Harlem vs. Wash Hts. vs. Inwood (Sloan, Morris: loan, neighborhood, university)

[KRS88]

Originally Posted by UnemployedFinanceGuy

There is always a crowd getting off the A and 1 trains at 181st street at all hours of the night so this is perfectly safe.

watch out there too the teens around there are doing alot of mischief as what ive seen today and a couple weeks ago i saw kids running out of a bodega with food and today i saw the same thing but i was in the subway and the kids ran onto the railroad tracks while being chased by the owner onto the otherside and catching the train nothing that should make you feel VERY unsafe though.

[Newarkbomb]

The GWB every day.. wow

But I would say Inwood and Wshgton hts are the best bets. It's just safer in general than Harlem. Though Harlem isn't as bad as people say it is, dosn't mean its not bad.

[lamexican]

Originally Posted by EAG19

My boyfriend and I are moving to NYC and need a place by March 1st. I've been getting some great advice on this board. We're down to a few places. 176 st. and pinehurst ave., 172 st. and haven ave., 181 st and fort washington ave. Those are the three right now. My boyfriend will be commuting to englewood cliffs, nj so we wanted to be near the GWB and we knew wash hts. west of broadway is a better area. my question is that someone recently told us that harlem is actually okay to live in and suggested a place on 124 st. between 5th ave and madison. I also hear that Inwood might be the best of the three. What advice do you guys have about the places I listed above vs. the harlem or inwood neighborhoods. Are there good areas in harlem I'm overlooking? IS there an area in Inwood that's safer than other areas in Inwood? I'm looking to be able to walk and get some groceries, go to the pharmacy etc. with ease. I'd also like to head downtown and be able to return late at night with caution but without being in fear all the time. Any suggestions?

I live in Washington Heights and would have agree that 181st and Ft. Washington are the best place for you. There are lots of shops, and restaurants, and easy access to public transportation to both lower Manhattan and Jersey as the bus terminal is at 179th st.

[UpsonDowns]

Originally Posted by EAG19

...We're down to a few places. 176 st. and pinehurst ave., 172 st. and haven ave., 181 st and fort washington ave. Those are the three right now...

I actually live on Ft Wash and 181 and love it, except that it is a bit too close to the GWB. We get a lot of soot inside when we keep the windows open and we can hear honks and other traffic noises more than I would like.

That said, it couldn't be more convenient to the shops on 181 and 187, however I would appreciate the quiet of your other choices. But, the 172nd apt is a bit too close to the traffic created by the hospital for my tastes. I would pick the apartment in the best maintained building - the quality of management will affect your happiness much more than the difference between the three locations.

[vitalove]

For commuting options, I would say you're best in one of the three options you've listed.

There are safe areas of Harlem but their prices and location make them very desirable and the cost to live in those areas are similar to the costs of the UWS. To say that Harlem as a whole is more dangerous than Washington Heights as a whole is very untrue. Harlem has gentrified way more than Wash Hts and there are more homeowners in Harlem than Wash Hts right now. There are sections of Bway and Amsterdam now that look similar to the way Harlem was, but in the 1990s. That should tell you the difference.

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by vitalove

For commuting options, I would say you're best in one of the three options you've listed.

There are safe areas of Harlem but their prices and location make them very desirable and the cost to live in those areas are similar to the costs of the UWS. To say that Harlem as a whole is more dangerous than Washington Heights as a whole is very untrue. Harlem has gentrified way more than Wash Hts and there are more homeowners in Harlem than Wash Hts right now. There are sections of Bway and Amsterdam now that look similar to the way Harlem was, but in the 1990s. That should tell you the difference.

Very true.

Bravo.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by vitalove

For commuting options, I would say you're best in one of the three options you've listed.

There are safe areas of Harlem but their prices and location make them very desirable and the cost to live in those areas are similar to the costs of the UWS. To say that Harlem as a whole is more dangerous than Washington Heights as a whole is very untrue. Harlem has gentrified way more than Wash Hts and there are more homeowners in Harlem than Wash Hts right now. There are sections of Bway and Amsterdam now that look similar to the way Harlem was, but in the 1990s. That should tell you the difference.

Wash Heights itself was also much worse in the 90's. Especially early 90's. Wash Heights has not changed that much demographically but it has gotten safer.

Broadway and St. Nick are the two main shopping drags through much of Wash Heights. I don't see what's so dangerous about Broadway. Other avenues are worse, including Amsterdam yes.

[passdoubt]

Originally Posted by EAG19

someone recently told us that harlem is actually okay to live in and suggested a place on 124 st. between 5th ave and madison.

This is a very safe, stable block off of Marcus Garvey Park (aka Mount Morris Park). In fact it might be too expensive for you.

Much further from the GW Bridge than the other corners you mentioned though.

[OyCrumbler]

A good rule of thumb for quieter and safer neighborhoods for Washington Heights and Inwood is to live West of Broadway. Pretty much all of that is fairly nice.

[sadaal]

Hi EAG,

I hope you guys made it and found a place. I'm in the same boat as your BF, I will be working in Englewood Cliff in just a few weeks, and am hunting for a place to live and I was looking at the same areas and was wondering how he was doing his commute? Is he driving everday or is he taking the bus over? My office is about a mile from the closest bus station, I'm trying to figure out how to close that gap. Did you guys end up in Inwood, how do you like it??? Hope to hear from you