Safe Neighborhoods Near Fordham University? (White Plains, Webster: low income, 2009, apartments)

[kln82]

I'll admit, I've never been to NY before. Never even been to the East Coast, actually. But, I will be moving there this fall to attend grad school at Fordham University in the Bronx. But, being as I know little about the area, I'm looking for some advice.

Ideally, I'd like to to have my own apt (a small 1br would be great), and can probably afford to spend $800-$1000/mo to have one. However, one of my main concerns in doing this would be safety. I'd be a single female living alone in the Bronx. Is this a good idea? Are there neighborhoods near the school where I wouldn't have to be overly worried (I've lived in cities before, so I know the standard rules of precaution)? Are any of them within walking distance of the school (this is preferable for me, but I'd also be willing to make a short commute if necessary)?

Any help anyone can offer would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[bnyy]

Originally Posted by kln82

I'll admit, I've never been to NY before. Never even been to the East Coast, actually. But, I will be moving there this fall to attend grad school at Fordham University in the Bronx. But, being as I know little about the area, I'm looking for some advice.

Ideally, I'd like to to have my own apt (a small 1br would be great), and can probably afford to spend $800-$1000/mo to have one. However, one of my main concerns in doing this would be safety. I'd be a single female living alone in the Bronx. Is this a good idea? Are there neighborhoods near the school where I wouldn't have to be overly worried (I've lived in cities before, so I know the standard rules of precaution)? Are any of them within walking distance of the school (this is preferable for me, but I'd also be willing to make a short commute if necessary)?

Any help anyone can offer would be much appreciated! Thanks!

The school's immediate surroundings are not safe, especially for a female living alone. Norwood is okay (North of Gun Hill Pkwy, South of E Gun Hill Rd, West of Jerome Ave) and some blocks in Belmont. Morris Park/Van Nest are very safe but a little far from Fordham, and expensive. Woodlawn is nice but a little far. Stay away from areas of White Plains Rd at night and especially the surrounding area of Fordham (unless you are in a big group). May I ask why don't you just stay on campus?

[OyCrumbler]

What about Arthur Avenue? It seemed like a wonderful place to be, but I was only there during the daytime.

It sucks that Fordham's spending a billion developing its Lincoln Center campus when it would go so much further in Rose Hill.

[bnyy]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

What about Arthur Avenue? It seemed like a wonderful place to be, but I was only there during the daytime.

It sucks that Fordham's spending a billion developing its Lincoln Center campus when it would go so much further in Rose Hill.

Yea, Arthur Ave is a good block (Belmont) but it's very expensive.

[kln82]

I can't live on campus as there is no on-campus housing available for grad students. They have school-sponsored off-campus housing, but it is pretty expensive for what you get (nearly $1000/mo for a shared 5-bedroom space with no amenities like internet/cable, etc). I'd rather just get a shared apt in one of the nearby areas, which runs closer to $500-$600/mo from what I've seen, and you often get things like internet, etc.

I'm curious about your comment to avoid all areas surrounding Fordham unless in a big group. I know that the majority of grad students live in the areas near the school (many in Belmont, Bedford Park, Pelham Parkway, etc), and I'm sure they're not all running around in big groups. It can't be that bad- at least not ALL of the areas right around the university. I'm curious to know which are the good ones and which are the bad (in addition to answering my question about whether or not it's a good idea to live alone).

[bnyy]

Originally Posted by kln82

I can't live on campus as there is no on-campus housing available for grad students. They have school-sponsored off-campus housing, but it is pretty expensive for what you get (nearly $1000/mo for a shared 5-bedroom space with no amenities like internet/cable, etc). I'd rather just get a shared apt in one of the nearby areas, which runs closer to $500-$600/mo from what I've seen, and you often get things like internet, etc.

I'm curious about your comment to avoid all areas surrounding Fordham unless in a big group. I know that the majority of grad students live in the areas near the school (many in Belmont, Bedford Park, Pelham Parkway, etc), and I'm sure they're not all running around in big groups. It can't be that bad- at least not ALL of the areas right around the university. I'm curious to know which are the good ones and which are the bad (in addition to answering my question about whether or not it's a good idea to live alone).

Living alone is your choice, I don't think there will be any issues with that. Pelham Pkwy is a good area, I forgot to mention it actually. Bedford Park is dangerous at night, and Belmont is okay. Bad = University Heights, Fordham Heights, some of Fordham Manor, Mount Hope, Morris Heights, and anything south of the Cross Bronx (except Throggs Neck but that's very far from Fordham)

[bluedog2]

I live in Pelham Parkway which is a nice,safe and pretty inexpensive neighborhood that is just across Bronx Park(through the Botanical Garden) from the Fordham Campus.It is about a 10 or 15 minute walk from Fordham. I can actually see Fordham from my apt in winter it is so close.
There is also a bus that runs along Pelham Parkway into the park and comes out at the entrance to the Fordham campus on the other side.It literally runs every couple of minutes and takes about 5 mins or less because there is only 1 stop in the middle of the park..... for The Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo.

