when I lived there nor when I visit there. I live near Fells and walk either to it or through it everyday. Am I desensitized to crime and danger. No. I am aware of crime in this city. But I am realistic. I have lived in the city for over 20 years with a car and have never had an issue with crime.
Now, I suggest as you are from Dallas and the other poster just recently moved here to spend some time in Fells Point before judging it so harshly. It may not be your cup of tea at all.
As far as "no safe place to live in the city" I agree with that. I think it is totally unrealistic to think that you could live in any city in this country and feel completely safe. But I feel safe enough here. Also, although I have lived here for over 20 years, I am not originally from here. In the states, I have lived in Detroit, Milwaukee, and Boston. Baltimore does have more crime than Milwaukee and Boston. But, I follow the same principles here that I did there. I stay away from drugs. I don't walk home late at night. I don't keep crap out in my car for people to want. I stay away from areas that I would consider "tough".
The most histerical aspect about this thread is that I have been a victim of crime. I was robbed by a knife-yielding man in Boston. My front door was blasted open by a crazed out drug addict in Boston. Some guy broke into my home in Milwaukee and stole my bike and pissed on my kitchen floor which I slid and fell on when trying to catch him. I was robbed by gun in Detroit. But in Baltimore? The worst thing that ever happened to me actually happened in Fells Point when I lived there. Some drunk college student decided to **** through my front window while I was sitting on the couch. That was it.
The lesson? Every city has it's issues. Baltimore has a ton of them. But I would still take it over practically every other city in the country.
By the way, to the poster who claims Fells Point was so much better 20 years ago. Really???? You really believe that??? I remember Helen's Hollywood Disco and all that went with it. And the mission. And the bums all over. I don't think those days were any better. In fact, I think Fells Point has improved a lot in the last 20 years. Just my personal opinion.
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http://img29.imageshack.us/i/2monthsinfellspoint.jpg/ (cut and paste)
Shrinking safety zones
