what is the Reading area like? (Lancaster, Harrisburg: real estate, loans, houses)

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by mechtm84

I do know about the area, and I have alot of business posting here, DUDerino. They asked what Reading was like, I told them. What is the problem? You're making a generalization that I know nothing about the area. I was homeless in Reading for about 2 weeks when I first moved to PA. It's not fun having hispanic thugs chase you around Reading for 12 blocks, trying to mug me for a lousy $6. I eventually found my way to the Turnpike and took it west to the Harrisburg area. More thugs, but I had to settle for a crappy warehouse job. I had to carry a switchblade with me too for the first time in years. At least harrisburg crime and gangs are concentrated to a small area. So I stayed here. My car was also on it's last leg. Two weeks later, my 94 dodge intrepid blew a head gasket. Go figure.

Well, that's a totally different story. I'm not saying that you're not allowed to post here. I just get leery of one-liners, but here you finally gave a justification for your response, and that I completely respect. I'm sorry about your bad experience in Reading -- it definitely has tough areas and it's fair share of city blight. However, Reading does not whatsoever reflect the rest of SEPA.

Originally Posted by mechtm84

Please stay off my case and quote me only if you have something to say about Reading. And don't tell me where I can and cannot post. I do not appreciate that. If you desire to be a moderator, go to mod school, but until then, you have no business to tell me where and where not to post.

This is an open forum, and I reserve the right to remark on other members' posts when I don't believe they are written with reasonable fairness. You also reserve this right. Once again, I never said you cannot post; I said do not post if you can't provide anything informative or substantive, like one-liners and generalizations about an entire state or region. There is an important distinction between the two. If you have a negative perspective of a city/area, I have absolutely nothing against that -- you are entitled to it. However, it is how you PRESENT and ARGUE your perspective that makes all the difference.

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by Duderino

However, it is how you PRESENT and ARGUE your perspective that makes all the difference.

Aww gee, I'm so sorry I don't present my argument in a way that fits your standards.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by mechtm84

Aww gee, I'm so sorry I don't present my argument in a way that fits your standards.

I knew you'd take something out of context, but the only standard I have simply is fairness. I'm sorry if that's something by which you cannot abide.

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by Duderino

I knew you'd take something out of context, but the only standard I have simply is fairness. I'm sorry if that's something by which you cannot abide.

I'm very fair. If you call me out, I'll do the same to you. That seems pretty fair to me. Sorry you don't think so, but it is a two way street, unlike the one way roads you have in Filthadelphia.

Instead of jacking the thread, tell us the experience that you had in Reading. Inquiring minds want to know

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by mechtm84

I'm very fair. If you call me out, I'll do the same to you. That seems pretty fair to me. Sorry you don't think so, but it is a two way street, unlike the one way roads you have in Filthadelphia.

Instead of jacking the thread, tell us the experience that you had in Reading. Inquiring minds want to know

I already provided my assessment of Reading, but I'll elaborate a little more.

I lived there while I attended Albright College for a couple of years. The area around Albright is certainly one of the nicest in Reading. You will find large and gorgeous older homes. A short drive up Mt. Penn and you can see a really awesome view of the city at night from the Pagoda. There is also a lot to offer on 5th street and a short drive on Rt. 12 will bring you to some great shopping in Wyomissing. Among other things, the Sovereign Center is a great asset to Reading as well, because it is a decent venue that brings some impressive artists to the area while helping to "jump start" the abysmal economic atmosphere in Reading. These are the positive memories I have of Reading.

No more than five blocks away from the area in which I lived, however, you begin to get into some slummy and blighted neighborhoods. I rarely went into the downtown area, because you'd constantly hear about muggings. The city council is actively trying to gentrify the downtown, but there are PLENTY of strides to be made. I could go on, and Reading has a lot of potential to recover from industrial decline, but it will not happen overnight.

Here's a report from the Brookings Institution that may be of interest of those looking to relocate to the Reading area:

http://www.brookings.edu/es/urban/pa/Reading.pdf (broken link)

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by Duderino

No more than five blocks away from the area in which I lived, however, you begin to get into some slummy and blighted neighborhoods. I rarely went into the downtown area, because you'd constantly hear about muggings. The city council is actively trying to gentrify the downtown, but there are PLENTY of strides to be made. I could go on, and Reading has a lot of potential to recover from industrial decline, but it will not happen overnight.

Here's a report from the Brookings Institution that may be of interest of those looking to relocate to the Reading area:

I know a place can become slummy after a decline in industry, but why all the crime? Was it always like that? And where did the hispanic thugs come from and why are they always mugging people for their bus money? I had alot of hispanic friends and they couldn't harm a fly.

[Icy Tea]

Hispanic Thugs came from NYC, and Philly. Certainly the vast majority of hispanics are hard working law abiding people who came to Reading( and to Allentown, Lancaster, even Lebanon) for a better life. Cheaper housing, lower costs of living, less crime, etc. But with them came the knuckle dragging thugs who deal drugs, won't work and think they can do as they please. These are the bums who kill each other over drug turf and rob you when they need money because they don't feel like they have to work and can do as they please. But people who buy their drugs are equally to blame.
I don't like labelling a group as bad since 50 years ago the blacks were the bad guys, 75 years ago the italians, 100 years ago the irish, and 200 years ago the germans were considered backwards. These ethnic groups became americans and overcame clannishness, some not speaking english, and old ways of thinking and the hispanics will too, just give them time and make a gesture of reaching out to them. In 50 years their grandkids will be speaking mostly only english, eating pork and sauerkraut and will consider themselves native Berks countians. Hooray.

[KatWag]

Both my husband and I grew up in the Reading area. I'm a Wyomissing High Grad. You can very safely move to the area around Wyomissing. Other areas worth looking at include the Flying Hills area in Cumru Township.

If you are looking for a more rural environment, the area around Leesport is nice as well.

Downtown Reading would definitely not be a good option for you. Reading has a significant problem with drugs and Latino gangs.

[Rick O'Shea]

by one of the major morning programs - today show, maybe? I can't recall.

But Reading itself does have the problems with crime - it is a smaller city with less resources to deal with the issue, and the undesirables have been coming in from NYC and Philly.

You can't really go wrong in Berks county anywhere outside of the city. Wyomissing is nice but expensive. Blandon was mentioned by a previous poster, is also fine, as is Muhlenberg, Temple, Fleetwood, Topton. If you get 15-20 miles out of the city you can find really nice rural areas.

If you want suburban, Wyomissing, Shillington, Mohnton, Sinking Spring, Exeter are all decent areas.

[ChrisatDuke]

Go outside of the city limits of Reading, and you'll see crime drop off immensely. I grew up in Exeter Township, a suburb that actually has a Reading mailing address (and is only a few miles from the city), and I never experienced any type of crime first hand. To be honest, when I go back up to that area for the holidays, my friends and I go out to the bars/clubs in the city, and I've never felt threatened or in danger. I'm not saying that crime doesn't exist there (it certainly does), but it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be, especially if you're even only a half a mile beyond city limits.