5 ms·

My "rule-of-thumb" indicator: whether or not there are a lot of check-cashing, bail-bond and furniture rental establishments.

by angdis 11y ago

Implicated 11y ago
Same principle applies to 'big chain' type retailers and such. If the local grocery stores aren't large regional chain stores... likely not a good area.
- alsetmusic 11y ago
  The opposite can also be true. Secluded neighborhoods with lots of small mom-and-pop shops instead of commercial giants may be a location driver. My nearest chain is only a mile away but my community is built around a strip of independent shops.
- nemo44x 11y ago
  What does "likely not a good area" mean? In NYC there are plenty of "nice areas" that don't have major chain stores. In many cities this is the case. I grow tired of the underlying racism people exhibit (such as yours) without even being aware of it. You're probably not a blatant racist but I think a lot of people from mainstream white culture need to start inspecting and criticizing their view of the world a bit more. There are a lot of good people living in what you call "not a good area".
  - defen 11y ago
    > What does "likely not a good area" mean Street crime (muggings / random unprovoked assaults); petty vandalism; burglary; schools where your kid will get beat up for exhibiting the slightest amount of intellectual curiosity or non-standard behaviors / appearance.
- waterlesscloud 11y ago
  Yeah, this definitely only holds up to a certain income level. Then small local chains hold sway once again.
joshuaheard 11y ago
And dollar stores.
RankingMember 11y ago
Yep, "cash 4 gold" places too.
cerrelio 11y ago
I wish I could find the article, but they showed that neighborhoods with check-cashing stores were lower income than those without. No mention of the others. Although I suspect bail bond offices aren't a reliable indicator of economic stability; they're more likely to indicate proximity to a courthouse. In SF, they're all on Bryant St by the criminal court. The area is slightly sketchy for obvious reasons, but the houses/condos there are probably not cheap. I've lived in 4 other cities and the majority of bail bonds places are within a block of the justice centers. Anecdotally, I live in San Francisco and have lived in two neighborhoods. One was midway through the process of gentrification and the other is in its final stages. There were many remittance/check-cashing outlets in the former. I live in the latter now and there are 7 coffee shops within a block of me; no chicken joints at all. And the closest check-cashing store to me is about a third of a mile away on Market St.

My "rule-of-thumb" indicator: whether or not there are a lot of check-cashing, bail-bond and furniture rental establishments.

by angdis 11y ago

My "rule-of-thumb" indicator: whether or not there are a lot of check-cashing, bail-bond and furniture rental establishments.

Implicated 11y ago

Same principle applies to 'big chain' type retailers and such. If the local grocery stores aren't large regional chain stores... likely not a good area.

alsetmusic 11y ago
The opposite can also be true. Secluded neighborhoods with lots of small mom-and-pop shops instead of commercial giants may be a location driver. My nearest chain is only a mile away but my community is built around a strip of independent shops.
nemo44x 11y ago
What does "likely not a good area" mean? In NYC there are plenty of "nice areas" that don't have major chain stores. In many cities this is the case. I grow tired of the underlying racism people exhibit (such as yours) without even being aware of it. You're probably not a blatant racist but I think a lot of people from mainstream white culture need to start inspecting and criticizing their view of the world a bit more. There are a lot of good people living in what you call "not a good area".
- defen 11y ago
  > What does "likely not a good area" mean Street crime (muggings / random unprovoked assaults); petty vandalism; burglary; schools where your kid will get beat up for exhibiting the slightest amount of intellectual curiosity or non-standard behaviors / appearance.
waterlesscloud 11y ago
Yeah, this definitely only holds up to a certain income level. Then small local chains hold sway once again.

joshuaheard 11y ago

And dollar stores.

RankingMember 11y ago

Yep, "cash 4 gold" places too.

cerrelio 11y ago

I wish I could find the article, but they showed that neighborhoods with check-cashing stores were lower income than those without. No mention of the others. Although I suspect bail bond offices aren't a reliable indicator of economic stability; they're more likely to indicate proximity to a courthouse. In SF, they're all on Bryant St by the criminal court. The area is slightly sketchy for obvious reasons, but the houses/condos there are probably not cheap. I've lived in 4 other cities and the majority of bail bonds places are within a block of the justice centers. Anecdotally, I live in San Francisco and have lived in two neighborhoods. One was midway through the process of gentrification and the other is in its final stages. There were many remittance/check-cashing outlets in the former. I live in the latter now and there are 7 coffee shops within a block of me; no chicken joints at all. And the closest check-cashing store to me is about a third of a mile away on Market St.