Reading, Good or Bad? (Allentown, Lancaster: high crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[keshab]

I am moving to Reading, PA in two months. It is on South 5th St. How is the area. Is that the worst part of Reading?

[Eagle Scout]

Originally Posted by keshab

I am moving to Reading, PA in two months. It is on South 5th St. How is the area. Is that the worst part of Reading?

Reading has a lot of very nice areas. IMO I would not count S 5th as one of them. I used to live in that area (Minor St), but it was a while ago. Maybe the area improved?

Take a ride down S 5th and judge for yourself. If the pretzel bakery is still open at Bell & Laurel, stop in and get a few. Their soft pretzels are awesome!

[Icy Tea]

Reading Highschool just had another riot and a middle school had a stabbing. A barber was murdered a few blocks from the high school. Reading has some nice areas but they are either in the center park historic district or along the northern and northeastern edges or the outskirts.
Reading is still having problems with crime moving from NYC, New Jersey and Philly, as is Allentown, Lancaster, and other Pa cities.

[kf70]

Originally Posted by keshab

I am moving to Reading, PA in two months. It is on South 5th St. How is the area. Is that the worst part of Reading?

South Fifth is a lovely old neighborhood. I love the old homes along there. There are many churches and an elementary school nearby. 5th and Laurel is a busy intersection, collecting the downtown traffic from 222 business and the 422 West Shore Bypass off Bingamin Street Bridge.

Would I live there, probably not. We lived over near Central Catholic HS for 5 of the last 6 years and it was usually pretty quiet there. I can't say that I've ever heard about much criminal activity in the area where you are moving....probably a good thing that there is a constant flow of traffic, but go a few blocks in any direction and you will be upon seedier neighborhoods.

[loose cannon]

There must be a good reason to move to that pit which makes Allentown seem like Beverly Hills in comparison.

[tomahawk72]

Originally Posted by loose cannon

There must be a good reason to move to that pit which makes Allentown seem like Beverly Hills in comparison.

I lived in Reading for 7 years (had to do with the wife's family). I got out 6 months ago.
I couldn't agree more with you. Reading really is a dump, big time.

[wheelingman]

Reading does have some redeeming qualities especially in northside neighborhoods, but it has a high crime rate, though lower than in previous years. If I were you I would live in the suburbs.

[HotOT]

Hi there,

I just bought a home in Hampden Heights (College Heights area) in September and so far feel this neighborhood is safe. My observations are as follows; mainly older, retired professionals committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of Reading. This neighborhood has some of the most beautiful historic homes I have ever seen (this is why I purchased this home!). I do think you need to be smart when living in any city and would never trust strangers or allow my home/property to be vulnerable to crime. I dont see many questionable characters walking around this area but have changed my thinking compared to living in Upper Macungie township in the Lehigh Valley.

[Wolfman89]

Originally Posted by kf70

South Fifth is a lovely old neighborhood. I love the old homes along there. There are many churches and an elementary school nearby. 5th and Laurel is a busy intersection, collecting the downtown traffic from 222 business and the 422 West Shore Bypass off Bingamin Street Bridge.

Would I live there, probably not. We lived over near Central Catholic HS for 5 of the last 6 years and it was usually pretty quiet there. I can't say that I've ever heard about much criminal activity in the area where you are moving....probably a good thing that there is a constant flow of traffic, but go a few blocks in any direction and you will be upon seedier neighborhoods.

Your kidding me. South 5th is pretty bad.

It is right near Franklin and Binghammon..Franklin street is the main crime hub of the city and Bingahammon has a bunch of bars and an alchohal store and a building that apperantly collapsed a few years ago and never got cleaned up.

S.5th is near S.7th which is probably the most shady street on the south side.

There is nothing of value on S.5th and I hate when I have to go down there.

At night that street is Itotally abandoned. It does have the library but when the library closes at night. the drunks and gangsters come out.

There are worse streets but S.5th isn't that great.

I have a friend that lives on Pearl street which is about a block up from S.5th...I will never feel safe down there.

[MarleyRocks]

Eh' this block itself is definetly not one of the worst in the city however it is in a pretty shady southside area of town. I mean as was already said your about two blocks from Pearl Street for instance which is a pretty bad block that the cops don't even like to go up, your very close to Franklin Street which is lined with prostitutes and crack houses, and not far at all from other bad blocks such as Cotton, Wunder, and Laurel which are all streets you definetly do not want to walk around at night. This is one of those areas that if you take a walk around late anynight of the week it wouldnt be out of the ordinary to see either dealers or prostitutes standing on every corner that will try to sell you their product. Personally i wouldnt advice moving into this area unless your ready to deal with all of this. Many people I know have been robbed at gun point, hearing gunshots isn't very rare, and my neighbor a few years back was killed in my back alley over a traffic argument while driving back to his house. I'm not saying you are guaranteed problems if you move here, it's just you will be surrounded by crime and it is just a rather unsafe feeling area, and this is coming from someone who knows from experience.

--Nate