Author Topic: Bad neighbourhoods?  (Read 8934 times)

DadJokes

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #50 on: March 28, 2019, 06:01:32 AM »
It's funny, I was just trying to figure out "bad neighborhood" for myself. I live in the biggest city in our state (metro area), and in the A+ strictly white neighborhood (any black person in this neighborhood is a service worker, not a resident). BTW, they teach in schools that there is no segregation. But when there is a black person walking down the street, every neighbor has their eyes locked on him. I also have rental properties in what is considered a "bad neighborhood," considered by rich white folks. There are mostly blacks in that area, but probably about 10% of white people. I feel comfortable being on my own even at night in the "bad neighborhood" (I am a skinny blond gal). But I have had a few contractors who refused to work in the area. They do feel more comfortable when they see me comfortable being there. 
A funny thing: my house in A+ neighborhood was broken in (before I installed a security system and cameras around the perimeter). None of my properties in "bad neighborhoods" were broken in and they had very little security (poor locks, barely intact doors and broken windows). All rentals had copper plumbing, furnaces, water heaters intact after being vacant for more than 2 years and during the reno.
Another fun fact: in my current rehab (a total sh** hole) I found a pay check stub of one of the residents, she worked 3 miles away from my primary residence in A+ neighborhood. So, to put everything in perspective she had spent more of her awake time in A+ neighborhood, which is more than me. While I, working in Downtown, closer to her sh** hole, spend most of my awake time close to "bad neighborhoods." Plus, when I get applications for my rentals, I find that people who want to live in my "bad neighborhoods" actually work close to my primary residence or somewhere close by the "good neighborhoods." If I would have told any of my A+ neighbors that I go to the "bad" neighborhoods on my own and on my own will, they would think that I am crazy. I actually bring my kids over there sometimes. That might quilify for a CPS call in their book.
So, my conclusion, "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are some kind of artificial terminology that white folks made up to scare each other.

Where do you live, 1950?

ilsy

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #51 on: March 28, 2019, 08:33:48 AM »
It's funny, I was just trying to figure out "bad neighborhood" for myself. I live in the biggest city in our state (metro area), and in the A+ strictly white neighborhood (any black person in this neighborhood is a service worker, not a resident). BTW, they teach in schools that there is no segregation. But when there is a black person walking down the street, every neighbor has their eyes locked on him. I also have rental properties in what is considered a "bad neighborhood," considered by rich white folks. There are mostly blacks in that area, but probably about 10% of white people. I feel comfortable being on my own even at night in the "bad neighborhood" (I am a skinny blond gal). But I have had a few contractors who refused to work in the area. They do feel more comfortable when they see me comfortable being there. 
A funny thing: my house in A+ neighborhood was broken in (before I installed a security system and cameras around the perimeter). None of my properties in "bad neighborhoods" were broken in and they had very little security (poor locks, barely intact doors and broken windows). All rentals had copper plumbing, furnaces, water heaters intact after being vacant for more than 2 years and during the reno.
Another fun fact: in my current rehab (a total sh** hole) I found a pay check stub of one of the residents, she worked 3 miles away from my primary residence in A+ neighborhood. So, to put everything in perspective she had spent more of her awake time in A+ neighborhood, which is more than me. While I, working in Downtown, closer to her sh** hole, spend most of my awake time close to "bad neighborhoods." Plus, when I get applications for my rentals, I find that people who want to live in my "bad neighborhoods" actually work close to my primary residence or somewhere close by the "good neighborhoods." If I would have told any of my A+ neighbors that I go to the "bad" neighborhoods on my own and on my own will, they would think that I am crazy. I actually bring my kids over there sometimes. That might quilify for a CPS call in their book.
So, my conclusion, "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are some kind of artificial terminology that white folks made up to scare each other.

Where do you live, 1950?

You might say that, ha-ha.
It's hard for progressive coastal cities to understand deep deep Midwest. For that particular reason (1950s) I hire only contractors that are younger than me, older generation has a very hard time getting orders from a woman, or working for a woman period (almost a pun). You've witnessed the elections of 2016, so I'm surprised by your surprise. 

