Robinson Street in West Oakland (near Carlow) What do you think? (school, live)

[shogun221]

I was assaulted and robbed on Robinson Street back in 2006 when I was a pizza delivery driver. I ended up having to get stitches to reattach part of my nose to my face. Needless to say, I'm not a *huge fan of the street.

So, I may be a bit biased (and certainly being a driver makes you more of a target than if you were simply living there) That said, I had friends who lived nearby (on Dunseith) around that time, who thought the neighborhood was a fair shade rougher than the other parts of Oakland. Since then, Pitt's been doing some development nearby and there seem to be more students walking around up there than in the past. I'm not sure to what extent that has changed the safety situation up there.

[soniqV]

Hey, another former college delivery driver here. I've had my share of close calls and have seen the evolution/devolution of many parts of town. (Got shot at once in Knoxville but luckily the punk was a terrible shot and missed my car completely!)

Anyway I'd say it's on the upswing and is a good investment IF you're willing to be frank with potential tenants about the area, and give them the proper warnings that they ARE a block away from the projects, and to take necessary precautions. Is it the safest of areas? No, but things happen in Oakland all the time anyway, not just near the Hill. College students are naive. It's nicer than it was 5 years ago and I don't see any reason for that pattern to stop now.

[Uptown kid]

Part of South Oakland and most of West Oakland are the seedy parts of Oakland... South Oakland seems going to be going downhill from 2005(irionicly when police suspected gang activity). While West Oakland seems to be headed uphill from 2005.

[Florida Paradise]

I guess I am just trying to get a feel from students who used to or live there now... on walking this area after the sun goes down. I lived in South Oakland (years ago) and it could be sketchy depending on the day of the week and how many students were out and about.

[Uptown kid]

Students don't run South Oakland past the boulevard the SOC or South Oakland Cripz do... I bet more Pitt Students could tell you stories about South Oakland than Penn State Students in McKeesport... Only because the SOC gets there hustle off of Pitt Students living in the wrong part of Oakland!!!

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

Students don't run South Oakland past the boulevard the SOC or South Oakland Cripz do... I bet more Pitt Students could tell you stories about South Oakland than Penn State Students in McKeesport... Only because the SOC gets their hustle off of Pitt Students living in the wrong part of Oakland!!!

What does this mean, exactly, for a student who lives on the SOC side of the Boulevard (which I did once, a long, long time ago)?

[Uptown kid]

I never lived in South Oakland but I've heard a plenty of stories including this post from ferrarisnowday(after mine):

The whole college party scene aside, I'd never want to live in south Oakland again. Every time Pitt has a break, those homes are targets for thiefs because they assume students go home during the breaks. When I lived there I had my house robbed once, a roommate's car was stolen, and I know 2 people who were robbed at gun point (one in a parking lot, one in their apartment).

That's not to say it's at all scary to walk around south Oakland, but Uptown Kid is right, there does seem to be a lot of people that warn about Lawrenceville, but give south Oakland a pass for some reason.

EDIT: Also, there's a much bigger issue with homeless people/beggars in Oakland than in Lawrenceville in my opinion. Hardly dangerous, but still something to consider.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

I never lived in South Oakland but I've heard a plenty of stories including this post from ferrarisnowday(after mine):

The whole college party scene aside, I'd never want to live in south Oakland again. Every time Pitt has a break, those homes are targets for thiefs because they assume students go home during the breaks. When I lived there I had my house robbed once, a roommate's car was stolen, and I know 2 people who were robbed at gun point (one in a parking lot, one in their apartment).

That's not to say it's at all scary to walk around south Oakland, but Uptown Kid is right, there does seem to be a lot of people that warn about Lawrenceville, but give south Oakland a pass for some reason.

EDIT: Also, there's a much bigger issue with homeless people/beggars in Oakland than in Lawrenceville in my opinion. Hardly dangerous, but still something to consider.

Just to be clear on what I meant by "South Oakland", most people (or at least students) consider anything south of Forbes to be South Oakland. A lot of that area is actually considered "Central Oakland" on official maps. Everything I listed except for the stolen car happened between Forbes and Bates over the course of 2 years.

[Florida Paradise]

Hey... I appreciate all your comments. I really don't like the fact that my girls have to walk around anywhere in Oakland, but that is where they are at school, so I have to make the house I buy as safe as possible (while they are there) and pray when they are out and about on the streets.

[grimacista]

At the end of the day, Oakland is very safe from 6 AM until sundown. After that, like any city neighborhood - from Homewood to Shadyside - you have to pay attention to your surroundings when out and about.