Safe? For the Deaf (New York, Buffalo: crimes, houses, neighborhoods)

[Salmanal]

The Deaf are targets anywhere we go; nonetheless, I've accepted
my condition and survive with a lot of confidence.

I will move to Rochester in July '09; I wrote a letter to the
Rochester Police Chief's office in April asking for a recommendation
on my own safety. in the letter, I wanted to know if my current choices,
Park Avenue; East/Monroe Ave; Corn Hill were
"on the mark," or, "off the wall" when it comes to safety.
Surprisingly, the police did not respond to my letter.

I love to walk and run errands with my bike, so I'm among the
public a lot, I read speech to "hear," and I am very happy.

In which area will I be least likely to run into potential threat;
i.e., mugger or pickpocket? Park Avenue, South Wedge, East Ave.,
Upper Monroe, or Corn Hill?

Thanks for the assistance,

[garmin239]

As long as you are smart, you should be fine. Crimes like muggings go in spurts and are specific to one area for a short amount of time. There is a chance you could get mugged on park ave or in the suburbs coming out of the mall. Its not likely this will happen though. Just be aware of your surroundings. The areas you listed are some of the safer parts of the city. I personally like park ave and south wedge.

[Salmanal]

Originally Posted by garmin239

As long as you are smart, you should be fine. Crimes like muggings go in spurts and are specific to one area for a short amount of time. There is a chance you could get mugged on park ave or in the suburbs coming out of the mall. Its not likely this will happen though. Just be aware of your surroundings. The areas you listed are some of the safer parts of the city. I personally like park ave and south wedge.

I was already told to avoid the Avenue D? area above Clifford. I am
a bit paranoid because I live in a very safe city; why leave?
Most of the populace is as intelligent as the average 6-year-old,
city services are performed poorly, and the medical community here
is amateur at best. El Paso, TX is also not culturally diverse, everything
is Mexican; not "worldly." (sorry, I lived in California too long)
I'll keep my fingers and chromosomes crossed.

[HowardRoarke]

There are a lot of deaf and hearing impaired folks, in Rochester. NTID is located there, which is one of the reasons why there are so many deaf folks.

I met a lot of technically trained/educated deaf people, in Rochester, both at work and outside of work. A lot of folks with hearing impaired and deaf children locate in the Rochester area, as there are services available for these folks not available in most other U.S. cities.

The neighborhoods you mentioned are pretty good, and offer amenities you'd expect (especially if one uses public transport, not sure if that helps). I lived in the South Wedge, for a year (South Ave. area), and it was fine, at that time. There were areas to stay away from, but, they were contained. I've HEARD (can't confirm this) there has been an increase in crime, in some parts of that neighborhood. The Charlotte neighborhood is still nice (overall), and there are other affordable parts of the city and the suburbs. Most of the Monroe/Pinnacle Hill/Cobbs Hill areas, are nice. Park Avenue area is OK, but it can be a bit pricey.

There are parts of the 19th Ward, west of Thurston Rd., which are pretty safe and are a stone's throw from the western suburbs, Monroe Community College, UofR, and not far from RIT.

[I'minformed2]

I believe i've read somewhere that Rochester has the highest proportion of deaf residents of any city in America. Park Avenue is probably the safest of the neighborhoods you've mentioned but also probably the most expensive (well, expensive for Rochester at least). Corn Hill is very nice but the area surrounding it is a little sketchy.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by I'minformed2

I believe i've read somewhere that Rochester has the highest proportion of deaf residents of any city in America. Park Avenue is probably the safest of the neighborhoods you've mentioned but also probably the most expensive (well, expensive for Rochester at least). Corn Hill is very nice but the area surrounding it is a little sketchy.

I've read the same thing about the deaf population in Rochester as well. I believe RIT has strong deaf oriented programs for students as well. I found this: Deaf in Rochester - Deaf People in Rochester, New York

and this: Rochester, New York - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Salmanal]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

I've read the same thing about the deaf population in Rochester as well. I believe RIT has strong deaf oriented programs for students as well. I found this: Deaf in Rochester - Deaf People in Rochester, New York

and this: Rochester, New York - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for these links,

I'll pay for the safety upon arrival. I'll have an opportunity to determine the
best area for me to buy once I get planted there. I do prefer cities over suburbs (I grew up in the 'burbs). Suburbs seem to offer Shopping as an advantage, I prefer museums and libraries over department stores. The terrain looks like a Cyclist's dream, I currently live at the foot of the Rockies,
and can't ride as much as I'd like.

Thanks so much for all the responses, and have a Wonderful Day,

-s

[HowardRoarke]

Originally Posted by Salmanal

Thanks for these links,

I'll pay for the safety upon arrival. I'll have an opportunity to determine the
best area for me to buy once I get planted there. I do prefer cities over suburbs (I grew up in the 'burbs). Suburbs seem to offer Shopping as an advantage, I prefer museums and libraries over department stores. The terrain looks like a Cyclist's dream, I currently live at the foot of the Rockies,
and can't ride as much as I'd like.

Thanks so much for all the responses, and have a Wonderful Day,

-s

FYI, a lot of Rochester is good for cycling, hiking, running, and general recreating. The Erie Canal path is mostly complete, between Albany and Tonawanda (Buffalo). Often times I would run and bike on the canal path, when I lived in Rochester. A friend used to scull (row) on the canal.

There's a great trail system throughout the Finger Lakes area, and the parks system within Monroe County is excellent. As far as the Erie Canal path is concerned, there are dozens of "access points", for the path, from one end of Monroe County, to the other. There's another bike/hike path, on the river north of downtown, which recently had a major bridge put in for it, in the Charlotte neighborhood. It's now complete from Maplewood Park to the mouth of the river. Access point I used to use is Turning Point Park.

When it comes to city living, there are many good houses available between $90K-$140K, in decent to really good neighborhoods. Just check the past gas and electric bills, for the property. I've seen gas and electric bills exceeding $1000/mo., in the dead of winter, for some houses in the city. Ellwanger-Barry 'hood is nice, and there are other neighborhoods close by which might fit your tastes. The first house I bought in Rochester is in the South Wedge. I liked it because it was close to my job, to downtown, to school, and to the expressways.

Some of the older neighborhoods have few houses with garages (South Wedge being one of them), if that's a consideration. Some don't have a driveway, even, however, there is on street parking. There are some old neighborhoods, in Rochester, due to the age of the city.