DadJokes

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #52 on: March 28, 2019, 08:57:25 AM »
It's funny, I was just trying to figure out "bad neighborhood" for myself. I live in the biggest city in our state (metro area), and in the A+ strictly white neighborhood (any black person in this neighborhood is a service worker, not a resident). BTW, they teach in schools that there is no segregation. But when there is a black person walking down the street, every neighbor has their eyes locked on him. I also have rental properties in what is considered a "bad neighborhood," considered by rich white folks. There are mostly blacks in that area, but probably about 10% of white people. I feel comfortable being on my own even at night in the "bad neighborhood" (I am a skinny blond gal). But I have had a few contractors who refused to work in the area. They do feel more comfortable when they see me comfortable being there. 
A funny thing: my house in A+ neighborhood was broken in (before I installed a security system and cameras around the perimeter). None of my properties in "bad neighborhoods" were broken in and they had very little security (poor locks, barely intact doors and broken windows). All rentals had copper plumbing, furnaces, water heaters intact after being vacant for more than 2 years and during the reno.
Another fun fact: in my current rehab (a total sh** hole) I found a pay check stub of one of the residents, she worked 3 miles away from my primary residence in A+ neighborhood. So, to put everything in perspective she had spent more of her awake time in A+ neighborhood, which is more than me. While I, working in Downtown, closer to her sh** hole, spend most of my awake time close to "bad neighborhoods." Plus, when I get applications for my rentals, I find that people who want to live in my "bad neighborhoods" actually work close to my primary residence or somewhere close by the "good neighborhoods." If I would have told any of my A+ neighbors that I go to the "bad" neighborhoods on my own and on my own will, they would think that I am crazy. I actually bring my kids over there sometimes. That might quilify for a CPS call in their book.
So, my conclusion, "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are some kind of artificial terminology that white folks made up to scare each other.

Where do you live, 1950?

You might say that, ha-ha.
It's hard for progressive coastal cities to understand deep deep Midwest. For that particular reason (1950s) I hire only contractors that are younger than me, older generation has a very hard time getting orders from a woman, or working for a woman period (almost a pun). You've witnessed the elections of 2016, so I'm surprised by your surprise.

I live in a pro-Trump state bordering the Midwest (TN) and haven't seen anything like that. I do recall spending a few months in a backwoods area of Ohio with people who lived in a victim mentality and blamed all of their problems on the government (in this case, Bush Jr happened to be president), so I suppose that I can imagine there are still people out there that have similar mindsets toward particular groups of people.

Gondolin

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #53 on: March 28, 2019, 09:05:12 AM »
Quote
I feel like I don't understand a way to navigate this problem any better than before, lol!

Here's my one practical rule: Don't get shot.

Don't use overlays or stats that lump various types of crime together. You don't care about muggings or car breakins.

Find as many recent articles about shootings in your target city as you can. Note the streets where the shootings occurred. Most likely you'll quickly see a pattern. That's where the gangs are. That's where you need to avoid. Everywhere else will be just fine.

Not getting mugged and securing property from crimes of opportunity is largely a matter of awareness and personal initiative no matter where you live. Being the bystander who gets clipped during a driveby can only be avoided by absenting oneself from the locales where such shootings occur.

Hope that helps!

OtherJen

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #54 on: March 28, 2019, 10:36:03 AM »
It's funny, I was just trying to figure out "bad neighborhood" for myself. I live in the biggest city in our state (metro area), and in the A+ strictly white neighborhood (any black person in this neighborhood is a service worker, not a resident). BTW, they teach in schools that there is no segregation. But when there is a black person walking down the street, every neighbor has their eyes locked on him. I also have rental properties in what is considered a "bad neighborhood," considered by rich white folks. There are mostly blacks in that area, but probably about 10% of white people. I feel comfortable being on my own even at night in the "bad neighborhood" (I am a skinny blond gal). But I have had a few contractors who refused to work in the area. They do feel more comfortable when they see me comfortable being there. 
A funny thing: my house in A+ neighborhood was broken in (before I installed a security system and cameras around the perimeter). None of my properties in "bad neighborhoods" were broken in and they had very little security (poor locks, barely intact doors and broken windows). All rentals had copper plumbing, furnaces, water heaters intact after being vacant for more than 2 years and during the reno.
Another fun fact: in my current rehab (a total sh** hole) I found a pay check stub of one of the residents, she worked 3 miles away from my primary residence in A+ neighborhood. So, to put everything in perspective she had spent more of her awake time in A+ neighborhood, which is more than me. While I, working in Downtown, closer to her sh** hole, spend most of my awake time close to "bad neighborhoods." Plus, when I get applications for my rentals, I find that people who want to live in my "bad neighborhoods" actually work close to my primary residence or somewhere close by the "good neighborhoods." If I would have told any of my A+ neighbors that I go to the "bad" neighborhoods on my own and on my own will, they would think that I am crazy. I actually bring my kids over there sometimes. That might quilify for a CPS call in their book.
So, my conclusion, "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are some kind of artificial terminology that white folks made up to scare each other.

