Relocating to Center City (Weekend in Review) (Washington, Central City: sales, rentals)

[movin2Reston]

You mean you recommend staying north of South Street?

Ideally, we liked the central section, right below Washington Square West, down to about Fitzwater, in between 11th and 16th.

We need to still look further at Rittenhouse Square between Spruce and South Street.

Originally Posted by jm02

As I guessed. We ruled out SH for the same reasons and settled in RS.

Be careful just how close you get to South Street. It is a party scene, particularly as you go further east. The section west of Broad bordering GH is developing nicely, with new bistros and such seemingly going in weekly.

Good luck!

[movin2Reston]

So your saying with regarding to QV, it better to be between Fitzwater to Christian instead of up a block or two towards South Street?

How is the area between 9th and 16th, from South Street to Fitzwater?

We have only started our search. We looked at Northern Liberties and Farimount, but again for our purposes, we would like to be in the heart or within a couple blocks of Center City.

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Fair enough; though to JMs point to me being two blocks from South is better as can get a little dicey at times especially as close as Bainbridge. Also you hit Philly on a relatively quiet weekend, Memorial Day weekend than July to the Labor is shore season and the vibrancy is generally down a bit as a lot of Philly flocks to the Jersey shore this time of year.

On QV, as a former resident I really liked the nabe as it offered less choas than RS or Wash West so to speak but yet quite a few bars and restaurants. Personally Fitzwater to Christian and front to 3rd are cant miss IMHO (well maybe not Christian from west of second).


Best of luck on your search. You also may want to check out the Art Museum/Fairmont area if you have not done so already

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

So your saying with regarding to QV, it better to be between Fitzwater to Christian instead of up a block or two towards South Street?

How is the area between 9th and 16th, from South Street to Fitzwater?

Yes to me that is more the neighborhood feel away from South Street itself; plus a few cecent neighborhood bars/gastro pubs/cafes/restaurants in the area as well.

to me South of South gets better further east or the lower numbers but today most of South of South and East of Broad is ok, much actually down to Federal/Ellsworth though Christian and to South and front to say 10th is a tad better, this area is cleaning upo pretty rapidly and to me still significantly better than anything west of Broad below South on the whole. Though am generalizing

You are basically almost always fine North of South in Center City.

Though to your earlier post the area closer to Broad (Bella Vista) is a tad more convienient to RS/Wash West.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

You mean you recommend staying north of South Street?

I would recommend staying two blocks north or south of South Street, if you are looking at properties east (say from 9th Street or so down to the river). Lots of partying at that end and people will be parking in your street and making noise as they go to and from their cars. From 9th and above, you should not have as much of a problem, particularly west of Broad where it's much less of a party scene and is becoming more of a dining destination.

As kidphilly suggests, summer weekends (and this last one in particular) are not a good indicator of the energy in the city. Next time you're in town, make note of where there is a concentration of clubs and bars, and imagine them filled with party-goers (aka drunks). Just stay away from those areas.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

Let me clarify...to us, it reminded us more of "suburban" living for there appeared to be less restaurants, shops, bars, etc. integrated into the area. Also, the trees were a nice touch, just surprised us a bit to find that in a downtown area. Again, it was a very nice area, just immediately we could tell it wasn't something ideally we were looking for.

We looked at Queen Village and Bella Vista, but neither liked or disliked those areas...just preferred closer to South Street.

Note that you're never really far away from anything when you're living in a Center City neighborhood. Old City, South Street and Washington Square West are all within reasonable walking distance from Society Hill. You might find yourselves appreciating being in an oasis of quiet rather than having street noise as a nightly soundtrack.

[NovaDragon]

I have friends that live in Bella Vista on Fitzwater between 5th & 10th. That's a pretty decent safe area. My fiance & I will sometimes hang out there and go out and never feel unsafe walking about. I've walked there by myself at night from Market and never was worried. When you get a suburbanite like myself to say that, then you know its not bad.

Basically, stay north of Christian and you'll be fine. While it might still feel nicer closer to South Street as opposed to Christian, that area's still very nice.

[mancat100]

From what I've gathered about you from this and another thread here's my recommendation. Look at a map. Draw a long rectangle from river to river and from Spruce to Catharine (cross out South Street itself east of Broad). Live inside that rectangle. You'll like it.

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

So your saying with regarding to QV, it better to be between Fitzwater to Christian instead of up a block or two towards South Street?

How is the area between 9th and 16th, from South Street to Fitzwater?

We have only started our search. We looked at Northern Liberties and Farimount, but again for our purposes, we would like to be in the heart or within a couple blocks of Center City.

its all fine. i live in the area. yeah, south to christian is the best imo

[movin2Reston]

Very good point as we immediately noticed the same.

Originally Posted by Tone509

Note that you're never really far away from anything when you're living in a Center City neighborhood. Old City, South Street and Washington Square West are all within reasonable walking distance from Society Hill. You might find yourselves appreciating being in an oasis of quiet rather than having street noise as a nightly soundtrack.

[movin2Reston]

Originally Posted by mancat100

From what I've gathered about you from this and another thread here's my recommendation. Look at a map. Draw a long rectangle from river to river and from Spruce to Catharine (cross out South Street itself east of Broad). Live inside that rectangle. You'll like it.