Providence Neighborhoods (Pawtucket, North Providence: transplants, apartments, crime rate)

[kv.ny]

hi all. i may be moving to providence and am wondering about neighborhoods. i've been downtown and i've been on the hill, near thayer st, etc... can anyone give me some advice on some hoods? i love the east side and it's historic feel. it's pricey for a single, yes? anywhere else in the city where i can experience the same sort of lifestyle? i'm not really interested in being near the colleges (but am not against it). i'm a single, young professional and looking for a hood that is nice, safe, diverse, yet not super expensive. i want to stay in the city limits.

any thoughts?
thanks!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by kv.ny

hi all. i may be moving to providence and am wondering about neighborhoods. i've been downtown and i've been on the hill, near thayer st, etc... can anyone give me some advice on some hoods? i love the east side and it's historic feel. it's pricey for a single, yes? anywhere else in the city where i can experience the same sort of lifestyle? i'm not really interested in being near the colleges (but am not against it). i'm a single, young professional and looking for a hood that is nice, safe, diverse, yet not super expensive. i want to stay in the city limits.

any thoughts?
thanks!

I've always liked Fox Point on/near Wickenden St. Cool shops, restaurants, bars, etc but a little a little more isolated from the colleges (though students do live here... they're just not the majority). It's a good area for a young professional. Sure, it's still the "East Side" but "East Side" is really an umbrella term for a large chunk of the city encompassing many, diverse neighborhoods.

I'd also look at Wayland Square. It's a wonderful little neighborhood center. Again, it's on the East Side, but not so heavily collegiate.

[kv.ny]

Irfox - thank you! i will definitely look into those neighborhoods.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by kv.ny

Irfox - thank you! i will definitely look into those neighborhoods.

we moved to Wayland Square about 6 weeks ago and absolutely love it!! check it out or PM me if you'd like more info.

[RunawayJim]

I've lived in Providence for the past 6 years in the Elmhurst area and on Federal Hill (by "the hill" do you mean Federal Hill or College Hill... generally "the hill" refers to Federal Hill, the neighborhood just west of Downtown with Atwells and Broadway).

It sounds like you might enjoy living in the Broadway area. There are the least amount of college students there, but you're within a reasonable walk to downtown, there are shops and restaurants on Broadway. You're also a short walk to Atwells, which is Providence's Little Italy.

When I lived on Federal Hill, I lived about halfway between Atwells and Broadway. There are parts that are filled with JWU students and parts that are mostly 20-30 somethings. Closer to Broadway is the older crowd and closer to Atwells is mostly students. There are parts of the neighborhood that aren't that great, but for the most part, it's a great place to live. I actually miss living there at times, but the reasons I'm glad I moved are more to do with the exact location of the house I was in. The Broadway area is also very historic. Lots of old Victorian houses there.

Where you'd want to move kind of depends on your interests and what you're looking for in a neighborhood. Providence neighborhoods tend to be pretty tightly knit groups of people who tend to identify with their neighborhoods (though I still identify with Federal Hill even though I'm back in Elmhurst). One thing I will add is that the rents on Federal Hill are lower than they are anywhere on the East Side (including Fox Point).

[kv.ny]

thanks everyone for the useful advice. i'm trying to find a one bedroom, in a nice area that isn't going to run me over $700 a month. the broadway area sounds good. i am a 31 year-old female. i enjoy taking walks, good wine bars and pubs, good (and vegetarian) cuisine, coffee and walkable neighborhoods. does this sound like the broadway area? i am not against being near students; i'd just like to be around people more my age and lifestyle. i don't mind a little edge to a neighborhood, as long as it's not scary. i'm coming from buffalo where "edge" is pretty much everywhere. but cost of living is rather cheap. any streets to pursue or avoid would be great. thanks!

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by kv.ny

thanks everyone for the useful advice. i'm trying to find a one bedroom, in a nice area that isn't going to run me over $700 a month. the broadway area sounds good. i am a 31 year-old female. i enjoy taking walks, good wine bars and pubs, good (and vegetarian) cuisine, coffee and walkable neighborhoods. does this sound like the broadway area? i am not against being near students; i'd just like to be around people more my age and lifestyle. i don't mind a little edge to a neighborhood, as long as it's not scary. i'm coming from buffalo where "edge" is pretty much everywhere. but cost of living is rather cheap. any streets to pursue or avoid would be great. thanks!

