Safe places to live and commute to Bronx? (New York, Middletown: real estate, to rent)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm a 22-year-old teacher who just got a job at an elementary school not far from the Elder Ave station in the Bronx. I absolutely love the school and the administration, but I was wondering where I should live in order to safely commute to the school... it's on Evergreen Ave, just north of the Bruckner and Soundview Park. I'd like to avoid driving if possible, especially since the school doesn't have a parking lot. My current idea is to commute from the UES in Manhattan, but would it be safe for me to take the 6 train every day, especially when the days are shorter in the winter? Just to give you an idea, I'm a white female, 5'11". I've lived in the somewhat unsafe area of New Brunswick, NJ for the past few years, but I don't want to take my street smarts for granted . Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!
I'm a 22-year-old teacher who just got a job at an elementary school not far from the Elder Ave station in the Bronx. I absolutely love the school and the administration, but I was wondering where I should live in order to safely commute to the school... it's on Evergreen Ave, just north of the Bruckner and Soundview Park. I'd like to avoid driving if possible, especially since the school doesn't have a parking lot. My current idea is to commute from the UES in Manhattan, but would it be safe for me to take the 6 train every day, especially when the days are shorter in the winter? Just to give you an idea, I'm a white female, 5'11". I've lived in the somewhat unsafe area of New Brunswick, NJ for the past few years, but I don't want to take my street smarts for granted . Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!
You may want to live along the 6 line. I recommend areas near these stations: Buhre Avenue, Middletown Road, or Pelham Bay Park. The area around Westchester Square station can be sketchy at night. It's not that bad an area although declineing.
Another option is in Queens along the Q44 bus route. You just transfer to the 6 train or Bx4 at Parkchester if you need to get to the Soundview area.
However you live on the Upper East Side, why move? Great area.
If your coming from the Upper East Side of Manhattan might as well take the 6 Train. You get off at Elder Ave to travel to that school. The ride is not that bad although there are usually a lot of beggers in the station. The station is shady I will admit but lately a lot of officers are sent there since it's an Impact Station. So now they usually take the bull**** outside. Funny thing is they only sent cops to these Impact stations becuase of all the bums folding and selling fares. Not becuase the stations needed the extra presence.
As for the Soundview area, VERY unsafe neighborhood. There was a triple shooting there Sunday. A lot of drug activity especially along Watson Avenue and it's cross streets. It's litteraly an open drug market out there. Lots of public housing as well to the south/north and NYCHA rehabs along Watson. Use caution especially if you will be leaving late. One of the most highest crime areas in the city.
Since you are walking to the school, you will want to avoid walking down Elder. Way too much drug activity. Might want to try walking down Wheeler. That is at least walkable. The problem though is Watson is such a hell hole it's not a fun place to walk at all. Even for one of two blocks. Early in the morning maybe, but in the afternoon forget it. I would say walk across Westchester, but then you have to walk down Evergreen Ave. It's very shady for such a dense block. You see tenements with entrances wrapped in cages and only drug dealers really hanging out. Once you get closer to the school it gets a little less intimidating.
Last edited by Hustla718; 07-31-2007 at 10:55 AM..
You may want to live along the 6 line. I recommend areas near these stations: Buhre Avenue, Middletown Road, or Pelham Bay Park. The area around Westchester Square station can be sketchy at night. It's not that bad an area although declineing.
Another option is in Queens along the Q44 bus route. You just transfer to the 6 train or Bx4 at Parkchester if you need to get to the Soundview area.
As for the Soundview area, VERY unsafe neighborhood. There was a triple shooting there Sunday. A lot of drug activity especially along Watson Avenue and it's cross streets. It's litteraly an open drug market out there. Lots of public housing as well to the south/north and NYCHA rehabs along Watson. Use caution especially if you will be leaving late. One of the most highest crime areas in the city. If your walking to the school, you will want to avoid walking down Elder. Way too much drug activity. Might want to try walking down Wheeler. That is at least walkable.
I'll get in trouble for selling Parckchester once more, but......
Call with regard to rents.....very reasonable!
