Is the Tenderloin really THAT bad? (San Francisco, Oakland: high crime, home, neighborhood)

[CiNYC]

^ That's a great photo thread.

No, the TL is not that bad. I live a few blocks north of it so I walk (not drive) through it on a pretty regular basis. Granted, some blocks are sketchier than others, but it's nothing compared to a lot of bad neighborhoods in the east/midwest.

[King0fthehill]

^ Thanks

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by King0fthehill

SAN FRANCISCO | Sarah Palin is really a MAN..! - SkyscraperPage Forum

A lot of your photos of buildings remind of buildings in London and Dublin. Great work!

[gizmo980]

I personally like the Tenderloin... it's active, vibrant, has great food open all night, and for those who are looking there's some "cheap" rent. It is considered a bad neighborhood because it's a true city environment, complete with bums, garbage & drunks. But you aren't likely to get shot or even jumped there, unless maybe YOU get too drunk and start a fight.

The actual crime-ridden area is where I live, in the Southeast part of SF - Bayview/Hunter's Point, Visitacion Valley, Excelsior, etc. I still love this part of town, though, since it has a lot to offer! I have cheap rent, easy access to both freeways (101 & 280) and the Peninsula, 10 minutes to SFO, no parking/overcrowding issues, and my street is usually safe and quiet. So don't rule out any neighborhood until you check it out yourself.

[rah]

No, the tenderloin is not as bad as some people say, and no it's not some complete hell hole. It's actually a very diverse and vibrant neighborhood, with many southeast asian, and more recently, central american immigrants. It has many great things going for it, but there are more than bums and ethnic restaurants there, and anyone who definitively says it's safe is fooling themselves. It's a very highly trafficked and fought over drug area, and there are plenty of thugs and drug dealers in the area, both from SF and from around the Bay Area (they come in on BART). This of course means there are plenty of strung out crackheads and other addicts...which means a higher occurence of things such as theft and robbery. San francisco has a relatively high robbery rate (514 robberies per 100,000 residents in 2007, compare that to 399 for Norfolk, and the Tenderloin is one of the most dangerous parts of the city in regards to robberies. SF also has a higher total violent crime rate than Norfolk. 857 crimes per 100,000 for SF, 844 for Norfolk). There are tons of SRO's (single room occupancy hotels), many of which are pretty run down, and that rent rooms weekly and monthly. There are many homeless and drug treatment services located in the TL too, which compounds it's problem of lots of street people and addicts hanging around. Shootings aren't as common as some more dangerous hoods in SF, but they certainly do happen. And in any case people in the TL kill each other quite often, just like in any other high crime area. The feel changes pretty drastically after dark too. It empties of most normal people, leaving mostly homeless people and drug dealers and the like hanging around. No, not the most comfortable environment. The edges of the tenderloin aren't nearly as bad as some intersections and blocks deep in there though.

It's also a hotspot for prostitution, so don't be surprised if you see a pimp or 10, and prostitutes of all genders/sexual orientations...not to mention the "massage parlors" that are a front for sex trafficking operations, and which "employ" sex slaves brought here against their will from Asia. the chronicle recently did a series on sex slaves from South Korea in these places (which are by no means confined to the tenderloin...the TL and Chinatown are probably where most of them are though).

The Tenderloin is usually pretty easy to manage if you have street smarts at all...but that doesn't discount the fact that plenty of shady business goes on there. There's a reason that small slice of the city has it's own police station.

Originally Posted by Chicagoaklandish

I was at a Norfolk Greyhound station once... I don't think even HP is that grimy!

That's a ridiculous statement. Bayview/Hunters Point is seriously deprived neighborhood in many parts, and there's no way you can compare the entire area to a greyhound station in Norfolk. I'm sure that greyhound station is much scarier than the public housing projects that sprawl through Hunters Point. Ssome of which were actually rated among the worst in the nation by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 2007. It is funny how Greyhound stations tend to be dirty and sketchy though.

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Don't worry about the Western Addition.

The Western Addition has been pretty quiet in recent years, but things still go on there. there are neighborhoods in SF where you don't have to worry. The Western Addition/Fillmore is not one of them. I have friends who live in some of the projects in the Fillmore and I've been there plenty of times myself. Sure it's pretty gentrified in parts, compared to even 5 years ago, but the projects are still there, as is much of the crime that comes with them (the worst ones, most of the tower blocks, were demolished in the late 90's). if you want proof here you go: Someone was murdered in some of the projects a couple weeks ago, and at his funeral last week some dudes ran up with a tec-9 and sprayed the funeral home with bullets, at 2 p.m.. That's the Western Addition for you.

I swear it's like some people live in this fantasy world where crime in SF is NEVER as bad as anywhere else. No it's not the worst city for crime, and it never has been (except for maybe the gold rush days), but the sad truth is, SF has more than it's share of crime and screwed up violence. It is not a perfect place.

[Bluesmama]

When I go to SF it's usually alone, and sometimes I'll drift in and around parts of the Tenderloin. Last time it was because I wanted to go to the Asian Art Museum. It's mostly homeless and crazies but I would never wonder around there by myself after dark.

Last time I was there I wanted to spend time in the Mission area, but where I ended up seemed creepy to me. I walked around a little and tried to get used to it but just couldn't. So I left. I may try again next time with a better idea of where to go.

[sonarrat]

I've driven through the Hunter's Point projects and found it remarkably desolate, much like West Oakland. I've never seen so many broken-down old American cars in my life. The main drag for the Bayview (Third Street) was much more lively, which also makes it less dangerous.

Tenderloin is pimp/wino central, but it's also home to the Civic Center, the main library, and the symphony hall among other things.

[rah]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Tenderloin is pimp/wino central, but it's also home to the Civic Center, the main library, and the symphony hall among other things.

yeah it's an interesting juxtaposition...As for the HP projects seeming desolate, sunnydale, Potrero Hill are like that too. Those projects in the southeast are pretty depressing. And they have such good views too. If history had been different (as in no World War II), those spots would probably be some of the most expensive in the city. All those housing projects were originally built for navy personnel and dock workers back during the early 40's. They were supposed to be temporary, but they were turned into projects instead.

[Huckleberry3911948]

kinda like NO, mix of extremes have and have nots, that get together in unpleasant ways.

[jman650]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

I have no problem with the homeless. I work in Norfolk, VA in an area that has lots of homeless and they don't seem to bother anyone. I can't see why the homeless in SF would be any different. Thanks again!

Just a heads up, the homeless here are a bit crazier and more aggressive than in VA. I'm not speaking from personal experience, but my girlfriend is from VA Beach, went to ODU, and hung out on Granby, Waterside, Ghent, etc...she still can't understand how these homeless are so much different than what she was used to in VA. Not that you should be scared or anything, but definitely do not underestimate them. Hopefully you just won't have to deal with any crazy ones while you're here.