There are lots and lots of Fordham students and faculty living in the neighborhood.

I don't think you will find a real 1 br for under 1,000 but you could probably find a very large studio in a very good building for $900 or so. Most of the buildings are pre war and the apartments tend to be huge.The studios( often 600 or 700 sq ft) are actually larger than most 1 br's ( and some 2 br's)in NY. A real 1 br would be about 800 to 1000 sq ft ( depending on whether it has a dining room) and probably around $1,200. Maybe a big studio would do ?
There was a story about the neighborhood in the NYTimes a week or so ago.Here is the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/re...ref=realestate

It is a great,very diverse and safe neighborhood.

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by kln82

I can't live on campus as there is no on-campus housing available for grad students. They have school-sponsored off-campus housing, but it is pretty expensive for what you get (nearly $1000/mo for a shared 5-bedroom space with no amenities like internet/cable, etc). I'd rather just get a shared apt in one of the nearby areas, which runs closer to $500-$600/mo from what I've seen, and you often get things like internet, etc.

I'm curious about your comment to avoid all areas surrounding Fordham unless in a big group. I know that the majority of grad students live in the areas near the school (many in Belmont, Bedford Park, Pelham Parkway, etc), and I'm sure they're not all running around in big groups. It can't be that bad- at least not ALL of the areas right around the university. I'm curious to know which are the good ones and which are the bad (in addition to answering my question about whether or not it's a good idea to live alone).

There are other neighborhoods very close to the campus that are fine.Most of Bedford Park (especially north of Bedford Park Blvd and South of Mosholu Parkway is very nice,perfectly safe and practically next to the campus...definitely walking distance.Most of Norwood is pretty safe as well but a bit further...still walkable though most of the year.
I think Pelham Parkway is better though because there are more shops,restaurants,super markets,etc and it has great Subway access.And it is probably the safest of all.
Sharing would be a good option. A huge 2 or 3 br would probably be 1,500 or so.

[SuperMario]

The neighborhoods immediately sorrounded are bad. All low income and high crime etc....to find safer neighborhoods you either have to go east (east side of river) or north (past 200th st)....Don't get me wrong, it's not the 80's anymore...and you may find quiet blocks in the sorrounding nabes (Fordham-Bedford, Fordham, Belmont, Uni Heights) like you'd find ANYWHERE, but as in the case of all "hoods" most certainly that "quiet block" will be sorrounded by dangerous ones.

Look in Norwood.....

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by SuperMario

The neighborhoods immediately sorrounded are bad. All low income and high crime etc....to find safer neighborhoods you either have to go east (east side of river) or north (past 200th st)....Don't get me wrong, it's not the 80's anymore...and you may find quiet blocks in the sorrounding nabes (Fordham-Bedford, Fordham, Belmont, Uni Heights) like you'd find ANYWHERE, but as in the case of all "hoods" most certainly that "quiet block" will be sorrounded by dangerous ones.

Look in Norwood.....

Supermario,200th St is Bedford Park Blvd so the area north of it between Bronx Park and The Grand Concourse and along Mosholu Parkway is Bedford Park.It is a good neighborhood that has lots of Fordham students and staff living in it.

The Fordham campus actually runs all along Webster Ave from Fordham Road up to 200th St ( Bedford Park Blvd) so if one were to live in the above described neighborhood they would literally be within a few blocks (less than 5 min) walk of the campus entrance at the metro north Botanical Garden stop which is at Bedford Park Blvd ( 200th St ).

I have a friend who teaches at Fordham and lives on Decatur near Bedford Park Blvd and he absolutely loves it there.He is a 10 min walk from work( door to door) and a 3 min walk to the metro North stop, which is less than 20 mins to Grand Central.He jokes that it is faster for him to get to midtown than it was when he lived over by York Avenue because he gets to Grand Central faster than he used to be able to walk to the 86th and Lex subway stop.To the East of this neighborhood is Bronx Park,to the North is Norwood and Woodlawn and to the West is Lehman College/Bronx Science and the Reservoir.It is not a neighborhood surrounded by bad though I agree that it is not so great to the South (especially below 198 St )

My neighborhood(Pelham Parkway) is almost as close.I can walk out of my building and into the park and be on the Fordham Campus in 10 minutes.You can't get much closer.It is a great neighborhood that actually has better neighborhoods to the East.