How is 42nd and chestnut?

[Mimidae]

Originally Posted by Sandr01

FBJ, thanks for the reply, I was a little skeptic by some threads saying anything west of 40th and chestnut is a no-go.

Were those threads several years old? That used to be kind of an old wive's tale spread by UPenn students, with little basis in truth. I say "little" because Chestnut is the first street that gets a little cruddy sooner, whereas streets south of it are still nice for many more blocks. But 42nd is still "pre-crud".

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by TimmyTightWad

Check the Upenn/Drexel alert system. That area seems VERY rapey. At least once a week I think there is some kind of alert about a woman being cat called or harassed. Then there are the rapes and assaults. A friend of mine was knocked unconscious and robbed about a month or two ago and my wife is routinely harassed walking around there. Granted that may just come with the territory , no pun, being close to universities.

Not sure how thorough this list is but a quick scan shows: flashing, rape, stalking, multiple assaults in just a 2 week span. http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/cr...imeFireLog.pdf

Amazingly I spent 37 years of my working life in the Penn/Drexel areas and I was never harassed or anything like it. And, yes, I'm single female.

Just putting this out there as another POV.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Kevin1813

People at work told me about the west of the 40th "rule" when I first moved to the area. It's laughable. That block is a little desolate so be aware of your surroundings but you are a block or two away from very very nice family and student areas.

It's always been laughable. To be blunt about it, too many white people still use the 40th St "rule" even though there have been white people living W. Powelton since at least the 70s.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Sandr01

Yeah it was certainly strange that no one was walking around at 6pmish. You are right about cat calling, its problematic in any city for that matter, it's the crimes I was most concerned on, like burglary and being followed and stuff. Eventhough there's a police station nearby, people aren't out in that vicinity. With upenn summer vacation starting I think it might be more deserted, have to see how things go.

When summer school starts it will feel pretty much like it does on campus during the school terms.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by kyb01

When summer school starts it will feel pretty much like it does on campus during the school terms.

I noticed university city is quiet in July and August.

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by eastwestcoast

I assume you meant "Spruce Hill" not "Chestnut Hill" right? Also, doesn't Walnut Hill not start until you get west of 45th?

My mistake. Yes, of course ... Spruce Hill.

There is an apartment building near 41st and Walnut called "Walnut Hill" ... and the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College is on the 4200 block of Walnut ... so, no - Walnut Hill is considered the strip from 41st up to around 48th streets.

Concerning the article comparing crimes at Penn vs. Temple. What kind of crimes are they talking about? Is it possible Penn students are more likely to report crimes? Because Penn is perceived as a "rich kid's school" we do have a lot of thefts. Bicycles are stolen. Unattended cell phones and laptop computers are stolen. It's not uncommon for a couple of drunken kids to brawl outside local bars like Smokey Joe's, Cavanaugh's, or the Copabanana.