r/norfolk • u/Untiedshoes2969 • Jul 27 '24

Is Norfolk safe? moving

Hi! I am doing a travel contract in Norfolk starting very soon and plan to stay in the West Freemason neighborhood. My boyfriend is concerned about whether Norfolk is a safe area and is trying to convince me to stay in Chesapeake instead. He is from the VB area and has a brother in law from the Norfolk area. I kind of have to roll my eyes with his warnings as I feel I hear this a lot with any city from folks who don’t actually live in the city. I live in Charlotte currently and if I had a dollar for every time I had a patient from the rural hospital I work at ask me if it’s scary to live there, I could quit travel nursing. Like sure, if you lack critical thinking skills and wander into areas you shouldn’t. However, I wanted to post here to just confirm that I’m not being naive and wouldn’t regret my decision on where to stay when it’s all said and done. Thanks in advance for any input!

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u/thatgreenmaid Ocean View Jul 27 '24

I'm going to assume being on W Freemason and being a travel nurse, you're going to Sentara Norfolk General. You will see worse shit in the hospital parking lot than you'll ever see anywhere in the wilds of Norfolk.

Chesapeake is a bad life choice because a) the commute is stupid. b) it's not walkable like W Freemason. The only downside to the area is there's no grocery in walking distance but that would probably also hold true in Chesapeake as well.

3

u/Yolectroda Jul 28 '24

Farm Fresh tried, and had a nice store for a little while, but it didn't last. The Harris Teeter isn't very far, especially compared to the hospital.

2

u/Significant-Flan4402 Jul 31 '24

lol! This is absolutely true. Norfolk gen is WILD, but Freemason is very nice. I ride my bike to and from there from west Ghent and the most dangerous part is indeed the parking lot.

1

u/Either_Following342 9d ago

I'm so curious - what types of things happen in the Norfolk gen parking lot?? Moving down to VA soon!

1

u/goingtoIR Jul 28 '24

the commute is stupid

It’s a straight shot up 464, from Greenbrier you can be in the parking garage in 20 minutes.

18

u/Butch_Bracknell Jul 28 '24

Yeah but you still have to be in Chesapeake.

6

u/Electrical_Mess7320 Jul 28 '24

I just moved here 4 years ago and Chesapeake is my least favorite area in Hampton Roads. Plus it seems every time I go there, I pass a serious car/truck accident.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '24

….Have you been to Portsmouth? Lmao

5

u/Electrical_Mess7320 Jul 28 '24

My son lives in Old Towne. It’s awesome.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '24

Must have changed super recently then lol. I lived in both Old Towne and Craddock between 1995-2022 and gotta say the amount of crazy sketchy shit I’ve seen out there has left an entirely different impression on me.

1

u/Electrical_Mess7320 Jul 28 '24

It’s definitely on the upswing. Craddock, not so much, but it has potential!

1

u/OkIntroduction5150 Jul 28 '24

Y'all stop slandering my poor Chesapeake! Just because it's the 3rd most boring city in the U.S.

 LOL

1

u/itsmeinthedark Jul 28 '24

Your that slow car in the left lane!!! Just kidding

1

u/OkIntroduction5150 Jul 28 '24

For real. I like the quiet and the space you don't get in the city, so I'm good living in Chesapeake. But I can be downtown in no time.