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My husband and I (we are a newly married gay couple, woot woot!) have friends who live in Hamilton Heights and love it, but we still haven't had a chance to check out the neighborhood for ourselves. We'll be moving back to the city from Seattle (where we've lived for three years), and I gotta say that my memories of other parts of Harlem aren't the best.
The apartment is everything we want and in the right price -- which is almost a red flag for me in Manhattan.
We don't need everything outside our door, don't spend a lot of time outside at night and like that there are a few nice parks nearby. We're mainly concerned with anti-gay animus and violent crime.
Can any of you speak to that around this specific block ahead of my viewing there on Sunday afternoon?
My husband and I (we are a newly married gay couple, woot woot!) have friends who live in Hamilton Heights and love it, but we still haven't had a chance to check out the neighborhood for ourselves. We'll be moving back to the city from Seattle (where we've lived for three years), and I gotta say that my memories of other parts of Harlem aren't the best.
The apartment is everything we want and in the right price -- which is almost a red flag for me in Manhattan.
We don't need everything outside our door, don't spend a lot of time outside at night and like that there are a few nice parks nearby. We're mainly concerned with anti-gay animus and violent crime.
Can any of you speak to that around this specific block ahead of my viewing there on Sunday afternoon?
Thanks!
Hey. There are a number of threads here about HH. The area has been going through a rapid change over the past few years. The housing stock is great (nice tree lined streets, big apartments) and you can get to midtown on the express in 10 mins.
A lot of bars and restaurants have been opening and the area has plenty of gays. Actually, on 150th and Broadway a number of gay friendly bars have opened, including Harlem Public and At the Wallace.
Nothing wrong with it BUT some people on this board poop in their pants when theres a few black/spanish people in the area let alone small communities. Lots of changes have happen up there.
Dont hesitate to take the apt before i show it to some of my clients and they take it
Nothing wrong with it BUT some people on this board poop in their pants when theres a few black/spanish people in the area let alone small communities. Lots of changes have happen up there.
Dont hesitate to take the apt before i show it to some of my clients and they take it
Keep in mind that this is a real estate agent and they are selling the area hard. Few people care about the "black and hispanic" thing, residents care about the crime, shootings included, and quality-of-life issues. The latter are worse west of Convent but you mentioned not going out much ... We had close friends living on one of the side streets and they left after less than a year, did not think it was the environment they wanted for their daughter. They found the area seedy - as do we - cannot stand the litter everywhere, for example. Bad enough to just pass through. It depends whether you care about this.
There is a lot of social service housing and many social service centers on Broadway, Amsterdam, and the side streets. You might look up the buildings around the one you are considering.
Regarding narrow-mindedness, which seems to be a part of your question: I know a lesbian couple who bought a house on Convent, granted not so well, but they have not mentioned any incidents. I did hear about several incidents in the so-called "gentrified" area on FDB.
There was something at the cafe, The Chipped Cup ? Offensive graffiti someone left ... ? I could be mistaken about the place. You could ask them for opinions.
About violent crime. This is mostly between people and not necessarily directed at you, but consider whether you would be comfortable in an environment where there are people capable of violent crime. It doesn't seem like a deal-breaker until you do it, much like the litter and garbage everywhere, random anti-social behavior, and so on. But again - you might not mind. Many people do; some don't.
We had close friends living on one of the side streets and they left after less than a year, did not think it was the environment they wanted for their daughter. They found the area seedy - as do we - cannot stand the litter everywhere, for example. Bad enough to just pass through. It depends whether you care about this.
Living as an adult is one thing, and I can adapt to crappy environments if need be.
But to raise a child up in an area like that as someone who has other choices? I would not ever even remotely entertain that notion...
Keep in mind that this is a real estate agent and they are selling the area hard. Few people care about the "black and hispanic" thing, residents care about the crime, shootings included, and quality-of-life issues. The latter are worse west of Convent but you mentioned not going out much ... We had close friends living on one of the side streets and they left after less than a year, did not think it was the environment they wanted for their daughter. They found the area seedy - as do we - cannot stand the litter everywhere, for example. Bad enough to just pass through. It depends whether you care about this.
There is a lot of social service housing and many social service centers on Broadway, Amsterdam, and the side streets. You might look up the buildings around the one you are considering.
Regarding narrow-mindedness, which seems to be a part of your question: I know a lesbian couple who bought a house on Convent, granted not so well, but they have not mentioned any incidents. I did hear about several incidents in the so-called "gentrified" area on FDB.
There was something at the cafe, The Chipped Cup ? Offensive graffiti someone left ... ? I could be mistaken about the place. You could ask them for opinions.
About violent crime. This is mostly between people and not necessarily directed at you, but consider whether you would be comfortable in an environment where there are people capable of violent crime. It doesn't seem like a deal-breaker until you do it, much like the litter and garbage everywhere, random anti-social behavior, and so on. But again - you might not mind. Many people do; some don't.
Harlem resident...no Harlem Guru.. I agree. The area still has QOL issues. The best thing to do would be to rent an apt in that area through air bnb and get a 1st hand experience of it.
Harlem resident...no Harlem Guru.. I agree. The area still has QOL issues. The best thing to do would be to rent an apt in that area through air bnb and get a 1st hand experience of it.
I appreciate it. Any moment, people will be out to argue with me.
That's also very good advice, had not thought of it. There are certainly many of those opportunities around here - for better or worse.
Keep in mind i was raised in the 80's in bushwick projects with daily gunshots and crime, so it takes alot for me to think certain areas are problematic as ive lived through what was terrible. Compared to then most of the city is safe to me.
Keep in mind i was raised in the 80's in bushwick projects with daily gunshots and crime, so it takes alot for me to think certain areas are problematic as ive lived through what was terrible. Compared to then most of the city is safe to me.
That's understandable and I completely relate to what you're saying, but you gotta keep in mind that a lot of people who are moving into NYC either have never lived in an urban environment or have different criteria for what they consider safe. It's important to be as objective as possible, even though I understand how hard it can be considering one's background.
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