The most depressing thing about this isn't the physical decay - most of the houses look well-built and suitable for renovation - but the apparent purposelessness of the people's lives.
@@dgratt183 Thanks for the tip. Difficult to believe it's the same city. I think areas can change quickly almost anywhere (I'm in England) but unfortunately the change is usually for the worse. I know a few rare examples of areas becoming highly desirable but this was after enormous sums of money were pumped in - and the existing residents moved out/priced out.
The houses are actually very old and delapidated. Yes, on the outside they are brick and have good bones but you know the public housing authority isn't repairing anything. Would you like to live in a tiny hundred year old row house that is falling apart and has zero soundproofing so you can hear everything your neighbours are doing? No wonder these people brave the cold instead.
@@apseudonym You don't need loans for renovations. If it's not economically viable to them than they shouldn't get loans anyway. A bit of paint and maybe some plants or even pick up some trash is a good start. Banks don't care about where you live or what the renovations are for they just want to have faith they will get the loan back eventually.
As a non-American, I find it really hard to understand how the most powerful country in the world with 11 nuclear powered carrier cannot get it’s own backyard sorted out.
It’s kind of our greatest strength. We have a de-centralized system. Thankfully, it’s not as if the president is making top-down orders and everyone follows suit. There’s a lot of wiggle room at the state and city level. That being said, this means some cities will be better governed than others for many different reasons
@@Charlotte_2648 exactly, and even if they wanted to change; with the past they have had, and their records and no job history no one would fucking hire them even if they wanted to straighten up. It’s a sad cycle here
Well what non Americans don’t realize is all states are governed differently especially in laws also you might get life in New York City for carrying a gun but another person in new jersey might get 5 yrs. (hence example) look how crazy things are with abortion rite now, how all state are different . Everybody looks to blames the president you have to start first from within the states, have you seen Philly just has bad looking with trash everywhere it’s very sad I’m from the Bronx in New York and my borough look bad at one point then came in Giuliani And Bloomberg and clean it up, but now it’s going into another direction again getting bad …
Facts i lived there all my life in I never rode my cars down them diry ass alleys but east west north south Baltimore i did that its a crying out shame looking at this thats why I got my two boys tf out of our city in if you knew better for your kids you would do the same pbp 😥 fix it up stop the killings in start living got dam shame man
@@grandmaAnnaa Good for you, my friend ! Smart move for you and your children, gives them a better chance at a decent life. Such a shame what's gone on and is going on in the city.
I'm from Baltimore and I can say this, they may look like bad areas, but not all of the people are bad. When my grandmother went missing, the ONLY people who would help us while we were out looking were the people from O'Donnell Heights who had seen her walking around and would talk to her. They even referred to her as grandma and knew she got confused. Unfortunately, she was found dead not far from home in a backyard. I agree with everyone to be careful, but that goes for the westside, white marsh, dundalk etc.. As long as you're not in their business and not drawing any suspicion to yourself you'll be ok.
Honestly that goes for lots of "bad areas." Some people really judge a book by its cover..I grew up poor in atlanta. As long as you minded your business like you said, everything cool.
Yeah Baltimore is not a safe place at all. Sure there are some nice people there but that doesn't really make up for all the terrible ones. Nobody in there right minds should visit this shithole.
I think driving a car through the city is not bringing trouble to yourself. Ask the people who have been carjacked or assaulted by squeezie boys, robbed or shot for nothing. I lived there for over 20 years. It is a dangerous city which has gotten more dangerous. Let cut through the bullshit. It is not like White Marsh or the other places you named. It is a shithole and I am glad I could afford to leave. I have a condo there by Walthers Avenue and Northern Parkway. It is a decent area. I do not want to live there so I rent it out. No thanks Baltimore!
Nice video but pls be careful going into alleys and I'm from Baltimore born and raised and it's sad dat ik sum of the parts u went past this is where I get inspired by and motivated me to become successful I hate living in a dangerous place like this I know God got me it's just tuff out here but imma make it out
I really hope you get out soon. I was blessed enough to not be in a bad neighborhood like that and get to raise my kids somewhere safer. I still wouldn't trust my neighbors that much, but it's nothing like that. Please be safe.
wow this channel has really grown. It's unique because you don't have a narrator distracting you. It just shows the reality of a lot of areas of America. The viewer can see what they want to see/take what they want from it.
Yup! That’s good ol Baltimore alright. Made me cringe just watching it. I’m 75, was born and raised there. Was such a beautiful place in the 1950s. It’s a hell hole now.