Where do you live, 1950?

You might say that, ha-ha.
It's hard for progressive coastal cities to understand deep deep Midwest. For that particular reason (1950s) I hire only contractors that are younger than me, older generation has a very hard time getting orders from a woman, or working for a woman period (almost a pun). You've witnessed the elections of 2016, so I'm surprised by your surprise.

I live in a pro-Trump state bordering the Midwest (TN) and haven't seen anything like that. I do recall spending a few months in a backwoods area of Ohio with people who lived in a victim mentality and blamed all of their problems on the government (in this case, Bush Jr happened to be president), so I suppose that I can imagine there are still people out there that have similar mindsets toward particular groups of people.

My first guess for her locale was one of the Grosse Pointes in MI, with rental properties in nearby eastside Detroit. Could also be in some areas of metro Grand Rapids, MI. Yes, it's archaic but also not too far-fetched in some areas.

Sibley

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #55 on: March 28, 2019, 12:25:00 PM »
It's funny, I was just trying to figure out "bad neighborhood" for myself. I live in the biggest city in our state (metro area), and in the A+ strictly white neighborhood (any black person in this neighborhood is a service worker, not a resident). BTW, they teach in schools that there is no segregation. But when there is a black person walking down the street, every neighbor has their eyes locked on him. I also have rental properties in what is considered a "bad neighborhood," considered by rich white folks. There are mostly blacks in that area, but probably about 10% of white people. I feel comfortable being on my own even at night in the "bad neighborhood" (I am a skinny blond gal). But I have had a few contractors who refused to work in the area. They do feel more comfortable when they see me comfortable being there. 
A funny thing: my house in A+ neighborhood was broken in (before I installed a security system and cameras around the perimeter). None of my properties in "bad neighborhoods" were broken in and they had very little security (poor locks, barely intact doors and broken windows). All rentals had copper plumbing, furnaces, water heaters intact after being vacant for more than 2 years and during the reno.
Another fun fact: in my current rehab (a total sh** hole) I found a pay check stub of one of the residents, she worked 3 miles away from my primary residence in A+ neighborhood. So, to put everything in perspective she had spent more of her awake time in A+ neighborhood, which is more than me. While I, working in Downtown, closer to her sh** hole, spend most of my awake time close to "bad neighborhoods." Plus, when I get applications for my rentals, I find that people who want to live in my "bad neighborhoods" actually work close to my primary residence or somewhere close by the "good neighborhoods." If I would have told any of my A+ neighbors that I go to the "bad" neighborhoods on my own and on my own will, they would think that I am crazy. I actually bring my kids over there sometimes. That might quilify for a CPS call in their book.
So, my conclusion, "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are some kind of artificial terminology that white folks made up to scare each other.

Where do you live, 1950?

You might say that, ha-ha.
It's hard for progressive coastal cities to understand deep deep Midwest. For that particular reason (1950s) I hire only contractors that are younger than me, older generation has a very hard time getting orders from a woman, or working for a woman period (almost a pun). You've witnessed the elections of 2016, so I'm surprised by your surprise.

I live in a pro-Trump state bordering the Midwest (TN) and haven't seen anything like that. I do recall spending a few months in a backwoods area of Ohio with people who lived in a victim mentality and blamed all of their problems on the government (in this case, Bush Jr happened to be president), so I suppose that I can imagine there are still people out there that have similar mindsets toward particular groups of people.

My first guess for her locale was one of the Grosse Pointes in MI, with rental properties in nearby eastside Detroit. Could also be in some areas of metro Grand Rapids, MI. Yes, it's archaic but also not too far-fetched in some areas.

Yes, Grosse Pointe would qualify. There's some granulation that would vary it, but definately. GP is a bubble community, and really just doesn't quite get it.

Sibley

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #56 on: March 28, 2019, 12:29:41 PM »
How often do you find good schools in a bad neighborhood?  I would focus on places with good houses, and good schools that have high test scores with low free and reduced meals percentages.

FYI, if you follow that line of thought, it implies that "bad" = not white upper/middle class. At least in the US. Think about that.

OurTown

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #57 on: March 28, 2019, 12:33:47 PM »
Not necessarily.  My own little suburb is about 15% black and is definitely middle-class.  We are far and away the safest municipality in our metro area, even though there are other burbs that are whiter and richer. 

