Is Ballentine Place safe?
Norfolk, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Ballentine Place as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Ballentine Place
“Go with care. Ballentine Place is a historic, residential neighborhood with classic craftsman bungalows, but it borders busier commercial corridors where property crime and occasional violent incidents occur. Visitors should stick to well-lit main streets during the day and practice standard urban precautions after dark.”
Norfolk police have maintained focused patrols along the Virginia Beach Boulevard and Ballentine Boulevard corridors to address recurring vehicle break-ins and occasional firearm-related calls in surrounding commercial pockets.
About the area
Ballentine Place is an early 20th-century streetcar suburb situated just east of Midtown Norfolk. It is primarily a residential area characterized by modest historic single-family homes, leafy residential streets, and convenient access to downtown Norfolk and local transit hubs.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Residential
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Ballentine Place
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Neighborhood streets are relatively flat and easy to cycle, though designated bike lanes are sparse and connection to the Elizabeth River Trail requires navigating busy thoroughfares.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Cohesive residential character with active civic league involvement and historic housing stock
- Direct proximity to The Tide light rail system at the Ballentine/Broad Creek station
- Lower overall violent crime rate compared to several neighboring industrial corridors
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime, particularly theft from parked vehicles and trespassing
- Household poverty rates in the surrounding census tracts exceed the national average
- Commercial borders along major avenues can feel desolate and unpredictable late at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal on quiet interior streets but can occasionally be observed near major intersections and transit stops along Virginia Beach Boulevard.
What Ballentine Place is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents commuting, walking dogs, and catching transit along the main avenues.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet on residential streets, with steady traffic and modest pedestrian activity along commercial borders.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity settles into residential quiet; caution is advised when walking near commercial strips and bus stops.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted; walking alone is not recommended due to reduced lighting and occasional property crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) serves the area via local bus lines and The Tide light rail, with the Ballentine/Broad Creek Station located immediately adjacent to the southern border.
Free residential street parking is widely available throughout the neighborhood, with no parking meters or garages required.
Things to do in Ballentine Place
- Take an architectural walking tour to admire the diverse early-1900s American Foursquare and Craftsman bungalow homes
- Explore nearby Virginia Zoo located just a short drive northwest along Granby Street
- Visit the nearby historic Elmwood and West Point Cemeteries to learn about regional African American and military history
Local favorites
- Chicho's Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.3★ (410)A popular local regional chain outpost serving spicy sauce pizzas, wings, and craft beers.
- Fellini's · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (520)A long-running neighborhood-adjacent eatery known for hearty Italian comfort fare and thin-crust pizza.
- The Bold Mariner Brewing Company · Brewery · 4.7★ (680)A local veteran-owned craft brewery and barbecue joint located just north across the river.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.