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Hi, my roommate and I, two women in our early 20s, are planning to sign a lease tomorrow afternoon. The apt is on 50th Street in Sunset Park, off of 5th Avenue. Can anyone please give their input on this area? Is it safe at night? Are there any gang/drug/crime problems? If you know the area well, please let me know what you think.
I grew up close to there and I still have family there. It is not a bad neighborhood at all, 5th ave is a little niosy during the day because of all the shopping stores on that ave but at night it's nice and quiet. It's safe area, I use to come home late at night (around 12-1 cause I worked nights) and was never attacked or even in fear of it. Parking does suck however but transport is so close by you won't even need a car.
Thank you, Hannah. That's very reassuring to read, and pretty much reinforces my own opinion. Btw, I don't know how to drive, so parking isn't an issue!
Yellowjasmine, I did indeed check out the neighborhood, both during the day when we visited and on Saturday night. It seemed fine during the day (like Hannah said, VERY busy), but isolated and borderline sketchy on Saturday night. It made me a bit nervous, but not nervous enough to back out on the (gorgeous) apartment. Yesterday, however, my brother, who is pretty street savvy, told me it was a bad neighborhood. I came here looking for second and third opinions.
It isn't a bad neighborhood,it is far from a ghetto. I know people who live on 49th St,btwn 6th and 7th ave. Sure they are just one of the very few white people living there but they told me they never had any problems,day or night.
The only complaint that I would have is the noise. The Puerto Rican day parade runs through 5th avenue in Sunset Park,on a different day than the Manhattan one.
The 72nd police precinct is on 4th ave,29th St. 4th and especially 5th avenues always have a police presence since they are mainly commercial.
I feel like I ought to post an update, though it's been years!!
I just moved out of Sunset Park in July, after, what? 2 years there? For anyone considering the neighborhood, know that I absolutely loved living there. I always felt safe, although it gets pretty empty at night. 5th avenue is a little sketchy at night, so I stuck to 4th ave, where the subway is.
The area I lived in, 50th street and 5th, is one of the nicest parts of Sunset Park, perhaps. The whole area turned out to be filled with families, friendly neighbors, and, for better or worse, is slowly but steadily gentrifying. Plus it has a very international feel, as it's filled with hispanic immigrants.
The only drawback was, indeed, the noise. Try not to sleep overlooking the street, if you can avoid it. Otherwise, I highly recommend Sunset Park!!!!
(PS, I moved to Japan; it had nothing to do with the apt or barrio!)
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