RFAAOATB

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #58 on: March 28, 2019, 02:45:58 PM »
Another thing to consider is how children affect your tolerance to riskier house selection.  Before my daughter showed up I could see myself aiming towards more affordable housing options in less than stellar areas.  Now I’m worried about schools and want to buy the biggest house in the richest best school suburb I can afford and NIMBY block any hint of low income housing development in the district.

SwordGuy

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #59 on: March 28, 2019, 10:56:17 PM »
I lived in DC during the work week for most of 5 years and went home to my family on weekends.   Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I lived in downtown DC.  I lived in a cheap apartment a good portion of the time.

To hear my white co-workers from the mostly white suburbs, DC was a crime-infested place.  It was as if they expected to take the metro system to DC and get mugged, raped, and murdered within 100 feet of leaving the subway station.

Oddly enough, I would see pretty young women jogging (alone) at 10 to 11pm at night in my area.  And I would see the same one more than once, so clearly they weren't being killed off at a rapid clip.   

Much of the "bad neighborhood" concept is just Tiny Details Exageration Syndrome in action.

Frankly, the neighbors in working class areas are generally friendlier and more helpful than they are in posher ones.

I was fixing up a rental property in a working class neighborhood for several months on the weekends and evenings.   I had spoken to the folks in the houses next to the property on occasion.  Nice people.

One day I was going to return some items but I didn't have my trailer with me.  I put them in the back of my wife's car but couldn't close the hatch on the back because of the size of the times.   I really didn't have anything to property tie down the items but I did have a small amount of wire, so I gave it a try and figured I would just drive very slow (with my flashers on) the mile to Lowes.    Didn't work, the stuff started to slide out the back.   The across the street neighbor saw it, walked over, and handed me the keys to his pickup truck.    That's not my idea of a bad neighborhood.

mm1970

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #60 on: March 29, 2019, 11:20:56 AM »
I lived in DC during the work week for most of 5 years and went home to my family on weekends.   Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I lived in downtown DC.  I lived in a cheap apartment a good portion of the time.

To hear my white co-workers from the mostly white suburbs, DC was a crime-infested place.  It was as if they expected to take the metro system to DC and get mugged, raped, and murdered within 100 feet of leaving the subway station.

Oddly enough, I would see pretty young women jogging (alone) at 10 to 11pm at night in my area.  And I would see the same one more than once, so clearly they weren't being killed off at a rapid clip.   

Much of the "bad neighborhood" concept is just Tiny Details Exageration Syndrome in action.

Frankly, the neighbors in working class areas are generally friendlier and more helpful than they are in posher ones.

I was fixing up a rental property in a working class neighborhood for several months on the weekends and evenings.   I had spoken to the folks in the houses next to the property on occasion.  Nice people.

One day I was going to return some items but I didn't have my trailer with me.  I put them in the back of my wife's car but couldn't close the hatch on the back because of the size of the times.   I really didn't have anything to property tie down the items but I did have a small amount of wire, so I gave it a try and figured I would just drive very slow (with my flashers on) the mile to Lowes.    Didn't work, the stuff started to slide out the back.   The across the street neighbor saw it, walked over, and handed me the keys to his pickup truck.    That's not my idea of a bad neighborhood.
Prob depends on when you were there and specifically where.  I lived outside DC for awhile, and there were def areas that we were warned against (mostly SE and SW DC).  I'll say that for a few years, I found navigating the interstates in the city difficult.  At one point, I was out with a friend on the weekend.  It was 10 pm.  We got lost trying to get back to Alexandria.  We got pulled over in SW DC by the police.  "You girls lost?"  "Yep."  "Thought so.  Go to the next stop sign.  Turn right.  You'll hit the freeway.  Do not stop anywhere."

That said, I've heard from friends still there that there's been some gentrification near the Navy Yard, as they  moved in some other Navy entities. 

Like when I lived in Pittsburgh, Oakland had regular drive-by shootings, and if you stopped for a few seconds on the corner, the police would tell you to "move along" (I was trying to figure out which way to go, but at least I was with a group).  It's much better now.

tralfamadorian

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #61 on: March 29, 2019, 01:26:57 PM »
I lived in DC during the work week for most of 5 years and went home to my family on weekends.   Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I lived in downtown DC.  I lived in a cheap apartment a good portion of the time.