You will probably feel right at home in the Broadway area. It tends to lean towards the artsy crowd, but there are great neighborhood restaurants and bars with good beer and wine selections. There also tend to be a lot of alternative lifestyles there, including vegetarian/vegan.

1BR apartments are hard to come by, though. I have lived in 2 since I've been in Providence. The first was $675/mo in an apartment building just over the North Providence line. The second was in Elmhurst and was $700/mo and included electricity (though I think she's trying to get $750 now). You can, however, find a bedroom in an apartment with someone else for less than $700.

[Silver Lake Patriot 1970]

Providence is unsafe, the crime rate is out of control, and the downtown city streets at night are lined with college drunkards or drug addict thugs. If you live in the Wickenden area, your libel to be burglarized or carjacked. Don't waist your money or your time coming here (No offense). You will regret it in the end - especially when you see the tax rate. Move to Boston if you like eclectic settings. You can do a lot more there than here. Thayer street is filled with weirdo's, artsy freaks, and gays - gays - gays - unless you like that sort of thing. Believe my brutal honesty, if you have any common sense at all, think about this - if its "affordable to most" don't you think a certain low level element of the world is going to live there too? Check with the police departments first and ask about the building you want to live in. Be careful! If I were you, I'd practice some martial arts and maybe buy gun before you get here (registered of course). This state offers nothing but struggle, anxiety, and a poor quality of living. There are too many people, half don't even speak English. At least not the King's English approval by a reputable academic institution. People are burnt out. Here is an idea for you to try......go to the Pawtucket DMV and check the requirements for registering your car here in this state. Just stop in and say hello to the nice folks at the counter. Then you write us back and share the experience with all these transplants who claim they know RI on here.

If you've got money, anywhere in the world is good hell even this toilet called Providence. If your single just working to pay rent, cell phone, and beer money - shoot up the works live it up. If you have a plan and are looking for quality not quantity- the next bus leaves in five seconds. Check the "moving listings of people on Craigslist" ask them where they are going and why? Just ask the right people the right questions and you'll get the truth not these ....living in a bubble type answers.

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by Silver Lake Patriot 1970

Providence is unsafe, the crime rate is out of control, the downtown city streets are lined with college drunkards or drug addict thugs. If you live in Wickenden area your libel to be burglarized. Don't waist your money or your time coming here. You will regret it in the end especially when you see the tax rate. Move to Boston if you like eclectic settings. Thayer street is filled with weirdo's and gays - unless you like that sort of thing. Believe my brutal honesty, if you have any common sence, think about this - if its "affordable" don't you think every bum in the world is going to live there too? Be careful, and if I were you, I'd practice some martial arts and maybe buy gun before you get here. This state offer nothing but struggle and frustration. There are too many people, half don;'t speak English at least not the King's English approval by a reputable academic institution and the people are about as friendly as rabid dogs. Here is an idea for you to try......go to the Pawtucket DMV and check the requirements for registering your car here in this state. Just stop in and say hello to the nice folks at the counter. Then you write me back and share the experience with all these transplants who claim they know RI on here. Nobody knows this state better than me, and I challenge everyone on here who thinks they know more......

Wow, you sound like you haven't lived here in 15-20 years!

If you're thinking about moving to Providence, this guy is way off.

[Silver Lake Patriot 1970]

Actually, I lived in Providence for 28 Years. I also work in the city every day. I have friends who are in government, family all around this state and on all levels private and public. I know every inch of this state and all the dirty details about it as well. And let me tell you sir, it all depends on just what your after. Yeah, you can go down the street and have a coffee in Wickenden Fox Point area (during the day) and you can walk around the Providence Mall if you don't get jumped by street gangs. Yeah, Providence is a great city just ask the tax payers. Do you like spending all your time in traffic jams with rude drivers and potholes destroying your vehicle? Jim you obviously hide in your apartment alot. Go hang out in the Elmwood section at night with some friends or maybe Charles Street area for some esspresso and a liesurely walk. Yes, Federal Hill is Good to eat and walk down and so is parts of Broadway, but thats not the whole city my friend. Its a microcosm of it. The East side snob zone has nothing that interests me and quite frankly most people up there aren't part of the whole city anyway if you catch my drift. Look I don't need to justify myself, do it the hard way and learn for yourself friend - just trying to spare you some grief.