Thinking of moving to 8th & Tasker -- thoughts on the neighborhood?

**yrthling** · 06-03-2012, 11:18 AM

I'm looking buying at a house on South Eighth at Tasker. The house looks great, but I don't know the neighborhood well and could really use advice on whether it's: (1) peaceful; (2) safe; (3) vibrant; (4) otherwise great for moving to (hopefully long term). Any advice welcome. Thank you!

**five apples** · 06-03-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by yrthling

I'm looking buying at a house on South Eighth at Tasker. The house looks great, but I don't know the neighborhood well and could really use advice on whether it's: (1) peaceful; (2) safe; (3) vibrant; (4) otherwise great for moving to (hopefully long term). Any advice welcome. Thank you!

I would say it fails on points 1 and 2. But if you are looking at a long term investment than it might be good. To me that is on the border of good and bad. One block East is pretty bad, one block West is nice.

**yrthling** · 06-03-2012, 01:27 PM

Thank you for your response -- that's good to know! Do you think the neighborhood is getting better (the bad areas receding)? Would you be able to add any detail on your thoughts on what we might expect if we moved there? Again, thank you!

**greenconverse** · 06-03-2012, 03:23 PM

i'd agree that 8th street is pretty much the border between good and bad, but i don't think it's remotely bad enough to call it unsafe. there's definitely more trash on the sidewalk, and maybe a few more unsavory types, than the rest of passyunk square to its west, but i've never felt threatened walking around there at night (and i'm a 20-something female, not at all intimidating-looking). most of the places you'd be frequenting will most likely be in the "good" direction, toward passyunk, and passyunk square is peaceful, safe, and vibrant, with new businesses opening every month. also, because 8th is right on the border, and this area seems to be moving toward getting better rather than worse, i'm guessing it will only improve within the next few years. walk around at night, especially on a friday or saturday, and see how you feel.

**five apples** · 06-03-2012, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by yrthling

Thank you for your response -- that's good to know! Do you think the neighborhood is getting better (the bad areas receding)? Would you be able to add any detail on your thoughts on what we might expect if we moved there? Again, thank you!

Since I stopped doing the Passyunk Square Town Watch I have spent very little time down there so I honestly can't answer very well the direction it is going. I will say that I am surprised when i do wander down that way that the area hasn't improved more in the time between. I thought this area was posed to get nice fast, but for some reason it seems not to be. There are people on this board who live in that area and could shed more life.

I suppose my question to you would be how long have you lived in the city? Where have you lived in the city? What is your demographic? If you were one of my suburban female friends moving into the city, I wouldn't recommend it. It isn't awfully dangerous, but having lived here so long my view on that is different from people who haven't lived here so long. Like I said, that is as far as East as I would go in Passyunk Square.

**yrthling** · 06-04-2012, 06:34 AM

OK, between five apples and greenconverse, I think I understand the general idea: borderline, not the best but not the worst; don't move there expecting it will be like Rittenhouse in three years, but it could be going in a "nicer" direction; a little gritty for non-city folk but not surprising otherwise. This is very helpful to us! We're not ruling out the location, but this'll definitely be a factor we weigh before we make the decision. Thank you both for the advice!

**Elizabeth** · 06-04-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by yrthling

OK, between five apples and greenconverse, I think I understand the general idea: borderline, not the best but not the worst; don't move there expecting it will be like Rittenhouse in three years, but it could be going in a "nicer" direction; a little gritty for non-city folk but not surprising otherwise.

I agree, I think its probably going in a nicer direction with all positive influence from East Passyunk but it's bordering an area that's tough to turn

**MizFormaldehyde** · 06-04-2012, 08:05 PM

I'd definitely say peaceful & safe. 5th-7th is more bad news bears. My friend, before his family moved back to Florida, lived on the 1600 block of 8th. Never felt weird there even at night.

**Biccer2** · 06-04-2012, 09:28 PM

I'm near 10th and Tasker and the area is not bad at all. I agree with previous comments about the influence of the Ave spreading out, and you're a close enough walk from 8th that borderline won't seem significant.

**Jeffers** · 06-06-2012, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by yrthling

I'm looking buying at a house on South Eighth at Tasker. The house looks great, but I don't know the neighborhood well and could really use advice on whether it's: (1) peaceful; (2) safe; (3) vibrant; (4) otherwise great for moving to (hopefully long term). Any advice welcome. Thank you!

After living at 7th and Tasker for over a year and frequently walking around the neighborhood here are my thoughts..

