Have you been to Bed-Stuy recently? It's actually pretty decent and getting gentrified. Cafes, open eateries, fruit shops mixed in the regular stores. 'Checkers' burgers even opened there recently.

I know, since I've been there lot this summer. I also have been watching the crime maps since I'm doing research for house hunting. Crimes in the Bed-Stuy are rare compared to the surrounding areas.