Potentially Moving to Philadelphia - Young Single Male - Neighborhoods? (York: apartments, city hall)

[thomasmgill]

Hey all,

I might be moving to Philadelphia in the next few months from New York.

Thinking about neighborhoods for a 25 year old single male.

I'm not particularly restricted by rent cost. Thinking 2-2.5k but obviously cheaper is better.

(I am paying about $4,000 here in The Village in New York - I won't be able to afford that with costs of owning a car and my income is going way down too)

The other things that are somewhat important to me are - safe neighborhood, walkable streets, ideally medium to low rises (not skyscrapers), and anything that feels like the Village (although that's pretty unique I figured I'd try!)

Also I'd be working from home so commuting is not an issue.

Also proximity to parks would be cool, as would nice restaurants and generally businesses that are open late (would hate to drive/walk far to find food open late).

I don't care much about the typical "young hip bar" culture (I don't drink), but definitely having activities going on would be great.

Curious if you have recommendations on neighborhoods?

I've dug around some and found that almost none of Philadelphia is skyscrapers except right around City Hall, and virtually anything near center city is pretty safe.

Thinking Center City West near the river? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!!

[BK_PHL_DEL]

University City (although might be too college-ey), anywhere near the East Passyunk ave corridor with its awesome restaurants (think St. Marks), Fairmount for the same reason, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and Fitler Square which would probably feel the most like the village (East? Greenwich?).

[2e1m5a]

Yeah-Fitler Square seems like a good fit.

[thedirtypirate]

I love living in Center City West. I personally think the sweet spot is everything West of Rittenhouse park so like 19th to the river and between Locust and Lombard streets. I personally think it's one of the nicest slices of city in the country. Got your Mexican/BBQ/Pizza/Indian/Coffee shops/etc. on South street. You are close enough to walk into the Central Business District. Fitler and Rittenhouse are two very nice parks. The Schuylkill River park is great and has a neat community garden along with basketball and tennis courts you can use. Also good access to the rest of the trail.

The other side of Center City near Old City and Society Hill can have some village ish vibes too with a lot of small boutiques and businesses mixed into the old architecture.

[Pilot1]

Manayunk?

Urban Experience, Small Town Charm - MNYK - Manayunk

[thomasmgill]

Cool - I appreciate the suggestions so far!

I am currently living in West Village right now, so besides being low rise/not that crowded/neighborhood feel (love), is also ultra high end (not super important)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by thomasmgill

Hey all,

I might be moving to Philadelphia in the next few months from New York.

Thinking about neighborhoods for a 25 year old single male.

I'm not particularly restricted by rent cost. Thinking 2-2.5k but obviously cheaper is better.

(I am paying about $4,000 here in The Village in New York - I won't be able to afford that with costs of owning a car and my income is going way down too)

The other things that are somewhat important to me are - safe neighborhood, walkable streets, ideally medium to low rises (not skyscrapers), and anything that feels like the Village (although that's pretty unique I figured I'd try!)

Also I'd be working from home so commuting is not an issue.

Also proximity to parks would be cool, as would nice restaurants and generally businesses that are open late (would hate to drive/walk far to find food open late).

I don't care much about the typical "young hip bar" culture (I don't drink), but definitely having activities going on would be great.

Curious if you have recommendations on neighborhoods?

I've dug around some and found that almost none of Philadelphia is skyscrapers except right around City Hall, and virtually anything near center city is pretty safe.

Thinking Center City West near the river? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!!

With your budget you can manage several neighborhoods. Check out the Curbed Philly site. There's a newish link for rental possibilities for around $1700.

[roma258]

Queen Village, Wash Square West, Northern Liberties, Fitler Square....maaaaybe Fishtown if you want a more hipsterish vibe. Should be enough to get you started.

[2002 Subaru]

I second Olde City (especially north of Market) or Society Hill.

[MarketStEl]

Old City - no "e" on the end of the first word, please.

I'm surprised no one until roma258 recommended Washington Square West. I'd say that of all the Center City residential neighborhoods, it's the closest to the West Village in character, right down to being the epicenter of the city's gay community. (I lived on Wash West's southern edge for about 17 years and smack in the middle of the Gayborhood from 2000 to 2011.)

Old City probably runs neck-and-neck with Wash West for that honor. It's more thoroughgoingly mixed - very few Old City blocks are strictly residential - but it lacks the gay element. (It has more art galleries and boutiques, though.)

Society Hill is just about the antithesis of the West Village - save for a small block of shops on South Fifth Street and Head House Square at its southeast corner, it's strictly residential. The West Village mixes uses, like most good city neighborhoods do, with residential blocks intermixed with blocks where apartments are found over stores and restaurants. Contrast Spruce Street east of Pennsylvania Hospital with the same street west of it.