Hi all. I am interested in the 21st & Master area. Does anyone here live in that area and have any anecdotal info on what goes on in that 'hood? I am a single female and have some concern about safety, etc.

I appreciate any and all input!

I live at 21st and Master. Have been for two years now and very involved with the community. I can let you know anything you would like.

First piece ... you probably don't want to live on Seybert.

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Hi Adam. I am looking into buying a shell on the 2100 block of Master. I'd be doing alot of the renovating myself and likely living there alone for a bit, until I could find a roommate (or not). There are so many empty lots around there, but some really decent looking old housing stock too. Are there any typical problem areas that you would recommend avoiding? It would not appear to be real safe walking out alone in the evening, but I generally have very lilttle fear ofo anything (part of my problem). In your opinion, would walking out at night alone be safe? Parking my car out front of the house, ok? I live at 29th and Girard now and was vandalized once, but admittedly thhat was my own fault (too much tantalizing junk in my car).

yeah! another dyi-er!!! we live not to far from there. 27th and jefferson we own a couple houses and we too work on them ourselves. i am about to finish up a roof on my warhouse and we just put a patio door on our 3rd floor.





if you have any questions about anything about fixing stuff, feel free to ask. 2 years ago we knew barely anything about drywall and now we have done everything from structual work to roofs.

adam would know more specifically about that neck of teh woods. we have found that you or anyone not related to the drug trade no matter how bad the block are safe, just dont be buying drugs or trying to run corners. as for vadalism, it depends on the block. most of the time it is fine. you are more prone to be broken into south of girard then north.

one bit of advise. be very clear when working on your house that you are not a contracter and make it very clear to all you neighbors that you are living there. get a dog and dont leave your tools there when you are not there. from the second that we started working on the house we lived here in a tent at some points. our place too was a shell. word gets out that someone is working on a house you may be apt to get your tools stolen. if you are not going to be there and you get close with your neighbors they will watch out for you tools. adam will probably look out for you.

welcome north, the sun shines brighter north of girard!

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www.rob-sutherland.com

Hi Merkin.

Wow, you are hardcore! And perhaps ever crazier than I am, which is saying something. VERY pleased to meet you. Thanks for the tips, though I cannot imagine having a dog. I was planning on getting contractors to do the major plumbing,gas and heat/cool systems and then doing the finish work myself. I will likely contact you to pick your noggin (sounds pleasant, eh?)

I am in no way in the drug trade, so I don't see any competition issues there. I do have a car though. I was actually eyeing a property in your area as well, but the area seemed far rougher than where I am looking. I have yet to look for DIY-er threads, but I will now. Thanks for writing!

Get in touch with me. (Email or PM me ... I can give you my phone number.) You can point out the shell you are going to work on and I can take you around the neighborhood and introduce you to some people.

I will give you a heads up right now ... the 2100 block of Master is excellent block. It gets loud now and again (I recommend installing double pane windows), but the people are pretty good and half the block is related to each other and have lived there for ranges from 10 - 40 years.

Well, time for me to go. Going to be outside weeding the sidewalk and my planters.

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thanks, i am proud of the new work, it is the best finish work i have done.

the few blocks that are around us are quit. there are hot spots where people let people deal drugs (28th and jefferson, dover....) our block is very quit and tight. our warehouse extends to bailey street and although half looks vacant most poeple are related and do not let people sell on the corners. today we had a block cleanup. it is a nice block. kathy works at the museum and walks or rides her bike to work every day. when we have time we frequent the north star and feel no problems walking back at 11 at night. we thought the same thing when we bought this place. now there are several rehabs going on and many more properties going up for sale that have been vacant for 20 yrs +. you should stop by and we can chat. finacing is tricky when buying a shell. a friend of ours bought a place on master and marston (btwn 27th and 28th) and she got some kind of rehab loan. we are trying to refi right now and comps dont match sale prices yet.

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www.rob-sutherland.com