Moving to the Mission (22nd/Shotwell & Folsom) for the Spring (San Francisco: apartment, city hall)

[haverymayer]

Hi all,

I've been reading through some of the neighborhood posts and wanted to get some thoughts from people who've lived there. I'm moving from out of town next Spring for a couple of months, and found a beautiful apartment on 22nd Street. It's right around the corner from Shotwell. I've heard mixed messages from different people. My friend lives on Shotwell and says it's fine, I just have to be careful at night. Some say it's cool and fun and that I'm on the safer street in that area. But others say I'm crazy and should consider leasing elsewhere.

I'm female and I've lived in Sf before but way out in the sunset. I've only visited the Mission. I checked out the apartment and it seems safe and quiet during the day, but living there is a different deal. It's tough finding my own place that's affordable for the short term I'll be there. But I don't want to get myself into a bad neighborhood if I don't have to.

Any advice/opinions would be helpful. Thanks!

[mayorhaggar]

It's really up to you. I used to live at 18th and Capp and it was pretty crappy, lots of junkies and winos wandering around, and Folsom and Shotwell are where all the Sureno and Norteno gang members are based and they're always shooting one another. When I lived on Capp one of the Salvadorean crack dealers next door got his foot shot off in a drive-by one night, real fun. The Mission is better now than it used to be but if you want a safe neighborhood I'd look west of Valencia or in other neighborhoods. There were a bunch of rapes in the area recently too.

[sonarrat]

Go if you like it.. don't expect to be able to sleep well every night or stay insulated from the Mission's ingrained problems, but by all means appreciate it for what it is, which is a neighborhood with a lot of character and soul. If you don't think you can handle its flavor, stick to the Avenues.. the Avenues are the only area you would find me living in San Francisco, personally.

[beb0p]

That location is alright, it's just a bit close to the trouble area; check out the SF crime map and you'll know what I'm talking about. Ideally you want to be east of Folsom or west of Valencia, but it's close enough.

That particular location is pretty sleepy. Mostly families and young professionals. I'd be more concern about the route you take to get to the apartment. Valencia, Mission St. and S. Van Ness are the hub of Mission and where most of the crimes occur.

[haverymayer]

Originally Posted by beb0p

That location is alright, it's just a bit close to the trouble area; check out the SF crime map and you'll know what I'm talking about. Ideally you want to be east of Folsom or west of Valencia, but it's close enough.

That particular location is pretty sleepy. Mostly families and young professionals. I'd be more concern about the route you take to get to the apartment. Valencia, Mission St. and S. Van Ness are the hub of Mission and where most of the crimes occur.

Yeah, I checked the crime map these past days and there's been some shootings/shots fired on S. Van Ness and 22nd. I would be commuting to work so I'd be leaving around 6:30AM and returning home around 7 or 8pm. And by that time it's dark. I usually just walk fast and keep my guard up.

Any suggestions as to which route I should take to my apartment? It's literally smackdab in between Shotwell and Folsom. The person I'm subleasing from says that I should walk down 22nd and down mission to 24th BART.

[sonarrat]

It's always a good idea to go where there are more people around, and Mission Street would fit the bill.

[mayorhaggar]

I'd go down to 24th and walk west, it's lively and not as dumpy as Mission.

[beb0p]

Originally Posted by haverymayer

Yeah, I checked the crime map these past days and there's been some shootings/shots fired on S. Van Ness and 22nd. I would be commuting to work so I'd be leaving around 6:30AM and returning home around 7 or 8pm. And by that time it's dark. I usually just walk fast and keep my guard up.

Any suggestions as to which route I should take to my apartment? It's literally smackdab in between Shotwell and Folsom. The person I'm subleasing from says that I should walk down 22nd and down mission to 24th BART.

There shouldn't be any issue walking from the apt to the Bart station. You're not the demographic that crime targets in that part of the Mission. I'd suggest stick to well lit main streets and stay away from smaller streets like Shotwell and Capp (Shotwell in particular, used to have a reputation, just look at its name). I think going via Mission St or 24th St are both ok route. I'd try not to use S. Van Ness.

In the Mission St/S Van Ness/Capp/Shotwell section, crimes are usually gang vs gang. Be alert, don't dress like a gangbanger and you should be fine. Once you get to Valencia St, there's much less gang violence and many more muggings that target innocent bystanders.

[tygg86]

Are you trying to buy some ***** or dope.
Last time I was in that area prostitution was heavy after dark maybe its changed.
Isn't that the TL=tenderloins

[beb0p]

Originally Posted by tygg86

Are you trying to buy some ***** or dope.
Last time I was in that area prostitution was heavy after dark maybe its changed.
Isn't that the TL=tenderloins

The Mission has changed a lot since the last time you visited.

The Tenderloins is north of Market St between City Hall and Union Square.

.