Neighborhoods around Drexel (Philadelphia, Lancaster, Clark: houses, landscaping, new construction)

[blu4u]

Please tell me about the area around Drexel. The campus seems spread out and intermingled with surrounding neighborhood. I understand UPenn boarders Drexel and the Upenn campus seems nice.

I'm hoping to hear the local skninny on living by Drexel along with anything to be avoided. Tell it to me straight. My duaghter will be living in that area next year and I'd like to give her a heads-up--the stuff the univeristy doesn't tell you.

How "bike friendly" is the area? If you had a bike at Drexel where would you ride? Is it better to take public transport to the Amtrak / Airport? Or is cab better? Pros and Cons please.

[cpomp]

I currently live in Powelton Village, the neighborhood directly adjacent to the western edge of Drexels campus. The area overall is very safe and very well patrolled by Drexel police and public safety. If you stray west into Mantua it becomes bad, but there is no reason why your daughter would need to go there anyway. Anything east toward Center City there is nothing to be worried about, same can be said going west to about 42nd st. That usually is my cutoff street when informing people about the area, also anything past Springarden st or past 38th and Lancaster gets bad.

Also, Drexels new "urban campus" is going through a renaissance, new construction left and right, repaving the sidewalks, new restaurants/retail, landscaping, etc. So as a student at Drexel or a prospective student this is really an exciting time period because Drexel is pushing so hard to become a nationally renowned university in both academics and urban amenities.

Many students and faculty bike, certain streets actually have small bike lanes for the growing amount of bikers, and there are hundreds of new bike rack stations all over campus.

Finally, one of the biggest positives is the easy access to 30th st station and Center City Philadelphia. The station is a 5 minute walk from campus and you can then access any part of the metro and region via Septa or Amtrak. Center City is a 15 minute walk or 10 minute subway ride, which is nice escape from Drexel and Penn life.

Attending Drexel or Penn is great for young people, especially if you appreciate the urban atmosphere and all that Philadelphia has to offer.

[blu4u]

Thank you! She visited twice, but never really saw anything other than the one academic building which houses her department of study.
How about getting to and from the air port? Cab, Train, Bus?
Grocery stores? Is there Trader Joes (or equivalent) within walking distance? A CVS?

Drexel, by the way, does a nice job of "talking-up" Philadelphia. Such a nice job that I'm wondering why they push so hard...

[newmarlig]

She can walk to 30th Street Station and take a train to the airport. There is a Trader Joe's about a 10 minute walk from campus. But it would matter where she lived. I don't know her budget, but if she could get a roommate she might want to consider Center City West. That would be very close to Trader Joes, and an easy bus ride or walk to campus. There are CVS's and Rite Aids' all around.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by blu4u

Thank you! She visited twice, but never really saw anything other than the one academic building which houses her department of study.
How about getting to and from the air port? Cab, Train, Bus?
Grocery stores? Is there Trader Joes (or equivalent) within walking distance? A CVS?

Drexel, by the way, does a nice job of "talking-up" Philadelphia. Such a nice job that I'm wondering why they push so hard...

If your daughter is a freshmen undergrad, then she will be required to live in university housing for 2 years I believe. So I would stick with University City for living arrangements, because she will be around people her age. If shes 25 and in grad school, then Center City would be a more attractive option.

There is a trader Joes at 22nd and Market St, 15 minute walk from campus, there also is a Whole Foods on the Parkway, probably a 25 minute walk. There is a Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut, a CVS at 34th and Walnut, and a Wawa at 36th and Chestnut I believe. All very close by.

For airport travel, there is a regional rail train that goes out of 30th st station every 30 minutes, she can either walk there or take the subway to 30th st. come above ground then enter the station. She can also take a taxi to the airport. Do not bother with a bus, they are not necessary.

And Drexel is working close with the city of Philadelphia to try and promote the city and the university as a top destination for young people. They are both trying to lure companies to the area in order to make an environment where one can become educated and then work in the very city they were educated in. There is a lot of hype around Philadelphia in general right now, which is a very good thing!

[blu4u]

It makes sense that Drexel is coordinating a "marketing campaign" with the city. That would explain the "hype"--as it seems more contrived and less organic than the "city talk" from schools in Boston and Seattle. She very excited about Drexel and the cutting edge program they offer.

[MikeNigh]

I don't think the hype is misplaced. Center city and university city are truely amazing places. The reason it has to be impressed is because so much of america has the wrong impression of what philly really is (or what it now is).

[KansastoSouthphilly]

I finished grad school at Drexel in 2010 and I thought the area was pretty great back then. It has since gotten MUCH better. In addition to Powelton Village many of my classmates live in the Clark Park area. They would walk, bike, or take the trolley.