How bad is Harlem?

I am an out openly gay man living in harlem

it is fine, you will be fine...get the 1970s-1990s out your head. Move hear before it is to late. Rents have gone from studio/1bdrm 1100 when I moved here to as much as 1500-2000 now.

mcgato wrote:

Concerned Citizen wrote:

Live in Bayonne, NJ and take the PATH train.

PATH does not go to Bayonne, NJ. You could take the light rail to either Hoboken or Jersey City and get the PATH from there, though. That said, Hoboken or JC could be doable choices that are cheaper than Manhattan, but the running is pretty sucky on this side of the Hudson.

Thanks. I knew they had put some sort of rail over to Bayonne; I guess in my mind it just sort of magically turned into the PATH train! Really interesting area, but I agree, probably pretty sucky for running.

The Upper East Side actually has some really cheap apartments close to the river. When I was looking for an apartment, I looked at a decent place on 1st or 2nd that was about $1100/month. It's a long, uphill walk to the subway, but it would still be more convenient than most anywhere in Harlem. And it is still easy to get to the park.

On another note, NYU's XC team often runs up to Central Park from the Village. That's about a 50 block trek, or 2.5 miles. People run up the avenues all the time and I don't think there is ever much trouble with it. Plus, I think you can run along the river through around most of the island and there are planning on making it possible to run completely around Manhattan without interruption.

Hedonic wrote:

The Upper East Side actually has some really cheap apartments close to the river. When I was looking for an apartment, I looked at a decent place on 1st or 2nd that was about $1100/month. It's a long, uphill walk to the subway, but it would still be more convenient than most anywhere in Harlem. And it is still easy to get to the park.

On another note, NYU's XC team often runs up to Central Park from the Village. That's about a 50 block trek, or 2.5 miles. People run up the avenues all the time and I don't think there is ever much trouble with it. Plus, I think you can run along the river through around most of the island and there are planning on making it possible to run completely around Manhattan without interruption.

What parts along 1st or 2nd? Is this E Harlem? Is $1100 still possible in Manhattan? What's the best way to look for an apartment w/o actually being in the area. It seems like most of the ads in craigslist require broker fees and that's what 10-12% of a years rent??

If you're moving to Harlem, check to see if they're renting rooms in the Royal Tenenbaums house. You'll be hipster royalty.

Nothing is going to happen to you anywhere in NYC metro area w/ the exception of East NY in Brooklyn. Don't worry about the neighborhoods. The gentrification is happening everywhere. Focus on looking for a place that is convenient for you and affordable.

I forgot to add if you're gonna move into the fringe areas where the rent might be lower, I hope you're not sensitive to noise. The apartments in these neighborhoods are full of people who have hard time hearing because of the endless clang and thump music they play day & night. A lot of them don't go work and have 10 kids so someone will always be up playing loud music, screaming and yelling. They will stay up late with the noise but somehow manage to be the first one up to make more noise. If you say anything about, you're a racist. A chance of you not avoiding this is very slim as you can be surrounded by up to 6 apts.

douglas burke wrote:

well it got a bad reputation in 1964 and 1968 as there were riots, it has really improved since then, it is about 54% black, 34% spanish, 2% asian and 10% white and they all live happily there. the new york city marathon runs through it.

a couple of regulars at a coffee shop in harlem are bill and hillary clinton, any place that is safe enough for a former president of the united states and his wife, is safe enough for anyone.

I would be shocked if 34% of Harlem's residents are from Spain.

guess what wrote:

What parts along 1st or 2nd? Is this E Harlem? Is $1100 still possible in Manhattan? What's the best way to look for an apartment w/o actually being in the area. It seems like most of the ads in craigslist require broker fees and that's what 10-12% of a years rent??

Wait, are you looking for a studio or to split a place with a roommate. Renting a studio is generally a bad idea. If you don't have friend who is going to move in with you, then it is tough to find someone with an open room on craigslist. You simply won't be able to get a studio in Manhattan for $1100.

I did look at some open rooms that were around $1100 that were okay. I even looked a place that was $900 which was literally a "walled" (bookcases really) off corner of a basement in a really bad part of the East Village (the worst neighborhood in Manhattan in my opinion).

