west harlem: anyone familiar with safety there?

[cirlin6]

I'll echo what DAS just said, but rephrase it to be a little more blunt. Basically, in the summer you're going to get a whole lot of people sitting on the stoops of buildings, playing chess/checkers/dominos or whatever on the sidewalks, and generally milling about. They will be out there starting at about 7 and lasting until 10, 11 or later on weekends. If you're white, you might get a few curious looks for the first few weeks you're there (I felt like I did when I moved to central Harlem, but that could just as much be my initial uncomfortability with having people sitting in front of my building all the time.)

It increases the noise level but probably decreases safety problems, as DAS said. If I remember that 122nd St. block, I don't think it's particularly crazy there. On 116th near the B,C subway stop, the nighttime activity level was a little too high for my comfort.

[DAS]

^Yes this true. I went with a friend to an open house right on the block on Manhattan Ave, she was seriously thinking about taking the place. We saw the apt on a Sunday afternoon, it was nice warm sunny spring day, it seemed really quiet around there. She asked me to go with back with her in the evening on another day. I was amazed at the difference. She decided not to take the apt.

[ontheGtrain]

To the OP. Go there late night on the weekend. Whoever is out on the street then, multiply that by ten and that is what it will be like in the summer. It will not be a safe as the UES but maybe it will be ok for you. Or maybe not. Only you can make the call. Good luck with it.

[Rudbeckia]

Originally Posted by DAS

^Yes this true. I went with a friend to an open house right on the block on Manhattan Ave, she was seriously thinking about taking the place. We saw the apt on a Sunday afternoon, it was nice warm sunny spring day, it seemed really quiet around there. She asked me to go with back with her in the evening on another day. I was amazed at the difference. She decided not to take the apt.

I didnt think this area was that bad, we are talking about just east of morningside park around 122nd right??

I have not been there very late at night though, what was so different that your friend decided not to stay?


And the advice from onthegrain about the summer is so true, places are totally different in the summer, I used to dread the summer months b/c of all of the losers standing around everywhere doing nothing more than saying stupid Mod cut: language, but you learn to just block it out

[DAS]

Originally Posted by Rudbeckia

I didnt think this area was that bad, we are talking about just east of morningside park around 122nd right??

I have not been there very late at night though, what was so different that your friend decided not to stay?

The difference was that when we saw the apt the area was quiet. No one was hanging around outside. Just a few people walking around. It seemed really nice with all the brownstones. The apt was in a brownstone.

When we returned on another day at night. There were alot of people out, they lived mostly in the apt buildings but sat on the steps of the brownstones hanging out talking whatever. There were so many people just sitting on the steps of mostly all the brownstones and out in front of the apt buildings.

It wasn't that it was dangerous or felt that way. Everyone seemed to know each other. It was more that it was loud. My friend preferred a quieter, less crowded area.