A safer area would be from Front to 4th street, from Oregon to about Reed.

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History of the Jews of South Philly~~ http://www.nmajh.org/exhibitions/stillhome/

That's a broad and stupid statement. Think before you post, please.

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"Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness."

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)

I have spent alot of time in that area looking at property recently.....It is pretty rough turf. One of the tenants was complaining to me how bad it is. It seems that South of Snyder is much nicer and the values reflect that. I would stay closer to Broad. It is a hard area to speculate also. The way I see it, in 10 years, all of South Philly will be a middle-class mix of cultures as the city's downtown gentrifies. One can say that G-Ho will push South, the development East of Broad will push West, and Girard Estates will maintain what it is as long as the entire 'hood doesn't move to Washington Township and there you have it...that simple.....heck if you like the house buy it. If you can find a cheaper 2 bedroom at 2nd and Snyder instead of 19th, buy that.

Yeah....there's clean cocaine too....you just have to know the right guys!

I was exaggerating my good man. Anybody whos ever actually been west of broad knows that's not true...for the most part.

West of Broad is bad until around Passyunk Ave. Most everything below the ave is fine. On the east side, everything's good except between 4th ~ 8th or 9th St (even south of Tasker). FWIW, I find the areas south of Reed to be the nicest. I don't think "Passyunk Square" is that much of a bargain anymore. Not so nice houses are going for like 175k and up nowadays. The neighborhoods are just as nice - if not nicer - south of "Passyunk Sq" and the prices are much better.

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"When you operate in an overbuilt metropolis, you have to hack your way with a meat ax."

go further south below snyder Ave.

While there are some sketchy areas north of Snyder, it's coming around- and quickly. I would definitely buy a place between Broad and 17th or 18th and as far north as Morris. I know a lot of 20-somethings who are scooping up property in that area, as it's the only affordable and somewhat safe neighborhood left in the city. Once you're west of 18th and north of McKean it can be a bit unsafe, but I say go for it. I'd bet it will be completely different in 18 months. (And unaffordable.) The neighborhood is being deemed New Bold and has a CDC group working hard to clean it up. Not to mention the South Philadelphia Tap Room is one of my favorite bars- great beer selection, good food, and cheap. It's at 15th and Mifflin. Nothing like having a great local.

I walked from South to 19th to Christian to 23rd and north again, and I saw only one drug dealer on one corner that has not had any drug activity for years. I think they just got out of prison and didn't know that no one is going to let them sell drugs there.

I called 911 on my cell, gave head to toe descriptions, and I'll do a roll call complaint.

Our area west of Broad, walking distance to Naval Square, is very drug free. It's never looked better.

Of course, people have not been sweeping, and it would be better if more people turned on their porch lights and left them on. But it differs from street to street, block to block. I live on a very tidy block, but I confess we don't have the porch light folk like you do on Kater, Bainbridge, and Fitzwater, west of Broad.

I think those are good thumbnail indicators of what it sounds like you are looking for. Neighbors who get it in an area that has not maxed out its value and you have to pay through the nose.

Passyunk Ave. has been the dividing line for years now when talking about good areas to live in South Philly west of Broad. We bought on 15th just south of Passyunk, we really like the area and are amazed at all the growth and positive transformations taking place in the past year alone.

However, I have met quite a few young people (20's and early 30's) who are buying houses on the north side of Passyunk, in the area around the Tap Room (1509 Mifflin). These people have done alot to make this area better and create a community. That said, if you go blocks over to the north or west you are in a pretty bad neighborhood for awhile.

Many people are buying west of Broad in South Philly because most other parts of the city, or even South Philly, are too expensive anymore for alot of people. You can get a great house in many parts of this area for alot less then what you would pay now in Passyunk Square or Pennsport. Plus, the BSL takes you to Center City in minutes, and there are many wonderful people, shops, and green spaces in this part of South Philly too. I believe that just like many other areas before it (Bella Vista, Graduate Hospital, Northern Liberties, University City, Queen Village, Passyunk Square...) this area will only continue to improve because of neighborhood pride, affordability, and overall city gentrification.