Do you consider this area friendly & safe for a young family (my daughter is 8 months old)? Where's the closest supermarket?
Thanks for your answers!

49th & Larchwood is considered the edge. I don't know the specific block well enough to comment, but the recent trend has been that 50th Street more or less forms the boundary between West Philly and University City.

If you are used to urban areas, you'd be fine here. There are several posters here that live near there, so I'd just assume take their advice when they chime in.

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50th St. is actually the official boundary of the University City District so that's as official a boundary as probably exists.

I actually think that is a very nice block and quite friendly and safe though there is some sketchy activity (drug dealing, fights) that spill out of or hang around in the general vicinity of the Third World Lounge at 49th and Baltimore, several blocks south. That said I walk past said sketchy activity on a daily basis and I guess I would describe it as somewhat "self-contained" - i.e. I have never had a problem as a result of it. The 4900 blocks of Hazel, Larchwood, Osage are all very low-key, friendly, residential blocks. I think you are solid at that location.

The nearest grocery store would be the new Supreme Market at 45th and Walnut followed by the Fresh Grocer at 56th and Chestnut. You might also consider joining the Mariposa Coop on teh 4700 block of Baltimore.

Oh and welcome tot the neighborhood. Maybe I'll run into you at the Satelite Cafe at 50th and Baltimore sometime.

you'll be fine at 48th and larchwood. like anywhere in the city you always have to be cautious, but living at 50th and osage, i haven't anything major happen since i first moved in 2 years ago. i had my car broken into twice in the beginning, but i also left alot of stuff in my car. so yeah, bottom, you just need to be wary of your surroundings.

I've got real good friends around the corner on 48th and Larchwood. Drop me a line and I'll put you in touch if you like. They have a three year son and have lived there since before he was born.

Do you know about the Mariposa Food Coop on 48th & Baltimore, as well as the restaurants all around there?

Thank you very much for the great input so far. We have some appointments to see apartments tomorrow, I'll let you know. I've heard of the Mariposa Coop and will check it out.

The new Supreme grocery store, it's at 43rd & Walnut, not 45th. It's currently open 7am-10pm, 7 days/week.

Other than that, I would agree with seand. I actually had the priviledge of hanging out with a couple of the "sketchy" folks you might see at 3rd World on one occasion and they did get in a fight and broke some glass, but I never felt personally threatened. That said, the comment about knowing how to live in an urban area very much applies.

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I live on the 4800 block of Larchwood. Feel free to PM me. From all I've seen, the 4900 block is a good one, well-maintained and quiet. While Larchwood doesn't have the grand houses of other streets, it tends to be among the quietest. Almost always, the only noise on our block is kids throwing football in the afternoons.

Supermarkets are a bit of a haul, as SeanD said, though if you have a car the Supreme and Fresh Grocer are easy options. Without a car is doable, but you'll be dragging stuff a while. There used to be a pretty awful grocery store on 48th Street, just south of Spruce, but it's been closed. Although there are rumors about what will become of it--one popular one that our City Councilwoman seemed to confirm is that it will be a Fresh Grocer satellite location--less than zero has been done. There will likely be changes in the retail, for better or worse who knows, since the commercial buildings on the west side of 48th Street just south of Spruce all were put up for sale, and there are rumors about the parcels for West Philly High's current site and athletic field (which may become the site of the new West Philly High, or may be used for something else, if West Philly High moves) and also the parcels around 48th and Market. What becomes of any of it is anyone's guess, though one good bet would be that some local politicos' pockets get lined.

There used to be good markets in the Firehouse at 50th and Baltimore (and there's still a great bike shop and coffee shop) but that closed. No word, that I've heard, on what will replace it. The Clark Park Farmers Market is good, especially when the fruit comes in during the late summer and early fall.

Hi, I'm moving to 48th and Larchwood in July. I really like the area -- it feels lived in and pretty safe, like people care about what's going on. When is the farmer's market at Clark Park?