Grand Concourse and poverty question

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

It was much dumpier in the early 90's. Actually I've never felt unsafe on Fordham Road proper. Lots of people, lots of cops. The side-streets are way way worse. However it does tend to get pretty isolated at night. If anything Fordham Road is what is keeping the area together and is what provides hope the area might someday turn around. The Grand Concourse up there is way iffier. A lot less people shop on the Concourse and it has a much grittier vibe. However a lot of the buildings are in surprisingly good shape, like that big Emigrant Savings bank building where Montefiore set up some medical offices for instance. By the way speaking of the Emigrants Savings building, does anybody have any old pictures of it? I'm curious how it used to look in its heyday. You can really tell those buildings were built with quality and by skilled people.

Actually now that I think about it, it's kinda funny but Fordham Road gets better pretty much block by block as you go eastward. The part of Fordham Road that is less safe if any is the part going west towards the Deegan. From like where that big church is going west. Pretty much the Uni Heights strip of Fordham Road. A lot less people, and Devoe park tends to attract a lot of knuckleheads.

Agreed 100000X.

I tought I was the only one who noticed this. Fordham rd is much grittier and run down west of Jerome. It get's more isolated the closer you get to the deegan. With the presence of bodegas, tire shops etc.. it becomes just another strip and not THE Fordham rd.

[Elvira Black]

Devoe Park went through a lot of renovation and I think it's actually pretty nice. It's full of families, kids, birthday parties, folks playing dominoes in the evening, bbq's, picnics etc and as a result is not isolated during the day which I feel makes it safer. The Church there has a lot of family activities as well--once a week they have a sort of outdoor mass that goes on for hours. I admit it's far from Park Avenue but it does have its own charms.

I'd rather see families enjoying themselves and kids having a safe place to play and churches that keep families together than some of the alternatives. The greasiest part of that stretch I'd say is by Aqueduct Ave, and a bit past Devoe seems very desolate. But the same could be said for the whole mess of auto stores, etc between Fordham U and the Botanical Gdns/Zoo.

But in any case, can't beat the shopping and the prices on Fordham Road.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

Devoe Park went through a lot of renovation and I think it's actually pretty nice. It's full of families, kids, birthday parties, folks playing dominoes in the evening, bbq's, picnics etc and as a result is not isolated during the day which I feel makes it safer. The Church there has a lot of family activities as well--once a week they have a sort of outdoor mass that goes on for hours. I admit it's far from Park Avenue but it does have its own charms.

I'd rather see families enjoying themselves and kids having a safe place to play and churches that keep families together than some of the alternatives. The greasiest part of that stretch I'd say is by Aqueduct Ave, and a bit past Devoe seems very desolate. But the same could be said for the whole mess of auto stores, etc between Fordham U and the Botanical Gdns/Zoo.

But in any case, can't beat the shopping and the prices on Fordham Road.

I prefer St. James Park for whatever reason. Devoe was fixed up pretty nicely. But it's a bad hangout spot for a lot of teens (not all of them nice) in the area. I've heard about and my girl actually saw the other day gangs congregating over there. The times I've been around Devoe I get a lot of negative vibes. I don't get as much around St. James. But that might just be me.

As for the eastern stretch with the auto stores, it's not as bad because Fordham U., the Bronx Zoo, Arthur Ave, and Bot Gardens are all major stabilizers over there.

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

Devoe Park went through a lot of renovation and I think it's actually pretty nice. It's full of families, kids, birthday parties, folks playing dominoes in the evening, bbq's, picnics etc and as a result is not isolated during the day which I feel makes it safer. The Church there has a lot of family activities as well--once a week they have a sort of outdoor mass that goes on for hours. I admit it's far from Park Avenue but it does have its own charms.

I'd rather see families enjoying themselves and kids having a safe place to play and churches that keep families together than some of the alternatives. The greasiest part of that stretch I'd say is by Aqueduct Ave, and a bit past Devoe seems very desolate. But the same could be said for the whole mess of auto stores, etc between Fordham U and the Botanical Gdns/Zoo.

But in any case, can't beat the shopping and the prices on Fordham Road.

Yup...this is also true. You guys know what you're talking about. Kudos.