1) peaceful - Like others have said you're near a border. Actually I would say I'm closer to the border at 7th. I've seen police activity on 5th-6th streets a couple of times but never seen anything west of me. If you read the police reports most of the activity is below Morris and closer to Snyder. In general I feel like my area is peaceful and yours would be a block in a better direction.
2) safe - Completely safe. I never feel unsafe walking along Tasker in either direction. Walking south towards Snyder it gets a little sketchier, especially below Snyder. I've only ever been propositioned for drugs on and south of Snyder. Like any other part of the city, watch your surroundings and lock your doors. Crime maps show that there are no more home burglaries, robberies, vehicle thefts, etc in this area than anywhere else along Passyunk ave. When most people say they feel unsafe from 5th-8th, I'm coming to the conclusion that they just mean they're scared of a couple extra minorities. Personally I've had no issues.
3) vibrant - you're 3 blocks from one of the most vibrant areas of the city. The singing fountain and everything along passyunk ave as well as the Italian Market. Pretty vibrant.
4) other - I think this is a great area to live. You might encounter a little more trash around you than a block to the west but not as much as a block to the east. If you're thinking long-term I think it's a great place to invest in property. Like someone else said don't expect it to transform into rittenhouse in a few years, but I expect it will continue to improve. Everyone I've talked to who has lived or worked here long-term has said the area has been improving steadily in the past 5+ years.

Whatever you choose, good luck!

**Sharkfood** · 06-06-2012, 02:10 PM

I want to echo what the last poster said, which is that the 5th to 7th danger zone is primarily south of Tasker.
The closer you get to Washington, the nicer it gets. Probably the worst little pocket is right around Mifflin or McKean & 6th.

**Kobe&Sparky** · 06-06-2012, 02:22 PM

When my husband and I first moved to Philly (7 years ago) we lived at 8th and Mountain (between Tasker and Morris). It was a nice little apartment and the neighborhood was fine. It didn't offer anything super special that made it exciting to live there, but I never felt unsafe and frequented some of the local shops. Since we moved from there the Passyunk Ave District has definitely made a different and I've seen it improve. Recently we moved back to S. Philly (Moyamensing and Moore) and love what S. Philly has to offer. I completely agree with what everyone else has said. West of 4th to East of 7th or 8th is probably not where I would recommend, but Tasker is a great street and there will be improvements as time goes on.

**sometimesilie** · 06-06-2012, 04:56 PM

I think it's a great area for investment. There's plenty to do. I lived at 4th and Tasker 10+ years ago and the increase in investment both in housing stock and businesses was pretty shocking to me when I moved back into the area recently. There's just a lot more activity in general.

There are still sketchy pockets which surprises me--walking my dog around at night I'm still really surprised at the difference block to block. I think from 7th and Tasker, West of you towards E Passyunk area is/going to be very desirable. North of you is still more in development, but imo only going to improve.

South and East of 7th and Tasker I'm not as familiar with, but you're getting into areas that, when I was recently house hunting w/my gf and we rode our bikes around a few times looking at places and getting a feel for the neighborhood, as well as my own observations since I moved in, there are some rougher looking characters out and about. Just my experience, I'm sure some on here had the same and different observations based on their own exp.

Bottom line, if I were looking to buy in Philly I absolutely would consider a house @ 7th and Tasker. If you're open to where you live, my gf who was initially dead set on the area you are looking in wound up buying in Fishtown and she's been very, very happy. Found a nice house in a great area for about 30K less than she was pricing for the same size/quality as she was seeing in 19147

**kundabuffer** · 06-06-2012, 11:59 PM

8th and Tasker is fine. As I live west of there I'd like to think that I'm in an even "safer" area. I do like the neighborhood. But then consider:

Robbery: Highway By Handgun
1700 Block S 11th St June 2, 2012 @ 10:39 p.m.

Burglary: Night; Force: Prvt. Residence
900 Block Watkins St May 26, 2012 @ 1:01 a.m.

Robbery: Highway By Handgun
900 Block Fernon St May 25, 2012 @ 1:33 a.m. Comment

Vehicle Theft: Stolen
1000 Block Mountain St May 25, 2012 @ 12:45 p.m.

So this sort of thing can happen anywhere. By the way I never hear anyone discussing these sorts of crimes in this neighborhood...anyone know about any of these??

**yrthling** · 06-08-2012, 05:41 PM

Wow, thank you everyone for the input! (I was gone a couple days and then looked back on the thread to find all this advice). My sense is that if we don't live there it will be because other areas are better rather than because that area is bad. We're still undecided, and looking at some other houses (e.g. 10th & Wharton, Marshall & Federal by Gold Star Park), but hoping to figure this out in the next few months.

**five apples** · 06-08-2012, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by yrthling

Wow, thank you everyone for the input! (I was gone a couple days and then looked back on the thread to find all this advice). My sense is that if we don't live there it will be because other areas are better rather than because that area is bad. We're still undecided, and looking at some other houses (e.g. 10th & Wharton, Marshall & Federal by Gold Star Park), but hoping to figure this out in the next few months.

10th and Wharton is a good spot.