Harlem West 130s

I would stick closer to 125th street: The Lenox, 50 West 127th Street, The Rhapsody, Loft 124, etc. Good Luck!

Four separate shootings within two blocks of those places a couple of weeks ago.

If you are moving to Harlem from the Upper West Side or the Upper East Side because you see relative value, then definitely stay below 125th Street. Even then, west of 8th Avenue is better. Harlem is not for everybody. Walking the streets is always nerve wracking. You should think about packing heat for your own protection. The 130s are a mess and I don't think they will ever gentrify -- ever. There are several massive housing projects around there. Just buy a smaller apartment on UWS or UES and keep your sanity. Its not worth it.

Notice that the hate always eminates from downtown and is directed uptown....how is it that those residing downtown are so apprehensive about good news coming from uptown? The hate is so stupid and pointless...do you think that just beacuse you bash an area, that progress will come to a halt? Why not try beating up on somebody your own size like...Trump who is rumored to be developing a tower in West Harlem...or why not Columbia University which will be redeveloping practically an entire neighborhood in West Harlem....face it Harlem's progress is unstoppable...there is just too much investment and heavy hitters involved in Harlem's renaissance for rational adults to pay any mind to your gibberish! And regarding crime just check out the New York Times crime stats....Harlem's safer than most areas downtown for your information.....you guys just have too many bars and strong character traits...when you have too many who think so highly of themselves you're bound to have issues.

Crime stats are meaningless unless they specify the crime. No one is going to avoid living in the West Village because drunks regularly urinate outside the White Horse Tavern. Gang-related shootings on the corner of 127th and Lenox are an entirely different ball of wax.

Agree with #5 in that I don't understand the need of some people to constantly knock neighborhoods other than their own. "UES is boring" "Harlem is dangerous" - blah, blah, blah. It's very telling when people lash out because it basically says that they're not so secure in their own real estate choices. Think about it. If they were, there would be no need to slam others, right? Of course not. The internet, however, emboldens the weak and feeble minded and so we get the useless drivel that we see way too much of on this site. Grow up people.

#7 Well said...loved your statement!

Parts of Harlem are fine but others are sketchy.

A friend of mine lives in a gorgeous condo on 135th st. near St Nicholas park and has had no problems; I've gone to her place numerous times at night and felt safe. But someone else I know lives on W 148th St. and had to walk me from his place to the subway at night because some of the blocks were too dodgy for me to walk alone.

This isn't hate, this isn't prejudice, this is reality. Maybe parts of Harlem will become more gentrified but I think it would be hard to displace all of the people living in the housing projects, making gentrification more difficult.

#9, it's not "reality" -- it's your 135th St. friend's opinion vs. your 148th St. friend's opinion. What does "had to walk you" really mean? Some people are better than others at telling the difference between down-and-out vs. dodgy.

#9 here. These are my opinions - not those of my friends. My friend from 148th st "had to walk" me to the subway from his place at around midnight because there were some areas with people - mostly men - hanging out on the trash-strewn street drinking and carousing loudly. I'm a woman and not only my friend was being chivalrous, he lives in the area and knows what streets to avoid at what time, and didn't want me walking down the 'wrong' street. I would definitely have not felt comfortable walking alone and cabs weren't readily available in that part of town. I'd also feel uncomfortable being ANYWHERE where there's a large crowd of drunk men and I'm the only woman.

So rather than tell me what you think I should say, I'm telling you about my experience. I've lived in this city for almost 20 years and would never experience this scene in many other parts of Manhattan. It's not about being PC, it's about valuing my life.

Anyone LIVES around strivers row can comment? First hand experience is golden...

Strivers Row is like being in the middle of nowhere...you're neither here nor there. I'd try sticking to the 125th St. area.

Hey poster #9 and #11 - "people - mostly men - hanging out on the trash-strewn street drinking and carousing loudly" - sounds a like the Upper East Side on Cinco De Mayo, or Hoboken on St Patrick's Day, or Meatpacking District EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT. Get a life and stop hating Harlem.

As for "It's not about being PC, it's about valuing my life" - were you actually threatened? Or were your middle class sensibilities offended by people having fun?

Good perspective #14. You're right. It's not about "being PC", it's about an ever so very subtle type of racism.

who the fuck uses words like carousing and chivalrous? its the 21st century, women don't want men holding doors for them and many are competing for the same piece of ass anyway. Carousing? i think thats something sailors do doing fleet week. call it what it is, people smoking blunts and playing craps on the sidewalk

Having moved to harlem (147th st) recently, I can share some of my first hand experiences. During the day time, i (as a woman) generally feel safe walking alone but I still don't feel comfortable walking alone at night although i occasionally see white couples walking their dogs at night. Also, be sure to be waken up by cars with loud music driving by in the middle of the night. not only loud music, there's almost some sort of dramatic arguments going on after 2/3am where i hear black people using racial slurs towards white people.

