University City questions (Springfield, Clark, Penn: apartment, high crime, house)

[Sasssy]

I lived in Philly for six years in the mid-late '90s and now -- finally -- I'm moving back. My husband and I are looking seriously at University City. I lived in Powelton Village in 1997 so I'm *sort of* familiar with the area, although it's been so long.

We really like a house at 45th and Sansom and one at 45th and Locust. I've been doing research on both neighborhoods, including reading archived news stories, looking at crime data and checking out the street view option on Google Maps. It appears that 45th and Locust is in an area with fewer problems, although they are close by. I know about the drug problems that have plagued 45th and Sansom, and it seems like things are in transition. But still, I hesitate to invest in an area that is sort of marginal.

I've been reading through the posts and the information has been helpful. Can anyone with knowledge of those two areas share any insight?

My husband saw 45th and Sansom in person and videotaped the inside of the house and immediate area, and we're both flying back next week to look at it together as well as check out the one on Locust, but there's only so much information you can glean from a superficial look of the area.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Jennifer

[Sassygirl18]

I work around 40th & Chestnut and personally, I wouldn't move there. 40th seems to be the edge of where it starts getting marginal - I think anything west is worse.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Sassygirl18

I work around 40th & Chestnut and personally, I wouldn't move there. 40th seems to be the edge of where it starts getting marginal - I think anything west is worse.

That may be more true if you're looking at Chestnut and points NW. But University City starts to slant SW from 40th Street and there are a lot of great neighborhoods there, especially with the influx of Penn staff and those priced out of Center City.

If I were to buy a house, I'd prefer to go from Spruce Street south to Springfield. But Locust is only one block from Spruce so it will probably be okay. Since the OP has lived in Powelton Village (which borders challenged Mantua), she will be able able to embrace the positives of living in University City while accepting/avoiding the negatives. Do check out Baltimore Avenue for Clark Park, homegrown retail and a laid-back restaurant scene with more than a few West African influences.

[Sasssy]

Thanks, Tone. I'm leaning away from the house at 45th and Sansom and more toward the one on Locust, I think. But the one on Sansom is so crazy inside! It's huge and so well rehabbed. Sigh.

[RaleighBoundGeek]

Originally Posted by Sasssy

Thanks, Tone. I'm leaning away from the house at 45th and Sansom and more toward the one on Locust, I think. But the one on Sansom is so crazy inside! It's huge and so well rehabbed. Sigh.

Just remember - a really nice house in an iffy neighborhood will be the first one broken into. Better to have a slightly "less nice house" in a safer neighborhood/block (which if I can place it would be the Locust street one). A little further away from Market is better IMO, thus Locust over Sansom.

[bryson662001]

I would not invest anywhere in Ucity/west Philly. You are just looking for trouble.

[Sasssy]

Bryson, wow, this comment you left is really helpful. Thanks so much for playing. You probably have never been to UC...Penn and Drexel are there, if you didn't know, and many Penn professors and their families live in UC. I haven't lived there, like I said, in quite a while, but now that my husband has accepted a university position we will be moving to UC. You wouldn't more there, so don't. I just don't know why you would think that I'd get any use of a comment like this.

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by Sasssy

Bryson, wow, this comment you left is really helpful. Thanks so much for playing. You probably have never been to UC...Penn and Drexel are there, if you didn't know, and many Penn professors and their families live in UC. I haven't lived there, like I said, in quite a while, but now that my husband has accepted a university position we will be moving to UC. You wouldn't more there, so don't. I just don't know why you would think that I'd get any use of a comment like this.

I'm with Bryson. I've worked at U. Penn for more than 8 years and lived at Locust and 41st my first year in PA. It's true that there is a mix of positives in with the bad in that area, but do take off the "rose-colored" glasses before investing any big money. As the economy gets worse this area will naturally have more crime. The U. Penn newspaper regularly reports students (and non students) as crime victims in that area. However, high crime to some is just life as usual for others so--.

[RaleighBoundGeek]

Originally Posted by Sasssy

Bryson, wow, this comment you left is really helpful. Thanks so much for playing. You probably have never been to UC...Penn and Drexel are there, if you didn't know, and many Penn professors and their families live in UC. I haven't lived there, like I said, in quite a while, but now that my husband has accepted a university position we will be moving to UC. You wouldn't more there, so don't. I just don't know why you would think that I'd get any use of a comment like this.

I'm not sure you should be so harsh. UC isn't exactly safe, so it's a valid concern to bring up. Having lived and worked in the UC for almost twenty years (I've moved within the last year, but still), there are quite a few issues down there. I've had my apartment broken into (4 times), held up at gunpoint or knifepoint (twice), so - there's definitely a ring of truth in what is being said.

Are there nice blocks in that area? Sure. Is it a solid area with NO security issues? No - not by a long stretch.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by treeluvr

I'm with Bryson. I've worked at U. Penn for more than 8 years and lived at Locust and 41st my first year in PA. It's true that there is a mix of positives in with the bad in that area, but do take off the "rose-colored" glasses before investing any big money. As the economy gets worse this area will naturally have more crime. The U. Penn newspaper regularly reports students (and non students) as crime victims in that area. However, high crime to some is just life as usual for others so--.

On the flip side, it's also important to note that Penn and Drexel have invested a lot of money in security and future development in the area. Things are definitely on an upward trajectory in UC, not downward, as you've implied. Is it an edgy neighborhood as of today? Definitely, but Penn and Drexel are formidable forces in that part of the city, which will only bring more positive things.