Is Coleman Place safe?
Norfolk, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Coleman Place as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Coleman Place
“Go with care. Coleman Place is a straightforward, working-class residential neighborhood with very little for a typical visitor to see or do. While daytime walking through residential blocks is generally uneventful, higher property crime rates and spillover incidents along surrounding commercial avenues warrant standard urban precautions.”
Norfolk police routinely monitor periodic vehicle larcenies and sporadic firearm incidents reported along the nearby Chesapeake Boulevard and Virginia Beach Boulevard corridors.
About the area
Coleman Place is a mid-century residential neighborhood in central Norfolk situated just north of Virginia Beach Boulevard. It features modest single-family ranch-style homes and bungalows alongside quiet grid streets. Because the area is almost exclusively residential, visitors primarily pass through en route to Norfolk's commercial centers or naval installations.
- Quiet Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Mid-Century Cottages
Walking and biking in Coleman Place
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 55/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes within the neighborhood interior, though low-speed residential streets are cyclable; connection to the Elizabeth River Trail requires navigating busy city arterials.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Centrally located in Norfolk with rapid driving access to I-264 and Naval Station Norfolk.
- Quiet interior streets with established tree cover and single-family home stability.
- Convenient access to authentic, diverse international dining options along adjacent thoroughfares.
Cons
- Property crime rates, including opportunistic car break-ins, are elevated above national medians.
- Poverty rates in the surrounding census tract hover near 20%, reflecting lower median incomes.
- Lack of pedestrian-friendly commercial corridors or tourist destinations within the neighborhood itself.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential core, though individuals experiencing homelessness are occasionally seen near transit stops and strip malls along Virginia Beach Boulevard.
What Coleman Place is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute and walk pets through the neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet residential atmosphere with light traffic on local roads and modest foot traffic near bus stops.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, though extra awareness is recommended when walking near surrounding commercial avenues.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets become very dark and quiet; walking alone late at night is not recommended due to property crime and poor lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides bus service along boundary arterials via Routes 15 and 20; the nearest light rail stop is The Tide's Ballentine/Broad Creek Station roughly 1.5 miles south.
Street parking on residential roads is free, plentiful, and unmetered, with most homes also featuring private driveways.
Things to do in Coleman Place
- Stroll along the quiet interior residential blocks to view post-WWII Norfolk cottage architecture.
- Sample authentic multicultural cuisine along the adjacent Virginia Beach Boulevard and Chesapeake Boulevard corridors.
- Take a short five-minute drive to the nearby Virginia Zoo and Lafayette Park just west of the neighborhood.
Local favorites
- El Rey Taqueria · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (920)Popular local eatery serving traditional street tacos, pupusas, and tortas along the nearby corridor.
- Pollard's Chicken · Southern Restaurant · 4.3★ (710)Longstanding regional staple known for fried chicken, classic Southern sides, and comfort fare.
- Chicho's Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (540)Regional favorite known for spicy pizza sauce, loaded pies, cold beer, and casual dining.
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.