South Park Safety (San Diego, Burlingame, Nice: renters, crimes, houses)
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I am considering purchasing a single family house in South Park near 31st and Grape St. I was wondering how safe this neighborhood is for a single white female in her mid 20s. Obviously I won't be out super late lurking in alleys but in general, on a Friday or Saturday evening prior to, say, 10pm would I be safe walking my dog around the neighborhood?
Also, any other comments or things to be aware of in that part of town? What are the best things and worst things about South Park?
If anyone has an opinion on the dining and bar scene I'd be curious to hear it as well. I know there are several restaurants that have a good following in the area (Big Kitchen, South Park Bar and Grill, Alchemy etc.) Is this an up and coming area or would you say it is declining?
It's a fun area, very popular with young people, great old houses, some nice, some dumps. It's beyond up-and-coming and has pretty much fully gentrified. Housing costs are now so high I think it has shut out most of the would-be home rehabbers that moved in over the past ten years. My half-brother's mom has lived in Burlingame for 20+ years and we have seen the transformation from a run-down neighborhood to a true hipster haven. We have many friends who bought their homes for nothing in the 90's and now they are worth 600k+. These days it has become more popular with the younger renters but you still have a solid core of older homeowners with a good strong community feel. Nice, growing selection of bars and restaurants and easy access to downtown if you are looking for even more to do.
It's not generally an area known for violence but 10PM for a single female out on the streets alone is probably not a good idea anywhere in San Diego anymore. If you stick to the Fern / 30th corridor near the restaurants and shops you should be fine as there are many people out at all times. However once you go south of the school on Ash / A st it starts to get sketchy pretty fast. Personally I think it is a safer district after dark than say, Normal Heights, or North Park. 31st and grape is mostly a quiet and mellow residential area, but remember you are only about a mile away from some of San Diego's worst areas and so street smarts are important.
Last edited by Sassberto; 02-01-2010 at 10:27 PM..
I am considering purchasing a single family house in South Park near 31st and Grape St. I was wondering how safe this neighborhood is for a single white female in her mid 20s. Obviously I won't be out super late lurking in alleys but in general, on a Friday or Saturday evening prior to, say, 10pm would I be safe walking my dog around the neighborhood?
Also, any other comments or things to be aware of in that part of town? What are the best things and worst things about South Park?
If anyone has an opinion on the dining and bar scene I'd be curious to hear it as well. I know there are several restaurants that have a good following in the area (Big Kitchen, South Park Bar and Grill, Alchemy etc.) Is this an up and coming area or would you say it is declining?
Thanks in advance your help!
-Palylime
I just moved from 32nd and Maple in June, super nice quiet area, lots of gay couples and families, and the little area around Fern and Maple has lots of nice little businesses.
Big Kitchen has been a staple for me since the early 80's, the Whistle Stop is a great neighborhood watering hole on weekdays and happy hour (weekend nights there's a younger crowd, which can be a little loud/amateur for me). Rebecca's coffee shop makes the BEST scones in San Diego. The Daily Scoop has gorgeous homemade ice cream, Citizen Video is an *outstanding* independent movie store... The grocery store right there isn't tops, but you're only a few blocks from the main drag in North Park and close enough to Henry's and Vons that it doesn't matter. Haven't been to the Station yet but I hear it's pretty good. Vagabond is quite nice, Mazara's pizza is just barely so-so, and Sombrero's taco shop is not my favorite, but works in a pinch for an emergency burrito.
It's one of my favorite areas of San Diego, actually.. As far as safety, you're fine pretty much anytime around there with the usual amount of caution one uses as a single female- but walking your dog before 10 pm? you're golden.
Haven't been to the Station yet but I hear it's pretty good.
The burger is just a burger and the beer's cold, but it's the ONLY bar in San Diego you can bring an 18 month old to! We go all the time with our toddler crew, and they (and we) love it.
The burger is just a burger and the beer's cold, but it's the ONLY bar in San Diego you can bring an 18 month old to! We go all the time with our toddler crew, and they (and we) love it.
No it's not! Kiddies are welcome at the Blind Lady, and there is some FINE beer and really good food there to boot! You can also bring the grommets to Toronado, although now that they've pared down the menu I'm not as sure it's worth it.
No it's not! Kiddies are welcome at the Blind Lady, and there is some FINE beer and really good food there to boot! You can also bring the grommets to Toronado, although now that they've pared down the menu I'm not as sure it's worth it.
Blind Lady is fine for older kids, say 5+ year olds. But toddlers love to run around and jump and hoot and holler. You can't get a 2-year old to sit in a seat for more than about 15 minutes. The Station is uniquely suited for that demographic
Blind Lady is fine for older kids, say 5+ year olds. But toddlers love to run around and jump and hoot and holler. You can't get a 2-year old to sit in a seat for more than about 15 minutes. The Station is uniquely suited for that demographic
Toronado... the hipsters would get offended.
I'm at the Blind Lady all the time with a passel of 18-36 month-olds that like to run around and make friends with everyone. On a weeknight, happy hour time, it's totally cool, everyone digs.. But you're right about Toronado, for sure
I'm at the Blind Lady all the time with a passel of 18-36 month-olds that like to run around and make friends with everyone. On a weeknight, happy hour time, it's totally cool, everyone digs.. But you're right about Toronado, for sure
My kid would whack his head against all the tables in there. He needs open space.... we go sometimes. I am also not a huge fan of their food!
The neighborhood is very safe. Like folks have said, a certain level of awareness is always prudent when living in the city and the general rule of staying in areas where there are other folks present still applies. It has only gotten better in the past 10 years and the increased foot traffic what with all the newly popular restaurants and pubs has certainly helped. Whatever little incident I ever hear about is usually just a little bar ruckus after closing and even that is rare, other than that it the blotter is generally limited to a few car crimes and the occasional break-in, nearly non-existent violent or personal crimes.
I live just down the street and think you couldn't find a better neighborhood, I think folks halfway familiar with my posts here are groaning "enough about South Park already!..." lol, but I am a sincere booster for the neighborhood, I wouldn't move if I won the Lottery. Good Luck.
The burger is just a burger and the beer's cold, but it's the ONLY bar in San Diego you can bring an 18 month old to! We go all the time with our toddler crew, and they (and we) love it.
Actually, their burgers, fries, and salads are pretty good - maybe better (and a bit cheaper) than Burger Lounge. A bit too noisy for the older than toddler set, but I can see it working for the toddlers.
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