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Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

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Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#31

Post by noisebleed »

A lot of people will suggest avoiding the Tenderloin (as you can see in the other comments), but I know several people who live there and haven't had any particular problems. Yes, there's a bit of a zombie infestation, but as long as you keep your wits about you and don't stumble around drunk at 3am you'll likely have no problems. It does get sketchier the closer you get to Market, so a little further up in "Lower Nob Hill" (aka the "Tendernob") is a better choice overall.. still fairly cheap, centrally located, and not quite as rough.

If it's feasible in your situation, I'd definitely recommend subletting for a month and getting a feel for the different neighborhoods. December isn't the greatest time to look for places since most people aren't moving unless they have to, so the extra time would also be a big benefit.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#32

Post by dolphin »

I'm Azuldophin's partner, on a throwaway acct. Everyone's advice has been a great help so far. One thing to add, how would you compare certain neighborhoods in SF to ones in NYC? It would be great to have some context that we could relate to. For example, it sounds like the Mission roughly equals a more grungy Williamsburg.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#33

Post by stevenp »

noisebleed wrote: post #31

A lot of people will suggest avoiding the Tenderloin (as you can see in the other comments), but I know several people who live there and haven't had any particular problems. Yes, there's a bit of a zombie infestation, but as long as you keep your wits about you and don't stumble around drunk at 3am you'll likely have no problems. It does get sketchier the closer you get to Market, so a little further up in "Lower No…

I agree. I lived for a year at Geary and Taylor (technically Tendernob) and the rent was great ($2k for a 2-story apartment) and I had no problems whatsoever.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#34

Post by frenetic »

I moved to SF from NYC five months ago. I moved the SOMA neighborhood, and love it. Go to any coffee shop here and it's full of entrepreneurs working on stuff. So many of the big startups in SF are in the area. I pay 700 for a huge room in a shared apartment. I kind of lucked out. I live somewhat near the "shady" part of 6th st, which people will tell you to stay away from. You have to remember that people in SF are prudes though. You're coming from NYC. You can handle homeless people and a crazy person here or there.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#36

Post by corysama »

dmak wrote: post #28

I honestly do not get what is so great about SF. If you lived here long enough, you guys would realize how boring it is. If you want IN-N-OUT that is not overpriced (like Fishman's Wharf) then you go to Daly City. If you want Krispy Kremes, Daly City. If you want to go Bowling, Daly City. However, there are bars and the clubs here for the night life. If you're getting a studio for $1,000. I guarantee you it will be s…

Thank you for the confirmation regarding why I prefer to live in SF rather than Daly City. Different strokes, I guess.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#37

Post by frenetic »

dolphin wrote: post #32

I'm Azuldophin's partner, on a throwaway acct. Everyone's advice has been a great help so far. One thing to add, how would you compare certain neighborhoods in SF to ones in NYC? It would be great to have some context that we could relate to. For example, it sounds like the Mission roughly equals a more grungy Williamsburg.

mission = williamsburg/bushwick

soma = far west chelsea meets bushwick

haight ashbury = st. marks place

nob hill = upper west side

financial district = financial district

union square = lincoln center

that's all I got.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#38

Post by wuster »

I moved from Seattle to SF in 2008 and have lived in 3 places in the city.

Border of Bernal Heights / Mission district - shared a Victorian with 2 roommates, paying a total of $3700. Large house, more space than what we knew to do with. 10 min walk to the Mission & 24th BART. Neighborhood safety is spotty - my car was broken in twice that year.

6th and Howard - $3200 for a 3br (cramped) apartment. Very nice foot commute if you happen to work for in the SoMa or financial district. Very close to Westfield Mall and downtown shopping. East/West wise, the difference between 5th and 6th is vast. North/South wise, I would consider Folsom street the south end of the shadiness in the Tenderloin Market area, so we didn't quite avoid the crackheads and homeless. One night some homeless guy broke into my car and slept there. The stories of some guys laying turds on the street in broad daylight are true, I've seen it, I've smelled it, I put up with it as a neighbor for a year. If you have lady friends, it's not a very nice place to invite them over to. I can only describe 6th and Howard as an eyesore.

25th and Judah in Sunset district - I moved here in August. Really love the proximity to the park and ocean. I'm from Seattle so the fogginess is fine, don't see what the big deal is if you just want to live well and work on your hobbies. Cheap food, safe neighborhood, win.

Re: Ask HN: Best place to start in San Francisco?

#39

Post by jtchang »

A lot of people comment how the Tenderloin area is bad. I frequent the area and have friends who live there and overall if you can put up with the numerous bums, crackheads, and general craziness it is doable.

The area near Geary and Larkin or O'Farrell and Larkin isn't too bad. It is super busy at all times of the night. I do see a lot of car breakins in this area though.

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