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I am an Indian guy who is moving to Philadelphia in two weeks' time to pursue my graduate studies at Drexel University. I have rented a house that is located at 36th & Haverford. The house is at a distance of 0.7 miles from Drexel University. I will be sharing the house with 4 other Indian students. As we don't know anything about Philadelphia, could anyone please tell me if 36th & Haverford is a safe place to live for foreigners?
That's a pretty crappy area, slowly improving. Not really dangerous, but a lot of vacant lots and boarded up homes. That is the outer fringe of the Drexel sphere.
As you walk toward campus the area becomes noticeably nicer.
I would say it is okay for you to try for a year then as you become familiar with Philadelphia and depending on how much money you have you can find a better place to live next year.
Rent pretty much doubles once you move to the heart of the Drexel/Penn bubble.
I am an Indian guy who is moving to Philadelphia in two weeks' time to pursue my graduate studies at Drexel University. I have rented a house that is located at 36th & Haverford. The house is at a distance of 0.7 miles from Drexel University. I will be sharing the house with 4 other Indian students. As we don't know anything about Philadelphia, could anyone please tell me if 36th & Haverford is a safe place to live for foreigners?
I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thank you!
In what city are you living now? In America? In India?
Yes, just outside of Powelton Village which is an integral section of University City. It is relatively safe. If you were inside PV, you would be better off. As it is, you will have to walk 2 city blocks (south or east) to be within the village.
How big are you? Skin and bones, or substantial. Just don't do anything stupid.
If you plan to have a car, don't buy anything flashy, or expensive. Keep it locked and all (ALL) personal items out of sight locked in the trunk or not in the car. Keep insurance.
Do not assume you can leave a car or moving truck unwatched for any amount of time.
If you are female, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone.
Ultimately you will want to have females visit you, do not allow them to walk alone to come find your place - pick them up and escort them to your home.
If you are male, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone in the night.
Don't walk around carrying anything obviously expensive.
Don't walk around in flip-flops.
I grew up in Philadelphia. I lived in Powelton Village for 6 years (25 years ago) and delivered Pizza at night into the area you are going to live; and from my last visits I would say it really hasn't changed too much. I also lived in much more dangerous parts of Philadelphia and as an adult, never had any trouble with crime. Same thing could be said when I visited NYC and other big cities. During the years I delivered pizza, neither I nor my car were ever bothered (and I sometimes had to leave it running [but locked with spare keys] - I don't suggest that for you, just saying I was more familiar with the city)
Key is keep your wits about you and not to walk around looking like a target.
I don't write this to be frightening - as I said, it is relatively safe. Yet at the same time you need to be aware that it is not the best neighborhood. Have you used google maps to virtually walk the area yet? You should.
Last edited by blktoptrvl; 08-21-2015 at 10:18 AM..
Yes, just outside of Powelton Village which is an integral section of University City. It is relatively safe. If you were inside PV, you would be much better off. As it is, you will have to walk 2 city blocks (south or east) to be within the village.
Just don't do anything stupid.
If you plan to have a car, don't buy anything flashy, or expensive. Keep it locked and all (ALL) personal items out of sight locked in the trunk or not in the car. Keep insurance.
If you are female, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone.
If you are male, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone in the night.
Don't walk around carrying anything obviously expensive.
I grew up in Philadelphia. I lived in Powelton Village for 6 years (25 years ago) and from my last visits I would say it really hasn't changed too much. I also lived in much more dangerous parts of Philadelphia and as an adult, never had any trouble with crime. Same thing could be said when I visited NYC and other big cities. Key is keep your wits about you and not to walk around looking like a target.
Highly exaggerated. And depending on your definition of the Powelton borders that area has changed quite a bit even over the past decade. I still live in Powelton Village near Drexel Park, half of the cars parked on the street are Mercedes and BMWs (I drive a brand new Acura, never had an issue parking it on the street in any neighborhood) and students are constantly coming back from Center City with expensive shopping bags. The hoodlums you encounter are generally few and far between.
The only thing that makes sense is to not walk alone late at night and always lock your car.