To hear my white co-workers from the mostly white suburbs, DC was a crime-infested place.  It was as if they expected to take the metro system to DC and get mugged, raped, and murdered within 100 feet of leaving the subway station.

Oddly enough, I would see pretty young women jogging (alone) at 10 to 11pm at night in my area.  And I would see the same one more than once, so clearly they weren't being killed off at a rapid clip.   

Much of the "bad neighborhood" concept is just Tiny Details Exageration Syndrome in action.

Frankly, the neighbors in working class areas are generally friendlier and more helpful than they are in posher ones.

I was fixing up a rental property in a working class neighborhood for several months on the weekends and evenings.   I had spoken to the folks in the houses next to the property on occasion.  Nice people.

One day I was going to return some items but I didn't have my trailer with me.  I put them in the back of my wife's car but couldn't close the hatch on the back because of the size of the times.   I really didn't have anything to property tie down the items but I did have a small amount of wire, so I gave it a try and figured I would just drive very slow (with my flashers on) the mile to Lowes.    Didn't work, the stuff started to slide out the back.   The across the street neighbor saw it, walked over, and handed me the keys to his pickup truck.    That's not my idea of a bad neighborhood.
Prob depends on when you were there and specifically where.  I lived outside DC for awhile, and there were def areas that we were warned against (mostly SE and SW DC).  I'll say that for a few years, I found navigating the interstates in the city difficult.  At one point, I was out with a friend on the weekend.  It was 10 pm.  We got lost trying to get back to Alexandria.  We got pulled over in SW DC by the police.  "You girls lost?"  "Yep."  "Thought so.  Go to the next stop sign.  Turn right.  You'll hit the freeway.  Do not stop anywhere."

That said, I've heard from friends still there that there's been some gentrification near the Navy Yard, as they  moved in some other Navy entities. 

Like when I lived in Pittsburgh, Oakland had regular drive-by shootings, and if you stopped for a few seconds on the corner, the police would tell you to "move along" (I was trying to figure out which way to go, but at least I was with a group).  It's much better now.

I'm dating myself here but I remember when DC was the "murder capital" of the country and considered very unsafe during the crack epidemic. I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few of the overly cautious folks are older and forget how much gentrification has changed a city/neighborhood that they don't visit very often.

dcheesi

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #62 on: March 29, 2019, 02:44:08 PM »
FWIW, I've been to a Nats game in Navy Yard, and it looked like a boomtown. High-rise buildings being constructed everywhere you look. I suppose there could still be pockets of seedier environs tucked away somewhere, but overall it's clearly an up and coming area.

dougules

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #63 on: March 29, 2019, 04:02:57 PM »
There are definitely neighborhoods where you could run into trouble (Memphis and Baltimore), but there are a lot more neighborhoods that have an undeserved or outdated reputation.  Some of my coworkers were arguing with me that my neighborhood is bad, and I have lived there for 9 years.  It's just fine. 

If you really want to know if a neighborhood is a safe place to live, talk to folks that live there.  After all they would be your neighbors.  They can tell you if they think it would be a good idea for you to move in.   

Also, when it comes to safety in a neighborhood, it's very fine-grained.  A half a mile or less can mean the difference between an actual bad neighborhood and a peaceful neighborhood like mine that's guilty by association.  My neighborhood is close to some neighborhoods that are significantly rougher.  But there again that may be just my perception.  Don't trust the opinion of people that live more than a small distance away. 

HP

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #64 on: March 29, 2019, 04:43:00 PM »
So, I hear people talk (both IRL and online) about how such and such is a "bad neighbourhood", but I wonder how much of that is "you're statistically much more likely to be robbed/assaulted while minding your own business", and how much of it is just "ewwww, poor people!".

Note: I've never lived in a "big city bigger than 416,427", and I grew up white and sheltered among other white people in a non-racist rural west-coast area, so I'm not really attuned to the much more highly race-sensitive undertones that seem to be a "back East" thing. For instance, I can find reasonable rents in a "bad neighbourhood" in the D.C./Baltimore area, but when I look up the neighbourhood, it's predominantly black-- but I don't know how much of the "bad neighbourhood" is "yeah, your car's gonna get jacked" and how much is "ewww, poor black people!"

I'm not sure exactly how to find this out without actually moving. Anyone have relevant experience?

