Where should we live in Philly? please help :/ (Plymouth, Plymouth Meeting: rent, low crime)

[quanz88]

We are both young professionals and our price range is sub 2k for a 2 bedroom place. looking to move in the September time frame but we're everywhere with our search still. I work in plymouth meeting and he works at temple so we'd like to have access to street parking after work and for when our friends visit our place..(another few hundred for garage is too much imo). A few things I'd like is a sense of community, instead of grey-ed out urban scape around say 14th and spring garden (tower place apt). the ability to bike to art museum area would be great. after some research we came up with these areas

1)Logan Square
reasonable walk to kelly drive, whole foods, and center city
but along spring garden i could hardly find any free parking spots?

2)Art museum
love how close i am to kelly drive/art museum, i havent visited it but i guess it should be easier to find parking here? also I like how the rent is generally cheaper than rittenhouse

3)south of Rittenhouse- 20th to 15th and pine area
I love the walkability to center city and out of all the areas this looks the most safe. But i didnt see any non metered parking spots at all driving around there.

are there any other neighbourhoods we can consider?

[templeu]

You might also consider Mount Airy. You could probably rent a townhouse with that price range in Mt. Airy. It would also split your commutes a little more evenly (this area is pretty close to Plymouth Meeting) and there are two trains with direct access to Temple. Parking will be fine and the area has a strong community vibe and is located by a huge park - so it's not your typical urban landscape.

The three areas you mention are all very nice - but parking is going to be tight anywhere in city (Mt. Airy is about 20ish minutes from the downtown area).

[Jarrito's Lime]

Originally Posted by templeu

You might also consider Mount Airy. You could probably rent a townhouse with that price range in Mt. Airy. It would also split your commutes a little more evenly (this area is pretty close to Plymouth Meeting) and there are two trains with direct access to Temple. Parking will be fine and the area has a strong community vibe and is located by a huge park - so it's not your typical urban landscape.

The three areas you mention are all very nice - but parking is going to be tight anywhere in city (Mt. Airy is about 20ish minutes from the downtown area).

Tell them about the crime, it's not the paradise some make it out to be.

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by Jarrito's Lime

Tell them about the crime, it's not the paradise some make it out to be.

Who has made it out to be paradise? 2 Train lines and easy park access is all it takes for a place to be "paradise" to you?
Templeu wrote a pretty apt description and Mount Airy is a good suggestion if the OP is ok with a little less action and nightlife.

Why don't YOU tell us about the crime since you brought it up and seem to be hiding some insider-type knowledge?

[nifear]

All three of the areas you listed are pretty nice. I'm partial to the Art Museum area though, just because I lived there for over 5years. It has a 'neighborhoody' feel to it... a lot of young families with kids as well as older folk. Being close to attractions is really nice, however things can get pretty busy during the warmer months. There are always events on the Parkway... parades, marathons, etcetcetc which is nice if you don't mind the crowds. Parking can be a pain in the butt, but that's going to be the case in most parts of the city.

[Jarrito's Lime]

Originally Posted by 2e1m5a

Who has made it out to be paradise? 2 Train lines and easy park access is all it takes for a place to be "paradise" to you?
Templeu wrote a pretty apt description and Mount Airy is a good suggestion if the OP is ok with a little less action and nightlife.

Why don't YOU tell us about the crime since you brought it up and seem to be hiding some insider-type knowledge?

Look it up on Spot Crime, there was a lot more crime than I expected. I've heard on numerous occasions from liberal-types about how Mt. Airy is a "racially diverse" neighborhood paradise that works. Even Oprah says so. LOL! I just expected a lot less crime. YOU need to calm down.

[frankgn87]

If Oprah says it works.. it must!

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by quanz88

3)south of Rittenhouse- 20th to 15th and pine area
I love the walkability to center city and out of all the areas this looks the most safe. But i didnt see any non metered parking spots at all driving around there.

Slightly west of this general area is Fitler Square which is a lovely neighborhood.

It sounds to me that you are very concerned about parking. You might have to 'bite the bullet' and pay for monthly parking in a nearby lot or garage.

[alphamale]

All that I'll add is that you should walk the entire area at 10 pm and see how safe you feel.

That tells the tale.

Forget charts, stats, opinions......see for yourself.

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by Jarrito's Lime

Look it up on Spot Crime, there was a lot more crime than I expected. I've heard on numerous occasions from liberal-types about how Mt. Airy is a "racially diverse" neighborhood paradise that works. Even Oprah says so. LOL! I just expected a lot less crime. YOU need to calm down.

I grew up there and still live close by. For a city neighborhood, Mt Airy has very low crime-the map said 3 assaults and less than 10 burglaries in the past 6 Months for all of 19119 (30,000 population). Hardly enough to scare me away from a wonderful city neighborhood, but I know others can be more paranoid.

We always left our door unlocked growing up, much like people in the suburbs claim to do when they're bunkered down late at night getting their daily fear porn and looking up crime statistics for city neighborhoods on Spot Crime.

I would say in the future to not get your advice from people you already know you will disagree with, like Oprah and "liberal-types".
I hope you do find more activities to do in your safe suburb then to keep tabs on crime in the city. If it is something that concerns you, there are better ways to get involved.