Area around Potomac Ave Metro (apartment, lease, neighborhood)

[Kate88]

A friend just got an apartment here and doesn't feel safe. She is considering breaking her lease and finding a new place. My question is: is it just a 'gritty' area where she will be fine if she is smart, or should she be legitimately concerned? The nearest intersection is at 15th and Pennsylvania SE.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by Kate88

A friend just got an apartment here and doesn't feel safe. She is considering breaking her lease and finding a new place. My question is: is it just a 'gritty' area where she will be fine if she is smart, or should she be legitimately concerned? The nearest intersection is at 15th and Pennsylvania SE.

That's not too far from the Shooters store, I believe. I would not describe it as gritty, but that is the less attractive part of Capitol Hill. That area is transitional, but far from bad, so I would not move if I were your friend. Especially considering that she's so close to the Metro.

[Chester Bennington]

I'll just be blunt about this, your friend must be from the suburbs and while I'm not 100% sure, she is also young and a race/ethnicity besides black. In that case I can see why she might feel a little uncomfortable. However that area really isn't dangerous anymore. I'm going to be blunt again, you will see drunks and bums near the liquor store and teenagers at the carryout and so forth. She may went to try living in Cleveland park or something...

[Kate88]

You're right on Chester. I am not super familiar with DC myself so I wasn't going to encourage her one way or another before getting some more info about the area. Her friend helped her move in and the friend's car got broken into her first night there, which I think really scared her, understandably. I've tried telling her that that's just a 'city' thing, it will happen in any type of neighborhood. Thanks for the info, guys.