The room and entire apartment was very clean and Zakaria and his wife are very welcoming. True, the building is old and located in a poorer area, but the building is secure and I felt quite safe in the 8 days I stayed here, so long as I did not walk alone in the early morning. The street is well-lit and I noticed there are often police standing watch outside the nearby community center. Very good value for a single traveler, with nearby subway/buses/supermarket and located within walking distance to Crotona Park (best tennis courts in NYC!). Thank you!