Times, attitudes and morales have changed, that’s my take on it. Baltimore isn’t unlike other large cities these days. And it doesn’t matter what color you are or ethnic group. My personal opinion is it all begins at home. The breakdown of the family makes kids helpless and hopeless. But it’s something that CAN be fixed. People just don’t want to hear it. They’d rather blame it elsewhere. I’m so glad I remember Baltimore back then. It was great.
@@SRTKOVA I agree that Baltimore is cheaper than some other parts of MD. But its also lower quality of life than those areas too. No improvement in these areas, but 2 years ago prices were much lower.
West Coast? As in California? What is so different about LA and Baltimore City? Same crime tolerance for the criminals; same empty lives with no futures, same laws that release criminals the next day, same drug issues...what's so great about CA? Oh sure, if you are rich and have money, LA is wonderful, but most not rich or can afford housing. Look at San Francisco...the city has become a hell hole of hopelessness.
Born and raised there. While the entire city isnt like this, is sad that you can drive for such a long time and see such despair. Ive lived in 2 projects as a kid, but when I go to Baltimore now, I'm very selective about where to drive. Tip: Areas with blue police lights should be avoided unless you live there and know what time it is.
@@empresskhadijah2677 blue light district. Blue police lights on the streetlights. I guess they're supposed to deter crime or something, don't quite understand their purpose.
I’m from the south side of Baltimore and a white boy born and raised on the west side. It’s not a great place to live but they know who’s who and who’s new!!! If your looking for trouble it’s not far but mind your business keep moving and you’ll be ok. There’s a lot of good people here too👍
True enough. My best friend lived on North Ave and Perlman ( not west Baltimore but still not the best area) and I never worried much. Just keep it moving and mind your business.
@@LegitMind An organization or mob of people this doesn't have to be gangsters it can be a group of people who have each others contact numbers to target, stalk, do harm and intimidate a person. Gang stalkers are in government, police, bus drivers, ambulances, civil workers, bankers/bank staff, medical workers and or some shop keepers if they follow you or blast their sirens as they go by you this is an example of it. Its fukin crazy what they do and its a rough railroad also look up Nigel Nicholson hes targeted daily
Some of the properties with completely bricked up/cemented up openings are completely gutted out braced shells on the inside, and _must_ remain standing to preserve the structural integrity of the front, rear, and side walls these buildings share with other occupied flats... Some of these sealed structures have been that way since the 70s...
Lol I lived here since I was 6 I’m 21 now. Never got robbed. If you look like you can’t defend yourself, lost, or scared then yeah you’d probably get robbed.
I lived, played and walked thru a lot of these neighborhoods as a kid. My anxiety is so high lol. I was able to move away. And I really want to do something to help my people back in the city.
Back before all the major industries (and jobs they provided) disappeared from the Baltimore area, even the neighborhoods shown in this video were decent and clean. People had the means to care for their neighborhoods when everyone was working. I know because I was born in Baltimore in 1950 and remember riding through the inner city areas on bus or streetcar trips downtown from where we lived on the west side. I always took note of the blocks of rowhouses passing by because I developed a love for the city's rowhouse architecture at an early age. It would cost a fortune today to replace one of these substantial blocks of solid brick homes with the same craftsmanship and materials that originally went into their construction. Even in an abandoned and neglected state, the walls are still solid and usually don't even have any settlement cracks or sagging building lines.
We share the same memories.....I remember as a kid going on the bus to Light street with my mother to shop and have lunch.....it was safe back then. I grew up in Brooklyn and as kids we left bikes out and doors unlocked. The street I grew up on looks like a third world country today . So sad!
Yeah, I noticed those row houses also. They look great. I don't think the people there know what they have on their hands there, they should start reading about urbanism and urban planning, the structure there is fantastic. With the necessary funds you could transform this area in amazing ways, but then, that's what gentrification is I guess, with all its bad and good effects.
born and raised in west baltimore, i lived in an apartment complex and it was a project, many people were killed and robbed and dumped in the forest. there was many incidents of pizza delivery workers being killed and their bodys dumped in the dumpster. my dad told me that someone was tied up and they were robbed in their apartment. very sad to see my city go down like this. i moved to baltimore county in 2013 and i see no difference.
