Areas to avoid in Berkeley? (San Francisco, Sacramento: houses, neighborhoods, college)

[Natural510]

Berkeley's pretty easy, so I made a little map where the areas blacked out are usually okay (with a few exceptions) to a longtime resident but I wouldn't recommend to someone unfamiliar with the area:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...rkeleycopy.jpg

[mayorhaggar]

SW Berkeley is the only part I've ever felt uncomfortable in.

Depending on where you work, I'd look into living in Rockridge or the Temescal in North Oakland, they are a short bus or BART ride to downtown Berkeley and should be cheaper than the nice parts of Berkeley.

[bsyde82]

so San Pablo Park and the neighborhood immediately around that area is pretty seedy?

[Natural510]

It can be at night. There's a liquor store on Oregon & Sac which can have a spillover effect, but during the daytime it's usually fine.

[Carlite]

I've lived and/or worked in Berkeley for 30 years. I would avoid the area south of about Derby and west of maybe Sacramento, but the maps people are showing are too large. The area around Ashby BART has a real mix of folks. At one time it was considered "ghetto," but I know and see more and more professionals living around there. At the same time, I'm also aware of crime incidents there. In general, property crime in Berkeley is far more prevalent than violent crime. Compared to at least some parts of Baltimore, Berkeley is going to look like eden.

I have never seen anybody displaying their genitals on San Pablo Avenue, that's not even where the homeless population of Berkeley is concentrated (which is around Telegraph Ave., People's Park, Downtown when they're chased off Telegraph). In past years, there were some young ladies on San Pablo who would have liked to display their genitals--had one paid for the privilege--but that's rare nowadays. Still, San Pablo isn't as nice a shopping street as College, Shattuck, Solano, or even University. Your challenge is going to be getting close to your job with the budget you've got.

Anything can happen, but I think your biggest crime worry could well be bicycle theft, which is a big problem here.

[edsg25]

other than Telegraph Avenue, are there other parts of Berkeley near Cal that come across as "college town"?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by NYMTman

Hey guys, just accepted a software engineering position in Berkeley. Looking to live somewhere in Berkeley proper to be super close to work. Any areas I should avoid? Also, are there any areas that are nicer than the rest?

Thanks.

Avoid Bezerkeley!

[Natural510]

Originally Posted by edsg25

other than Telegraph Avenue, are there other parts of Berkeley near Cal that come across as "college town"?

Not sure what you mean by "College town"?

[DocGoldstein]

Originally Posted by edsg25

other than Telegraph Avenue, are there other parts of Berkeley near Cal that come across as "college town"?

Shattuck (lots of pubs, small restaurants), Bancroft (bars), Durant (especially between Dana and Bowditch).

[ZhugeLiang]

As far as San Pablo, anywhere south of Dwight is a pretty bad idea. Also, if you drive further down Shattuck, once you leave the downtown area, things tend to get sketchy pretty quick as you approach the ghetto side of Emeryville.