SBF Relocating to Philly - where to live? (Philadelphia, Clark: renting, neighborhoods)

[toodamngood]

I will be working in university city and want to live in a neighborhood that I can get to univ. city by public transportation. Diversity is also important as I don't want to be the only Black person in the neighborhood. I will be renting not owning and not concerned about proximity to bars, but it would be a perk to have restaurants near by. Overall I'm interested to know where the Black professionals of Philly live and if any of those areas are close to university city.

[bryson662001]

Any of the neighborhoods in Center City and University City are very integrated and color blind. I believe the population in the city is about 45% AA so you should feel comfortable pretty much everywhere close to U City.The only areas that might not welcome you are in the far Northeast and certain areas of South Philly.

[From Philly]

I Beg to differ. I come from the Tacony/Mayfair area (not far NE, grant it) and there are tons of black people there and they do not "stand out." Nor are they unwelcomed.

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Any of the neighborhoods in Center City and University City are very integrated and color blind. I believe the population in the city is about 45% AA so you should feel comfortable pretty much everywhere close to U City.The only areas that might not welcome you are in the far Northeast and certain areas of South Philly.

[From Philly]

I don't think anyone has a problem with others unless and until they become one of these deadbeat homeowners/renters who let their places go and in turn ruins the rest of the neighborhood with their trash and bad attitude. And, that kind of person can be black, white, chinese, etc.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by From Philly

I Beg to differ. I come from the Tacony/Mayfair area (not far NE, grant it) and there are tons of black people there and they do not "stand out." Nor are they unwelcomed.

That's probably why I said far northeast, (which Tacony/Mayfair is not) and not just the northeast. Being as how I am a typical friendly and polite Philadelphian I will let it go at that.

[From Philly]

And that's why I said "grant it Tacony/Mayfair isn't the Far NE." But, I was pretty much letting him know that those areas may be something he'd want to consider.

Originally Posted by bryson662001

That's probably why I said far northeast, (which Tacony/Mayfair is not) and not just the northeast. Being as how I am a typical friendly and polite Philadelphian I will let it go at that.

[passdoubt]

Lots of black professionals live in University City and the rest of West Philly itself. It's a somewhat integrated area. Check out the Baltimore Avenue corridor between Cedar Park and Clark Park.

But yeah, as people have noted, Philly has a large black population and a rich African American history. It's not unusual to see black people in most parts of the city. When I lived in West Philly, my block was a fairly even mix of black, white, and Asian people.

[dorado0359]

Overbrook Park and communities along City Line Avenue. The 44 Bus makes stops in front of WPVI, WCAU, Saint Josephs University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Hospital...will have you downtown at University City In front of 30th Street train station in 10-15 minutes. Also, plenty of shopping and restaurants all along City Line Ave. Many black professionals, politicians and middle income blacks in the area.

[toodamngood]

Thank you all for helping me to narrow down the field. I think that the area west of university city seems to be more of what I'm looking for than center city. (which according to the 2000 census has a very small Black/non-White population at less than 10%).

Does anyone have any thoughts about the areas north of the city center? In other postings people have mentioned areas like Fairmount, N. Liberties and Art Museum. Are these areas diverse, safe, easy to get to Univ. City from?

[newmarlig]

You could easily get to UC from West Mt. Airy. You may want to consider looking there.


Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

West Mt. Airy Neighbors