I'm about to sign the lease on a house that's between Lehigh and Allegheny on Frankford. A few people have asked if this is a good area, but most of the responses are short "just don't" answers that sound more like a reaction to stereotypes than anything.

It clearly isn't a "good area", but I'm moving there anyway.

Does anyone have any actual stories about what goes on in this neighborhood? What should I look out for? How can I avoid trouble (besides moving to Cherry Hill, of course)?

What I'm going to say about the area is not the be-all and end-all, because I've only been around for about a year but--

I used to drive to my house on the other side of Lehigh from the B.R. Bridge that way at first. Then I stopped doing it and went by Aramingo to Lehigh instead, mostly because there was just more going on along that route.

There are not a lot of stores or much that is nearby on Frankford--just a few bars and deli/bodegas and flat-tire fixer shops.

I never had any problem driving through there (although other people will probably have stories to tell about traveling through there). But if you need to buy something after about 6 PM, you're a ways from anything. I guess try to shop in advance.

Not true at all....very easy to buy some crack, heroin or street whores around there.

Seriously, that's a bad area. K&A (Kensington and Allegheny) is notorious and just a couple blocks away.

Just don't.

__________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. -George Carlin

On each block of frankford ave(2900,3000,3100)you will find at least one halfway house,mostly for men but there is also one in the 2900 block for women only.They like to hang out around frankford and bellmore st.I can't tell you if they are trouble because I don't live there but I do know you couldn't give me a house in that area,there is too much going on during the day I can only guess what it is like at night...

Frankford & Somerset is just one block east of a notorious drug corner, where a double homicide went down last week. The descriptions above are quite accurate..halfway houses, cracked out lost souls roaming the streets, trash-strewn lots. there are good people there, much like everywhere, but unfortunately this part of kensington is pretty rough. I work for NKCDC and we just started a new neighborhood advisory committee up there, so I've spent some time recently going door-to-door in that area. alot of despair, hopelessness.....there is, however, a good restaurant at frankford & clearfield which just reopened...chuckles I believe? whatever its called its apparently a legend and the food is great.

Frankford at night is a sight to behold. Its hypnotic.

Mr. Musselman, what are the chances of NKCDC extending their boundaries to include Port Richmond?

I live right around the corner from Chuckles. I've never eaten there though. In fact...I didnt know they served food. I've eaten from a bunch of the local deli's and pizza joints and stuff though. Guess I just don't go for the fancy places he he.

I have to say, there are some good things in this area. TONS of businesses.

I do construction type stuff and love bragging to the burbs folks that I have everything within a mile of my place. My truck gets about 8 miles to the gallon but a tank will often last me over 2 weeks. Sorry I forget all the names.

Betz plumbing supply on frankford above sommerset
Wood's brothers frankford and lehigh
Small scrap yard on silver street right off frankford (follow the shopping cart people)
Northeast Building Supply up on Aramingo
Huge Scrap yard off of Aramingo
A&S Steel off of Aramingo
Welding supply place on Richmond
Comly Auction house off of Kensington
Phil's appliances on Kensington (Props to those guys!)
The tire place on Frankford and sommerset (they charge 3 bucks to take a tire off the rim, rim to the scrap yard, tire to pep boys on del ave....best way to get rid of those things!)
Fox electric off of G street
ABRM Auto off of clearfield (He Rocks! Take my vehicles there all the time)

Oh and buy up those crummy vacant lots! They usually go for between 3 and 5k at sherrif sale. How many center city folks can say they have a nice big yard?!

I always tell people that neighborhood is a matter of opinion. I once was at a party listening to a woman telling me how she was frightened half out of her mind because she was walking around the oh so dangerous neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square. I don't have any problems living here although I REALLY wish we had like a Trader Joes or something. My street happens to be a smaller quieter street though. We do have some pretty good gossip though, and you'll have tons of great stories to tell your friends.

How would I find out about the advisory committee?

(on Lehigh and close to Frankford) and I take a walk thru the neighborhood almost every day. We generally stay along Lehigh, which is very safe, but occassionally head deeper into the neighborhood to see what's what. I'll post pictures someday, since we have found some fascinating things. I agree with what others said: nights can be pretty wild and very, very sad. We've never had a bad encounter during the day, other than calling the police for people who where passed out on the sidewalk, but I suspect that night might be a different story. I love poking thru the stores at K&A during the day. Most folks are very nice.

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Lotta people getting shot.

2006 shooting info:
http://inquirer.philly.com/graphics/shootings_map/

I dunno...we've had a couple shootings in my hood. While its tragic none of them have been random shootings. I figure, if your not dealing your pretty safe.