How safe is SoMa? (Avalon: crime, neighborhoods, live)

[bishop2020]

I'm relocating to the SF area next week for my new job and they're putting us up at 388 Beale for a month. My work will be near 3rd & Brannan. Is this area safe for me to be walking to/from work (possibly late at times but hopefully not during this first month)? Is there any basic shopping, parks, etc near 388 Beale that my wife & 2yr daughter will be able to enjoy while I'm at work each day? It's only 30 days and then we'll likely find ourselves down the peninsula in our usual suburban lifestyle, but just curious what we should expect.

Thanks!

[0'Farrell]

Originally Posted by bishop2020

I'm relocating to the SF area next week for my new job and they're putting us up at 388 Beale for a month. My work will be near 3rd & Brannan. Is this area safe for me to be walking to/from work (possibly late at times but hopefully not during this first month)? Is there any basic shopping, parks, etc near 388 Beale that my wife & 2yr daughter will be able to enjoy while I'm at work each day? It's only 30 days and then we'll likely find ourselves down the peninsula in our usual suburban lifestyle, but just curious what we should expect.

Thanks!

Downtown is generally rougher than most other neighborhoods. Be weary of 6th and mission.

[mdwstrnkid]

I don't think that there's much shopping in that immediate area of SOMA. I believe that's it's relatively safe (safer than other parts of Downtown, like Market Street between 5th and 9th), but there isn't a lot to do in that area. There is some shopping and restaurants a bit further to the south near AT&T Park. You will be close to the Embarcadero, which is a nice place to walk, if your wife and daughter want to go out for a stroll.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by bishop2020

I'm relocating to the SF area next week for my new job and they're putting us up at 388 Beale for a month. My work will be near 3rd & Brannan. Is this area safe for me to be walking to/from work (possibly late at times but hopefully not during this first month)? Is there any basic shopping, parks, etc near 388 Beale that my wife & 2yr daughter will be able to enjoy while I'm at work each day? It's only 30 days and then we'll likely find ourselves down the peninsula in our usual suburban lifestyle, but just curious what we should expect.

Thanks!

We lived in that complex for a few years (at one point called Avalon Towers by the Bay). The immediate area is not unsafe. SOMA gets a bad rap and the rougher parts tend to be west of 5th Street, but nothing is that terrible. It is a little quiet at night and my wife didn't always feel safe taking the dog for a walk by herself in the middle of the night. However, most of what we saw were just a lot of homeless people in the area and not too much crime (other than car break ins). Its a big city, so just have your guard up and you'll be fine.

[mayorhaggar]

SOMA is kind of desolate compared with the rest of the city, especially at night, but 3rd is near downtown which is pretty lively during the day, the area around the ballpark is lively day or night--the latter is where you will be so it should be fine if you are used to big cities. Lots of restaurants around there and there's a shiny newish Safeway. Check out South Park which is nearby, and Yerba Buena Gardens. Avoid 6th Street south of Market, it is super shady especially for those first several blocks south of Market.

[bishop2020]

Where is this shinyish new Safeway located?

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by bishop2020

Where is this shinyish new Safeway located?

There's one underneath the Beacon, at 4th & King. Its not exactly new (probably 8 years old), but I guess its still on the "new-ish" side.

[mdwstrnkid]

There's also a Whole Foods Market at the corner of 4th and Harrison if you are looking for other supermarkets in the area.