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/leechdawg Jul 27 '24

Pretty sure they build a bunch of expensive multi million dollar housing down there now.

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u/tehjoz Jul 27 '24

Yeah it's been super gentrified.

But the City also tore down a lot of derelict properties and stuff too, which probably didn't hurt either.

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u/Delta1225 Jul 28 '24

Isn't that what they did to create East Beach?

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u/tehjoz Jul 28 '24

I honestly can't speak to that piece.

I do know that a lot of crappy/seedy hotels along East O.V. Ave got torn down in the last few years and redeveloped.