Moving from Shaker Heights, OH to Philly- Please I Need Info (Philadelphia: car rental, apartments)

[picturegirl]

Hi Everyone:

I am moving to Philly in September, and will be working downtown. ( Center City ). Are there any neighborhoods that are within a 20 to 30 minute commute by train that are diverse, but also have shopping, dining, art galleries, etc.?

I have a car so I would be willing to drive a short distance or walk to the train? Is auto insurance high ? I prefer to take the train anyway and use my car for getting out and about on the weekends. I am coming into Philly next month to look around.

Right now I am looking for an apartment until I get to know the area. I would like to be in an area that has garden apartments, and on site parking, because I don't like huge buildings, any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by picturegirl

Hi Everyone:

I am moving to Philly in September, and will be working downtown. ( Center City ). Are there any neighborhoods that are within a 20 to 30 minute commute by train that are diverse, but also have shopping, dining, art galleries, etc.?

I have a car so I would be willing to drive a short distance or walk to the train? Is auto insurance high ? I prefer to take the train anyway and use my car for getting out and about on the weekends. I am coming into Philly next month to look around.

Right now I am looking for an apartment until I get to know the area. I would like to be in an area that has garden apartments, and on site parking, because I don't like huge buildings, any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Welcome to the area!

To the letter pretty much, you described Chestnut Hill, which is still within the city of Philadelphia...yet a 20 minute train ride from downtown. There are numerous shops, restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops in the "downtown" section of Chestnut Hill. Many of the apartment buildings in the area fall into the "garden style" you seek. The area will probably seem similar to Shaker Heights in terms of architecture, etc. The SEPTA R7 and R8 trains end/originate in Chestnut Hill and are walkable from most of the neighborhood. Another option is West Mount Airy near the R7 Sedgwick or Mt Airy stations, or Manayunk which is on the R6. Downtown Manayunk can be kind of frat-boyish on the weekends which isn't everyone's "cup of tea"....it's also nowhere near as pleasant architecturally and far less green in terms of trees/parks,etc.

Car insurance is VERY expensive here because of the ratio of uninsured drivers and vandalism/theft. If at all possible I would recommend ditching your car as it's more a liability than a benefit. Philadelphia has two car-share companies that are fantastic resources allowing to rent a car by the hour or day, with insurance and gas included in the price. I give the edge to Zipcar as you can use your membership in other cities.
Car Sharing, an alternative to car rental and car ownership – Zipcar

[newmarlig]

You may also want to consider Haddonfield or Moorestown, NJ and come into the city via the New Jersey High Speed line.

[pman]

northern liberties. ten minute by the el

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by picturegirl

Hi Everyone:

I am moving to Philly in September, and will be working downtown. ( Center City ). Are there any neighborhoods that are within a 20 to 30 minute commute by train that are diverse, but also have shopping, dining, art galleries, etc.?

I have a car so I would be willing to drive a short distance or walk to the train? Is auto insurance high ? I prefer to take the train anyway and use my car for getting out and about on the weekends. I am coming into Philly next month to look around.

Right now I am looking for an apartment until I get to know the area. I would like to be in an area that has garden apartments, and on site parking, because I don't like huge buildings, any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If you want the easiest commute, look in south jersey along the patco rail line - Collingswood, Westmont, Haddonfield are 15-20 minutes to center city and wonderful places to live. Collingswood is probably best suited for someone younger and from out of town getting his/her feet wet on the area. Lots to do in the area. Collingswood is a revitalizing town with several apartment and condo complexes with on site parking.

Collingswood, New Jersey | Collingswood, New Jersey

The newest complex in the downtown area is called the Lumberyard:

http://www.lumberyardcondos.com/index_content.html (broken link)

[G Goo]

Originally Posted by niceguy19125

Welcome to the area!

To the letter pretty much, you described Chestnut Hill, which is still within the city of Philadelphia...yet a 20 minute train ride from downtown. There are numerous shops, restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops in the "downtown" section of Chestnut Hill. Many of the apartment buildings in the area fall into the "garden style" you seek. The area will probably seem similar to Shaker Heights in terms of architecture, etc. The SEPTA R7 and R8 trains end/originate in Chestnut Hill and are walkable from most of the neighborhood. Another option is West Mount Airy near the R7 Sedgwick or Mt Airy stations, or Manayunk which is on the R6. Downtown Manayunk can be kind of frat-boyish on the weekends which isn't everyone's "cup of tea"....it's also nowhere near as pleasant architecturally and far less green in terms of trees/parks,etc.

Car insurance is VERY expensive here because of the ratio of uninsured drivers and vandalism/theft. If at all possible I would recommend ditching your car as it's more a liability than a benefit. Philadelphia has two car-share companies that are fantastic resources allowing to rent a car by the hour or day, with insurance and gas included in the price. I give the edge to Zipcar as you can use your membership in other cities.
Car Sharing, an alternative to car rental and car ownership – Zipcar

Car insurance in Mt Airy and Chestnut Hill can be expensive with some companies, but wildly cheaper with others. I moved from Glenside (Montgomery County) to East Mt Airy and found good coverage at the same cost. You just have to shop around.

Northwest Philadelphia is uniquely historic and beautiful, has excellent public transit options, and is quite diverse demographically speaking. All in all a fantastic place to live.

Good luck!

[picturegirl]

Thank You all so much for the information . These areas sound beautiful and I can't wait to move and enjoy the neighborhood, and all it has to offer.

[pixie30]

Manayunk... 1 mile walk to train, 15 minutes to city, bars, restaurants, shopping, small town feel with Philly up road, also people are out and about a ton in summer AND Wissihickon park a walk away for hiking, biking, running, etc.

[orrmobl]

According to a website that analyzes city and town info, Ambler and Lansdale have an 83-85% similarity to Shaker Heights, although Shaker Heights is much more affluent and educated. Looks like the inner Main Line (Lower Merion, Narberth, Bala Cynwyd, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Rosemont, Radnor) also would fit the bill.

[Ohiogirl81]

Ambler and Lansdale are more like Medina and Chagrin Falls. But the Main Line communities closest to the city do have a similar vibe to Shaker.