Moving to West Philadelphia / University City (Chester, Penn: apartments, crime, co-op)

[Tc7]

Hey everyone. I’m new to the forum but did some research and found some information on the western borders of University City, but not much up to date info on the specific area I’m interested. I begin grad school at USciences in May and have visisted the area a few times, searching for apartments in walking distance. So far the best option I have found is located on South 48th and Chester. The area seemed pretty quiet and nice to me and I actually preferred this area more than 42 and Chester where I checked out other housing options. However, I have seen some warnings about living in the areas approaching the high 40s and 50s streets. Coming from undergrad in Baltimore I am familiar with typical city crime and being smart, but was hoping to gain some insight on this area ( I believe Squirrel Hill)? Thanks.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Tc7

Hey everyone. I’m new to the forum but did some research and found some information on the western borders of University City, but not much up to date info on the specific area I’m interested. I begin grad school at USciences in May and have visisted the area a few times, searching for apartments in walking distance. So far the best option I have found is located on South 48th and Chester. The area seemed pretty quiet and nice to me and I actually preferred this area more than 42 and Chester where I checked out other housing options. However, I have seen some warnings about living in the areas approaching the high 40s and 50s streets. Coming from undergrad in Baltimore I am familiar with typical city crime and being smart, but was hoping to gain some insight on this area ( I believe Squirrel Hill)? Thanks.

48th and Chester is the Cedar Park neighborhood, I think.

What warnings? From whom? It's fine there and it has some of the most impressive Victorian architecture in the city, imo.

One of my ex's lived on S. 48th, between Cedar and Baltimore Ave., during the 80s when there was still blight in the 4800 block of Baltimore Ave. She never had a problem living there.

Next, she moved to 49th, between Baltimore and Warrington Aves, later in the 80s. No problems there either.

Today it's better than back then.

Also Woodland, Chester and Baltimore Aves(which is Rt 13 and does go to Baltimore), has trolley access to Center City.

[MarketStEl]

Cedar Park lies above Baltimore Avenue.

I thought Squirrel Hill was closer to Woodland Avenue.

The area around 49th Street Regional Rail station lies between these. But it might be Squirrel Hill.

Whoever warned you away from it hasn't been there in some time.

North of Baltimore, 52d Street is now the point past which "people don't go" (hah!), but that should change soon.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Cedar Park lies above Baltimore Avenue.

I thought Squirrel Hill was closer to Woodland Avenue.

The area around 49th Street Regional Rail station lies between these. But it might be Squirrel Hill.

Whoever warned you away from it hasn't been there in some time.

North of Baltimore, 52d Street is now the point past which "people don't go" (hah!), but that should change soon.

There is a house going for nearly 700, 000 at 46th and Cedar.

Here's another anecdote. Non-black people have been using the 46th St El stop for about a decade. And I'm starting to see them at 52nd too.

[Phillyfinest]

Originally Posted by kyb01

There is a house going for nearly 700, 000 at 46th and Cedar.

Here's another anecdote. Non-black people have been using the 46th St El stop for about a decade. And I'm starting to see them at 52nd too.

They can't come around there at night though

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Phillyfinest

They can't come around there at night though

Right. Like you actually know what I was talking about first hand.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Phillyfinest

They can't come around there at night though

Shhhh! Don't let the director of the Penn Glee Club (who lives across 51st Street from Malcolm X Park) know that.

[chessimprov]

About 1.5 years ago, an acquaintance of mine got mugged in the vicinity. I don't know exactly where though. All I know is that it was around the vicinity of 49th and Baltimore. I'm not sure where he lived, but I think I saw his boyfriend walk north of that intersection one time. North of that seems fine, and south seems sketchier. I have encountered a few bums outside Mariposa co-op before, and seeing the Redcaps between 48th and 49th on Baltimore shut down was not a good sign either. The area around there and south "look" kind of gritty to me, but maybe I have bad eyes?

However, there is a Little Babys just past 49th and Baltimore and Dock Street Brewery at 50th for awhile now too.

[eliza61nyc]

OP, to give you a bit of an antedote.

I live in fairmont, which is supposedly one of the "safest" areas of the city. Well unfortunately one evening last September some animals tried to rob and carjack a guy in front of his house. the only thing he asked was to let him get his kid out the back. they shot and killed the guy. it was so sad.

Now I say that to say, Philadelphia is an accessible city. meaning you could live in the "safest" part of the city and knuckleheads from the "worst" part of the city could walk down the street.

I like the area you are considering, my dog sitter lives near there and she is a student at Penn Vet school but as always check out the area during the day and night.

I attended the Restaurant school at Walnut hill college at 42 and Walnut. I felt safe but would I stroll around the neighborhood at midnight? no

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by eliza61nyc

OP, to give you a bit of an antedote.

I live in fairmont, which is supposedly one of the "safest" areas of the city. Well unfortunately one evening last September some animals tried to rob and carjack a guy in front of his house. the only thing he asked was to let him get his kid out the back. they shot and killed the guy. it was so sad.

Now I say that to say, Philadelphia is an accessible city. meaning you could live in the "safest" part of the city and knuckleheads from the "worst" part of the city could walk down the street.

I like the area you are considering, my dog sitter lives near there and she is a student at Penn Vet school but as always check out the area during the day and night.

I attended the Restaurant school at Walnut hill college at 42 and Walnut. I felt safe but would I stroll around the neighborhood at midnight? no

Nitpicking. That heinous crime didn't happen in Fairmount. It happened near the eastern edge of Spring Garden, near Broad St, in lower Francisville. And as you know Francisville is experiencing huge amounts of gentrification. But, God, it was horrible no matter what.

The area the OP is considering has had fits and starts of being great for a very long time going back to at least the 80s. One reason is the houses around there are wonderful examples of the very best of what we have in Philadelphia wrt Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

Right now I would say it's the best it's ever been. As far as safety goes given that I spent years being in and around most of UC, including its western areas, I have never felt unsafe.