Highly exaggerated. And depending on your definition of the Powelton borders that area has changed quite a bit even over the past decade. I still live in Powelton Village near Drexel Park, half of the cars parked on the street are Mercedes and BMWs (I drive a brand new Acura, never had an issue parking it on the street in any neighborhood) and students are constantly coming back from Center City with expensive shopping bags. The hoodlums you encounter are generally few and far between.
The only thing that makes sense is to not walk alone late at night and always lock your car.
Good point... Highly exaggerated? Maybe. More likely - slightly exaggerated. As I said, I have been away for a while. But at the same time, I am not trying to blow happy smoke up this young man's bung hole. I own three relatively expensive cars, and my point is that if I lived in Philadelphia I would not own them unless I had a garage to protect them from thieves, drunks, bad drivers, and weather (I had two cars hit by drunks, one had it's window broken to get tool I'd left on the floor - in Powelton [at 34th and Race]. I am a car guy and would not subject any nice car to this).
In that neighborhood and needing transportation for a couple years, I would not go out of my way to buy something flashy when something reasonable will do. Why court trouble if you don't have to?
I also said that "until you get to know the neighborhood..." take precautions.
Again, I don't think the city is all that bad, but there are basics that should be followed no matter what city you live in. These are some basics... Exaggerated, maybe, but again, why look for trouble when you don't have to.
I would also say, that we are talking about foreigners... People who are not likely cognizant of US/Philadelphia life. I would rather over caution them than under.
Last edited by blktoptrvl; 08-21-2015 at 10:40 AM..
That's a pretty crappy area, slowly improving. Not really dangerous, but a lot of vacant lots and boarded up homes. That is the outer fringe of the Drexel sphere.
As you walk toward campus the area becomes noticeably nicer.
I would say it is okay for you to try for a year then as you become familiar with Philadelphia and depending on how much money you have you can find a better place to live next year.
Rent pretty much doubles once you move to the heart of the Drexel/Penn bubble.
Hi,
Thank you very much for your valuable advice. Due to budgetary constraints, I don't mind living in a crappy area as long as it is not dangerous. After all, I am going to live there for only a year. I am mainly concerned with the safety of the area, as in I don't want to live in an area where there is a risk of getting mugged at every nook and corner. Hope this area is not that bad?
You are probably going to get heckled or harassed at least once. Not an adequate neighborhood for inspiring college studies etc. Living somewhere nicer would be a worthwhile investment.
In what city are you living now? In America? In India?
Yes, just outside of Powelton Village which is an integral section of University City. It is relatively safe. If you were inside PV, you would be better off. As it is, you will have to walk 2 city blocks (south or east) to be within the village.
How big are you? Skin and bones, or substantial. Just don't do anything stupid.
If you plan to have a car, don't buy anything flashy, or expensive. Keep it locked and all (ALL) personal items out of sight locked in the trunk or not in the car. Keep insurance.
Do not assume you can leave a car or moving truck unwatched for any amount of time.
If you are female, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone.
Ultimately you will want to have females visit you, do not allow them to walk alone to come find your place - pick them up and escort them to your home.
If you are male, until and unless you get familiar with the wide area, do not walk alone in the night.
Don't walk around carrying anything obviously expensive.
Don't walk around in flip-flops.
I grew up in Philadelphia. I lived in Powelton Village for 6 years (25 years ago) and delivered Pizza at night into the area you are going to live; and from my last visits I would say it really hasn't changed too much. I also lived in much more dangerous parts of Philadelphia and as an adult, never had any trouble with crime. Same thing could be said when I visited NYC and other big cities. During the years I delivered pizza, neither I nor my car were ever bothered (and I sometimes had to leave it running [but locked with spare keys] - I don't suggest that for you, just saying I was more familiar with the city)
Key is keep your wits about you and not to walk around looking like a target.
I don't write this to be frightening - as I said, it is relatively safe. Yet at the same time you need to be aware that it is not the best neighborhood. Have you used google maps to virtually walk the area yet? You should.
Hi,
I really appreciate your advice.
