So I gotta ask...is central Harlem safe for me?

What kind of retail? Home Depot, H&M or The Strand?

Good question, troll.

It might be central, but it's still Harlem.
Almost all men, hardly any girls.

What kind of retail?

Here are the crime stats for the 28th precinct - http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs028pct.pdf

In 2013 there were two murders in the 28th precinct, last year there was one murder. My guess is that the west village had more than that..

At the bottom of the page you can see the historical trends. In 1990 there were 41 murders - compared to the one last year - robberies in 1990 totaled 1,050 and last year was 174. It's an amazing trend that proves there are many many pluses to gentrification....

I'm a landlord. I don't have new tenants come to me and say they want out of their leases because they don't feel safe. And, if I had a 21 year old daughter I'd let her live in central harlem...

Anr9: do your parents pay anything toward your financial support? If so, listen to your father. Just some advice. Nothing good will come of disregarding his advice and you become a crime victim in any way, including petty theft.

If you have to ask the question . . .

Safer than Williamsburg

My father worked in Harlem in the 1970's and he thought I lost my mind when I made the decision to buy a condo in Hamilton Heights (different section of Harlem than you are considering, but still Harlem). There were a lot of other people that were negative when I told them of my decision. When I first moved here, it was still very rough and a little bit dangerous- but that was nearly a decade ago. Now, it is quickly becoming hipster haven. While every block is different, in general Central Harlem is very safe. Before you rent or buy an apartment, talk to people in the neighborhood- you may be surprised just how friendly people are up here.

FYI- after all the negativity surrounding my initial decision, my parents are genuinely considering moving to Harlem. Talk about a turnaround.

>When I first moved here, it was still very rough and a little bit dangerous- but that was nearly a decade ago.

2005 or 2006? What had been the direction of NYC at that time?

What is the direction of NYC today?

fieldschester - in 2005 and 2006 the people applying for my vacant apartments were young, single, first apartment in NY types. Some had salaried jobs and some had hourly jobs (bartenders and waiter types). In 2009ish the trends stopped and the people applying for my vacant apartments were immigrant families and people on government programs. About 3 years ago the trend of young, single types began again. But this time the young singles have better jobs and better credit. The neighborhood is also better which helps explain why better credit-risk tenants are applying today.
Now my hope is that these new tenants will stay, get married, raise kids, and send them to the public schools here. The schools here are a complete shame. We claim to be a liberal city but right under our noses minority kids fail time and again because we provide terrible schools for them to attend. I think an influx of market rate tenants is the best chance our schools have ....

>Now my hope is that these new tenants will stay, get married, raise kids, and send them to the public schools here.

Haha, that's so funny.

>The schools here are a complete shame.

Oh, you agree with me

>We claim to be a liberal city

Who is "we"?

>but right under our noses minority kids fail time and again because we provide terrible schools for them to attend.

Again, who is "we"? When do families have responsibility for involvement in their own children's education? Why do "we" have to be the only ones responsible?

>I think an influx of market rate tenants is the best chance our schools have ....

Please send me whatever drugs you are using.

Having Sunday brunch is not safe in central Harlem.

Thanks @anr9 for asking this question. I've been wondering about Central Harlem. As for the trolls, I feel so bad that you have nothing better to do than be lame or internet forums. I would looooooove to see you try and act like this in person.

its fine. my wife and I lived in harlem on 120th and 5th for 2 years between 2010-2012. would have bought there if we could have afforded it.....turned out Brooklyn heights ended up being cheaper to purchase and that's why we ended up there.
My only comment about harlem is the gentrification turned out to be way slower than I thought, was up there a few months ago and almost nothing had changed, if I had of purchased there not sure how I'd feel about the area now.....but for renting....yep go for it and save your $$$ while you are young so you can buy somewhere sooner than later.

jaredmb05, your 'o' key got stuck. And your epidermis is showing.

Why not go there at the times you would be returning home? This is such a subjective thing. For some it's about stats, but that's not the whole story. It's very different at night (anywhere).

You have to investigate the spring and summer, not the winter. When more people are outdoors on the street corners, how do you feel?

People say a lot of things about Harlem, both good and bad. I lived there about 5 years back and I found it was an ok place to live. At the time I was in school. I was in a shared apartment w roommates back then ( all female).

Over the next 7 years, I have lived all over the city. Harlem was fun and inexpensive but, I do have to say it was not my favorite place to live. I much prefer Inwood. Inwood is roughly the same price, and from my experience significantly more safe.

I loved Harlem and the year I spent there, but personally I would not do it again. Chances are you will be fine, but do you really want to risk being as statistic? Things happen, and you are never really surprised. Sometimes you might even make excuses ... thinking well I'm not really like that person. But there is a chance you will get pick-pocketed, mugged or even worse.

From my experience personality made a big difference. I'm a pretty friendly person, and don't care much for luxury goods. The worst that ever happened to me was my phone was pick-pocketed on the bus.

