Being transferred to Philly, are only the 'burbs safe? (Philadelphia: cul-de-sac, middle-class)

[VeryWellRed]

Hi, my husband was recently transferred to Philly for a really great promotion, it wasn't our first choice of cities, but in this economy, you take what you can get!

I've only lived in the Midwest (Minneapolis, Chicago) and am frankly a bit terrified of moving to Philadelphia after reading the posts about how horrible it is. I'm not ready to move to the 'burbs to be a housewife/soccer mom yet, but if it's the only way to not end up not assaulted or killed I will, it's really kind a bummer as I love being able to go out in Chicago and not feel threatened.

When are you moving?
March/April 2009

Where are you coming from?
Chicago

Why are you moving?
Husband was promoted

Where will you be working?
He will be downtown, I work out of the house freelance mostly, but could need to commute onsite occasionally

Have you been here yet?
For one weekend, first time ever in Philly

Will you buy or rent?
Rent

If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend?
Open to any type except a loft (utilities too high and unless well insulated, too noisy)

Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up?
Either could work if they are nice and in safe area

Are you married or single? Do you have children?
Married, no kids

Do you have pets?
Yes, a cat

Do you want or need a yard?
Wouldn't mind one or a patio, we do like to BBQ!

Are you keeping a car?
We'd love to get a car, Chicago is too cost-prohibitive/difficult to park to have a car--(most stuff is close enough/safe to walk to you can get by with car-share just fine)


Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet?
Calm and quiet---but not so much you feel like your the only person (ie: target) out there. Close to bustling though!

What do you want to be closest to?
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Nightlife
Train or subway stations

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood?
We're in our 30s and over the whole "college frat party thing"--a mature and safe place.

[john_starks]

lol @ a horrible place. i think too many people on this board (not living in the city) over-exaggerate, criticize & analyze it way too much when its no more dangerous than chicago or minneapolis. actually i think its less...based on last years stats..

i copied and pasted kyle19125's response from another thread. i think its fitting:

Congratulations for not copping out on the city versus the "burbs. There are so many here that'll tell you that the streets in every neighborhood in the city are filled with gun-toting murderers/rapists just waiting for the first single woman walking alone after 7pm. And they all live in the 'burbs and the source of their information is from watching the 6:00 news....

There are many great city neighborhoods to choose from. Though as a single person in the city, who wants to feel safer at night (and in general), as a fellow city dweller I would recommend:

Washington Square area. Great historical area. Check out 6th to 10th Street, from Locust to Pine. There are quite a number of converted brownstone-to-apartment buildings. It's convenient to South Street and Center City. (all walking distance). The presence of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Pennsylvania Hospital keeps the neighborhood pretty active all hours. You don't have the isolated feel of walking later at night as a result. Overall, it's pretty upscale in terms of residents. The homes themselves that aren't for rent, sell for $500,000 and up.

Another good option is Old City. It's the loft-like, NYC Soho-like section of the city. Lots of galleries, restaurants. boutiques/shops. The area south of Market Street is the more rowdy, bar/club filled area that many residents aren't fond of....but the area north of Market closer to Arch Street and northward to Race Street, between 2nd and 3rd is the residential side with much more of a retail mix, small restaurants and smaller local/neighborhood bars. It's the safer of the two options (Washington Square or Old City). You rarely hear of any incidents other than car break-ins, etc.

Both areas, though nicer areas of the city, aren't necessarily expensive as a result if you're willing to go with a smaller one bedroom or a studio as you had mentioned. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions, happy to help. It can be a lot to take in.

i would also add Rittenhouse section of the city - around 18th street between Market & Spruce streets. You'll find most high rises in this section. It tends to be more pricey than the other neighborhoods due to the immediate amenities..Although I'm a bigger fan of the Washington Sq/Old City/Society Hill sections...like mentioned above, more brownstones and quaint. I'd aslo suggest the South Street/Queen Village/Bella Vista sections of the city (south of South St north of Washingto Ave and betweem Broad St and Fron St...but this area tends to be a little more sketchier. be warned!!

generally, anything south of Market St, north of South St. east of 30th Street and West of Front St...has always been considered "ideal"

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by VeryWellRed

Hi, my husband was recently transferred to Philly for a really great promotion, it wasn't our first choice of cities, but in this economy, you take what you can get!

I've only lived in the Midwest (Minneapolis, Chicago) and am frankly a bit terrified of moving to Philadelphia after reading the posts about how horrible it is. I'm not ready to move to the 'burbs to be a housewife/soccer mom yet, but if it's the only way to not end up not assaulted or killed I will, it's really kind a bummer as I love being able to go out in Chicago and not feel threatened.

Do you really expect people to help you out with this condescending attitude? Do your own research before you come on this board insulting the city and its people.

FWIW

2008 murders

Chicago- 508
Philadelphia-332

I cant figure out if I'm more taken aback by your attitude or obtuseness

[phillyzoo]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Do you really expect people to help you out with this condescending attitude? Do your own research before you come on this board insulting the city and its people.

