New Bedford Neighbourhoods (Fairhaven: apartments, lofts, violent crime)

[kirbcanbot]

Hey folks - looked through the forum and couldn't find much about New Bedford specifically, other than about crime, blight, etc. Wish the MA forum could be subdivided in some way

My spouse and I might be moving to the city in the next few months and I am excited and preparing. We've lived all over and like walkable neighbourhoods with restaurants and all "the usual stuff millennials like."

I understand New Bedford is a small city, but from what I've read there are a number of nice, urbanish neighbourhoods.

Specifics: would prefer no more than 1,200 a month and two bedrooms; do not care about outdoor space; 1 of us will be working downtown, the other remotely from home; don't want to "commute"; safety important...;early/mid 30s; no kids and no plans ever so don't care about schools; love walking and running, eating out, beers, cocktails and seafood.

Any help about specific neighbourhoods would be appreciated so I could do some digging. Look forward to maybe joining the community!

[GeoffD]

Irfox did a map a few years ago outlining the OK parts of the city and the "don't live there" parts.

I think that what you're looking for is downtown New Bedford. That has your walkable restaurants, music scene, waterfront activities, and the Zeiterion which has all the events. You won't see violent crime in that part of town but it's a high poverty rate city with a drug problem so you'll have property crime issues. Looking on Zillow, I see a 1,400 sf 2 bedroom at 26 South Water Street #301 for $1,500. From Google, it looks like it includes parking and you're right across the street from the waterfront walkable to everything. You have the YMCA around the corner with a pool and gym.

I also see The Lofts at Wamsutta Place in an old converted mill building north of downtown. A much more recent conversion but less centrally located so not quite the 'walkable' thing. About a mile from the downtown waterfront. 1000 square foot 2 bedrooms are a bit more than $1,000. Beware that north of there is not a good neighborhood and west of there across Route 18 is not a good neighborhood.

Anything else downtown is going to be very hit or miss and parking could be a challenge.

Generally, the West End between downtown and Buttonwood Park is the middle class semi-urban single family and two family home part of town where you're walkable to downtown. Some of the big whaling era houses around the hospital are chopped up into apartments. It's all old housing stock so it's total hit or miss what's available.

[kirbcanbot]

Hey Geoff - thanks so much!

[kirbcanbot]

Double thanks. I've found a bunch of posts from you and Irfox which have been helpful. Going to take a trip and check things out.

[bostonguy1960]

Maybe check their newspaper, the Standard Times? I think that's the name, maybe publishes six days per week?

There may be tabs for special sections they've published, crime stories, neighborhood profiles, etc.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Maybe check their newspaper, the Standard Times? I think that's the name, maybe publishes six days per week?

There may be tabs for special sections they've published, crime stories, neighborhood profiles, etc.

The Standard Times has been rebranded as Southcoast Today. They have a web site. They have a Sunday paper.

If you want a negative spin, hit the New Bedford Guide on Facebook and read the comments. You get the locals view on junkies, hookers, panhandling, the school system, welfare, public housing, street crime, and, lol, snow removal any time it snows. It’s a high poverty rate city with all the problems that poverty causes. Downtown New Bedford is not Back Bay. It has grit and grime. It’s gentrified from the most downtrodden years but anyone going in needs to be aware of the problems.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by kirbcanbot

don't want to "commute"; safety important...

Decide which is more important.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Decide which is more important.

Or maybe Fairhaven would be a good alternative? The historic part is nice and right across from DT NB. Didn't used to be much there, but I haven't been in forever and there might be more restaurants, etc. now. GeoffD might have an idea...

[wror]

I would not move into any MA city or densely populated suburb that does not have a ban on local POT businesses. Every MA community is drastically changing as it is, communities allowing POT businesses will change even more. MA communities that are allowing POT business will likely have more POT shops than Coffee shops before everything is said and done

So, a move to New Bedford? Ban on local POT businesses? Yes.
New Bedford allowing POT businesses? No. Stay Away.

[Over 70% of Colorado communities have banned local POT businesses]

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by wror

I would not move into any MA city or densely populated suburb that does not have a ban on local POT businesses. Every MA community is drastically changing as it is, communities allowing POT businesses will change even more. MA communities that are allowing POT business will likely have more POT shops than Coffee shops before everything is said and done

So, a move to New Bedford? Ban on local POT businesses? Yes.
New Bedford allowing POT businesses? No. Stay Away.

[Over 70% of Colorado communities have banned local POT businesses]

At the moment, I'm in Denver 3 or 4 days per week. I see zero difference now compared to pre-marijuana legalization. 70% of Colorado is straight out of Footloose. Rural & hyper-conservative. The people all live in metro-Denver which is anything but.

I live a 10 minute walk from a liquor store. I haven't noticed drunks lying all over town.

Any 18 year old kid has been able to buy a bag of weed in any town in Massachusetts for the last 50 years. Exactly what is different now other than that some cop can't arrest them and destroy their lives with a criminal record for twigs & seeds?