Where to live if 30's, single, working in North Wales? (Philadelphia: sublets, apartments)

[gatophilly]

I'm need to move from GA to philly in the next two weeks for work, but have no clue where to look for an apt. I am single and like to be around an area that has a nightlife and has interesting things to do on weekends. I'm also worried about my commute to North Wales. Any ideas of where I should live (cities/apt complexes)? My rental budget is ideally less than $1200 a month for a studio/1 bedroom. I need to have a 6 month lease for now, but most likely will be renewing the lease.

[chessimprov]

Places near Drexel would definitely have 6 month options or sublets since they have 6 month co-op cycles, but the commute to North Wales could be brutal. A hotel room near your work place might be a good option if you can't find anything that works out better.

[PeeAye Native]

If your place of work is nearby, you could do the reverse commute and take the SEPTA Regional Rail line from center city to North Wales. The North Wales SEPTA station.

Some of the bigger employers in that area (Merck for example) used to run shuttle buses from their office complexes to the SEPTA stations on a continuous loop all day.

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by gatophilly

I'm need to move from GA to philly in the next two weeks for work, but have no clue where to look for an apt. I am single and like to be around an area that has a nightlife and has interesting things to do on weekends. I'm also worried about my commute to North Wales. Any ideas of where I should live (cities/apt complexes)? My rental budget is ideally less than $1200 a month for a studio/1 bedroom. I need to have a 6 month lease for now, but most likely will be renewing the lease.

I'd recommend Center City as well, specifically places close to either the
SEPTA Market East Station (11th/12th and Market Street) or the main
hub of Suburban Station (16th/17th btwn JFK Blvd and Market Street).

Fitler Square is a great neighborhood of old sub-divided brownstones and small pre-war buildings. One of my favorite neighborhoods.

Neighborhood names with walking distance access to the stations are:

Art Museum/Fairmount (Suburban Square)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairmou...,_Pennsylvania

Rittenhouse Square (Suburban Square)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rittenhouse_Square

Washington Square (Market East)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing...,_Pennsylvania

Fitler Square (Suburban Station)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitler_...,_Pennsylvania

You won't have a problem finding apartments within your budget in either location. The only limitation is likely to be the 6 month lease but you're likely to have more luck with that with small buildings, or single owner units, versus larger property management company maintained buildings. Craigslist is always a good source.

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by niceguy19125

Neighborhood names with walking distance access to the stations are:

Art Museum/Fairmount (Suburban Square Station)
Fairmount, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rittenhouse Square (Suburban Square Station)
Rittenhouse Square - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Washington Square (Market East)
Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fitler Square (Suburban Station)
Fitler Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thost first two should say Suburban Station, not Suburban Square. Suburban Station is a SEPTA station in center city philly. Suburban Square is an outdoor shopping center in the Main Line suburbs, right off an R5 station stop.

Also, the Art Museum area is considered a long walk to Suburban Station (or 30th Station).

If you've never lived in the area, and you'll be relying on SEPTA, it's always good advice to walk to the station from your new place before signing the lease.

[bambiying]

If you are working in North Wales, I wouldn't pick the city to live in. You would then get stuck with Phila. Wage Tax. I'd think more along the line of Conshohocken. They have a Regional Rail line, so you could take the train into the city for your nightlife, and it also has some lovely bars and restaurants in Conshy as well.

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by PeeAye Native

Thost first two should say Suburban Station, not Suburban Square. Suburban Station is a SEPTA station in center city philly. Suburban Square is an outdoor shopping center in the Main Line suburbs, right off an R5 station stop.

I know, I do that all the time. I actually very well know the difference....
I used to work near Suburban Square when I lived next door to Suburban Station at the Phoenix. I was always (and still am) interchanging the two.

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by PeeAye Native

Also, the Art Museum area is considered a long walk to Suburban Station (or 30th Station).

Depends on your version of a long walk I guess. It might be for the OP as he's moving from Atlanta. For me, anything over twenty blocks is a long walk.
Philadelphia does have short blocks comparatively speaking.

[phlydude]

If you want to live close to where you work, Lansdale isn't so bad (but the night life is boring - you have to venture into the city to get that)

I lived in Brookside Apartments back in 2001-2002 - they were nice enough for a 1 bedroom with full living and dining room with separate kitchen. At the time, rent was $910/month but was $870 if you paid on or before the 1st of the month (rent was due on the 5th). It was about 5-10 minute drive to the North Wales area.

It was on Cowpath Rd. and there was another complex across the street as well. It was fairly quiet and filled with young professionals that worked in or around the area. There was plenty of shopping, and places to drink, just no "night life" like you would find in a club.

Plus, it was less than a 5 minute walk to the regional train line station just up the street.

There was a pretty good pizza place there too...Guiseppe's

I see rent hasn't changed much...
http://www.brooksidemanorapts.com/s/homepage

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by niceguy19125

Depends on your version of a long walk I guess. It might be for the OP as he's moving from Atlanta. For me, anything over twenty blocks is a long walk.
Philadelphia does have short blocks comparatively speaking.

I guess it is relative. I know two different people who moved to the Art Museum area. They both work in the suburbs, and both say it's too far of a walk to 30th St Station or Suburban. One comment was, a woman would not want to do that walk in dress shoes, or in rain or snow. YMMV.