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.
My wife and I moved up here from the upper west side early this year. We are in our early 30's and have a toddler. We moved for more space and proximity to midtown, the upper west side (where my parents live) and upstate (where my inlaws live). It's very easy to get everywhere from WaHi. I have a car and can get out to the Hamptons via the Throgs neck (skip the city), New Jersey for department stores via the GWB, and the Hudson Valley via the west side highway or Deegan. With that said there is plenty for our toddler to do up here- great playgrounds, parks and inexpensive quality daycare (and the soon to opened renovated library and children's museum). There isn't much for hipsters yet, except its convenience to express trains to other neighborhoods. There is a new bar- the heights tavern- same owners of the neighborhood changing harlem tavern. In regards to safety, it's a safe neighborhood- the third safest in manhattan according to nypd statistics. I've never felt unsafe. I'm a native New Yorker and have learned that looks can be deceiving. There's a group of young bucks that hang out on our corner and look threatening to those not from the neighborhood. It's funny to learn that they are charming, Mammas boys, that only want the best for their young kids and who apologize for blocking the sidewalk as I push the stroller past them. My wife doesn't like to walk non-trafficked streets after dark and that would be true in any neighborhood. We've been impressed with the neighborhood, it's filthy, it can be loud occasionally, we would like more culinary diversity; but it's safe, has a wonderful sense of community, and is close to where the "action" is... It's home and will be for a long, long time and we can't be happier about it...
And hipsters move for affordable space and to be able to say there is nothing to do in their neighborhood because it's sooooo remote... And totally authentic...
It has been noted on previous threads about the Heights that after the crack war days the neighborhood wasn't considered dangerous, but did have a low QOL in many parts. From what I've seen of 10032 lately, that's still pretty much the case. I stopped in a grocery store in the lower Heights once and it was totally disgusting. Terrible retail there which helps lower the QOL, along with shabby, dirty buildings and lots of street noise. I hope that new bar is making things better.
Safe doesn't mean it's nice. Unless you can afford to live in some of the quieter and nicer areas West of Broadway that have amenities which are not only fast food joints and bodegas, you are far better off in a neighborhood like Jackson Heights in Queens. I say this as a resident of Washington Heights. I don't mind it here, but I wouldn't recommend it as I'm mostly surrounded by garbage take-out food and the only good bars are overcrowded and full of Bro types (aside from Buddha Beer Bar).
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.
