East Side Crime/Neighborhoods (Providence: apartments, to rent, violent crime)

[maritov]

Hi, I am currently searching for an apartment as I am moving to Providence from NYC for work. I spent all weekend seeing places on the East Side. My favorite apartments are located on Carrington and Olney, both west of Hope Street. The area seemed nice when I was there, but one of my new colleagues who is a crime junky and seems to know every crime that has happened in Providence in the past three decades thinks that it is not safe to live there. So I am wondering what you all think about that area? And in comparison, what about apartments around Arnold, Williams, or East Transit streets?

[ProvGuy]

Olney and Carrington aren't too bad. Hope High School is right nearby both so you'll get some annoying students sometimes committing petty crimes but that's about it. The worst street on the East Side is Pleasant St and the lower end of Doyle Ave towards North Main. Even those streets are getting better though, with new houses going up on Pleasant this year. General rule used to be east of Camp St is fine, west is kind of seedy, but now there's been enough investment on both sides that the whole area is getting safer.

Some general crime stats, for the year and couple months I've lived in this area (known as Mt. Hope by the way), we've had one murder (drug-related), 2-3 shootings (both drug-related), 1 home invasion, lot's of graffiti and some car break-ins. All the violent crime happened on Pleasant and Doyle. Unless you're looking for trouble, you'll be fine. If you go anywhere else on the East Side the most crime you'll see is the occasional graffiti or car break-in.

[Crispo]

ProvGuy has lower standards than I for tolerance of crime. I was jogging recently near Camp and Olney and a couple of black guys threatened me and started chasing after me. I guess it was because I was white. I would avoid that area.

[Hollytree]

If I were you, I'd go with Arnold, Williams, or East Transit streets.
It's safe, convenient to shopping on Wickenden and Thayer Sts and close to the colleges, not the high school. You can also easily walk downtown. You'll be better off all the way around.

Only drawback is that section (known as Fox Point) is very early 19th century, so housing will be "quaint" unless recently updated.

[Alphaman]

I remember When the fox point area was full of drugs how is that area now?

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Alphaman

I remember When the fox point area was full of drugs how is that area now?

Me too. Now I hear its all Brown kids renting there. India Point park had a big rehab and is a great place to ride bikes take a stroll during the day.
Always dug those pastel painted apts in Fox Point

[ProvGuy]

Originally Posted by Crispo

ProvGuy has lower standards than I for tolerance of crime. I was jogging recently near Camp and Olney and a couple of black guys threatened me and started chasing after me. I guess it was because I was white. I would avoid that area.

You must look like an easy target.

[Crispo]

Originally Posted by ProvGuy

You must look like an easy target.

Oh, because I'm forty something, 6'2", and very fit.

[Hollytree]

The area of Fox Point closer to the Benefit St end is very gentrified. The Preservation Society just did a house tour there. Areas closer to Gano are more a mixed bag, but overall the area is much better than it was 5 or 10 years ago. It is a popular area for college students to rent, and attracts an artsy mix. Portuguese immigrants are largely history.
Your mileage will vary- depending on exact location of apt.!!

[ProvGuy]

Yeah Fox Point is pretty much cleaned up. The only drugs left on the East Side are on Pleasant, Doyle and Billy Taylor Park up in Mt. Hope.