Living in North Philly (apartment, neighborhoods, college)

[kayla337]

I go to La Salle and I was thinking about living off campus in an apartment next year to save money. I'm worried about safety though. I know the area is trash, I've been off campus and taken the subway but always with a group of friends and always during the day. Living in an apartment would mean I'd ride my bike to La Salle alone every day, morning and late afternoon, sometimes evening.

In your opinion, how safe is that for a 20 y/o white female? I mean, it would really save me money, but I'm worried, everyone tells me it's too dangerous.

[FindingZen]

Much of North Philly leaves a lot to be desired but I wouldn't say that the neighborhood surrounding LaSalle is "trash" per se. Nonetheless, unless there are any properties nearby that LaSalle's off-campus housing department recommends, I would look south to the Temple area if not even Center City where you could commute mostly via the subway. Or if you're okay with a suburban feel, check out the Melrose Park area in Cheltenham Township.

[2e1m5a]

Technically LaSalle is in East Germantown, not North Philly.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by 2e1m5a

Technically LaSalle is in East Germantown, not North Philly.

Splitting hairs here, but technically it's right on the border of East Germantown & Ogontz(which is North Philly), with the oldest parts of the campus in Ogontz.

[UDResident]

I thought LaSalle was in Olney?

[frankgn87]

1900 w. Olney ave.. Logan/Ogontz/Fernrock

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

I always assumed lots of LaSalle students lived around off campus? I see them about all the time and they seem to not be getting picked off.

Between the Broad Street Line going to Temple, CC, and South Philly, as wellas Northwest Philly, there are plenty of great neighborhoods with good public transit options.

[drive carephilly]

Plenty of LaSalle students live off campus. There's nothing extraordinary going on there that college students everywhere don't deal with. If you really want to live away from the campus - unless you're taking really late classes I don't see an issue with taking a bus from Mt. Airy or the nearby 'burbs or with taking the subway to Temple, Center City or South Philly.

[tintin19119]

Originally Posted by rotodome

Splitting hairs here, but technically it's right on the border of East Germantown & Ogontz(which is North Philly), with the oldest parts of the campus in Ogontz.

LaSalle is on the border of Onley and East Germantown. I don`t know anyone who would consider that area North Philly. When the hell did Ogontz become North Philly?

Anyway, You could find a nice apartment in West Germantown or East Mt. Airy and be able to get to class in an half hour.If you pick Mt. Airy,the 18 bus would drop you right on campus.

[bicoastal10]

OP, since you're a female, I suggest you stay out of that area unless you plan on carrying a firearm and I'm not even joking. You'd probably be perfectly fine the majority of the time, but I have a feeling you'd run into some sort of problem eventually; especially if you took the same route everyday.

That said, either get a CCW license and a gun, or find somewhere else to live.