Your opinion of Inwood (Washington Heights: relocation, apartment, rental)

[madmj]

I've been posting on here for info. on certain areas for my relocation. Mostly in the outer boroughs is where I have been concentrating. Tonight at work someone told me to look up the Inwood area. After searching on CL I was AMAZED at how many rentals were A) in my price range and B) Allow Dogs - which is a mandatory ammenity for me. I was hoping to get everyones opinion of the area. The general stuff I usually ask. How does it look,Ethnicity breakdowns, safety, etc. You know, all the good stuff! I am aware that it borders Wash. Heights which I have been informed (and researched) as an area that might not fit my bill. Also the crime stats seem a little high.....

**Crime: The 34th precinct, which also serves portions of Washington Heights, reported eight murders, 19 rapes and 260 robberies this year, compared to eight murders, 19 rapes and 258 robberies at this time last year.**

... But maybe some of those stats come from the Wash. Heights section. I'd appreciate any comments and info. Thank you in advance!

[SuperMario]

Inwood is a ghetto neighborhood. It's similar to Washington Heights. I'd say there is crime in the area, not an incredible amount but stuff does happen. Also uptown Manhattan has ALOT of graffiti, and Inwood is no exception. The majority of the people are from the Dominican Republic. If you don't speak spanish you may feel out of place. As you get towards the west, the neighborhood becomes nicer. Overall, it's the ghetto.......but see for yourself, then decide.


Edit: Did a few quick calculations and the 33rd/34th precincts combine for a 1100+ crime rate per 100,000 people, that is a high number but it includes Wash. Heights.

[yodel]

I’ll have to disagree with you Super Mario. In my opinion, Inwood is a great neighborhood. We lived on Seaman Avenue for years and really enjoyed it. East of Broadway was not as nice, I don’t know if that’s changing--we left in 2004. The bad thing was that living where we did, it was kind of far from even necessities like grocery store, dry cleaners, etc. Even the bodega was a hike. But there’s a lot of open space if that’s important to you.

[SilkCity0416]

I wouldn't live in Inwood. Nothing against the nabe. It is just that it is WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY uptown for my taste. It can take about 45 minuets to reach Midtown via the A. (And that's an "express" train.)

[UpsonDowns]

I live south of Inwood, but go up there regularly to use the library, shop, etc. As others have said, it can be a haul to midtown- especially on the weekends when the A runs local due to construction or worse, when there is a shuttle bus instead of the train. If I were single, it would definitely put a damper on my social life. But the people are friendly and they love their dogs. There is a Washington Heights/Inwood forum if you google it.

The one thing I would be wary of is an apartment directly across the street from the park. The lights are out a lot and I would not walk there alone at night.

[madmj]

What is it about this area that makes it such a popular place for people with Dogs?

[squeezeboxgal]

I've lived on the southern edge of Inwood (195th & Broadway) for the past couple of years, and have had no trouble at all. Yes, there are some areas that I probably wouldn't want to live in (I'm a middle-aged, single white woman), but for the most part it's fine.

As others have said, it's a bit of a hike to midtown -- even with the express train -- but given that it's probably the last "affordable" neighborhood left in Manhattan, it's worth it.