Living in Harlem a no-go?
Friends want to get a place in Harlem for the summer - affordable, spacious, etc and we've had a hard time finding other places on the island. I told them it's a dealbreaker and feel like they think I'm being unreasonable. AITA? My main concern is crime and in general I just don't want to live in a sketchy area - feel like the whole "it's gentrified" thing is not fully there given recent crime rates/the vibe I get talking to people.
Talking Central and East Harlem, not Morningside Heights/other nicer neighborhoods.
Harlem is up and coming, but I wouldn't choose to live there.
eh
Harlem seems nice. I think maybe one of the associates I worked with in banking was living in Harlem potentially. Not sure if I know exactly where though but seemed like she was uptown. Maybe the Bronx
I know people who live in East Harlem who enjoy it. Not for everyone though.
Have plenty more silver bananas for anyone else who wants to offer their thoughts
Harlem does have some good soul food places.
I think the answer is, unfortunately, demographic-dependent. I don’t think I’d even entertain the idea if I were a woman or someone who appeared to be of Asian descent. Probably an overreaction, but personally I wouldn’t press my luck.
As a slightly athletic man of medium build who rarely travels alone at night and grew up in urban Chicago, crime wouldn’t be my top concern. It could happen, but it wouldn’t keep me up at night. My bigger issue would be isolation - getting to Midtown isn’t terrible, but getting downtown would be a bitch
And if you're a white guy from the suburbs?
No lol.
Do you know how to walk around in the city?
I don’t think it really matters where you’re from, but there’s a level of comfort / familiarity that help keep you from looking like a target - if you grew up in the suburbs but can walk confidently through Harlem, then no issues... but if you look out of place you invite attention. Are you going to look constantly on edge, jump when the crazies scream at you, stare at your phone while meandering down the street, etc?
Would probably not do it unless you're black. Absolutely not if you're Asian or female - had a female Asian friend who was harassed by black dudes in that area multiple times during her 12 week internship. At the time I only half believed her but have heard several others mention such problems as well.
My friend and I were going through Harlem and I saw quite a few shell shocked Asian girls from Columbia avoiding all eye contact.
Yeah I thought black on asian crime was a hoax but since then have learned of several asian friends that have experienced it. Crazy stuff
Native New Yorker here - do not do it. The farthest uptown I would consider going is 120th street on the west side (you're still in Columbia University territory) and 110th on the east side (after that it becomes true Spanish Harlem).
So around 125th St in Central Harlem is a no-go?
As a young female currently living in the bottom part of East Harlem, totally agree with this. If you’re along the park, it’s great and you’re close to the 6, 2/3, and A/C/E trains. Would not go east of Mad or north of 110th, 116th at best on the east side. West side much more forgiving up through 125th; 8th Ave/Frederick Douglas is a cool area. I definitely get some, uh, comments walking on the street, but haven’t been followed or threatened or anything like that.
Pass. Too far from all the good stuff downtown. Just find something in the LES, closer and still cheap. Even hoboken would be easier to get downtown than harlem.
I’m debating between a few places right now and considered Harlem. I don’t know the city that well as I’ve never lived there for an extended period. But imo I don’t think it would be that bad, especially if for an internship. Don’t feel like paying more than I have to for while I’m an intern.
This is a horrible idea unless you and your roommates are black
Personally I’d say Harlem is an ok place to rent, especially if it’s just for the summer. If you’re near an express train and working in midtown it’s also a very quick commute. I’ve worked with a couple people in banking who lived in Harlem. All liked it and never had issues with safety (for reference—this was 1 black guy, 1 Asian girl, 1 light skinned mixed girl, 1 indian guy). All lived below 125 in central Harlem or 110 in East Harlem.
I myself lived on 105th on the west side one summer—frequently went to Harlem for food, the gym, etc. and never had any issues.
This would be only for this summer and less than 10 weeks - looks like we'd end up right around 125th St in Central Harlem
To clarify:
- Only for this summer (maximum 8 weeks)
- White guy
- Likely around 125th St in Central Harlem
- Plan to be working from home with friends most of the day and going out in midtown/downtown
Dude, if it's WFH why are you moving into the city in the first place? Stay home and make more money, it's just a few weeks, and for those few weeks you'll probably be pretty slammed with work anyway if your trying to make a good impression.
Exactly. This makes no sense. NYC is crime-spiking, masked dystopian nightmare right now. Of all the times to move to NYC, why now?
I'm sure its fine to live there, but I don't know why you would want to. There has to be better options, especially since you aren't even going into the office.