Parkchester South Condominium (http://www.parkchester.org/index.htm - broken link)
Since you are walking to the school, you will want to avoid walking down Elder. Way too much drug activity. Might want to try walking down Wheeler. That is at least walkable. The problem though is Watson is such a hell hole it's not a fun place to walk at all. Even for one of two blocks. Early in the morning maybe, but in the afternoon forget it. I would say walk across Westchester, but then you have to walk down Evergreen Ave. It's very shady for such a dense block. You see tenements with entrances wrapped in cages and only drug dealers really hanging out. Once you get closer to the school it gets a little less intimidating.
If I mind my own business, would I be ok walking down Westchester or Wheeler, or is the danger really in getting caught in the crossfire? I'm also hoping that having a reputation as a teacher might buy me some additional safety in the area.
Shouldn't you wait until you live there at least a year before you start recomending it. It's only been 3 weeks.
I don't like Parkchester. Although the complex is so-so the surrounding area is NOT.
Believe it or not, it's actually 8 (time flies). No problem with the year requirement, although I would've expected some 'activity' in the summer (and half of summer is gone, already!).
If I mind my own business, would I be ok walking down Westchester or Wheeler, or is the danger really in getting caught in the crossfire? I'm also hoping that having a reputation as a teacher might buy me some additional safety in the area.
Your chances of getting caught in any drug, gang, or dispute related shootings are very low. It doesn't sound like you are involved in any criminal activity. Although the area does have a lot of violent crime, most of it is perp on perp.
My number one concern would be robberies. That is a robbery prone area. A lot of snatches and stickups under the El and on the cross streets. I don't think anyone would try and jump a female White teacher. No points on the street for something like that. Most of the that goes on at night though, but always be cautious becuase it does happen during the day too. You don't want to be that victim.
As long as you don't walk down the street yapping on your phone, not paying attention, you should be fine. Remember, your just going from point A to point B. Keep it that way and you shouldn't have a problem. I would be more concerned with the children. Inner city kids can be a pain in the ass.
My advice though is to take Wheeler Ave down. It's calmer then the other blocks between the El platform and the school. If you don't have a problem with stares, comments, and beggers, you could try any block to walk down you want. It's up to you.
Last edited by Hustla718; 07-31-2007 at 03:18 PM..
any of the subway stops hustla reccomended are fine to live around. Westchester Square is shady and the i wouldn't reccomend anything south of Morris Park, which is about 10 minutes walking from the 6 train or an easy bus ride.
As for whether you should move to the BX, you'll get more for your money and hear mas espanol and italian. Also might want to consider a car unless u like riding the bus. As for food you can get pretty limited. Lots of Italian, Spanish and Chinese with some seafood options available on city island. Really good quality if you know where to go, but it is nothing like manhattan.
The 5 station is in Morris Park and is a short 10 minute walk from everywhere in the neighborhood, but going all the way down to the 6 station in Westchester square seems like quite the hike.
I am pretty sure that there is a bus that goes down Williamsbridge road to Westchester Square from Morris Park, but I don't know the number of it.
Doesn't the 6 run express during rush hour between Parkchester and 138th st? Would it be difficult for her to get a subway going to Elder Ave during rush hour because it is on the local line? (I honestly don't know the answer to this, local input is needed).
Greetings fellow teacher. I too am a first year teacher. I'll be teaching middle school near Yankee stadium and I was born and raised in the Bronx. I'm currently living only one station down from Elder on the 6 (Whitlock) and I know how bad the area is. For the foreseeable future I plan to stay where I am to save money, and hope to buy my first home sometime next year.
I've been lurking on this forum for a while now and I mostly agree with Hustla. The areas he named are good ones. However, I'm not quite so down on Parkchester. I grew up not far from there and pass through quite often - it's not so bad. I'd encourage you to take the six train there and walk around the complex to see for yourself and get a feel for it. The rent there is reasonable and I'd probably move there now myself if it weren't for the no pets policy - I own two dogs.
I can also sympathize if you want to move out of the upper east side. Our starting salary isn't that great. Most of the first year teachers I know who are intent on living on the upper east side have moved out here from other parts of the country, and seem intent on living the Sex and the City type lifestyle - with financial help from their parents. I know it's a terrible thing to say, but I suspect many of them will be part of the large drop out rate that don't make it until the first December.
As for the area itself and safety, I wouldn't really worry for the most part. The hours that you'll be traveling to and from your school the streets are busy and relatively safe. Come winter though I'd be very conscious of what time you leave your school so you make it to the train station before dark. You can always do your lesson planning at home...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!
