Relocating to Philly from Atlanta

[skintreesnail]

Since you said you like theater and urban areas, Center City seems like the best bet. Washington sq west/Rittenhouse would put you close to the theater district and can be on the quiet side even when you're right by all the action (especially if you get a place on a small street). Philly is pretty LGBT-friendly, but the Gayborhood is in Washington sq west. Plenty of high-rises in each neighborhood, but you could get a loft in one of the large row houses as well (some have roof decks). Also, Target has opened several urban format stores around the city. One is in Washington sq west, but it's pretty small. Some larger ones near the art museum and at Broad and Washington. Great art museums in center city as well: Museum of art, Barnes, Academy of fine arts. Fairmount or Callow Hill will put you close to the art museums, but a little further from the regional rail if you need to take it to work. Jefferson station or suburban station are close to Washington Sq west or Rittenhouse. Just time the walk where you end up looking, or check the google map walking directions for the time estimate (I use this a lot). Also, the BSL or MFL subways have stops near the regional rail stations and run pretty frequently.

The problem that I see is if you're reverse-commuting to Malvern it might be a pain if the company is inaccessible by train (driving can be stressful and parking even more so). There is a regional rail stop there, but you'd have to make sure you can walk from the station. If the company is Vanguard (based in Malvern), they have a new office at 23rd and Chestnut in center city that it might be worth finding out about (in which case, other neighborhoods around the city would make sense, like northern liberties/fishtown or manayunk/mt airy).

If you are going to be driving, then the suburbs might work better and there are several along the main line (train line that runs by Malvern) that have pretty decent main streets. Phoenixville and West Chester are also fairly close and have pretty solid downtowns. It won't be the same as center city, but they are nice and on the quieter side.

[Flyers Girl]

Originally Posted by Mdez

Another factor to keep in mind- one side of City Avenue is Lower Merion Township (Wynnewood and Bala Cynwyd), and the other side is the city limits of Philadelphia (Overbrook, Overbrook Farms, Overbrook Park, Wynnefield, Wynnefield Heights- these are all city neighborhoods). Cost of living will likely be higher on the Lower Merion side of city ave.

Not necessarily. Just as Lower Merion generally has more expensive housing, the other side of City Ave. will subject the OP to the city wage tax. If renting, the Lower Merion side may actually work out better. He/she will just have to do the math.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Flyers Girl

Not necessarily. Just as Lower Merion generally has more expensive housing, the other side of City Ave. will subject the OP to the city wage tax. If renting, the Lower Merion side may actually work out better. He/she will just have to do the math.

I was trying to avoid talking about the city wage tax! lol

Unless something has changed LM has a small wage tax.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I was trying to avoid talking about the city wage tax! lol

Unless something has changed LM has a small wage tax.

When I worked at channel 10, years ago, once a year a $10 wage tax was deducted.

[Mdez]

Originally Posted by Flyers Girl

Not necessarily. Just as Lower Merion generally has more expensive housing, the other side of City Ave. will subject the OP to the city wage tax. If renting, the Lower Merion side may actually work out better. He/she will just have to do the math.

I grew up in the area on the Philadelphia side of City Line, and have always paid less than some of my friends who were on the LM side of the border regardless of city wage tax. That point about buying vs. renting is probably true, however, there are more rental properties on the Philadelphia side of City Line than the LM side.