Is Blackshear safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Blackshear as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Blackshear
“Go with care. Blackshear is an authentic, predominantly residential East Savannah community with little to draw the average tourist directly into its interior streets. If visiting nearby local eateries or attending events at nearby Daffin Park, maintain basic urban situational awareness, especially after dark.”
Savannah Police and Eastside community leaders have held regular neighborhood safety forums to address localized property crime and intermittent firearm incidents across the sector.
About the area
Blackshear is a modest, working-class residential neighborhood situated on Savannah's Eastside, characterized by mid-century single-family homes, quiet residential blocks, and close proximity to Wheaton Street. While located only a short drive from the Historic District, it remains a distinct, self-contained local enclave.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Blackshear
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 62/100
While dedicated bike lanes are limited within Blackshear, the flat terrain allows for easy cycling on low-traffic residential streets, connecting toward Daffin Park and the Truman Linear Park Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Close proximity to iconic East Savannah eateries and Grayson Stadium at Daffin Park
- Abundant and free street parking across nearly all residential blocks
- Tight-knit, generational community atmosphere on quiet residential streets
Cons
- Property crime and occasional violent crime rates exceed national averages
- Household income levels are below the Savannah metro median, with noticeable pockets of structural aging
- Virtually no retail, cafe, or tourist amenities within the neighborhood proper
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within Blackshear's residential blocks, though unsheltered individuals may occasionally be seen along commercial thoroughfares like Wheaton Street and East Broad Street.
What Blackshear is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and quiet as residents commute, making it safe for driving or a brief daytime walk.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons feature occasional neighborhood foot traffic and remain generally peaceful.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets quiet down significantly at dusk; stick to well-lit corridors if on foot.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late-night walking is not recommended due to dim lighting, isolated streets, and elevated crime risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) provides service via Route 10 and Route 12 along nearby Wheaton and Gwinnett streets, providing direct connections to the downtown Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center.
Free and unmetered street parking is plentiful throughout residential side streets, and local businesses have small, free customer lots.
Things to do in Blackshear
- Sample celebrated local coastal soul food and barbecue along the neighborhood edges
- Attend a baseball game or community festival at nearby Grayson Stadium and Daffin Park
- Take a short drive to explore the Victorian District and downtown Savannah
Local favorites
- Narobia's Grits & Gravy · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (1850)Beloved Eastside staple famous for hearty Southern breakfast platters, smothered shrimp, and crab stew.
- Randy's Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.7★ (1420)Longstanding takeout window serving some of Savannah's most acclaimed ribs, pork, and savory sauce.
- Geneva's Famous Chicken & Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (480)Casual local counter serving generous baskets of fried fish, garlic crabs, and Southern sides.
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.