I am looking at buying a house around 19th and McKean. Can anyone tell me about the neighborhood? I like the house alot, but I am looking for a safe place to live as well. Seems to be a rather diverse area... please all comments welcome.

Be careful there as with any other area in the city. Just be extra careful at night.

That appears to be on the edge of the 150-300 shooting victims per sq. mile zone.

Click on interactive map, top right of this link
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/11180561.htm

Safety is based on your perception. Personally, my perception is, know how to duck.

I have a friend that lives on 19th street, between Snyder and Jackson. The homes on this block are nice and the residents are a diverse mix of Old Italians, African-Americans and Southeast Asians. Its not entirely unsafe, however, a lot of homes have bars on their windows and security doors. North of Snyder is a different story. The homes aren't as nice and the area has a reputation for violence. If you search through the news, you will find at least 3 incidents of shootings or stabbings in the vacinity of 19th and Snyder, with in the last year (This is where that St. Joes Prep football player was killed last year). On the plus side, this is right around the corner from the famed Nick's Roast Beef on 20th and Jackson.

the house I am checking out is about a block north of snyder. like 19th and McKean my friends and I are all caucasian college aged males. I really like the house, will I be out of place and unsafe in this neighborhood? Snyder street looks pretty busy I just don't know how crime is around that area. I am told it is alot of Italians in the area, but when I was walking around today, I saw more African-Americans and Asians - Any more thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Just want to be safe. I live in North Philly now, 15th St... How does this are compare with the area in South Philly that I am looking at? I want to feel safer than I do now. Thanks for the help.

Also, we would be walking Snyder Ave from 19th Street to get to the subway and what not... We are students at Temple. Is this a safe plan? Even at night? As I said, Synder Ave. looked like a pretty busy street and alot of police, but I want to be able to walk Snyder a night and feel safe...??

It's probably quite a bit safer down there than in N. Philly, especially if you're talking about around York or Dauphin. However, as GHo gentrifies, you might get a bubble of violence pushed south into that area.

If safety is one of your main concerns, I wouldn't think this is the right area.

I'd suggest hopping on the BSL and taking a stroll up Snyder at night, when it's warm....and see if you feel safe. Talk to people you meet on the street.

If you're not comfortable doing that, then I wouldn't consider buying there. That's just me, anyway.

I live on the block that you are talking about, just a few months ago I was packing and ready to move, but we changed our mind, my wifes family lived here, we moved into there house, they have since passed on , we are still here, here is the way i see it, when you cross Mc Kean the 1st half of the block is decent on both sides, some families,but all working people, we all know each other, some not by name, but we always acknowledge each other, by that i mean a hello, and talking to each other, towards the end of the block, a lot of noise, i see a lot of stuff going down, some weird looking characters, i have not experienced anything bad on the block, we are a great mix, asian, black and white, a few seniors on the block, black and white, pretty much keep to them selves, but i always say hello , and they always say hello back, what side of the street are you talking about, the houses with the porches or the other side, i love my house because me and my wife work close by, we have 4 bedrooms , a big yard, a full basement, now i wont tell you not to be careful, at night especially when walking to subway, but i see a new beginning for the area, we just had a young couple buy on the street, for the price you cant beat it, so clost to everything, by the way welcome if you decide to live here, any other questions?

I'd look elsewhere. I'm also a Temple student with hardly any money, so we're prolly in a similar boat. Your best bet for something cheap, nice, and safe in south philly is passyunk sq, dickinson, or thereabouts. Basically look south of washington, north of tasker, broad as your boundry to the west and 6th to the east. I, and a good amount of friends, have found some great places doing just this. In any case, I wouldn't step foot anywhere in SP west of broad....there's nothing there except dirty cocaine and thugs.