Hi everyone! After 4 years of living downtown (I work downtown as well), I am thinking about moving to the Art Museum area. I was thinking about living at the Parkway House. Have any of you all ever lived or are currently living there? Any opinions?

I don't have a car, so is it pretty easy to maneuver the area without one? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm moving just northeast of that area myself in a bit; I have been parking in front of the parkway house area for months now. From there it's, what, a 15-20 min walk to City Hall. There are plenty of buses in that area, and the daily transportation usually isn't a problem.

About a year ago I was about to rent there, when I read some of the online reviews. I'm ashamed to say that it probabily did scare me away, and I lived at home for another year to save up some money to buy instead.

All in all, I honestly think that location just can not be beat. I love everything about where it is - as long as your room isn't above the trash exit for the house. (There is obviously some noise associated with it's proximity.)

Grocery stores and such are the area's weakness, I think - there is a WholeFoods nearby, if you like that, but I hear that they are moving to broad in a few months.

Specifically with the parkway house, I have visited many times and never had an occasion where all the elevators were broken (a common complaint), and the rooms do offer a pretty good deal when compared to Walnut st. etc. You can check the link I gave earlier for more of the common gripes, but I caution you in giving too much credance to them. My biggest concerns was AC/heater functionality and maybe the elevator - if I were to feel confortable with these being functional, I would have no problem with moving in there.
They also have some kickin views there, of course. They have a common area deck with a view that will knock your socks off.

I've seen some older discussions about the Parkway house on the boards, but nothing recent. We're thinking of taking an apartment there, short term (a year or two) while waiting to buy. I've read some mixed reviews of the place online - does anyone have an recent good or bad experiences to share?

I lived there 10 years ago. I liked it. Has a diner below, which is very nice. I had one with a terrace, amazing views of the city! Good or bad, you are right there for any concerts, events on the parkway.

__________________
Chris
www.thestockgroup.net
Environmentally Friendly, Before it was Trendy!

As far as transit goes, you've got the 7, 32, and 48 buses on PA Ave. to take you into town, and the 43 on Spring Garden to take you over to Northern Liberties.

Philly CarShare has a number of pods in the area, if you're considering joining:

http://www.phillycarshare.org/search.php

Do yourself a BIG favor!!!!!!- Stay far away from that DUMP!!!!!!!! I lived there for 7 months and it was the worst experience I have had in an apartment complex!!!!!! I broke my lease and moved out to buy my own condo. In the time I lived there, I had 5 leaks, a major mouse problem, heat/ ac issues ( the air -what there is of it goes off mid Sept., and the heat goes on and stays on - I had my windows open up until I moved in Dec. My poor dog suffered with major skin irritations because of the heat. It is owned by Philadephia Management Co. and they could care less... the property manager should be running a trailer park instead of a building... I would not reccommend this building to my worst enemy!!!!!!!

I've heard problems about the regulated air/heat system and how it's always too hot. However, I've had a friends that lived there for a couple years with no complaints.

We looked at a two bedroom there a while ago for $1400. It was huge and the layout was nice but the bathrooms are in dire need of an update. Not a bad price for the square footage, the utilities included, and having a doorman with parking out front on Pennsylvania.

If you get a unit with a terrace facing the parkway it might be worth it because you can't beat the view and the terraces are a nice size.

The Philadelphian at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave rents apartments. The real estate office is in the lobby.
www.2401.com

__________________
Philly Chit Chat
www.PhillyChitChat.com/

My wife and I lived there for 3 years and for the most part had few complaints. I agree with some of the experiences noted in this post(the A/C, Heat, etc) but get an apartment on the upper level floors (no mice and fewer college kids) and you should have a pretty easy year. Philadelphia Management does suck, but they own most of the apartments in Philly.

The nice thing about the PH is the fixed costs; they pay for the standards like heat and hot water and some non-standards such as the recessed lighting electric (you pay for outlets) and the A/C (although as pointed out does not do the best job) so your rent covers and good portion of your living expenses.

In the end, I think it's what living conditions you are used to and where you are in life. When my wife and I moved we had some really bad rental experiences in Philly and we were in our mid to late twenties.

All in all it wasn't bad and we had a great vantage point to see some really good concerts at the museum (including Live-8).

I am looking and wondering if there is anything new with this... $780 for a 1br is great - but......

has anything changed??>?

went to apt rating.com and only one good review - could have been from managemtn.

ANYBODY LIVE THERE NOW???

ever hopeful.

__________________
Beware of KILLER PONIES!!!
see (my opinion) best of PB thread 2007 "center-city-unsafe-hellish"
favorite daily show vid. http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/in...piscolypse-now