Need advice on Jamaica (Stony Brook, Hillside: apartment, neighborhood, school)

[IDONTKNOW123]

Hello all,
I am thinking of moving to Jamaica Queens with my fiance this summer. I need to get to Stony Brook by Long Island train, but she needs to get to Columbia by subway to go to school. I am from Minnesota so I have no idea what the area is like. I have read quite a few bad comments about Jamaica but it all seems directed at specific areas within Jamaica. We are currently looking at an apartment 1 block north of Jamaica Avenue on 149th. What kind of area is this? Is this considered south Jamaica? It is only a few blocks from the train and subway stations. Considering our travel necessities can you suggest a better place for us to live? Thank you very much in advance.

[DoomDan515]

149 Street? You'll basically be sandwiched between Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, and Sutphin Boulevard over there. I go there a lot and it seems like an ok area, with plenty of public transportion options and lots of stores. There's plenty of cops around there too, since the courts are there, but I would use caution around that area during the night.

Don't worry, the only real section of Jamaica I would advise to avoid is South Jamaica, which is technically it's own neighborhood [and like its name implies, it's located south of Jamaica]. The area you're talking about is not South Jamaica. South Jamaica is located around Rockaway Boulevard near JFK.

[SeventhFloor]

Jamaica Avenue and 149th Street? Ok neighborhood by day, but it can be a little dicey at night. There's a lot of stick-ups in the area. For the average street-wise person it's not an issue but for someone not familiar with how to move on the streets, it may be more dangerous, as you make yourself look like a mark. I would recommend something a little more safer. Maybe the neighborhood of Briarwood, which is about 2-3 stops from Jamaica on the E/F train. Google it.