Dummies "let's try to intimidate the guy with the heavy machine", he could've sandwiched everyone of them to the wall if he needed too, then Oh shit factor after that would keep them at bay for a minute and allow him to recover and be right back on that ass with some firepower or buy him time to escape depending on if he is sheep or wolf minded. (Not making accusations)
Right... and in Memphis where I'm from. mf'rs get thrown in the sippi for trying to act hard like that, it's the ones that sit back and wait that you gotta worry about those are the real killers.
I lived in Baltimore back in the '80s and have fond memories of the city. I wouldn't want to live there now, but I haven't stopped loving the city, it's style and it's culture
@@norayolanda1394 a lot of it is substance abuse and them abusing each other. Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean you have to be horrible to each other.
I visited Baltimore for an Orioles game which I really enjoyed. The tourist area is very nice and upscale but this shows when you leave the area what it can turn into like any other city
5:36 This alley is really interesting because it almost looks like some streets do in European cities that were built-up long before cars came into the picture. I know Baltimore is an old city. I wonder how old this alley/street is?
I was just home last week. I hadn’t been home in two years.. I love my city, loved my childhood, a very dangerous place.. but being an adult and around people who hadn’t been raised that way.. we move totally different. I would never change that, taught me a lot
I think Baltimore and st.louis have a lot in common. I grew up in st.louis and my aunt lived in Baltimore so I spent a lot of time in both cities. Great cities that are sadly plagued with crime and often overlooked
True. You hear about places like Compton, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, Camden, Flint, and St. Louis all the time but outaiders honestly have no business driving there lol
Your a brave Brave man Charlie! I wouldn't Dare dream of driving through any of this. Especially in fear of having to stop or my car breaking down at the wrong time in the wrong area. Def a roll of the dice going through here.
I moved to Baltimore from Florida a couple years ago. I had a job down the harbor and on my way to work one night I got off the bus and saw somebody get strong armed. I started walking fast as shit 😂
Those row houses are so beautiful. I can only imagine what it looked at its peak, it must've been gorgeous. Baltimore is unique in that there are still people, there is still density, you got to Detroit and sooooo much of it is just gone. There isn't an urban feel, the neighborhoods don't feel like a city, B-More still feels like a city, it is a one of a kind place.
I love this city, it's a representation of the truth of America. You go to the Historical District, it's pristine and calm. You go to the 'dangerous areas' and it's like this video. This is the disparity that exists in this country.
It did. They said back in the 50s - 60s, Durning the summer when people had no AC a bunch of families would camp out in the neighborhood parks to cool off. No way that's happening now.
To anybody reading this who lives there or in a similar neighborhood - I don’t live in the same country, not even the same continent but still hope yall are making it through and that life‘s gonna be easy nd chill on at least some days
From South Philly but moved to Baltimore about 10 years ago. I've lived in Park Heights ( Woodland and Reisterstown ) Sandtown ( Mosher and Calhoun ) and now live in the county. My fiance is not from the city and I've taken her to my old neighborhoods and she gets so sad and scared when we would go. Looking at it now realizing this really isn't a normal way to grow up become adjusted to. It really is depressing realizing what these children are born into and have to battle to not get sucked into the mindset and the environment
I'm from Philly too, north Philly Reisterstown looks kinda nice, but being white I don't know how you made it living in sandtown. I moved from Philly to Hagerstown which isn't too bad.
Mosher and Calhoun where the Housing Authority will put your hands on the hood. Hook use to run for me around Sandtown. A friend of mine, Randal, OD and died in a basement in Sandtown. Pennsylvania Avenue got too hot and thus Mosher was where you had go.
Remember this. I was an Over the Road Driver. One of the biggest things you'll learn in every state is there's a low income side of town, and there's a high income side of town.
A citizen - That’s why the local/federal government/or private donors should bring back the Job Corps to improve and teach skills. Also, give free breakfast to children and free education courses to anyone who needs it. In exchange, pick up trash, paint, etc.
I grew up in Baltimore. It was so much peaceful back in the 90s wasn't that much killing but really fun to enjoy being outside with your friends playing freeze tag , and hot butter Ben and really enjoy going out to the clubs yea we fight but you live to tell the story we have to pray 🙏 for our city Stop all the killing love one another ❤
@@videojones9884 lol sometimes as a kid growing up in the hood it seems safer when you’re that young cause that’s what’s normal to you. It took me getting older and moving out to realize just how bad our situation was. Weird how it works like that but sometimes being kinda naive helps you get thru rough times.
I’ve taken the train from Boston to D.C multiple times. Lots of scary looking stops. Bridgeport, Camden, Philly, Delaware (forgetting the city). Baltimore looks the scariest though.