I highly recommend you post an ad on craigslist describing who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for in a room and roommate.

Another surprisingly good option is to find a really nice, big apartment with lots of rooms and then find people who want to fill it. I spent a little time looking at a 6 bedroom apartment on the UES and tried to fill it with 5 other people from craigslist. It would have worked out nicely, all the people were great and friendly and fun, but I decided against it in the end since the paperwork would have been a little complicated (I didn't have a job at the time) and I found a nicer place (for more money) on the West Side. The rent there would have been $1100, the apartment was newly renovated, it was on Lexington and 86th, I think, which was right by the subway, and it had a washer and dryer in the unit, and a private courtyard. Now that I think about, I really should have taken it.

Another thing, if you don't have a friend you can stay with, I recommend getting temporary housing for a while. Don't expect to get an apartment if you don't live there, or to get one right away. You won't be able to get an apartment without seeing it first and you don't want to take a roommate without meeting them first. It took me several months to find a place, which was a miserable experience.

hedonic, thanks for all the info. I wasn't going for the roommate thing, so yeah, looking for a 1br within 2 mile from CP. Another option I was looking at was Queens (Astoria). I have a car, so street parking there seems a little more doable.

NYC as whole comapared to places like Detroit, Atlanta, Newark, Baltimore, ESL, etc., is not that dangereous at all. In general, if you mind your own business, don't act like you want to be a victum, chances are you won't have a problem.

guess what wrote:

hedonic, thanks for all the info. I wasn't going for the roommate thing, so yeah, looking for a 1br within 2 mile from CP. Another option I was looking at was Queens (Astoria). I have a car, so street parking there seems a little more doable.

Definitely get rid of your car. You won't need it or want it and it will just end up being a big expense. Tolls are atrocious and gas is expensive, not to mention payments, insurance, registration fees, and parking. A monthly unlimited metro card is $104, that's all you need.

A 1br is even worse than a studio. I'd say at worst, you should get a 2br and then find a roommate to take the other room. Maybe you could get a 1br and flex it into two or do without a living room. 1br are really expensive, especially since you have to pay for cable, internet, and utilities by yourself (which could come out to $200-250/month. Roommates are great since they can show you around and introduce you to people and you'll be able to afford a much better place when you split the costs.

Spanish = Latino to ignorant white people.

I might have a cheap room opening up in my apartment in July. (Morningside Heights) When are you planning on moving?

Maybe you should move to Riverdale .. if you're going to insult the residents with a baited question.

float on wrote:

Spanish = Latino to ignorant white people.

No, Spanish = a language spoken. SOMETIMES used to describe someone from Spain but the more common term for that is Spaniard.

Not the same thing.

Hedonic wrote:

Another thing, if you don't have a friend you can stay with, I recommend getting temporary housing for a while. Don't expect to get an apartment if you don't live there, or to get one right away. You won't be able to get an apartment without seeing it first and you don't want to take a roommate without meeting them first. It took me several months to find a place, which was a miserable experience.

Craigs list can be good for this plan. My friend rents out a bedroom in LIC to folks who use it as a base to look for a place. Two or 3 minths getting settled at work and making tentitive bonds with a new cohort will give you clearer vision of what and where will work for you.

Landlords ask salary to be 50x monthly rent although some are still taking 40times. If two names on the lease they may ask for more from a combined wage lease.

Good places can be found but feet on the pavement and looking every day is the key to get a place that makes you smile instead of settle.

Brokers can be a powerful and useful tool. A good one will have inventory in good buildings. With a great deal of the rental buildings 50 years old and up a quaility landlord trumps an extra block to the subway.

Cars are unneeded for most NYC jobs- I rent for weekends and vacations and find it really does not cost mote than a full time car plar the alternate side parking is a bother and a wasre of time. A garage in Manhattan, if you can get a slot can be over a grand a month.

good luck

Get in a NYRR Club race and everyone you meet will give you an opinion about where to and how much-- talking realestate is a given here.

Good luck NYC is a wonderful town.

"How bad is Harlem?"

I laughed out loud when I read this. Harlem is entirely gentrified. It has some places I guarantee you can't remotely afford. The "rat-infested" picture you describe sounds like a TV show about Harlem...in the 60s.