Relocating to Philly (Washington, Bangor, Girard: apartments, condos, rental)

[JonnyC29]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a little bit of help.

Two friends and I are looking to relocate to Philly hopefully March 1st of next year. We don't have jobs or any particular neighborhood in mind.

I am 21, spent the first 13 years of my life in Sicklerville, NJ so I've been to Philly plenty of times before. The other two are 27 and 25, both from Bangor, Maine originally, one living in Nashville and the other in Tulsa for the moment.

We like to have a good time but we want to be safe. Bars with a local feel are a plus. We are looking to spend around $2000 for a 3BR. Is this unreasonable? On Craigslist, I've found a few places for that or less. Two of us are selling our cars but one still wants to keep his. I was looking into a few neighborhoods and wanted to see what you guys think; please feel free to add other neighborhoods you think would be good fits.

Bella Vista: This sounds ideal; from the sounds of it, close to South Street and the Italian Market. Is it safe? Quiet?

Queen Village: Sounds great but could be expensive?

East Falls: Thoughts?

Manayunk/Roxborough: Sounds nice but I've heard it has a fratboy feel (we're college-educated and can't stand the fratboy type)? Terrible parking situation? Is this place really out of the way?

Old City: Sounds trendy, but expensive?

Please give thoughts on price, safety, nightlife, and proximity to CC/ease of commute. We don't have jobs yet but much of the business is in CC, is it not?

Thanks for your help guys! If you need any clarification, let me know!

[kelb]

Manayunk seems to attract a ton of people in your situation, so it must have something going for it. I don't understand the fratboy references at all.

[orrmobl]

Northern Liberties all the way - it has a great vibe and is safe/getting safer every day. If you can afford it it is the place to be...rather than a Manayunk that is a place that was the place to be and is now kind of a faded cliche....

[solibs]

For that kind of money you should be able to find a decent place in any of those neighborhoods.

My thoughts -
Roxborough - is a good 20+ minutes on the express bus to get to Center City. I mean, most of Rox has good transit but, for me i'd rather walk or bike. It's a nice neighborhood but unless you have a family I don't really see the appeal.

Manayunk - Manayunk is just as far from center city but has a lot more bars/restaurants/shops. There are a lot of people in their mid-late 20s there. Again, if i'm gonna live in the city i'm gonna live in the city. It's like Hoboken to NYC. Neat place for your friends to live in maybe good if you have a job in KOP that you don't plan on leaving any time soon.

East Falls - sort of like small town PA in the middle of the city. There are a handful of bars/restaurants and more stuff coming along but on the whole maybe a better place if you had a family and/or were commuting to the KOP area.

Old City is cool and super convenient and has great transit. Every friend I've had who has lived there moved there first from out of town and couldn't wait until their lease was up. The weekend crowds get old after a while but it might be cool for the first year. The housing is mostly condos/lofts and parking is at a premium. Your friend will most likely have to buy/rent a space or park in a different neighborhood.

Queen Village and Bella Vista are right next to each other and sort of blend in to one another. There are a decent amount of apartments/condos there as well as some houses. I guess I would lean towards BV because I think it's more central and you get more for your money but really there's not much of a difference. Both are great neighborhoods and you really couldn't go wrong with either. Walking distance to just about everything and if you have bicycle you're golden.

I would also give Northern Liberties a look between Front and 6th St. although most of the action is along 2nd St. The el stop is at Front & Spring Garden and there are a few buses (5 and 47) that will take you into Center City and then there's the 15 trolley on Girard Ave. and another bus on Spring Garden (can't remember the number).

I'm also gonna tell you to look hard at Passyunk Square. The neighborhood between Washington Ave. and Tasker St. and between Broad St. and 8th St. also, the neighborhood just south of it - East Passyunk Crossing (EPX) which is between Tasker and Snyder and Broad & 10th. Passyunk Ave., which runs diagonal through both 'hoods has exploded in recent years with bars, shops and restaurants without the crowds that you'll find in Center City. It's much more laid back than the scene around Bella Vista/South St. You will get a really nice house for $2000/mo and with the Broad St. subway right there you can't go wrong. EPX is a little more old school South Philly Italian but is becoming a lot younger and hipper whereas Passyunk Square, to me, is the future of South Philly - vibrant, multi-cultural and an all around fun place to be.

[jeffmsilver]

Manayunk is fratty.

[ajb842]

Passayunk Square-good suggestion!
Manayunk-does have terrible parking situation, but many rentals have lots or private parking BUT there's still the snow removal issue...It's nice but you'd have to visit. It's not my #1, but some people may really love it.
Roxborough-i agree, more families, less action
Old City-probably too expensive but if you can find something, you'll love it here
East Falls-I love it, tons of young professionals(doctors/nurses and students from the nearby hospitals/colleges)but I don't know if it has a lot to do really, it's more still developing but it's really cute
Northern Liberties-this is not my favorite area at all, but many young people enjoy it because it had restaurants and bars

[JonnyC29]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. It looks like we'll narrow it down to:

Northern Liberties, Passayunk Square, Bella Vista, Queen Village, and Old City (if I can find something affordable)

By the sounds of it, Passayunk Sq. is the best bang for your buck? How is the safety in all of these areas? Which would you say is the safest?

Again, thanks everyone.

[solibs]

I would rate them all pretty much the same in terms of safety. Maybe Old City is the safest? I don't know, there's not much of a difference between them and I don't think anyone on here would be suggesting them if they were particularly dangerous.