West Philly: How far west is safe?

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

While I agree with most of the folks posting, the fact of the matter is that if you are a white person in a primarily black neighborhood, you stand out. Make that a sketchy neighborhood and you are a prime candidate for being mugged because:
a) You don't belong there so obviously you are clueless
b) Being clueless, you probably have valuables that you were too stupid to leave at home.

I would agree that if you're lost - or looking for illicit activity in a sketchy neighborhood, then that could be a bad scene. On the other hand, one could be a white person who happens to be visiting a black friend - it happens .

Either way, it is far better to move to the safer areas where there are more people who look like you so you can blend into the herd, so to speak.

I would hope that you're at least speaking of appearance via perceived economic class. The 'burbs and other generally middle-to-upper income areas may be less diverse but people of all ethnicities live out there for similar reasons.

[Deep77]

I live in West Philadelphia and I really like it. The cutoff point in West Philly is around 52nd street. Though I have visited a friend a night around there and felt fine. The cutoff point to the north depends where are you at. 42nd and Market can get sketchy. 45th or 46th and Chestnut. 49 and Walnut. It's kind of like steps. South I don't know much past Chestnut. There areas of West Philly that will remind you of suburban living.

People are very friendly. And I mean people of all races. Where else can you find an Amish guy selling vegitables to a Black Woman in Muslim garb? It is one of the few areas of the Philly metro area that doesn't remind you of Alabama cerca 1950.

[orrmobl]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I would hope that you're at least speaking of appearance via perceived economic class. The 'burbs and other generally middle-to-upper income areas may be less diverse but people of all ethnicities live out there for similar reasons.

I was speaking of closer to University City as opposed to areas on the fringe. By herd I just meant college students and employees and other locals living there.

Actually my relatives lived in Overbrook for a while - they could see the hookers hanging out in the morning and the pizza delivery guy refused to come to the house without like 5+ follow up phone calls. I visited exactly once. If someone wants to risk their life by living in a sketchy part of town, that's their business, but I don't need to get caught up in it. As for my black friends, they lived in West Mount Airy and Boothwyn .