I went in for an application (1919 Chestnut St).

The lobby area felt like a hospital. Big, Sparse, Cold, Worn Out.

Avg Age Going In/Out Of Bldg: 80???

WPH Cultural Events Schedule:

Macular Degeneration Workshop

Medicare Updates

Yes. These were actual events.

Price and Location Is Great! I can understand the wait list.

The Lobby is only 4 years old but the president of the board who oversaw the redecoration was a fashion victim and accepted everything the architect gave her. Nothing is worn out. it looked like that since the day it was completed. Most residents agree it is pretty ugly and the president was voted out of office. It is due for a makeover this winter. They are promising to make it more "warm and inviting" with new colors and furniture and lights and floorcovering. It is true we have a lot of seniors who are visable during the day. The younger residents are only around nights and weekends because they are out working during the day.

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Can’t we all just get a lawn?

Well, gee, you might as well get used to anything related to older
people because the older wave is REALLY coming: we Baby Boomers.

Actually about 50 % of us living here are boomers...as am I. Some people inherited apartments from their parents. The balance is either seniors or younger working people. Some of the efficiencys are owned by grad students but 20 somthings are pretty scarce. I guess a lot of that group can't afford to buy their own place yet. This is certainly not the "final solution". Most seniors eventually move on to Sterling Glen or The fountains.

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Can’t we all just get a lawn?

just curious, in a co-op are you allowed to make improvements to the unit like new flooring, or is included in your maintenance fee?

All apartments are sold as-is except they give you new appliances-Refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, disposal, washer and dryer. (unless they are already almost new) The building maintains all of these.
You can do pretty much anything if you get permission. Some people have taken the money they saved by moving here and completely gutted their apartments and started over. A lot of people have installed new kitchens, marble bathrooms and a lot are putting down hardwood or ceramic floors. Of course you don't get credit for what you spend...it doesn't increase the value of the unit any. When a unit is offered the ones that have been up-graded are more popular and go to people higher up on the waiting list. When I moved in I painted, bought new carpet and new kitchen countertops and that is all because I still hope to upgrade to a larger unit on a higher floor.

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Can’t we all just get a lawn?

First of all,
I am completely new to this forum and wanted to personally thank all those folks involved for such a great resource. I have lived in Center City 12 yrs and was on the "William Penn Wait list for 8 yrs until an aprtment that I liked came up".
In my humble opinion, they are all in need of makeovers. I always went in to a viewing (apartment that is....not residents) with the idea that I would be doing a total restoration. I bought my unit in May 2003 and recently finished the project.
It is an incredibly difficult building to rennovate as the board and administrative office staff are very hands on and all plans needed to be submitted in writing. I had to hire two separate architects during this arduous process. The plumbing lines make no sense as only one side of the kitchen has a water line. The electrical circuits are completely antiquated as my electrical team spent close to 150 man hrs just on the rewiring of the unit. Standard Appliances don't fit in the spaces that were dedicated for them. You can't be to creative in breaking walls as they have giant electrical chases embedded in them. The tubs need a special permit to be removed because of city codes. The closets are metal and floor to cieling so for standard doors you need the to be built down. I was fortunate to have been able to do this project while living off ritt. square in a rental. The process was aggravating, costly, and stressful on a daily basis.
I was thrilled with the outcome and could not beat the actual purchase cost of the unit which has recently doubled (June 2005). Monthly Fees which include cable (two High def TV/DVR boxes) and High speed Internet, taxes, electric are only
$ 878/ month (1176 sq feet). Parking is a great value at only $70/per car.
The Lobby is due for a rennovation and I see younger people in the lobby early AM and later PM (when people work). I see babies and young couples in the building. I truly believe with the increase in Apartment values, they will allow older residents to cash out toward retirement communities or warmer areas and recruit younger people like myself who come in with the idea of buying raw space and customizing the living space. I am hopeful that with the revitalization of chestnut street that this building will possibly go on the open market some day as many residents are fighting for this change. If that happens more buyers will want to upgrade the units as the majority are in dire need of this.

I can't imagine describing anything as "only" $878 a month!

The parking rate you quote is cheap for CC, though, based on what I've heard.

I don't know how young people can afford any of the condos around here. When you say "young" do you mean 45 or 25?

Levster99 welcome to Phillyblog. I got on the list at the end of '94 and got a 1 bedroom within 6 months...then a 2 bedroom 1 year later. Demand was much lower in those days. I was also on the Kennedy House list but WPH called me 1st. In the past 2 or 3 years I am starting to get invited to see some really beautiful units but the crowd that comes out for those can be huge. People just seem to know when the unit has been redone even though the letter offers no clue. The few units I really like there always seems to be someone above me on the list who takes it. With the increased fees and prices I think I may never move again. Are you north or south, high or low, balcony? I am on the south side with a balcony about half way up but I would rather be north since that winter sun is a killer, blinding and too much solar heating. Still I love it here and feel very lucky to be among the chosen. I was through all the condos with Alan Domb and the only ones that were a little better then us were The Rittenhouse, Independence Place and maybe Wanamaker House. And Our pool is the best in the city IMO.

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Can’t we all just get a lawn?

Blue Roses-
Keep in mind most Condos or Coops have carrying charges that are exclusive of anything but maintenence fees and even utiliites.
William Penn House Bundles these Fees together (Taxes, Electric, Cable, Maintenance, Parking (a sep add on). Taxes are about a third of the monthly bill. $878 is very cheap compared to most CC units. Parking is dirt cheap and since my last posting has increased to $80/month per car.
In terms of Young, I see more 25-35's occupying units they inherited. I see more couples in their late 30's and early forties and yes I know of at least two babies in the building with another on the way. I believe there are a few limiting factors in keeping this building off the radar. You need to come up with a large amount of cash to buy a unit (I heard something about being able to mortgage 30 percent of the value recently) and the wait list is something like 800 people long. As Bryson correctly stated, you can presently upgrade your unit but you will receive no credit upon sale of the unit. So, you are spending alot of bucks on upgrades and necessary changes as the building will not do these upgrades for you. Now, this would change if they can pass a reforendum similar to Rittenhouse Plaza where the "Actual Market Values" could be tested.
When you pull up a medin Comp on a 2 BR/2BA in "19103" the average price has surged to $787,000. WPH remains a real value.