Remember over 10 years ago, Biden's house in Wilmington was near a drive by? Close but no cigar. Could make a justifiably negative remark but not turning into an evil socialist.
@@houseofstone3560 Exactly. Although I think some republicans take their conservative policy proposals too far (we saw how disastrous Louisiana and Kansas have been despite their firmly conservative policy implementations), overall I HAVE TO ADMIT that local level Republican administrations have been quite a bit more effective than democratic ones.
It’s not like this at all in most places. Outside of the coastal cities and Chicago the US is a very safe place. It’s just these particular locations making the rest of us look terrible
@@slimdiddyd Well, actually there’s a lot of dangerous areas. But they are mostly contained in their zones, if you are outside of those zones you are safe. Chicago is slightly different because the dangerous zones make up like 2/3 of the city.
Gotta give it up to ya Charlie. Not one flat tire ever and all that glass on the ground. It’d be them narrow holes at night, that broken glass catch you creeping thru on the low, deep down in back of the cut. Glass crunching under your tires is makin yourself known to the trap house.
Trust me, it was not this bad 25 yrs ago. I'm a native Baltimorean, and I grew up in West Baltimore. This use to be a nice place. Lexington Market, The MET Theater, Druid Hill Park & Royal Theater to name a few. You use to hear about Crime every now & then. The so called Leadership we have down @ City Hall should be ashamed ! Brandon Scott needs to take this tour !
??? Idk. Back in the 90’s, for example, Baltimore had no less than 300 murders per year. With that, Baltimore has always had a very rundown type of look to it.
Much of the area is just miles away from where I live now in the city and it is a totally different world that I do not tread on. Watched a few episodes of The Wire before I came to live in Baltimore, and having lived here for several years....it's just sad that the TV series seem to be put in a Truman's Show 24/7 non-stop live loop.
As a Marylander myself, I’m not ashamed to say that I’m honestly scared of setting foot in any part of Baltimore, it terrifies me, even in the nicer, somewhat safer places I still get bad chills up my spine and I’m *ALWAYS* on high alert
Salute to bmore been all around there westide eastside and the northeast side. You will be surprised how beautiful the county looks. 2 different worlds.
Love for Baltimore work every day in these area whatever people saying about Baltimore but Baltimore is my heart ❤️ Always love and peace for Baltimore
Haha, my thoughts exactly, but I think you're lowballing here. Those brick row houses in NYC or Washington would sell for millions. Millions. And people there don't even know.
My friend and I got lost in the New Orleans projects late one night. We had no idea where to go and this was before cell phones. After awhile we just started running figuring the hood had to change at some point. Eventually it did.
Baltimore City is a real live graveyard with balloons and teddy bears on every corner all you see is piles of trash everywhere homeless people and junkies begging for money at every street light
I moved from suburd Annapolis, to Brooklyn, south Baltimore...its different, but comparin suburb to city is apples n oranges.. But dude is right, all impoverished cities have high crime...i grew up right outside of Annapolis City, the capitol of Maryland, its a TINY city, half rich white folk n politicians, wit scattered little projects, and u can randomly get robbed n getcha shyt peeled, not to mention it's such a small City that everyone grew up together, so there are a lot of small petty beefs that kick off between family members and longtime friends where people end up dead all the time. plenty of my friends and family have been killed in Annapolis...crime is normal in inner cities
I'm just thinking what it's like to live there.. got to be alert all the time. I live in a shady / bad part of a city and it's paradise compared to this.
@@sirbreeze3369 yeah, that's the case in most of the hoods, just like where i live. I mind my own business, but sometimes the problems are unavoidable.
@@johnmarks714 yeah, Baltimore might look poor and bad but Baltimore people are hustlers and hard working for the most, but there are white hoods in Baltimore as well, not all of Baltimore is bad, you have some very nice looking neighborhoods in the city too
@@davewilson3584 Yes. And it happened so fast. When they tear down the rest of Perkins homes and Gilmore housing projects there gonna send those people to dundalk on section 8 vouchers and finish that area off. Disgusting to see your old stomping grounds which were great areas to grow up in go to shit because of trashy people and politics. Cant even take your kids to malls or carnivals anymore.
These neighborhoods used to be filled with mom and pop small businesses and restraunts; gathering places for the neiborhood and community. Guess what happened? Walmart, Costco, Amazon & chain restaurants on freeways and off ramps. To the people in charge, we are just consumers on a spreadsheet. Leadership has lost focus. I pray for ALL of America! ❤