FWIW

2008 murders

Chicago- 508
Philadelphia-332

I cant figure out if I'm more taken aback by your attitude or obtuseness

Although a violent city, you will need to worry more about this poster's response than your personal safety while in the city. This angry response is typical of Philadelphians. Get used to it now...

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by phillyzoo

Although a violent city, you will need to worry more about this poster's response than your personal safety while in the city. This angry response is typical of Philadelphians. Get used to it now...

Very amusing newb.

I try to be as helpful as possible to anyone looking for information and admittedly my response was unusally inhospitable but this particular request- for- help irked me profusely. Its just not the way to welcome yourself to a new area.

Quite frankly I thought the OP was out of line with her attitude and thought process.

[ScranBarre]

Different people react in different manners to new opportunities/challenges that may happen to arise in their lives. It sounds to me as if this woman is happy that her husband has received a promotion (along with presumably a salary bump that will afford he and she a higher standard of living than to which they are accustomed), but that she still hasn't been "sold" yet by her husband that the relocation from Chicago to Philadelphia is a wise one. Please don't fault her for her understandable apprehensions.

I, too, will be relocating to another state pending hearing back about a rather promising job interview with the Federal government. I've been very heavily researching Northern Virginia, and just like VeryWellRed I've become discouraged at many aspects about my potential new home. While in my particular case personal safety/crime isn't the biggest issue, as it is here for our potential new friend and fellow Pennsylvanian, I'm still "irked" quite a bit that people in NoVA have such a disgusting fetish for promoting and LIKING (smacks head repeatedly ) urban sp-r--a---w----l. I would have assumed such a well-educated and literate metropolitan area would have more COMMON SENSE to promote smart growth and sustainable living, and yet outside of Arlington/Alexandria I have yet to find ANY other part of Northern Virginia that is commutable to my potential new workplace that isn't a cul-de-sac-infested cess pool replete with tract housing and SUVs. Granted I've probably turned some stomachs already on the NoVA sub-forum as well with my observations, but the truth hurts sometimes when "outsiders" start sharing with you their HONEST OBSERVATIONS---opinions you may have previously been insulated from because you surround yourself with only fellow Pollyanna city cheerleaders.

I've grown a much thicker skin about my own hometown of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA since I joined this forum in mid-2006. At the time I was really one of perhaps three members from our region on this forum. Now our ranks have grown to the triple-digits, all of whom have injected so many different perspectives on our area into this forum that we've become, by far, the most active forum in our state. You know what? I didn't immediately disavow all grievances aired about NEPA as being merely from "malcontents who didn't know any better." I permitted some of these unflattering remarks to digest, and upon further review, have decided that it's BENEFICIAL to hear some not-so-nice things said about where you live sometimes because it can really show you where your "trouble spots" are that need addressing as you hone in ways to better market yourselves to prospective new residents.

VeryWellRed, please feel free to speak your mind. Rainrock, I admire your enduring optimism for a city many like StuckPA feel is rotting to the core, but please understand where people like VeryWellRed are coming from. Like it or not Philadelphia DOES have a VERY violent reputation (How many cop killings are you guys up to now in the past two years? Eight? Our entire metropolitan area sees half that tally for ALL homicides annually!) I know Philadelphia well enough to appreciate it as being a bastion of intellectual energy, a vast storehouse of heritage and history, and a thriving epicenter of nightlife and culture, but, yes, to the outside world you are "Killadelphia." As long as whites continue to vacate once-solid middle-class neighborhoods in the city to flee to suburbia, this problem will continue to perpetuate itself, as impoverished inner-city minority youths will no longer see any semblance of "hope" emanating from the middle-class that once shared their neighborhoods. Do people say some not-so-nice things about Scranton? Without a doubt. It's nice to be able to hear them though to be granted with an opportunity to learn more about how my area is TRULY perceived (not just what the tourism bureau wants you to believe).

[frankgn87]

being a lifelong resident of the city(over 40 years) I can speak from experience. If Philly safe? Depends on where you want to live. There are safe places and horrible sections. But overall the burbs are way more safe.. look at the crime stats to see. I live in the NE and it used to be nice and safe. Was a working class neighborhood that was pride. No more..

[VeryWellRed]

Thanks for the detailed info on the various neighborhoods! The "descriptions" help a lot to help keep them straight.

As to the other postings, this is exactly where the confusion/panic set in. I'll hear a few positive things about the city and then a ton of desparaging ones---which makes it really hard to figure out what the real deal is. My apologies if my choice of wording was too harsh.

Maybe it's the whole Midwest thing, but while there IS the general gripping about the cities out here, it's not nearly on the level of intense love/hate that I'm seeing with the East coast.

[orrmobl]

As safe as the whole of Chicago. If you spend the big bucks you can shield yourself from most of the problems - but not all. Just be vigilant going out at night if alone and take a self defense course or 10 just in case...

[thesixth]

Well if you figured out a safe place to live in Chicago...which had more murders than Phila in 2008 (as rainrock pointed out)
then I feel sure that you will be able to find a safe place to live in Phila or its nearby suburbs that will suit you.
Afterall it is not like you are moving from Podunk town, IL...you're moving from Chicago for goodness sakes!
Good luck, You will find a good place to settle!