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Washington Heights has some cheap housing to buy, so I'm tempted to buy there. One bedroom.
I'm a young white single female, no kids, not dating anyone, no roommates. NOT looking to rent again.
Would I be crazy to consider Washington Heights on Edgecome Avenue?
Specially, on Edgecombe Avenue near 155th and Amsterdam Avenue.
I've lived in downtown DC before, both "nice" and "up and coming" areas. I felt, generally, fairly safe in Washington, DC. I usually didn't feel like I had to bring very little with me during my commute in DC in order to not get mugged. I wasn't an idiot about flashing valuables, but also didn't live in constant fear. I was careful, but I also don't want to live somewhere where the odds of getting mugged are too high.
I've also lived in small-town midwest. Seriously, SMALL town. Under 50,000 people. Quaint college town.
I'm reasonably street smart, and not a hick. I don't flash my valuables, don't have excess "nice" stuff on me, turn jewelry around so you can't see anything but a silver band at night, don't carry a purse if I plan to be in the ghetto and instead put my wallet down my shirt, lock my home doors, watch my surroundings, the usual. I've traveled internationally by myself many times in Asia and Europe. I've traveled to most large cities in the USA alone and never had any problems, aside from a little pestering from panhandlers or maybe a rare cat call. Definitely minor annoyances and I want to keep it that way.
But, I also don't want to feel unsafe, be harassed by homeless, drunks, or vagrants every day, get mugged or worse, etc. if I'm walking home at 9 or 10 p.m. "Reasonably" safe is what I'm looking for. I like diverse amongst ages, cultures, socioeconomic classes, and what have you, so long as there's not tension against me (young, female, middle-class, white, whatever). I've lived in areas where I was the minority in all of those groups and don't mind that. I just want to feel safe and not be targeted because I'm young, female, middle-class, college graduate, etc. I've lived in good areas, bad areas, big cities, small cities. I prefer city living and expect the usual city noise, basic street smarts, traffic, a little noise from apartment/condo neighbors, and so on. Please don't say "go to Jersey."
I don't want to have to ALWAYS take a cab home after dark in order not to get mugged/worse.
I don't want to ALWAYS have to make sure I don't have ANY visible valuables (a visible phone, jewelry, decent purse, etc.) not to get mugged. I don't flash nice stuff, but if I have, say, a phone or Kindle out on occasion, I don't want the odds of getting mugged to be almost guaranteed. Still, please don't say... go to Jersey. I've already lived in New Jersey. Been there, done that.
So, would you -- as a single, childless, young, middle-class white female -- buy in Washington Heights?
If you have to question yourself CONSTANTLY about the safety there as you have in this thread, then I'd say no. You could find a nice place to buy in Riverdale. Close to Manhattan, and certainly safe. I don't know why everyone is so hooked on Manhattan when they have to live in the ghetto sections.
Your poll is poorly constructed so I can't answer it as written.It has a fatal flaw in that not all of Washington Heights is the same...at all.There are a few areas of Washington Heights that I would consider buying in so in that sense my answer would be yes but I would never consider buying on Edgecombe Avenue ,so for you my answer is no.And there are other quality of life issues that have to be considered,not just safety.
Your poll is poorly constructed so I can't answer it as written.It has a fatal flaw in that not all of Washington Heights is the same...at all.There are a few areas of Washington Heights that I would consider buying in so in that sense my answer would be yes but I would never consider buying on Edgecombe Avenue ,so for you my answer is no.And there are other quality of life issues that have to be considered,not just safety.
I agree... I think the areas West of Broadway near the Cloisters are very nice and well kept, though I personally wouldn't buy there but would certainly be more suitable for the OP.
No that's the hood. I wouldn't even visit there, let alone buy an apartment there. I get that you are hip and not a square but the quality of life there is poor.
Good investment depending on the building. The Heights will continue to gentrify. Especially down there (Near Harlem)
The crime is exaggerated significantly on this board. Culturally, Dominicans are not violent people. They just like to have a good time. Very sociable culture. The young guys are all about promoting parties, music, money, and women. If you can tolerate loitering, open drug usage/transactions, and some noise, you can handle the Heights. Those would be the cons depending on your POV. Pros include urbinity, good transit, restaurants, nightlife, parks.
You won't be the first "White girl" either. Plenty of White Dominicans, other Latinos, Anglos, Blacks, Asians. A lot of variety in the Heights though mostly DR.
Last edited by nykiddo718718; 06-03-2013 at 05:05 PM..
Good investment depending on the building. The Heights will continue to gentrify. Especially down there (Near Harlem)
The crime is exaggerated significantly on this board. Culturally, Dominicans are not violent people. They just like to have a good time. Very sociable culture. The young guys are all about promoting parties, music, money, and women. If you can tolerate loitering, open drug usage/transactions, and some noise, you can handle the Heights. Those would be the cons depending on your POV. Pros include urbinity, good transit, restaurants, nightlife, parks.
You won't be the first "White girl" either. Plenty of White Dominicans, other Latinos, Anglos, Blacks, Asians. A lot of variety in the Heights though mostly DR.
LOL... What an oxymoron... On the one hand crime is exaggerated. On the other hand there's open drug use/transactions... I also like your comment about "White Dominicans".
LOL... What an oxymoron... On the one hand crime is exaggerated. On the other hand there's open drug use/transactions... I also like your comment about "White Dominicans".
Well there is a difference between drug transactions/usage and violent crime. The Village for example also has a very open drug scene yet people flock to live there.
As for White Dominicans, although typically multiracial with a high Sub-Saharan African genetic influence, there are both White and mostly White Dominicans also living in Washington Heights. A lot of racial diversity in the Dominican people.
You'd be on the far southern edge of Washington Heights, as 155th street is generally border between it and Harlem.
I live in Harlem, in the low 140's and Riverside, but ten+ blocks and few avenues is more than enough distance to make a world of difference, so while I can say that as a young single white guy also from a small town, I feel totally safe in my area, but I can't comment too well on where you're looking. I know the rule of thumb for Washington Heights is that you want to be West of Broadway.
Come south a few blocks and check out West Harlem. I'm currently looking to buy a 2 bedroom somewhere in the neighborhood.
Maybe I missed it, but do you currently live in NYC? If so, what part?
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