I currently live in New Delhi, India. Well, I am not exactly big, but I am quite on the bulkier side (not muscular though). I am 5'10" tall and weigh around 220 lbs. We are going to be 5 males sharing the same house. Since all 5 of us are going to pursue the same program, so we would walk to the university in a group. While we won't purchase any vehicle, we will surely own laptops, which we would need to carry to the university and back at least thrice a week.
How likely is the chance of someone pulling a gun on us and making away with our laptops/money? Or worse, someone breaking into our house to steal from us?
I currently live in New Delhi, India. Well, I am not exactly big, but I am quite on the bulkier side (not muscular though). I am 5'10" tall and weigh around 220 lbs. We are going to be 5 males sharing the same house. Since all 5 of us are going to pursue the same program, so we would walk to the university in a group. While we won't purchase any vehicle, we will surely own laptops, which we would need to carry to the university and back at least thrice a week.
How likely is the chance of someone pulling a gun on us and making away with our laptops/money? Or worse, someone breaking into our house to steal from us?
I currently live in New Delhi, India. Well, I am not exactly big, but I am quite on the bulkier side (not muscular though). I am 5'10" tall and weigh around 220 lbs. We are going to be 5 males sharing the same house. Since all 5 of us are going to pursue the same program, so we would walk to the university in a group. While we won't purchase any vehicle, we will surely own laptops, which we would need to carry to the university and back at least thrice a week.
How likely is the chance of someone pulling a gun on us and making away with our laptops/money? Or worse, someone breaking into our house to steal from us?
How likely? Really depends on your luck and diligence. Should be unlikely. You can be robbed at any place in the city - including the middle of City Hall. As I said, I think the most important thing is to keep your wits about you, don't go wandering off alone until you are familiar with the area, and don't make yourself look like a target. I lived in Philadelphia 29 years. I got in fights when I was young, but as an adult mostly nobody bothered me (I was 6' and ~225lbs. at the time).
When I said do not carry expensive looking items. I refer to walking down the street with an Apple or other laptop - or an expensive DSLR exposed. Get a relatively plain looking backpack and carry your books and expensive items in the pack.
For your home -- do not leave the door unlocked and/or open. Do not leave unbarred windows unlocked or open if you are not there. Make sure ground floor windows do not provide a view directly into your home. Make sure your doors have secure locks - not something flimsy.
Buy American clothes and blend in instead of standing out.
Also...
Welcome to America. Enjoy your life here while you are here.
Be sure to get a bike (if you will have any time at all) to ride through Fairmount park. One of the most beautiful and largest municipal parks in the US and only about a mile from your lodgings.
I know a lot of Indians like cricket, but take some time to go out to Citizens Park to see Phillies Baseball. It can be a fun outing with friends.
The Philadelphia Eagles are also a great team to watch in the stadium - but if you are able to get tickets for a reasonable price, please call me first.
Philadelphia is a very walkable city and if you don't have a car, there is plenty of good reliable public transportation 24/7 - when I lived there I used to walk (2PM or 2AM) from Drexel to the Delaware river (8 miles round trip) always something interesting to see along the way. This is one of the reasons I say NOT to wear flip flops (sandals really) - I know a lot of Indians do, but sneakers will be better for long walks and you can move a LOT faster if you have an emergency and must emulate "The Flash."
Valley Forge park is only 25 miles from your location - enjoy it.
Atlantic city and other beaches are only 70 minutes away.
NYC is only about an hour-twenty minutes, I used to go occasionally. It was an interesting place.
Anytime you want a good feast - drive out to a good smorgasbord in Lancaster - 50 minutes drive - or go to the Reading Terminal market in center city Philadelphia where you can get foods from many places in the world.
Baltimore is only about an hour and a half drive - but I only found it interesting enough to go a couple times.
Washington DC is only 2.5 hours drive and is filled with must see places.
Enjoy your time here. Learn to love cheese-steaks (if not a vegetarian) and soft pretzels.
Last edited by blktoptrvl; 08-21-2015 at 11:41 AM..
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