Hi all: my wife and I are hoping to buy a place in the area of Manayunk Ave. & Lyceum. Anything we should know about? I see Mason's Grocery is nearby, not to mention Big Daddy's, both big advantages as far as I am concerned.

Any other big plusses or minuses?

Any opinions about relative ease of parking?

Also, does anyone know what the "Center for the Empowerment of Women is?"

All opinions welcome!

So that's where you ended up. You made a good choice. The rich people in the area built some gorgeous homes above Manayunk in Roxborough, especially on Lyceum Avenue and Green Lane - I wish that that pattern would have been continued; I am not a fan of the post-Depression blight over most of Upper Roxborough. The Guggenheims got their start after leaving Bavaria on Green Lane - the father supposedly had a grocery locally (obviously before a coulpe of the sons went to NYC and became extremely wealthy). There was a Lyceum about where Bob's Diner is now - hence the name of the street. Bob's is a national treasure - definitely go there. There used to be a trolley along Lyceum; that is why it is so wide. East River Bank is a great, locally-owned bank. Everyone here raves about Lenny's hoagies; I admit I haven't tried one, but they are on my list. Gorgas Park is a nice community spot, with a great friends group which sponsors many wholesome and fun events. (It was called Pill Hill when I was a kid; how things do change). My great-great grandparents are buried in Leverington Cemetery. Make sure you walk down to the trailhead into the Wissahickon on Jeanette Street - there are stables there, too (via Martin Street, next to the Baptist Church).

That's a great area! Lyceum and Green are my "dream streets" to live on if I could afford to buy one of those huge old houses. I think Lyceum may be a street where you have to move your car in a "snow emergency" but that's only a minor hassle. Great access to bus routes, convenient to both Ridge and to the Manayunk area. I say go for it!

Yes, Lyceum and Green Lane have some beautiful older homes. I wouldn't mind living in one. I especially like the ones on the corner of Green Lane & Pechin.

I lived on the corner of Green Lane and Wilde for about 7 years - I loved this area. Parking on Green Lane was always a challenge but to this day I can get my car into almost any parallel parking space there is!!!

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Eracism

I live right around the corner from where you're looking to buy, and I love it. I can't think of any reasons why I wouldn't recommend the area to others.

The Center for the Empowerment of Women rents an apartment in that building and have only been there a year or so. I am only there when I take the bus in the morning or am coming home from work, so I don't know how active (if at all) they are during the day. They were passing out anti-domestic violence fliers at the bike race, but that's the first time I've seen anything from them in a year.

Thanks everyone for your informative and reassuring responses. We bought the place, so I look forward to seeing you all around the blog in the future!

Welcome to the neighborhood