Talk to me about neighborhoods... (Philadelphia, Washington: affordable apartment, city hall, rent)

[this_wallflower]

I'm a single girl looking to move with a friend into the city. I currently live in the suburbs (far suburbs...) and the commute is killing me (as is living with my parents ). She lives closer to the city, but we're looking for a 2 bedroom apartment that's quite affordable.

While I work in Philly, I'm going to be honest and say I don't know a thing about what neighborhoods are safe, which neighborhoods aren't, etc. Not just during the daytime--I want to be able to get off a bus and walk home at night or take the dog out (okay, I don't have a dog, but it's a possibility).

Suggested neighborhoods?

We're looking at a place tomorrow around 12th and Spring Garden. Safe? Not safe?

Help a poor naive country girl out in her epic search for an affordable apartment in a reasonably safe area.

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by this_wallflower

While I work in Philly, I'm going to be honest and say I don't know a thing about what neighborhoods are safe, which neighborhoods aren't, etc. Not just during the daytime--I want to be able to get off a bus and walk home at night or take the dog out (okay, I don't have a dog, but it's a possibility).

Where do you work in Philly? (What area...no need to mention specific company.) This info will be helpful in recommending neighborhoods.

[procrastin8r]

I tried posting an answer before, but it didn't take. My apologies if I inadvertently post this twice.

Manayunk and Roxborough are the safest neighborhoods within the City of Philadelphia. They're not very close to Center City, but if safety is your top priority, then I would look there first.

12th & Spring Garden is not terrible, and it's pretty convenient to Center City, but if I were a young female, I would not want to be walking around there at night.

[bryson662001]

What irony. Practicly everywhere in Center City is safe to live except the area close to East Market st between Old city and City Hall......or 12th and Spring Garden.
www.4wallsinphilly.com may be of help.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

What irony. Practicly everywhere in Center City is safe to live except the area close to East Market st between Old city and City Hall......or 12th and Spring Garden.
www.4wallsinphilly.com may be of help.

I disagree. Spring Garden is on the other side of Vine St. Expressway. The VineStExp is a buffer from Market East. I am not familiar with that exact block but Spring Garden from Broad to the Art Museum is definitely safe.


I think all of CC is safe. The only trouble spot is the bums and hoodrats around the Gallery/Market East. I think they are more of a nuisance than dangerous.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by this_wallflower

I'm a single girl looking to move with a friend into the city. I currently live in the suburbs (far suburbs...) and the commute is killing me (as is living with my parents ). She lives closer to the city, but we're looking for a 2 bedroom apartment that's quite affordable.

While I work in Philly, I'm going to be honest and say I don't know a thing about what neighborhoods are safe, which neighborhoods aren't, etc. Not just during the daytime--I want to be able to get off a bus and walk home at night or take the dog out (okay, I don't have a dog, but it's a possibility).

Suggested neighborhoods?

We're looking at a place tomorrow around 12th and Spring Garden. Safe? Not safe?

Help a poor naive country girl out in her epic search for an affordable apartment in a reasonably safe area.

Good neighborhoods. Art Museum, Spring Garden Fairmont, Fitler Sq, Rittenhouse, Washington Sq, Old City, East Falls.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by thekish

I disagree. Spring Garden is on the other side of Vine St. Expressway. The VineStExp is a buffer from Market East. I am not familiar with that exact block but Spring Garden from Broad to the Art Museum is definitely safe.

12th and Spring Garden is not part of "Broad to the Art Museum" It is east of Broad in a no man's land of old warehouses and empty buildings and anyone walking there after dark is a sitting duck for the predators who come down from the blocks to the north.

Originally Posted by thekish

I think all of CC is safe. The only trouble spot is the bums and hoodrats around the Gallery/Market East. I think they are more of a nuisance than dangerous.

Yea that would be East Market between Old City and City Hall

[john_starks]

^^ yeah, i wouldn't call 12th & spring garden is the greatest location in the world lol

[sj08054]

walking around 12th and spring garden at night is not a good idea. The bryson662001 is right on about all the empty buildings around the area. They tried to fix that area years ago when they thought the stadium was going around there. I don't consider that to be a good neighborhood from somone coming from the surburb.

[pman]

Originally Posted by thekish

I think all of CC is safe. The only trouble spot is the bums and hoodrats around the Gallery/Market East. I think they are more of a nuisance than dangerous.

bingo. saying market east is unsafe is based more on perception than fact and when the people leave at night, so do the bums (this is when you learn the difference between homeless and bum) and hoodrats (and honestly, they aren't that bad during the day either).
12th and Spring Garden will be a culture shock to say the least. that said, it's come a long way in the last couple of years with the conversion of a problem bar into the institute and a drug corner into Prohibition Taproom. It's not horribly unsafe, I have a friend living there, and he sees single woman out jogging. the projects to the north used to be notorious but they were rebuilt in a weird suburban format but at a much lower density so crime has declined considerably. the area has been filling up with chinatown businesses/residents and people looking for cheap rent near center city (in other words, people just like you). while not the most desirable area, it's not too bad and worth a look. I have a buddy that lives there just for that reason.