What exactly are your concerns? Lmk and I can try to help. I've lived in Harlem and worked in finance since right out of undergrand but lived in nyc most of my life. A lot of it depends on your preferences and also just your comfort level in a new city. Harlem's changed a lot and specific blocks/areas are very different than others. Theres a new buidling just a block over from me with a doorman, rooftop, gym and an indoor pool but if you go to far east you have to dodge druggies on your way to the 4/5/6 train so it can wildly vary.
Yea I would not recommend living in Harlem if you are looking for the ‘traditional banking life style’. Either live somewhere much cheaper and save money, or pay a bit and find a place in LES, fidi or Hell’s Kitchen, affordable neighborhoods, closer to everything and can avoid crime (still might be harassed, lots of relatively violent homeless people in nyc recently unfortunately).
I would stay as far away from Hell's Kitchen as possible right now...basically the Arkham of NYC ever since COVID started.
Lol I've been in hell's kitchen the entire time and have had no issues.
The only time you'll have an issue is when you get to the part of Hell's Kitchen that borders Chelsea/Timees Square. That part has always been suspicious as fuck.
The area below is the only suspicious part of Hell's Kitchen, which arguably is not really Hell's Kitchen.
I'd nope out of anything north of Central Park. With everything going on in the last year, plus higher crime and police pullback, just don't do it. If you're coming for the summer just do it properly and stick with Chelsea, LES or SoHo.
Lots of limousine liberals in this thread. I thought people were all about diversity and inclusion?
Even if they move there inclusion won’t be going on. The same people who post a black square on their social media account somehow don’t feel anything wrong in gentrifying and pricing out traditionally poor minority neighborhoods as well uprooting the culture and placing a Whole Foods, SoulCycle/CrossFit/, and art galleries there instead.
NYC, the supposed liberal mecca of the US, is one of the most segregated cities in the US.
Lots of virtue signaling SJW white types that REFUSE to live by or send their kids to school with blacks and latinos. Weird
I lived in park slope and saw this daily from the moms there. Post a "all are welcome here" "this house supports BLM, muslims, gays" etc sign in front of their browstone, but the moment their beloved school they send kaylee too has too many black people.........either petition the school board to redo the boundaries, or they send their kid to privat school.
I’ve lived in Central Harlem for the last 4.5 years, on 125th specifically. I’m moving out when my lease ends.
I loved the convenience of being within walking distance of the 2/3, 4/5/6, and A/B/C/D lines. Depending on where you are it’s a quick ride to grand central, a lot faster than what people that have never even been above Central Park will tell you. I was able to get to Times Square in a 10 min train ride and Grand Central in 12-13 minutes. There’s also a Whole Foods nearby for groceries which is nice. My building is extremely diverse.
With that said, I’m leaving. You will hate living on 125th, it’s the Main Street in Harlem and there’s a ton of activity going on, from drug dealing, people hanging out, tons of homeless people and junkies, tourists walking towards the Apollo, and other things. If you’re a guy you’ll be totally safe, but it’s not worth it anymore to me. Pre-COVID I noticed the area start to improve and there was a noticeable police presence, but since COVID I don’t feel as safe. I’ve heard gunshots, seen people get jumped (not random strangers on the street but people that clearly know each other) and it’s really not a good look. There’s crime but it’s not as bad as a lot of people think. I’ve never had anything happen to me in 5 years, as most of the crime is targeted.
It has it’s advantages but for me, especially after COVID, it’s a little too sketchy for me. I’m black if it matters.
Yeah seems about right. What neighborhood are you moving to?
Still trying to figure that out. I want a neighborhood feel but I like Brooklyn Heights, Chelsea, West Village. So many good deals out there right now in the $2500-3000 range and commute time won’t be a factor for me since I’m not working IB hours.
Dog if you're in NY for the summer you should try and enjoy it. Living in Harlem is a long ass trip from the places you will probably want to be going out in. You should definitely look into living farther south. Below 85th if possible, otherwise it will take FOREVER to get downtown.
I’d instead recommend you get a place in UWS. Rent for a lot of awesome places next to the park is cheap right now, and it’s a super easy commute to midtown and to West Village to grab drinks.
Harlem may make socializing more inconvenient due to the distance.
Update: Ended up getting the place in South-Central Harlem.
Our street was generally safe, but would never do it again - there’s still a lot of sketchy stuff going on depending on your street/block and it is very far from the action downtown (not racist, just objectively behavior that would make anyone nervous/upset).
For future SAs:
Which street are you on?
Developers are building luxury condos just north of the park in Harlem. Early for sure, but it is changing quickly from what I hear.
Great fried chicken, great music, not much else
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