Questions for transplants to Philly (Philadelphia, Portland: neighborhood, theatre, schools)

[VelouriaPDX]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

If I recall correctly, OP mentioned she had kids. I have kids, and I'd much prefer they go to Upper Dublin High School, rather than North Penn High School, mostly due to the size of North Penn.

Yes, we do have two kids not yet in elementary school so schools are a deciding factor. Ambler does look nice. Our house budget won't go as far there and it's a bit further from our family in the Lehigh Valley, but we are definitely considering it.

[asiandudeyo]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Not sure why you quoted me. I didn't say Lansdale was a wasteland, only that Ambler is a little nicer, which I still think it is.

If I recall correctly, OP mentioned she had kids. I have kids, and I'd much prefer they go to Upper Dublin High School, rather than North Penn High School, mostly due to the size of North Penn.

Sorry. I did not mean it that way.
I was quoting you as a way to continue the conversation. Sometimes it is easier for the readers to follow that way.
I do not think Lansdale is a wasteland at all because as I mentioned I always hopped down in Lansdale station to eat and work out after work. And I mentioned in my previous post that the only negative thing is the proximity to homeless shelter (nothing wrong with that except the homeless there seem to be drug addicts), methadone clinics and bad area of Norristown.

[asiandudeyo]

Originally Posted by VelouriaPDX

This is really helpful information, thank you. You just can't get this sort of detail from the chamber of commerce page!

That's true!
Well, I wish you the best!

[MikeNigh]

Where did you move from and why?
- Western PA / Orlando / India - for work

What do you prefer about the Philadelphia area?
Ruling out San Francisco because it's insanely over priced, Philly is uncontested for urban living let alone affordable urban living outside of NYC. The cultural amenities and things to do in the region make other cities look like villages. Philly has whole other major cities that are day trippable. It is a center point of america's mega region. Also the food is awesome.

What do you miss from your former home?
Western PA - Nothing
Orlando - Perpetual summer
India - Being not in the USA

[eastwestcoast]

Originally Posted by VelouriaPDX

Where did you move from and why?

Moved from Northern California for my wife's graduate school program in Philadelphia.

Originally Posted by VelouriaPDX

What do you prefer about the Philadelphia area?

There are lots of things to love about the area! A lot have been touched on already, but here are some of our favorite things:

- Great urban environment with amazing accessibility, both physically (very walkable and easy to get into and out of Center City) and economically (it's affordable)
- History and old stuff everywhere, something you don't get as much of on the west coast
- Good food scene that does not break the bank
- Close to other major attractions and cities with multiple options for travel (rail, plane, car, bus)
- An airport with plenty of nonstop flights across the country
- Lots of nice towns around the suburbs, including many with historic downtowns, access to rail, and less sprawl of generic cookie-cutter homes than you get out west
- Being in a region that is starting to transform for the better is exciting
- Once again, affordability. We have a house in one of the best school districts in the state and still pay a fraction of what we would have back in California, or in NYC or DC.

Originally Posted by VelouriaPDX

What do you miss from your former home?

- Family and friends are of course the number one thing you miss when you move, but that has little to do with the area.
- Natural scenery. Varied terrain and geography to be specific. The Mid-Atlantic has plenty of nice nature, but it is all kind of similar combinations of hills and deciduous forest. And not seeing any mountains on the horizon is still slightly unsettling to me, but I doubt that bothers most people.
- Dry summers (I actually don't think the winters are all the bad, snow is kind of fun).
- Some food, especially Mexican and Chinese, as well as cheap fresh produce is harder to find out here.
- There is still a lot of poverty and fewer good/high-paying jobs than in many other metro areas, but that seems to be slowly improving.
- Intangible cultural idiosyncrasies. I do miss the more relaxed and friendly attitudes that seem more prevalent out west. Plenty of people appreciate the blunt honesty of Philadelphians over fake politeness, but it still takes getting used to. Drivers especially seem much angrier here than anywhere else I have lived for whatever reason.

Overall my wife and I really like living out here. We might not stay forever, but that is just as much because of the distance to family as the area itself. Philadelphia can hold its own with just about any other city in America and has a lot to offer at a fraction of the price of many other comparable locations.

[NY to Chicago]

Originally Posted by asiandudeyo

1. I moved from Miami to be closer to my boyfriend who at that time worked in Manhattan. Now we both live in Philadelphia. Of course before moving here, I secured a job first (in the burb actually).

2. I live and prefer Center City. Now bear in mind, I do not have kids. I have no clue how the school system works in Philadelphia. So I can only give you opinions of other things than school.

Thanks for the response....You say you prefer Center City... I'm thinking about moving to Philly and would you recommend Center City (more than the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs) for a Single person with no kids?? I like being in an urban environment, so I've been honing in on Center City and the Fairmount area immediately north of Center City....

I'm relocating from Queens NY so even the most expensive parts of Philly will likely be cheaper..

[eastwestcoast]

Originally Posted by NY to Chicago

Thanks for the response....You say you prefer Center City... I'm thinking about moving to Philly and would you recommend Center City (more than the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs) for a Single person with no kids?? I like being in an urban environment, so I've been honing in on Center City and the Fairmount area immediately north of Center City....

I'm relocating from Queens NY so even the most expensive parts of Philly will likely be cheaper..

Center City is a great option if you like urban living and are single (or if you're not single for that matter). Fairmount is great too. Single urbanites also tend to congregate in Grad Hospital, University City, and Northern Liberties, but they are slightly further out.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by NY to Chicago

Thanks for the response....You say you prefer Center City... I'm thinking about moving to Philly and would you recommend Center City (more than the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs) for a Single person with no kids?? I like being in an urban environment, so I've been honing in on Center City and the Fairmount area immediately north of Center City....

I'm relocating from Queens NY so even the most expensive parts of Philly will likely be cheaper..

Immediately east of Fairmount is Spring Garden and immediately north of Spring Garden is Francisville. You might check those out as well.

Center City is a collection of neighborhoods: Rittenhouse, Washington Sq West(which includes the Gayborhood/Midtown Village/Jeff-land), Fitler and Logan Squares, Society Hill, and Old City.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Immediately east of Fairmount is Spring Garden and immediately north of Spring Garden is Francisville. You might check those out as well.

Center City is a collection of neighborhoods: Rittenhouse, Washington Sq West(which includes the Gayborhood/Midtown Village/Jeff-land), Fitler and Logan Squares, Society Hill, and Old City.

Oh, yes, I forgot; I'm single too.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by NY to Chicago

Thanks for the response....You say you prefer Center City... I'm thinking about moving to Philly and would you recommend Center City (more than the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs) for a Single person with no kids?? I like being in an urban environment, so I've been honing in on Center City and the Fairmount area immediately north of Center City....

I'm relocating from Queens NY so even the most expensive parts of Philly will likely be cheaper..

FWIW (which I know ain't much), if I were a single person without kids, I would absolutely, without question, live in Center City. Most especially if I liked urban environments and were moving from NYC, as it will definitely be cheaper.

I don't know how old you are, but a relative who is in his early 30s recently moved to CC (Fitler Square) and he is absolutely loving it. He moved from Manhattan (I was dismayed -- how could he leave Manhattan???) but CC is great for him (he's also from the Philly area -- grew up in the burbs and lived in the vicinity for basically his whole life except for the few years he was living and working in NYC). And on the other hand, I know of a couple older couples/empty nesters who moved from the burbs into CC and are really liking that, too.