Bradhurst Ave, Harlem

I moved to Harlem 12 years ago. I'm from the Upper West Side of Manhattan (born and raised) and moved to the Bradhurst area 8 years ago. The area is good for families and professional singles. Anyone who knows anything about New York City knows that good and bad things happen in ALL neighborhoods. The neighborhood has changed DRASTICALLY since I moved here in 2004. NYSC, Starbucks, Pathmark and other businesses have opened. The 3 train now runs 24 hours a day. It used to stop running at 10 or 11pm when we first moved here. People are friendly. There are lots of people with dogs, it's a real Manhattan neighborhood. My main complaint is that the area lacks non fast food restaurants. I would like to see more of that in the area.

Brokers will try to play up Bradhurst Ave like it's so awesome and "up and coming." Don't listen, and don't kid yourself. The area still has lots of problems. The area is NOT changing drastically, at all. If you live right on Bradhurst (near jackie park), be prepared for non-stop noise (bbq's, annoying loud music, birthday parties, fights, shouting, general street harassment -- esp if you're a female)...hearing gun shots is the norm, too. Don't even dare hang out on frederick douglass blvd, you're just asking for trouble. Nothing to do (no eateries, cafes, bars) in the area...NOT ONE. It's boring as hell. My roommate was assaulted the second night we moved in. I've had to call the cops on my neighbors for domestic violence related things. People are not friendly in the area (unless they are the frequent Jehova Wittness' knocking on your door at 9am on a Saturday). You can find BETTER PRICED apts in the prospect heights/clinton hill area (bklyn), and those are actually cool neighborhoods...people, this is NOT glamorous ol' "Manhattan", it's West Harlem, it's right by the Polo Ground Projects. There was a goddamn shooting/murder at the 145th subway stop six months ago. Seriously, It sucks, don't live here.