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Let me say this to anyone who clearly exaggerate "how hood" Astoria is. GET ME AN APARTMENT IN A ASTORIA HOUSING PROJECT AND I'LL BE A HAPPY MAN. Compared to the projects in the South Bronx, Brooklyn and even upper Manhattan, I'll be down like a clown to live in an Astoria housing project.
My daughter and I moved from the Astoria Projects in 1991 and my only complaint was the 2 fare zone... The view from all my windows were million dollar views. I'll never forget that apartament. Good memories.
Yeah, Astoria is overall safe. In the late 70's to early 90's the areas bordering LIC near the waterfront were rough and not too safe at night - unless you lived in the neighborhood and weren't mixed up in the prostitution and drug use that occurred there. At its worst Ravenswood projects to Queensbridge Projects had the worst crime. Also, for these reasons housing stock was not renewed or renovated much. Yes there is struggle and Ravenswood Houses though much safer does go through cycles where it deteriorates and then gets better.
As for Astoria Houses, overall OK, not the safest of projects in Astoria but FAR safer than some in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. As one poster implies you could have a good quality of life - just avoid some of those seeking trouble. And yes, the views and access to culture is fantastic for those people living in Astoria Houses and Queensbridge - million dollar views of Manhattan, world-class museums - Noguchi, PS1, Museum of Moving Image in the neighborhood, a few good school and now one top arts school Frank Sinatra School of The Arts, and easy transport to Central Park (yes a bus but then it takes 10 minutes to the Plaza Hotel at the foot of Central Park)
I guess the main contradiction of Astoria is its architecture and that it is a huge, diverse area (see my posts devoted to the area) with a rich history. Some of the architecture is similar to Bar Ridge, old older sections of Crown Heights/East New York/Ridgewood as well as having some of the older condos with well-tended grounds you find in Forest Hills and Kew Gardens - just not the same amount and spread out.
And trust me I know it is not "ideal", the city has used Astoria and LIC to its detriment a dumping ground for power plant facilities (though it does give us a plus - the city will make damn sure the area does not so dangerous workers cannot get to their job safely) and in a few pockets put far too many social services/medical clinic entities in too high a concentration when one of the largest welfare offices in NYC is on Northern Blvd right by the 36th STREET station. I still recall in the morning the line used to be out on Northern winding onto Honeywell. Now with gentrification they hide the line byt having it only on Honeywell Bridge. So, yes I agree with the initial post that the poverty that exists here is been hidden away and overlooked - but that has happened in the Lower East Side, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, west midtown Manhattan, and Upper West Side (seriously take a hard look around Amsterdam Ave in the 80's and you will see poverty exists alongside the expensive apartments and condos/coops).
Finally, I think our area is fortunate in the leadership we have councilman and NY State reps who work hard for our area to be a good place to live.
Astoria today is much nicer then it was 10-15 years ago. If there is any area in the city that has improved significantly over the last decade that hasn't been gentrified to death, it's this one.
Me and my wife are thinking of moving to astoria do u think we would fit in were a same sex legally married couple i work nights and she works days you think its safe if im coming home after 12
My childhood friend got married to a local Astoria resident, and moved to Astoria. She has been there for 12 years, and he has been their lifelong....they like Astoria but despise the people moving in as rude and condescending. They are both working class ethnics (She is PR, he is Hungarian I believe) and they are continually complaining about the Manhattan transplants and/or white bread-sex in the city-wannabe actors-you have to be rude like other NYers-obnoxious-newbies.
They do relent and admit, yes Astoria has improved and their place is worth a fortune, but at the end of the day they are annoyed with what is happening to "their" neighborhood.
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