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I'm considering an apartment on 135th between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards and wanted to inquire about the safety in that area from people who are more familiar. I'm an Asian-American female working professional in my mid-20's, and I have a moderately social lifestyle so I do foresee coming home late at night (in which case, I'd probably take a cab home past 11 pm). I will be living alone.
Based on reading previous threads about Harlem, I understand that safety varies from block to block and the immediate area of St. Nicholas Park can be iffy during the night (and day?) and I would be taking the C train from the station at 135th and St. Nicholas to get to and from my workplace. It would be great if I could get some more informed opinions of the area in the past few months.
Thank you for your help!
Last edited by conconconnie; 03-09-2013 at 05:39 PM..
I'm considering an apartment on 135th between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards and wanted to inquire about the safety in that area from people who are more familiar. I'm an Asian-American working professional in my mid-20's, and I have a moderately social lifestyle so I do foresee coming home late at night (in which case, I'd probably take a cab home past 11 pm). I will be living alone.
Based on reading previous threads about Harlem, I understand that safety varies from block to block and the immediate area of St. Nicholas Park can be iffy during the night (and day?) and I would be taking the C train from the station at 135th and St. Nicholas to get to and from my workplace. It would be great if I could get some more informed opinions of the area in the past few months.
Thank you for your help!
I truly dislike this area, not just safety-wise but quality-of-life-wise.
I can say the following, though. A few of the most problematic buildings on St. Nicholas and FDB were bought a year ago by a major developer, part of a large portfolio, and they are being cleaned out - literally. This will change the area quite a bit. I noticed that they are already marketing very nice (inside) renovated apartments in one of the complexes. I was astonished at the rents because most of the buildings are infested with bedbugs.
There are many projects nearby and there is a lot of social-service housing around ...
You might consider checking out FDB to 125th, walking the length. What you will see there shows up in all of the blocks around. See if you can deal with that. Most of the buildings below 133rd on FDB are social-service buildings, I believe they were trying to turn one around.
Regarding FDB, on the other hand, an infamous drug "gallery" building was bought five years ago and gutted. The apartments are nice, I noticed that they keep listing them and lowering the prices. This is on 134th and FDB, east corner.
On ACP there were some major guns/drugs/whatever-else busts a year ago. Hard to know if that energy is still around.
Someone else described this general area as "multi-racial" - patently false, if that matters to you.
I would recommend: Checking the HPD website for building violations. This can mean a bad landlord, or trouble-making tenants. Be sure to look at the housing court actions.
Check the bedbug registry for your building.
Find out who lives in the buildings nearby, especially next door. This can be a factor for safety, and it certainly is one for quality-of-life. Go to the building department website (ACRIS) and find out the owners of adjacent properties - you get to know the "social service" names.
The area is predominantly Black and the rest of the make-up being Latino. Other minorities make a small percentage. (white, asian, indian,etc). It is really Urban in comparison to other neighborhoods (UWS, UES, LES, etc) The urban culture brings the street hustle, gangs/drug activity, thugs/thug mamis, etc. The people living in Harlem are generally working class. IMO, no one will bother you unless you give them a reason or they deem you an easy victim. There are quality of life issues in Harlem, (noise, gangs/drug activity/groups of youths having "fun"/garbage, numerous housing projects, etc) The summertime is when the neighborhood becomes HOT. People are out and about and the QOL issues increases. The best way to determine if you fit in the neighborhood is to check it out for yourself. Spend a nice Sunny Saturday around the neighborhood.
are you a chick or a dude?? are you a native ny or a resident of a city similar to nyc?
If a chick, then you have to be prepared for aggressive catcalls.
If you're a dude, then you have to be prepared to be "tested" by the local dudes. (not frequently)
The area is predominantly Black and the rest of the make-up being Latino. Other minorities make a small percentage. (white, asian, indian,etc). It is really Urban in comparison to other neighborhoods (UWS, UES, LES, etc) The urban culture brings the street hustle, gangs/drug activity, thugs/thug mamis, etc. The people living in Harlem are generally working class. IMO, no one will bother you unless you give them a reason or they deem you an easy victim. There are quality of life issues in Harlem, (noise, gangs/drug activity/groups of youths having "fun"/garbage, numerous housing projects, etc) The summertime is when the neighborhood becomes HOT. People are out and about and the QOL issues increases. The best way to determine if you fit in the neighborhood is to check it out for yourself. Spend a nice Sunny Saturday around the neighborhood.
are you a chick or a dude?? are you a native ny or a resident of a city similar to nyc?
If a chick, then you have to be prepared for aggressive catcalls.
If you're a dude, then you have to be prepared to be "tested" by the local dudes. (not frequently)
We lived a block away for ten years and I recall that the Latino population was virtually nil - three years ago.
We lived a block away for ten years and I recall that the Latino population was virtually nil - three years ago.
Has this changed ?
Not the specific area that the OP mention but the area in general; Black followed by Latinos followed by a small % of everything else. Also, there is a lot of dark skin Latinos (morenos) that live in that area and can blend in.
are you a chick or a dude?? are you a native ny or a resident of a city similar to nyc?
If a chick, then you have to be prepared for aggressive catcalls.
If you're a dude, then you have to be prepared to be "tested" by the local dudes. (not frequently)
I kind of assumed my username would give me away as a girl, but yes, I'm a girl. Forgot to mention that.
I've been living with my parents in the NJ suburbs, but it's time to move out. I've spent summers subletting in East Williamsburg/Bushwick off the Montrose L stop, if you could consider that area is comparable to 135th.
I'm going to be buying, so this is a place that I need to have space in and should be able to spend the next few years.
why not buy in hoboken? if you want to buy i would buy in morningside heights..
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