Going to NYC....want to see the ghettos (Camden, Crown Heights: apartments, crime)

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by ProtexBlue292

Well actually the thing I'm most interested in seeing is Queensbridge, so I will definitely have to go there. I don't know if anyone I'm with is gonna want to go with me to these places so I might go alone. I'm just gonna go in the day and watch my back and not talk to any shady fellows. I also am not going to venture deep into the heart of the Queensbridge buildings cause I know that its a really big project.

Queensbridge is dead man. They aren't even in the top 100 in terms of danger.

[ProtexBlue292]

Well then I should be OK....I heard the crime there had went down, its not like I'm going cause of crime, its cause its a ghetto area, its the projects, theres no place like it anywhere where I'm at.

[009]

Originally Posted by NewYorker1

Isn't East New York in Brooklyn the worst part of New York?

No. ENY is "tame" For the most part, being that it's one of the largest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, serious crime will be centralized, as opposed to being spread out. Brownsville on the other hand is the worst neighborhood in Brooklyn, no, NYC, hands down. It has the most housing projects lumped together in NYC, and probably the country. It truly is NYC's safety net. Also, anything east of the Cross Bay Bridge gets honorable mention, but it has good potential down the line, unlike the 'Ville .

To the OP, I'm willing to trade my ghetto pass for green pastures and civility. Are you willing to accept?

[Dark of the Moon]

Most of the trains in Manhattan are underground, so you won't see much by riding them -- you'll need to go to the other boroughs. The consensus seems to be that the Far Rockaway projects are fairly bad, so hop on the "A" train and take a trip down there.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by ProtexBlue292

Well I'm going to NYC in a week or so.....and instead of avoiding the ghetto parts I would like to visit a few actually because I think its very interesting. I live in a nice suburban neighborhood in Nebraska and the most ghetto place I've been in is probably Kansas City's ghetto. All I see around where I live is nice suburban homes and theres really no "ghetto" area just a little run down area. So I think since I am in NYC I might as well see the rest of the world outside of just the quiet burbs.

I am only gonna visit them in the day so don't worry. I want to go to Queensbridge and walk around there cause I haven't seen the projects before......I also want to explore some of Harlem and upper manhattan as well. I also want to go to the South Bronx and see some of the urban decay. So any tips or advice for going? Any other places maybe I should see? I'm thinking one day I'm just gonna get on the train and ride around and get off on random stops just to look around. I also will plan out a few stops on points of interest. So I know some may say "don't go" but I am tired of boring quiet neighborhoods and I want to see some rough parts of the world.

well if you go to queensbridge stay on 21st street. if you want to see projects in harlem walk on broadway north on 125th street because those projects are not too bad. for the bronx, take the BX55 bus.

[drkman]

To be honest, I don't know what the fascination would be to see the projects since they are just a big apartment buidling. I mean, in Clinton Hill, on a casual inspection, you have some projects right next to some coops and you can't tell the difference unless you are specifically looking for some signs that identify the difference between the two. Be that as it may, Brownsville is project central and if you really want to see some and experience the feeling of a project area, that would be the place. I don't recommend walking around the projects over there though. You can see projects in any borough of New York but if you are going to wander around them with no destination in sight (and if you don't no anybody in them then it would be with no destination) I would stick to the projects in Chelsea, the Lower East Side or 96th Street. Queensbridge Projects are somewhat off the beaten track, if my remembrance serves me correctly, and you don't want to get caught up in something that does not have an easy exit . Hope you find them intersting but as with all things New York, stay alert, stay safe and act like you belong there.

As far as the Ghetto, the Ghetto and the Ghetto. I really don't know what would be considered the Ghetto to you. I don't even know if New York has many areas that would be considered the classic Ghetto. Neighborhoods that were referred to as the Ghetto in the past now have houses selling for half a million dollars. There are few neighborhoods that you can go to and experience classic urban decay, since most areas are being revitalized. If what you mean is an urban area with a large minority population then we have a lot of those. On the other hand, what can I say since I probably live in the Ghetto myself

[HereKittyKittyKitty]

Make sure you wear lots of gold jewelry. And expensive clothes. And keep your iPod and Sidekick out where everyone can see them.

[Rudbeckia]

I think you picked a bad time of year for your ghetto strolling. And why would you want to see so many? I am not sure the ghettos vary much in NYC, but maybe I am wrong. I can understand your curiosity I guess, but NYC has so much more to offer than the ghetto culture. Do some other exploring as well.

[NooYowkur81]

Your gonna be disappointed more than likely. St. Louis and KC are worse than NYC these days.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by drkman

As far as the Ghetto, the Ghetto and the Ghetto. I really don't know what would be considered the Ghetto to you.

Maybe the OP is looking to gawk at horrendous destruction like those old pics from the 70's of the South Bronx. I don't think they are going to find that at Queensbridge, etc. Like you said, it will just be big brick apartment buildings.

They might want to take the A train all the way out to Far Rockaway and then gawk at projects like Edgemere, gawk at ghetto shops, gawk at some abandoned houses and empty land near the boardwalk. (OP: Just be sure and wear your bulletproof vest because the drug dealing gangs seem to prefer to do their shooting in the day and sometimes their aim isn't so great. If you want to see ghetto, you will find it here but it may be more than you bargained for.) Then they can go back to the midwest and tell their friends how stupid NY'ers are to have prime beachfront property in that condition. If they want to make it a day at the beach I would suggest going to or near the end of the line, gawking at above, then getting back on the train and getting off in Rockaway Park and going to that part of the boardwalk which is safe and peaceful. As they pass the Arverne stops they can also see that FR is getting some new life blood (such as new shopping center, and all the new housing being built like Arverne by the Sea).

Another place to try is Coney Island. (Note to OP: if you make your trip to include June 21 you can see the annual Mermaid Parade ... now that's plenty to gawk at and lots of fun!) They can gawk at some projects and the gritty neighborhood then go to the also gritty but fun Astroland amusement park. (Don't forget to ride the Cyclone rollercoaster!) Once again they can be amazed at how stupid NY'ers are for putting projects in an area with prime beachfront property. This is supposed to be the last year that the Astroland amusement park is open so it is worth going. (I am even going there again this summer.)