Seattlest: Seattlest Asks: Which Hood Is Seattle's Shadiest Hood?

guest

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:05:37 -0800

A freaking WAR ZONE? Are you serious? There isn't a neighborhood in Seattle that is even CLOSE to being considered a war zone. I Have to leave a comment because it rubs me the wrong way to hear people give the south side even more bad publicity. I've lived in the RB for a year, bought a house because I wanted to be a property owner and have had zero problems. Sure, the Safeway is a little weird with its parking lot parties, loitering youth, and strange characters selling stuff outside the liquor store. I've never had a problem and I've walked to that particular Safeway at dusk, in the morning, during rush hour and have yet to encounter a single threat. I walk two miles a day for exercise in my lower RB neighborhood and other then the occasional hostile stares I feel largely unthreatened. If anything, I feel lonely in Rainier Beach because people living there are so trained at leaving each other alone. Rarely do my neighbors acknowledge my husband and I, be it language barriers or disdain for us 'taking over the hood.' By making the decision to move to the south end I had to assure myself that I would not be afraid. Labeling certain neighborhoods as the Shadiest Hoods only propagates an already struggling area, keeps us immobilized, and reminds me that I will never be able to afford a home in Queen Anne. --Mara

robwrongshoes

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:17:12 -0800

29th and Jackson isn't anywhere near as dangerous as Rainier Beach. That's a freaking war zone! Actually, the area immediately to the east and north of 28th and Jackson is very safe and nice. Go two blocks in either direction and you're on streets with really nice houses and no stumbling crack addicts. The current problem at 28th and Jackson is basically twofold-- the so-called "markets" on the two corners really only serve as a refuge for dealers, while the empty and poorly cared for "storefront churches" create a sense of abandonment and despair, not hope. Fortunately though, it's only a matter of time before economic forces change the face of the corridor for the better. The combined spectre of steadily increasing rents/property taxes, plus a disappearing customer base will always do that. Before too long, they'll be forced to do one of two things-- redefine themselves to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the neighborhood, or make way for businesses that will.

Rich

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:35:31 -0800

23rd and Cherry is bad at night. Walk down there at 1:30 AM and see. My vote is for 28th and Jackson (then, I dare you to venture down 28th about 4 blocks south of Jackson @ 1 AM) You may want to be packin

guest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:26:53 -0800

The bus stop at Third and James, right next to "Crack Park", is one of the shadiest ones downtown, especially after 6 pm. And working in Pioneer Square, I routinely see drug deals during the day and run across people wigged out (either crazy or high) on a daily basis. Once, a dude walking past me looked at me and muttered "I'll stick my d**k up your fat ass" and sadly, my first thought was "hey, my ass isn't that fat!"

guest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:39:12 -0800

@ Guest #2: What exactly do you find scary about 23rd and Cherry? I pass that way to or from home almost daily and have never seen anything remotely scary happen there. Houses in the area (including along 23rd) have been getting restored and Garfield is under full renovation. Only marginally sketchy place might be the Arco/AM-PM, which I admit I do not frequent (for product quality reasons).

Michael van Baker

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:24:54 -0800

Broadway isn't all that scary: trashy, stinky, panhandley, drunky, druggy, shouty, yes. But it's nuisance-level, mainly. I vote for the downtown area, evenings, as the place where I end up crossing the street or giving serious thought to which bus stop I'll wait at.

guest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:21:16 -0800

how about the CD? 23rd & cherry is deep in the streets...

guest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:40:39 -0800

The only one I'd add to the list is Pioneer Square.