Is Braddock really that bad of an area? (Pittsburgh, New Kensington: how much, quality of life)

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Actually, you're a 4 mile walk away from the Waterfront in Braddock. Most people are likely going to choose to drive 15 minutes over an 1 hour 20 minute walk if they have the choice for the sake of time and safety. With that, I'd rather live in Wexford but I live in Lawreceville and like it because it is reasonably safe and it is very central to many major destinations in the area suburban and urban.

I guess I didn't make it clear enough in my first post, I mean how is driving to nearby stores in Wexford any different than driving to nearby stores in Braddock? Both seem equally convenient to me, as far as shopping goes.

[Uptown kid]

"Gangstas in Swissvale? SWISSVALE? I expected that BS in Rankin and Braddock.........I was there when they merged all of those towns into Woodland Hills. Now it's gone bad?"

Parts keyword [Parts] of Swissvale and North Braddock have recently fallen to Thug Life and Gangsta Bull $hit... The part of Swissvale bordering Rankin is the bad area, not the area bordering Edgewood and Swisshelm Park. In North Braddock the section bordering Braddaock is bad, not the forested area bording Chalfant. Currently the gang problem in Swissvale and North Braddock really isn't that bad because the gangs don't really shootout against their rivals... Though I'm guessing it will eventully get worse in the Swissvale, Rankin, Braddock, North Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Versiallies area...

[jimmyev]

Pittsburghers have absolutely no clue as to what constitutes a 'bad area.' Here's a guide. How to tell you're in a bad area:

1. There are burglar bars on EVERYONE'S windows and doors.
2. ALL storefronts/businesses have roll-up garage doors that they lower EVERY night.
3. Window air conditioners are held in place by grates connected to the inside of the home.
4. The streets are full of working-age dudes in the middle of the work day.
5. Every business not open to the public is surrounded by a chain-link fence topped by razor wire.
6. Backyards are encased in chain-link fences topped by razor wires.
7. Nothing is left on front porches or stored in the backyard. Unless protected by the aforementioned razor wire.
8. Most homes have windows covered with aluminum foil. All year.
9. Cars are NOT left unlocked, unoccupied and running in the Winter nor are car windows left down in the Summer. Actually this doesn't happen in low-crime areas either. Except here.
10. A home's windows are never, never, ever opened. There aren't even screens, because if you don't open the windows, you don't need the screens. And no screen doors.

Very very few neighborhoods in Allegheny County meet the above criteria, not Braddock, Rankin or Swissvale.

[Uptown kid]

If you think your so safe hbu walk around Hawkins Village, Rankin at night... Not even Homewood fits into all of these categories... Your right though... Most Pittsburghers think some areas are overrated that shouldn't be and some places are underrated that should be.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

If you think your so safe hbu walk around Hawkins Village, Rankin at night... Not even Homewood fits into all of these categories... Your right though... Most Pittsburghers think some areas are overrated that shouldn't be and some places are underrated that should be.

I've driven past there at night, on the way to the Waterfront. I don't think I'd be uncomfortable waiting for a bus there at night. There's always a cop at the convenience store.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by jimmyev

Pittsburghers have absolutely no clue as to what constitutes a 'bad area.' Here's a guide. How to tell you're in a bad area:

1. There are burglar bars on EVERYONE'S windows and doors.
2. ALL storefronts/businesses have roll-up garage doors that they lower EVERY night.
3. Window air conditioners are held in place by grates connected to the inside of the home.
4. The streets are full of working-age dudes in the middle of the work day.
5. Every business not open to the public is surrounded by a chain-link fence topped by razor wire.
6. Backyards are encased in chain-link fences topped by razor wires.
7. Nothing is left on front porches or stored in the backyard. Unless protected by the aforementioned razor wire.
8. Most homes have windows covered with aluminum foil. All year.
9. Cars are NOT left unlocked, unoccupied and running in the Winter nor are car windows left down in the Summer. Actually this doesn't happen in low-crime areas either. Except here.
10. A home's windows are never, never, ever opened. There aren't even screens, because if you don't open the windows, you don't need the screens. And no screen doors.

Very very few neighborhoods in Allegheny County meet the above criteria, not Braddock, Rankin or Swissvale.

Just because we don't have the slums of the Brazil or the barrios of Mexico here doesn't mean many areas here are remotely good. That's like saying the residents of Newark, NJ don't know what a gun problem is because arms bazaars in Afghanistan are way worse.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by jimmyev

8. Most homes have windows covered with aluminum foil. All year.

Wait...what?

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Just because we don't have the slums of the Brazil or the barrios of Mexico here doesn't mean many areas here are remotely good. That's like saying the residents of Newark, NJ don't know what a gun problem is because arms bazaars in Afghanistan are way worse.

There are neighborhoods like that in Houston, New Orleans, Dallas and Chicago. But I guess fear is all relative. Just last nite I was telling my friend that I had been hiking in Frick Park. He looked at me aghast, and told me that Frick Park was dangerous - there's all kinds of dogs running loose and you might never know when one might go for your head. Who would be afraid of a dog?

[happywithbraddock]

Oh, come on. You're suggesting that every street in Braddock is like Hawkins Village? That's ridiculous!!! Let me find the worst block in your borough and then judge the whole town by that one street. By those definitions, there aren't ANY good neighborhoods in western PA. 90% of Braddock is quiet. I loaded out my sound equipment from the Rankin Croatian club one night around 2am and it was as quiet as could be. Don't label the whole borough bad because of some bad apples. You have them in your neighborhood too.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Just because we don't have the slums of the Brazil or the barrios of Mexico here doesn't mean many areas here are remotely good. That's like saying the residents of Newark, NJ don't know what a gun problem is because arms bazaars in Afghanistan are way worse.

Maybe but there are stats and the opinions of many on here do indicate that the bad neighborhoods of Pittsburgh aren't as bad as neighborhoods in other large US cities are. Plus how often do you really hear of anyone in the suburbs being murdered (and by suburbs I don't include the likes of Braddock, New Kensington, Homestead, etc that are urban in appearance)