Philly--near Temple (Philadelphia, Ambler, Girard: apartments, rental, high crime)

[karen214]

Can someone tell me which areas in Philly are safe neighborhoods (although I realize nothing is ever 100% safe)?

What is it like on Girard Ave near Temple Univ.? Which areas/streets in the Temple University neighborhood are better? I have heard some horror stories about North Philadelphia (high crime, gangs, etc.). Is the Temple University area considered North Philadelphia or is it Central City?

We are willing to look in other (safer) parts of the city as long as we can get public transportation to the campus. Please give us some ideas as to where to look. What rental prices can one expect for a 1 bedroom apartment? We'd like to find something in the $700-750 range.

A family member is going to start graduate school at Temple in August, and we'd like information so we can begin an apartment search.

Thanks.
Karen

[newmarlig]

There are 1 bedroom apartments in Bella Vista on craigslist for $750. That is a good area, just south of center city (best area of the city). You can walk to the Broad Street subway, which will take you to Temple. Much better/safer area than North Philly.

Bella Vista, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[leighland]

Originally Posted by karen214

I have heard some horror stories about North Philadelphia (high crime, gangs, etc.). Is the Temple University area considered North Philadelphia or is it Central City?

Temple is in North Philly and the neighborhood (verses the university) is absolutely frightening. Bella Vista is a good option if you like living in the city.

[JerzBoy]

Do not live near Temple. Anything that is not located within the campus is a warzone. You want to stick to areas closer to Center City or University City. I wouldn't venture living anywhere north of Spring Garden St.

Bella Vista is a good choice for your price range.

[Tone509]

Unless your family member is living on campus, I would highly recommend they live somewhere closer to Center City. Bella Vista as suggested is a good idea; I'm pleasantly surprised to read that rents are relatively affordable there.

I worked near Girard Avenue several years ago. Unless the stretch closest to the riverfront has been radically renovated in the last few years, I would avoid that area as a place to live. I know for sure that the area closest to the Girard Avenue stop of the Broad Street Subway (where your family member would ultimate take to and from Temple) is not particularly safe at night.

Originally Posted by karen214

Can someone tell me which areas in Philly are safe neighborhoods (although I realize nothing is ever 100% safe)?

What is it like on Girard Ave near Temple Univ.? Which areas/streets in the Temple University neighborhood are better? I have heard some horror stories about North Philadelphia (high crime, gangs, etc.). Is the Temple University area considered North Philadelphia or is it Central City?

We are willing to look in other (safer) parts of the city as long as we can get public transportation to the campus. Please give us some ideas as to where to look. What rental prices can one expect for a 1 bedroom apartment? We'd like to find something in the $700-750 range.

A family member is going to start graduate school at Temple in August, and we'd like information so we can begin an apartment search.

Thanks.
Karen

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by JerzBoy

Do not live near Temple. Anything that is not located within the campus is a warzone. You want to stick to areas closer to Center City or University City. I wouldn't venture living anywhere north of Spring Garden St.

Bella Vista is a good choice for your price range.

University City isn't a bad idea, either... although Penn and Drexel students there are easily gouged upwards of $750/month, often for substandard housing.

[cmk79]

Manayunk might also be a possibility.

[mc70chev]

Do not move to Temple campus. Although it is reletaively safe on campus (by Philly standars) you cannnot leave the campus. Bella Vista is a good area and most of the area just south of Center City. The Broad Street line iwll get you to Temple very easily.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

I went and graduated from Temple University. I tried to take most of my classes at the Ambler campus, but I had to take some downtown. Later on I taught at an elementary school that was overseen by Temple. The neighborhood is absolutely awful. Scary. I know that down 95 or an alternative route I would drive with my windows down- at that time I had a college car with no AC. Once I hit Girad Avenue...my windows went up and I sweated my butt off. I took side streets to get to the Temple parking lot because they were quicker, but going into the actual neighborhood was very frightening. When I worked at the school we had to go into a lockdown due to a shooting right out front the school. I would not live in the neighborhood, or go walking around at night.

[pureid]

North Philly is not a safe area. Look around the art museum area or Northwest Philly. You will have to commute from either of these areas though. If it were up to me, I would stay away from Philly altogether though--- it is awful! Good luck though.