Two cops, a veteran and a rookie, were observing a riot near the corner of West 39th Street and 10th Avenue in New York City.
“This place is hell,” said the rookie officer.
Or, so goes one story about how one New York City neighborhood got its name. While Hell’s Kitchen is probably the most dangerous-sounding name on the list, there are quite a few other cities with unusual neighborhood names as well as some interesting back stories. Let’s take a look:
Hell’s Kitchen
, the area was rough for quite a while, and gang competition there even led to the inspiration of “West Side Story.” The ‘hood isn’t quite as dangerous as it once was, but the Hell’s Kitchen moniker has been slowly erased and the area is now named Clinton — perhaps in an attempt to appeal more broadly to potential residents, although many locals still refer to it as Hell’s Kitchen.
Hell’s Kitchen, or rather, are currently $718,000 and are increasing 4.8 percent year-over-year.
For around $700K on the market, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything larger than a one-bedroom. This home (below) has one bedroom, but has a spacious floor plan and large windows overlooking the Manhattan skyline as well as high-end appliances and finishes.
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For sale: $689,000
Cabbagetown, Atlanta
, home to two factories. The history of its designation is a little muddled, but . One theory is that the neighborhood got its name from the Appalachian settlers who moved to the area to work in the factories. They planted cabbage in their front yards and cooked it often and the smell would permeate the neighborhood. The other story goes that a cabbage truck crashed in the street, causing a mob as people rushed to grab the vegetable.
Much of is on the National Historic Register. are currently $166,700. For that price, you can pick up a 1,036-square-foot place that is a hip, urban loft, like the one below.
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For sale:$168,900
Frogtown, St. Paul
Officially referred to as the “Thomas-Dale” neighborhood, others refer to the north-central St. Paul neighborhood as Frogtown. While there is no authoritative story behind the naming of St. Paul neighborhood Frogtown, there are three candidates listed on . The first one goes that the name was an ethnic slur aimed at the many French settlers in the region. Another claims the moniker is from the large marshes in the area that were home to frogs – and led Austro-Hungarian settlers to call the area “Froschburg” (frog city). The third theory is the association made with many railroad workers who lived in the area — couplers on railroad cars are called “frogs.”
Today, Frogtown is one of the city’s largest working class neighborhoods with many architecturally significant buildings. For the price of the of $131,100, you can pick up a completely remodeled 3-bedroom home with Brazilian teak floors, granite countertops and a redone master suite.
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For sale: $129,900
Tangletown, Seattle
north of downtown Seattle, sits at an intersection of several tangled streets and the intersection of three major neighborhoods: Wallingford, Phinney Ridge and Green Lake. If you don’t mind the winding, nonsensical streets, Tangletown boasts popular cafes and shops and high of $444,000.
This Tangletown treasure (below) is steps from the popular Green Lake park and has undergone a complete remodel which includes heated tile floors.
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For sale: $462,500
Back of the Yards, Chicago
This name isn’t a reference to grassy back yards and playgrounds, but a call to Chicago’s past as the nation’s meatpacking capital. southwest of the old Union Stock Yards. The neighborhood once housed the thousands of immigrant stockyard workers, but today, is primarily commercial. are more affordable than most other , ringing in at $110,500.
For $289,900, you can pick up a four-bedroom, 2-bath home with 3,100 square feet of living space, a patio, front porch and detached two-car garage.
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For sale: $289,900
The Tenderloin, San Francisco
Out of the neighborhoods on this list, the Tenderloin district is by far the most infamous. The area has a reputation as the one of the worst spots in San Francisco and most tourist guides advise visitors to steer clear. The neighborhood even got its name because of its tough nature. , policemen that patrolled these mean streets were paid more and as a result, they could afford better cuts of meat, such as tenderloin.
Despite the Tenderloin’s bad reputation, the neighborhood has experienced some positive changes, reports the Chronicle, and could, perhaps, turn around homes values for .
For the moderate price of $265,000 – moderately priced for that is – you can pick up an alcove studio (below) in the famous Hamilton building. The home has 9 feet ceilings, Pergo floors and a walk-in closet in the bedroom.
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For sale: $265,000
Foggy Bottom, DC
The name Foggy Bottom sounds like a marshy place out in the country rather than a neighborhood that is home to famous political landmarks such as the Kennedy Center, Department of State and Watergate. Once the city’s industrial center, . from the several industries that were located in the 19th-century working class neighborhood. The area is a far cry from its humble beginnings. Besides housing several government agencies, is exclusive; are currently $304,900.
For $350,000 you can snag a one-bedroom co-op (below) with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Washington Monument, a long balcony and “beautiful built-ins.”
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For sale: $350,000
