How safe is the area of Lower Roseville, west of Branch Brook Park?

Submitted by Actual-Knee-1399 t3_104l7pp in Newark

Me and my gf is planning to move to one of the numbered street, some places around 6th Ave just a bit west of the Brank Brook Park. We are working at NJIT and will often get back late, but not super late like after 10pm or so. How safe or dangerous do you think this area is to commute by walking? If we using bikes can it be a bit better than just walking?

Other places I narrowed down to be suitable for us would be somewhere between the Fairmount Cemetery and Univerisity Hospital. Is it any better or worse than Lower Roseville?

Every comment is appreciated. Thank you!

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srddave t1_j35viqi wrote

100% Lower Roseville is the better, safer hood. Where you mentioned (around 6th Ave—like where Park and Roseville meet at the Bravo market) is not one of the better sections of that area but it’s also not terrible and I would walk there at 10PM and not be too concerned. There has been a bit of violence on that stretch of Roseville over the last 5 years or so but nothing compared to the neighborhood west of University Hospital, which is IMO, one of the places where there is consistent gun violence and a lot of gang activity.

Hopefully you are street smart and you know how to stay aware of your surroundings. When you live in Newark, you will learn street-by-street which are the good ones to travel down (on foot or cycle). Roseville has a lot of families that have lived there for generations and most of the numbered streets are fine. I would plan your route home from work carefully and stick to it. Personally, I would stay by the park and stay off Orange St unless you want Spanish food. I would recommend staying on the main roads like Central (that part of Central is fine but I don’t walk west of 1st Street on Central) and then down 1st St should also be a good route. That’s just my 2 cents.

And where you are living you are close to Branch Brook which is absolutely one of the gems of Newark (along with the beautiful basilica and Bloomfield Ave for shopping and Calandra’s Bakery). You also are close to a few light rail stops if you wanna get downtown quickly, as well as the 34 NJTransit bus which you also could take home from work (runs down Roseville to University Heights and downtown).

Good Luck!

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j35y7vn wrote

Thank you for this comment, it is very thorough and super helpful. Definitely will keep these in mind planning for my moving in. And I also hope to be able to view all the beauties near it after settling down.

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effort268 t1_j36r23o wrote

Can confirm the above, lived there for 18 years.

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j38136e wrote

Thank you, I am delighted to hear that, I think I will adapt just well to the place soon. Just that I don't know if it a red flag, since my agent told me she afraid we were too "cute" for the neighborhood (perhaps because we are working in academic) and want to make sure I know exactly that I want to live here.

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Ironboundian t1_j3bufwc wrote

Amazing how the broker figured out to use “cute” as a code word to avoid violating fair housing law.

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srddave t1_j3bwdv4 wrote

Mmhmm they probably get very good at speaking in code.

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effort268 t1_j3832pq wrote

If you dont mind me asking whats the closest intersection. The closer you are to Bloomfield Ave the better, the closer Orange st the worse.

If you intend to walk late, walk through Park ave and be smart (dont be walkinw your headphones on staring at your phone). But tbh, biking is a lot safer especially at night

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j384bfd wrote

Of course, I believe the closest intersection to where we will be living is that of 6th Ave and North 5th St, I remember walking pass a big deli supermarket.

I will keep in mind your insights and be aware of the surrondings when walking, and that should be fine. Thank you again.

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effort268 t1_j386g5x wrote

Yeah back in 2006-2014 it was a bit bad, its calmed down significantly but sttill be very careful as theres projects on the cornr 5th st and 7th ave. As well as some directly on your block. With this in mind, please bike at night, ideally on the street as sidewalks are small and you may find people loitering on the sidewalks.

I’m obviously being super cautios here but chances are youll be just fine, just be smart, dont mess with anyone and you wont be messed with. Also this is a mostly Black/Dominican/Puerto Rican neighborhood so keep that in mind as you may hear lots of music and people with loud cars.

PS 6th street is known to be a nicer and safer street as it gets a lot of cars due to it taking you directly to 280.

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effort268 t1_j3872bd wrote

Just to add, curius to know your budget cause you might find better places for similar prices in upper roseville (much much safer!!)

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j387qx4 wrote

Yeah I also been researching and found that upper Roseville is one the nicest place to be, but then the prices could be a bit rough. Our budget would be around 1,700- 1,800$ and can hardly go beyond that.

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effort268 t1_j389ks6 wrote

You should definitely be able to find a place in upper rosevile for that price. My uncle lives there and pays $1950 for 3 bedrooms. Assuming you need 1, you should be able to find something

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j38bf2y wrote

Definitely will give it a look, thank you. I would say this is the best chance ever to have a bike.

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effort268 t1_j38cg8t wrote

Yeah I found a few spots on Zillow. Best of luck!

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theblackdonaldglover t1_j3859x8 wrote

It isn't that bad just be well aware of your surroundings when I was walking to a bus stop in 2018 some guy had his dog on the loose and it attacked this guy, just stupid stuff like that. Avoid it and you'll be fine

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j38b2ob wrote

Thanks I will make sure to avoid sketchy stuff on the street. I think this is something we can learn, like being aware of the surroundings and know how to react and handle situations.

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Marv95 t1_j3a56gz wrote

NJIT to Roseville(Park Avenue stop) is a subway ride away. Why would you walk?

The area gets better when you are by Park Avenue & points north and close to Branch Brook Park. I've walked thru that stretch in the past w/o much issue, tho this was back in the late 2000s/early 2010s. But anywhere from 6th Ave south towards 280 and Roseville Ave west going towards East Orange, unless you have a ton of street smarts, avoid like the plague. Fairmount is even worse.

Just read your posts with effort. Yeah go with Upper Roseville instead. City subway lets you off by the park.

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Actual-Knee-1399 OP t1_j3a7o6h wrote

>m 6th Ave

Thank you I really appreciate it. With all these information I can see it will be best to find some other places in Upper Roseville.

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Newarkguy1836 t1_j3k9jsw wrote

As a lifelong Newark resident, I can tell you North of Park Avenue from the park to Roseville Ave. Then north of Springdale Avenue to the East Orange Line.

If you're looking forward more of an urban feel with rowhouses and other "missing middle" Urban architecture, the 6th Avenue corridor in lower Roseville is pretty nice. But you have to be a little Street Smart. It's a transition area between the more Suburban upper Roseville and the inner city central Ward which usually begins at Orange Street and South.

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