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So my partner and I are moving to the city to start grad school. We have some savings, and have borrowed some money for the grad school costs, but until we find jobs our money will be quite tight. A friend of mine wants us to move to Washington Heights near where he lives (West 177th street). I've found some apartments in our price range there, but am worried it's not so safe. He's lived in NYC his whole life and swears it's fine, but I still remember a few years ago when he complained to me that he had been jumped on the way home from the market.
Any advice or impressions about Washington Heights?
Thanks!
- C
PS - He also mentioned Morningside Heights, because it is close to Columbia where I'm going to school. But, it also appears to be in Harlem, or in the center of some kind of gentrification war that I don't quite understand. Any info at that neighborhood would also be appreciated.
Last edited by ThatNarrowFellow; 04-10-2009 at 09:25 AM..
Reason: Forgot something
I live in Morningside Heights. It is not considered part of Harlem proper. It has always been a diverse neighborhood economically, racially, and ethnically.
Does Columbia have an office that will help students with housing? It is hard to find an apt in Morningside Heights because most of the housing is coop.
There may be more apts available in nearby Manhattan Valley (area of W 110th - W 96th St, between Central Park West and Riverside Dr) this area is pretty safe, but not cheap. However much cheaper than below 96th St.
Or in South Harlem above 110th below 125th going East from Manhattan Ave to Lenox Ave. In the case of South Harlem you have to go on a block by block basis. But overall it is safe and it is convenient. It is the same in price range to Morningside Heights and Manhattan Valley.
You should also look around in Hamilton Heights section of Harlem. Also like South Harlem it is still on a block by block basis. All of these sections are more diverse now and you shouldn't have any problems. They are very convenient for transportation, and everyday shopping needs.
So my partner and I are moving to the city to start grad school. We have some savings, and have borrowed some money for the grad school costs, but until we find jobs our money will be quite tight. A friend of mine wants us to move to Washington Heights near where he lives (West 177th street). I've found some apartments in our price range there, but am worried it's not so safe. He's lived in NYC his whole life and swears it's fine, but I still remember a few years ago when he complained to me that he had been jumped on the way home from the market.
Any advice or impressions about Washington Heights?
Thanks!
- C
PS - He also mentioned Morningside Heights, because it is close to Columbia where I'm going to school. But, it also appears to be in Harlem, or in the center of some kind of gentrification war that I don't quite understand. Any info at that neighborhood would also be appreciated.
Heavy Drug Trade, 3,4 homicides a month, You will be fine as long as you dont engage in criminal activity and watch your back for muggers.
Wash Heights has never really been know too much for muggings. Drug dealers get jacked all the time yeah but random people not so much. There was also a time when cab drivers would get jacked a lot but that has calmed down considerably.
I don't think Wash Heights is unsafe for the most part. However there are some really rowdy blocks and there are a lot of quality of life issues. It is easily one of the noisiest neighborhoods in NYC if not the most. West of Broadway is a lot quieter, but even if you lived west of, you would still do a lot of your shopping and general moving about east of Broadway.
I lived near 168th Street....actually I lived on 170th Street and Fort Washington...when you come out of the subway, you walk along a major hospital, and Fort Washington is quite 'normal'...so didn't have a problem.
But if you lived in other areas of Washington Heights, it wouldn't have been that liveable.
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