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Yes, different from Park Slope. Much different! (I lived in the Slope). With that said.....
I found the small streets in Harlem to be relatively quiet. The big streets (east-west) are loud with traffic. Loudness order: 125, 145, 155, 135! Like I said, I find the smaller blocks to be quiet.
Everyone says it's hood. Well, my definition of hood is pretty different, due to the fact that I've hanged out in Harlem since the late 70s. I have an idea of what 'hood' really is. Trust me, it's much more calmer than, say, 1986, although given you're coming from the Slope, one still may have to adjust to the difference. Question: Do you have any reason to be in Polo Grounds Houses? Just asking.
With that said, Many of the south-north streets (Lenox, St. Nick, Amsterdam, Frederick Douglas, AC Powell) have busy bar scenes and strips!
Back to the neighborhood: To get to the east side of that part of town, one has to go up and down the 155th Street steps! (Polo Grounds is to the north, and Jackie Robinson Park is to the South of 155. Both are at the bottom of the hill!). Keep the steps to the daytime, due to the proximity to Polo Grounds down the steps. If you have to use those steps at night, one may want to have an escort. 155th Street steps is a great morning workout, by the way, and plenty of folks do it!
And the Jackie Robinson Rec Center (at Jackie Robinson Park) has an assortment of activities, including hoops, swimming, etc! (it has a pool). JR park goes from 145 to 155 (south to north), and Bradhurst to Edgecome (east to west).
Hi. My husband and I (who currently live in Park Slope) are considering an apartment on 153rd and St. Nicholas. I'm a native NY'er and relatively street savvy having lived in many different neighborhoods in NYC. But I'm not as familiar with this area. I work late at night and come home anywhere from 9:30P-11:30P. From work, I can take either the 1 train to 157th Street or the ABCD train to 145th (am aware there is a C train stop on 155th but I hate the C train with a passion as they're so infrequent).
The things that are important to us are:
1. safety at night
2. a neighborhood that's relatively quiet (realize it's block by block in this neighborhood -- would appreciate any input)
Thanks!
This is literally "right on the edge" of where I would question renting (or buying is a different matter to me) or not. I realize you are buying, so for this conversation, depending on how much you are paying would be the determiner for me.
I live at 150th and Amsterdam--about 4-5 blocks south of where you are looking. My area is undergoing rapid gentrification--but after crossing 151-152 streets on Amsterdam and going east, the neighborhood does change its vibe from "up and coming" yuppies moving in/Columbia University housing area, to hit or miss crime, sketchy street, noisy areas, and just iffy spots here and there.
My guess is definitely that this area will change--like the rest of Manhattan is changing/gentrifying quickly. (for the better) The key determiner though is that housing project which is about 2-3 blocks from where you are considering the purchase. That area around 153/St Nicholas could be a sketchy drug spot (away from the projects that the drug dealers may live) or it could be perfectly quiet and changing. I'm unsure since I never head up that way.
I can say my area is night and day from the 3 years ago when I moved in. It's gone from a super 'hood in the rough to a pretty decently gentrified area...and getting better.
Bottom line advice from me is depending on how much the apartment or condo is that you are buying. If it's cheap, I'd lean towards buying it. It IS Manhattan after all--not the Bronx, not Queens, or somewhere in southeast Brooklyn.
Manhattan is something you don't bet against in real estate. Good investment 99% of time.
My husband would rather have me cab it from work in the evenings but I don't think it's necessary.
Maybe he can walk out and meet you at subway stop, to walk home together.
But you know what? If you and he decide your budget can afford cabs home from work, then why the heck not? Why stress out your husband, worrying over you. My mama taught me if you can buy your way out of a problem, you don't have a problem.
You'll make the money back for your marriage because you'll have all this extra energy from a luxurious (lol, I know) cab home to your door. WIth that leftover energy, maybe you'll feel like cooking more at home and save back some of the cab money.. Right?
Last edited by BrightRabbit; 07-13-2015 at 08:43 PM..
I adjusted well with my move from the Slope to Parkchester, Bronx. With that said, anyone who moves from the Slope to any neighborhood should realize that It will not be the same, at all, as the Slope!
A friend of mine tried to steer me away from moving; giving me info on a condo in the Slope that was twice the amount a bought my spot in Parkchester. Had I bought the condo in the Slope, I, more than likely, would have lost it, due to personal and financial issues!
As some posts have said, Harlem has changed significantly! But with any neighborhood, the same rule applies: Go to the neighborhood during sundown, or the evening, and get a feel for it. Good luck!
As some posts have said, Harlem has changed significantly! But with any neighborhood, the same rule applies: Go to the neighborhood during sundown, or the evening, and get a feel for it. Good luck!
The stats may be adjusted, something that certainly gives a "sale-able" appearance" - as is the goal to benefit real estate speculative monies.
In fact, quality-of-life issues often prove far more present than people who "move in" realize, and certainly a bigger challenge than safety issues. Remember that you are always living around people who import guns and drugs, who shoot at each other, who originate large numbers of children while having no financial independence themselves ... and so on.
Really appreciate all of the input. The coop in question is a 1400 square foot 2 BR and priced at slightly over 750. It has good bones but needs quite a bit of work -- floors, bathroom, kitchen. This is at the top of our budget but the possibility of having so much space is very appealing. We know that we won't get something of this size closer to the Broadway/Riverside area. But am not sure it's worth trading quality of life for a large place.
My husband grew up in a small rural community where everybody knows each other. He's always lived in established communities so the idea of me coming home late in an area like this worries him. He even worries if it's around midnight in our current neighborhood of Park Slope. I know he'll get used to it. I really hate depending on cabs and have taken the subways at all hours of the night during my younger years. I've lived in areas where I've heard gunshots from my window. Do feel like I can handle myself in most situations -- luckily I've never been mugged, robbed, etc. but have gotten close, even in my current neighborhood of Park Slope (this was at 9:45P btw -- can happen anywhere anytime). I'm just observant of what's going on around me and walk confidently, crossing streets if need be, walking in the street vs sidewalks at times if there are too many dark corners for people to hide.
I will definitely be walking around the neighborhood late at night before purchasing. But sometimes you never know what the "bad blocks" are until you live there. I remember when looking in Park Slope there was one particular block where there were too many listings. Didn't understand why until after living in the neighborhood I found out that a lot of drug deals happened on that particular block. On the surface the block looks perfectly fine. My husband's aunt just purchased a place on 93rd and Columbus. Apparently several people who live in the neighborhood told me there's a lot of drug deals on that block -- would have never known from walking in that area.
As this is a potential purchase, safety is important. But Harlem Resident is absolutely correct when he/she talks about quality of life issues. More I think about it and read through this thread, I'm thinking that even though I think this apartment has a lot of potential that I wouldn't be happy living here and that I need to set my sights on a smaller place closer to the Broadway/Riverside/Amsterdam area.
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