Is Little Havana dangerous? (Miami, Miami Beach: rental car, rental, gated)

[littlehavanaguide]

Is Little Havana dangerous? It's actually much more safe than many other Miami neighborhoods, and has less crime than Miami Beach. Yup. I live in (East) Little Havana and work in Little Havana, and walk its streets literally every day. I will give you my answer based on my experience. And if it matters to you, I am not Latina (although I do speak fluent Spanish).

When I first moved into my neighborhood, other folks said right away -- "Are you crazy?" They said I lived in a dangerous area, with a big drug problem. (I live in SW below 9th Ave.). Yes, like any urban area, including CORAL GABLES, there are robberies here, cars occasionally get broken into, and purses are occasionally snatched. But I have never felt afraid in my neighborhood. I walk to the store. I do go to the local bodegas. I don't walk at night on dark streets -- but that's just common sense in any city.

Yes, there are parts of Little Havana that are safer than others. But a lot of places may seem more dangerous than they really area. I love my large apartment and pay low rent. I'm close to downtown and I95, close to the famous Calle Ocho (which is going through a renaissance) and hey, I guess I benefit from the fear of crime, because it keeps rents low. But Little Havana is becoming more and more a haven for Latino artists/creative folks, and it's a cool, exciting place to be.

If anything, I would recommend brushing up on Spanish speaking skills, because you certainly hear Spanish here much more than you hear English. If you ever want improve your Spanish, move here and you'll have the equivalent of a Spanish-language immersion course! :-)

[WINTERFRONT]

True. Lil Havana is also very pedestrian friendly which is also good for people taking public transport. I like to go to LH cuz it reminds me so much of Miami Beach in some way

Be careful of these kinds of questions now:
A haven for Latino artists? What kind of artists are you talking about? Scam artists?

[rzoom48]

Little havana is in fact a dangerous part of miami . It is mostly full of nicaraguans and cubans. Litlle Havana has small gangs but many of them, which causes gang violence . I lived there for 2 years by 4th st and 10th avenue . and my car has been broken into several times . Also I would here gun shots almost every night . And at night if you go by the park I would see a lot of people drug dealing . So in fact , Little Havana is not a safe area .

[Manolón]

Little Havanna is safe and you only have to worry about your car being vandalized, so you'll need private parking if you have a nice car. You can walk at any hour, and it's one of the few pedestrians areas in Miami. A place very well communicated. Not a ghetto. Rent and property prices are high.

For me, Little Havanna includes part of Coral Gables and extends beyond Bird Road, etc. In fact, most of Dade except black Dade.

[Manolón]

Originally Posted by rzoom48

Little havana is in fact a dangerous part of miami . It is mostly full of nicaraguans and cubans. Litlle Havana has small gangs but many of them, which causes gang violence . I lived there for 2 years by 4th st and 10th avenue . and my car has been broken into several times . Also I would here gun shots almost every night . And at night if you go by the park I would see a lot of people drug dealing . So in fact , Little Havana is not a safe area .

----

I lived on 4th st and 14th avenue. Yes, you have to take care of your car and you friendly pusher is always there, but the place is safe. A lot of locals and old people that call the cops if anything happens. As to shots, some Latins have the tradition of firing during festivities, toques de santo, etc. The Globo area is safe.

[Kinetic_A]

I live on 5th ave and 5th St, I haven't had a problem since I moved here in Feb. I actually talk to my neighbors on occasion. I haven't really seen any other Black people around here than myself, but I guess it's for good reason. I still get women that a leary of me that run back into their homes when I pass by or the cross to the other side of the street when they see me coming. I guess that can't be helped. Plus there are some pretty cheap places around here. I wish I would have saw them before I moved where I am now. Could have save myself a few hundred.

I'm loving the fact that I'm so close to the park, but the crossing the river sometimes on the way to school smells horrible. And there is this guy that comes to feed a pack of stray cats under the 1st St bridge, it's kinda cute.

[Hialeah_Rules]

Miami people love to feed stray cats and ducks, you see them getting offf their cars with huge bags of pet food.

[Kinetic_A]

Ducks? I have yet to see a duck around here.

[lleec]

Hey Kinetic, do you speak spanish.
I am looking to move there in the next couple weeks. I am black, and I wanted to ask your experience. Also, so pointers!

Thanks

[Hialeah_Rules]

Originally Posted by Kinetic_A

Ducks? I have yet to see a duck around here.

Really? They are all over the county, around lakes and canals.