I feel deprived of racial slurs toward white people in my little corner of Harlem. Which ones are currently en vogue? Do 'honkie' and 'cracker' still make the cut? I like to be up-to-date on these things. Please inform.

lol. i just moved to harlem, and the first fucking day who comes up to me, my wife and kid, hassling us?
some fucking blonde female crackhead, no lie, for real, but do i blame all white people? no because i'm a fucking grown up #17

Well W149th is perfectly fine at any time during the night, and neighbours very friendly (know more of them (approx 15) after 6 mths than 3yrs in the village (vs. 2!) LOL

I have previously expressed my concern that if real-estate in Manhattan does decline in value, Harlem will be hit harder than less recently gentrified areas. But that is just a concern.

I hope that people with actual experience in Harlem would continue to post to provide their views and experiences.

For example - is there hostility toward those moving into the neighborhood, perhaps due to the perception that those ‘gentrifying’ will cause rents to become unaffordable for the long-time residents? When Bill Clinton tried to open an office in Harlem, there were some residents who were vocal in their objection to his choice of their neighborhood.

P.S. StreetEasy - Thanks for eliminating anonymous posts.

Oddly - my last post seems to have been anonymous!

#21: When has anyone been able to really stop progress. The majority of long time residents are ok with it...a few may object to a certain degree but I've never witnessed any confrontations to this regard. By the way, not everyone has to agree with the gentrification of Harlem....this is a democracy and all are entitled to voice their opinion. It seems to me that the majority of residents are excited about the change/improvements.

we now live up here at The Lenox and we totally love it and love seeing the daily changes in the area plus all the shops are so sweeet and the owners are on site and friendly and offer loads of help to us. I love that we have valet parking and great doormen, yes its not like the upper eastside but so what, its just so real to live with so amny different kinds of people and getting to know everyone. people actually say hi to us on the street. we left sutton place for this and each day feels like we are on a vacation. the restaurants are wonderful, the history and stories are amazing. it was a good choice that we made.

I would love to hear comments from anyone living in the area about how things have changed in the last few months? Are things getting better or worse, or are they staying roughly the same? Do you feel safe walking around at night? How visible is drug/gang activity?

PW2000 - I have several rentals in the area. One on 157th St, a 6 unit townhouse on 161st St and a condo 145th St. So far I see the most change on 157th St, but there is still def. a way to go in terms of services. My tenants are mostly students or physicians at Columbia Pres. Basically, it reminds of the East Village about 10 years ago. I think it is a great area to invest in but not sure if someone very young who loves to go out downtown would love it. Depends on your stage of life, in my opinion. If you want a huge place with a reasonable mortgage and don't mind waiting for the services to arrive it is worth a look.

I have lived in the west 130's since january. i walk home at all hours about 3 blocks from the subway and never felt at all concerned. there is a fairly strong community feeling and i am sure most people in the area know me more than i know them. I never see the gangs, but sure it changes within a few blocks. i would guess if you are closer to 125th there may be more noise.
It would be good if some better restaurants began to open rather then only fried chicken.

I am a West Harlem resident for a little over 2 years now (140's). I have walked around in the 120's-150's during the day and night, and my experience has been mixed between this area. Some blocks are great, others are a bit sketchy. I live on a block that is still a bit sketchy, but has improved considerably in the 2 years I have been here and I expect that over the next few years will be many times better (the sketchy people, i.e. drug dealers, live in buildings currently owned by Jared Kushner, and are up for sale as part of large portfolio- I expect the new owners will likely want to shake some things up). My recommendation to you is to speak to the Community Officer in the precinct that you are looking at and find out where the trouble spots are- because chances are they already know. I know in the 30th Precinct, the trouble spots are 136th, 140th, and 147th....but even these blocks aren't the danger zones they once were. Honestly, I feel safer on any of these three blocks than I do on 125th Street in Central or the East side at night (although all of these areas are evolving).

I have lived on 123rd and Lenox for the last year. I'm a woman in my early 30s, I walk around day and night and feel very safe. There is a great sense of community and I am very happy with the move.

It's clear that the wave of gentrification is moving north.....so generally speaking 125th St will probably be safer than 135th and above.

dg156, read my comments 2 above yours....to paraphrase what I said, I feel safer on many blocks north of 135th street than I do on 125th street. Harlem is incredibly diverse and each micro neighborhood can be dramatically different than it's neighbor.

Most people would probably feel safer on 125th street than on blocks north of 135th. Nevertheless, enjoy your neighborhood....Harlem is blossoming nicely.

I really would be suprised if someone felt unsafe in the 140's and upwards. Unless, and this is not a slight, they are not city people. When I go up there it feels like the city of years ago. It wasn't that long ago that the East Village and Hell's Kitchen felt sketchy. The 150's is very Latin American/Dominican...never felt unsafe there. And, as I've posted, most of my tenants are fairly young Columbia/CUNY students. So their parents clearly feel they are safe.

But, as dg156 said, it is all about personal confort level.

and isnt sketchy what the villages prided themselves on for so long. its fun to live in an area rich with culture not just gap stores. i dont feel threatened going home in the west 130's

I live on W135th @ Madison. No problems ... great subway connections .... library, post office, groceries...all within a three block radius. The rent is very reasonable.