However, if you like expensive bags or a snobby attitude Harlem is not the place for you. If you are laid back and can relax you might have fun.
You should probably walk about the neighborhood before you decide. Try the night time, weekends.

Not to scare you, but do expect to hear of crime ( that will probably not be reported). It happens all over the city. I can tell you a few completely true stories about me and some of my friends. Each of us college aged, from all different backgrounds

1. My personal account. Phone pick-pocketed on the bus. Season: Fall. Time Mid-day on my way to class. When I called to get my phone back the guy insisted I meet him at his building, and then over the phone asked me on a date. Creepy but true story. I even offered him money to meet a few blocks over at a major intersection. He said no. A few awkward conversations later I told him he could keep the phone.
Side note. There was also another time I think I was going to get mugged, but apparently I flirted my way out of it? It was a late summer night and it was raining really bad. This sounds made up but its not. The streets were complety empty. I was on the way to the car when I heard running from behind me. I turned around and was startled by a guy literally twice the size of me. Conversation went like this. Me " Oh. You scared me" Him "Oh." Me silent stare. Him awkward shifting. Me, I looked him up and down then said " Okkkkayy?" Him awkward silence. Then Him " Its raining, where are you going?" Me keys in my hand " To my car" Him "OK" Me flustered "Why?" Him small talk to try and walk to me to my car, take me to his friends house. Me thinking this guy is crazy, but I am alone in the middle of the street and night started to get him to walk to a major street. He reluctantly started to move and then asked for my #. Several minutes had passed and still no one on the streets. At that point I was starting to get worried. SO i thought what ever it takes I need to get out of here. I gave him my # and said lets start walking. As we're walking he actually Called ME. Thank goodness I gave him a real #. He laughed and then walked me to the corner and called a cab. I convinced him I was going out to a bar w the girls on a TUESDAY and that I probably shouldn't be driving anyway. Once I got in the cab I went as far as a could think of. Strait downtown, and called my girls. Luckily they could come. They took a cab down, and we had a few drinks. Just in case that jerk had followed me. After 2 weeks of dodging txt msg and 2 phone calls I told him I was moving to my Miami and changed my #. After that I never hear from or saw him again, but I did have an elaborate story about how HE dumped me just in case I ever ran in to him again.

2. Female roommate was mugged. Season: Spring. Time around 3 pm. Location 116st Some high-school aged kids ran by her, and stole her phone right out of her hands.

3. Boy friend mugged twice, and threatened at knife point ( as a gag, but not at all funny!)
a. Boyfriend threatened with a knife! Season: Summer first month in the new apt Time: Nighttime weekend past 9pm Location: rather not say bc the aholes that did this probably still liver there. After going on a date nearby my BF walked me home then left to return to the subway. On his way there he passed some guys standing in between the space of building/ garbage ally. He said he could see there were drunk and laughing, as he passed them out of nowhere one of them pulled out a knife and asked if he wanted to "see" it. The guy then laughed and started to walk toward him. Seriously WTF! He knew they were pulling his arm, but he was scared and just ran across the street. I had just signed a lease and was stuck there.

b. BF IPod stolen out of hands Season: Winter Time: 2:30 ish Location: Walking through Morningside Park Again, high-school aged boys verbally intimidated and threatened him. He wasn't paying attention when he walked into the park. One of them just snatched it out of his hands when he was listening to music. They threatened and made fun of him.

c. BF Kindle stolen out of hands Season" Spring Time Morning around 8Am Location: Subway C train between 116st and 135 st heading uptown. Adult male ran buy and grabbed the Kindle as the train door was closing. All this took place during morning rush hour in front of a train full . Lesson: Don't sit in the seat right by the door.

4. Classmate mugged for Iphone, wallet and watch. Season: Winter Time" Mid afternoon Location Manhattan Ave & 110st

The scariest part is that NONE of these crimes were reported! NOT 1. Each and every time something would happen I'd be shocked, and then immediately think 2 things 1) it could have been worse 2) I knew this could happen when I moved in

Now this is just my experience. You asked for an opinion on safely, and you should decide what time of crime or danger you feel safe w. The NYPD is not America's Biggest Police Force for no reason. There will be risk where ever you decide to live.

I thought I had found a great deal. A cheap, fun apartment that seemed great. But now 5 years I'm a little wiser. It seems our male counter parts had a rougher time. Nothing too serious ever happened to me or any of my Female roommates, but a bunch of guys that we knew were mugged or pick pocketed from time to time. I even heard through the grape vine that some girls boyfriend got beat up after some guy was calling on her. Turns out he started a fight, and the other guy had back up. They came right out of the store and got him. I wasn't there, but it was ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENS.

You never think its going to be you until it happens.

I know I'm going to get a ton of hate for writing this very long and descriptive response, but you asked.

You're dating Tony Target?

cc2015, was this in Central Harlem, NYC, or Central Harlem, C0lumbia C0unty?
Also, you didn't report your stolen phone to the police?