FTFY  :) :) :)
« Last Edit: March 29, 2019, 04:51:00 PM by HP »

Sibley

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #65 on: March 30, 2019, 05:39:05 PM »
Another thing to consider is how children affect your tolerance to riskier house selection.  Before my daughter showed up I could see myself aiming towards more affordable housing options in less than stellar areas.  Now I’m worried about schools and want to buy the biggest house in the richest best school suburb I can afford and NIMBY block any hint of low income housing development in the district.

Fight that instinct. Your daughter will be much better off in the long run growing up with real diversity. Remember, "less than stellar" can mean a lot of things. I live in a very nice suburb, that because of the state it's in everyone just assumes is crappy. Reputation does not equal reality.

BlueHouse

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #66 on: March 31, 2019, 08:27:25 AM »
FWIW, I've been to a Nats game in Navy Yard, and it looked like a boomtown. High-rise buildings being constructed everywhere you look. I suppose there could still be pockets of seedier environs tucked away somewhere, but overall it's clearly an up and coming area.

Southeast DC is actually pretty big and consists of a portion East of the River (EOTR) and a portion west of the river that is adjacent to Capitol Hill.  This small portion is often called "Near Southeast" and it's where all the revitalization is currently happening. 
The Navy Yard neighborhood is a part of Near Southeast and its revitalization when DOT located its headquarters here, then National's Ballpark was built out.  Old dangerous projects were razed and a new mixed income community was developed as part of a Hope VI program by HUD.  It's mixed income.  The high rises are not part of the Hope VI development, and honestly, they don't add much "soul" to the neighborhood. 

If you want to see what the neighborhood looked like before and after, here's a link with a ton of photos:

https://www.jdland.com/dc/capquarter.cfm



BTDretire

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #67 on: March 31, 2019, 08:27:31 AM »
I live in a subdivision I consider a 3rd tier out of 5, but there are very few 5 tier homes in the city.
 My very tiny wife jogged at 4:30 am for years without fear, we still jog/walk but on a different schedule.
Anyone that lives here would consider it a great subdivision, me included except, I have two next door neighbors
from hell, drug users and sales. One was raided a couple years ago with flash/bangs and jail terms, (out now)
the other had an overdose death about a month ago, also had the wife die of a stoke a month or two after a beating in the home. No charges!
  So nice neighborhood with bad seeds having enough money to live next to me.
Then there is some low cost housing about 1 mile away, where there is some
crime problems that extend outward.

kite

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #68 on: March 31, 2019, 02:01:06 PM »
So, I hear people talk (both IRL and online) about how such and such is a "bad neighbourhood", but I wonder how much of that is "you're statistically much more likely to be robbed/assaulted while minding your own business", and how much of it is just "ewwww, poor people!".

Note: I've never lived in a "big city", and I grew up sheltered in a non-racist rural west-coast area, so I'm not really attuned to the much more highly race-sensitive undertones that seem to be a "back East" thing. For instance, I can find reasonable rents in a "bad neighbourhood" in the D.C./Baltimore area, but when I look up the neighbourhood, it's predominantly black-- but I don't know how much of the "bad neighbourhood" is "yeah, your car's gonna get jacked" and how much is "ewww, poor black people!"

I'm not sure exactly how to find this out without actually moving. Anyone have relevant experience?

I'm in my sixth decade on this planet and have no idea what a non-racist rural west-coast area would be.   Can't grasp what you are looking to learn?

ForeverPoor

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #69 on: March 31, 2019, 06:39:56 PM »
It's a good idea to aggregate data together for a side/side comparison. I also use this: https://www.crimemapping.com/

fuzzy math

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Re: Bad neighbourhoods?
« Reply #70 on: April 02, 2019, 11:18:02 AM »
City-data does a great crime index of # of crimes by type per 100,000 ppl and comes up with a composite score for the city.

Areas like Baltimore have had very little improvement over the years - there I would be very wary of any neighborhood choice
http://www.city-data.com/city/Baltimore-Maryland.html

Actually, St Louis is the murder capital of the US (per capita). Its crazy there. All the schools are a 1, there are entire portions of the city that are abandoned and boarded up and going to be razed eventually. I've parked my car downtown however and not felt unsafe but did get a very pointed warning about a specific (suburban east) neighborhood on where to park for a concert. I'm still surprised though that their crime index beats Baltimore.

An old city of mine. Has made improvements. Used to be fairly unsafe. There are areas where I would not have wanted to live.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Tacoma-Washington.html

The interesting thing about all these cities is that their crime rates went down for a good 10 years and are all on the rise again. Either larger scale drug use or economics are getting worse for the lowest segment.