What's it like living in East Harlem?

I think it goes a little like this.............

I like to be in America, Okay by me in America.

Everything free in America, For a small fee in America.

I like the city of San Juan, I know a boat you can get on.

Hundreds of flowers in full bloom, Hundreds of people in each room!

Automoblie in America, Chromium steel in America.

Wire spoke wheel in America, Very big deal in America.

I'll drive a buick thru San Juan, If there's a road you can drive on.

I'll give my cousins a free ride, How you fit all of them inside?

Immigrant goes to America, Many hellos in America.

Nobody knows in America, Puerto Rico's in America.

When I will go back to San Juan, When you will shut up and get gone.

I'll give them new washing machine, what have they got there to keep clean?

I like the shores of America, Comfort is yours in America.

Knobs on the doors in America, Wall to wall floors in America.

I'll bring a T.V. to San Juan, If there's a current to turn on.

Everyone there will give big cheer, Everyone there will have moved here.

I like to be in America, Okay by me in America.

Everything free in America, For a small fee in America.

It's getting better. I walked to the train many times last summer, and also went to listen to some good bands in really cool little places (there is an article in the NYT about them), like Camarada. There is a new little gourmet deli in Lex and 116th that is fantastic. The oldest brick oven pizza place, Patsy, is a very charming place and an excellent restaurant. The architecture in not as nearly as nice than in central Harlem, though. I have no idea about crime in that specific area, but I think that the trend is that it's going consistently down everywhere in Harlem. I believe EH is the cheapest place to buy in Manhattan, so the possibility of appreciation is big (at least in the long term.)

falcogold, i love you. although that was about hell's kitchen.
what's it like to live in east harlem? it SUCKS!
there's like 2 cops for every civilian and everyone looks pissed.
you want to be the asshole who's gentrifying the neighborhood? no. you don't.
my colleague actually bought here a year ago, i felt even worse for him after actually visiting.
go WEST if you must be uptown.

Thank you, Glamma.

I also have a colleague who bought on East 119th Street. Gorgeous new building, gorgeous new apartment -- large 2 bed/2 bath. Absolutely butt-ugly neighborhood, though, and downright scary at night.

I have friends that live in East Harlem and visit from time to time. At night, it's certainly no upper east or west side as there isn't much to do & certainly lacking in fun or action. The area may be safe but it certainly doesn't get that message across very well specially after dark.

In the winter when it gets dark not much past 4:00PM, it's totally dead & don't be shocked by the occasional gun shot (I've heard them!) My fiends get off cabs directly in front of the building entrance after dark if that tells you anything.

Freshdirect may also become a very good friend as grocery shopping can be limited.

I went to Central Harlem today to check out the area and some of the new development. I walked down to 114 to look for another new construction building. I turned the wrong way and went to the left (between 8th and 7th ave) where there was music blasting out of people's apartments and a bunch of black people hanging out on the sidewalk. As I walked down a bit, I heard some unfriendly comments about being "light skinned" (I hadn't really believed the other posters about the racial tensions there until I experienced it myself). Definitely will not be looking to move there. Also, I don't see how that area will continue to gentrify with rent vacancy rates rising and rent prices dropping throughout Manhattan.

we were talking about east harlem

East Harlem is WORSE.

Well, we just have different opinions. I just love central Harlem and I am not scared walking on it's streets (only before midnight-not a chance taker) and I've spent summer there this year and I had a ball. I like people in the streets and I understand the friction and I love the mix of people, the jazz & gospel, the mostly very friendly community, and the architecture. I had not have a crash like this with a neighborhood since I saw the Trastevere in Rome.

114th between 7th and 8th is notorious -- was warned by a cop not to wander there especially after dark.
oddly enough 110th to 116th is a section that is much more crime ridden than 116 to 124th -- at least as per a few policemen(women) we have talked to while walking in the area. There are also junkies and drug sales by the subway at 116th and frederick douglas. the manhattan kids blog and the zinc plate press blog routinely discuss related issues
Anecdotally things get worse as you go further East, especially Lenox and beyond.
Nevertheless there are some v nice buildings in this area and much restoration effort, so Mimi's enthusiasm is understandable. She is also brave, aware and interacts well with all.

Where are the exact boundaries of East Harlem? I assume East Harlem begins above 96th Street on the East Side, but to where does it stretch? When does the neighborhood become "Central Harlem?"

Harlem is not as nice once you go east of Madison Avenue, though there are pockets that are very nice, there certainly are some seedy blocks and or a seedy building or two in the midst of what would otherwise be a nice block. If you are faint of heart or just not used to people of color this is not the area for you. Truthfully, very similar to LES/East Village minus the plethora of places to hang or dine at night. I read some of the other comments and I referred to LES and or East Village because if you're out at night in the winter it gets pretty desolate there too. NYC observer, of course there are Black people, it's a mostly "of color neighborhood", guess that scared you or you have issues seeing people of color!

If you don't want to live around and or be out numbered by people of color Harlem is not the place for you...

5th Av divides east and west Harlem. But I am not certain if if starts at 100 or 110th st (where CP starts)