I'm a recently married artist from NYC and my wife and I are moving to Philadelphia.

I know block to block what the danger-factor is in my own town, but I have absolutely no idea about Philadelphia - cause I don't know the city yet.

People here tell us all different things about everything and we're getting so many conflicting views that we're kind of confused.

We're looking to move to the University City area - either that or out to Mt. Airy.

Can anybody help get us on solid ground with some info on these areas?

Thanks!

I lived in the Spruce Hill area for six months and the only trouble I've ever had is getting my bike stolen. The best way to decide what areas are safe in philly is to walk around...if you feel like the area youre in is shifty, then you're right.

It has been my experience that in the university city area, the neighborhood gets progressivly shadyer as one moves farther to the west, IE from 40th to 45th to 50th. However, the bad area seems to be on sort of an angle to market - I would not want to be on market and 46th late at night (though I have, thats the subway station, and I had no trouble) but then down at chestnut and 46th I feel a little safer, walnut and I'm doing okay, Pine and 46th I'm feeling safe. For some reason market, though it is the principal street of our oversize town, seems to get rough at 40th or before, and stay that way. I got off the subway at 40th with a vaccum cleaner once, and a couple of black guys started yelling at me, calling me whitey, whiteboy, cracker, and followed me a little ways ( I have a real problem with the way people get up in arms whenever racism is discussed - after all it happens both ways, and to be honest I have never seen anyone hate on a black guy, but I've been hated for being white more times than I can remember).

However down underneath market, probably due to the halo effect of the universities, the neighborhood is very decent. I come home from breakdancing class at u-penn after 10pm sometimes, on foot...which isn't the brightest thing to do, but the point is that I have never felt unsafe doing so - I'm on guard, but I'm not worried, and thats the same for any area of the city no matter how safe. So if you are looking for a very safe area, try to get closer to Penn University (more around 40th and Walnut / Pine area. Like I said, it gets less safe as you go up in streets, but it also gets less expensive. My rule is to look around, and ask myself...if somebody in my immediate vicinity was going to get mugged, would it be me?

I would appreciate a correction if I am wrong about any of this - I looked at lots of apartments and got the impressions above, but I've only ever lived here in Spruce Hill, and on Drexel Campus which doesn't count.

- Ayate, Trey.

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trey, thanks for your reply.

the area we're checking out is like 47 / 49 st. and springfield

do you have a vibe on that area?

If you are looking to buy, I honestly would recommend the 'Graduate Hospital' area.

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thanks, i'll look into that -

MMO, I haven't been in the area long (haven't been in Philadelphia that long; actually, I'm a native NY'er) but I'd say that the area you're talking about is probably pretty safe.

Some of the bloggers here live near there and I don't live that far. I'm at 48th and Pine. I recently had a break-in to my apartment which was a little scary, but -- that's life in the big city. It didn't sour me on the neighborhood and that really is a beautiful area that you're talking about. I moved from NY to Center City and from there, I was torn between University City and West Mt. Airy. I chose University City because I don't drive, I'm a city girl who doesn't much care for the burbs, and I could get over to Center City fairly quickly from where I live now. If you and your wife are young, you might find Mt. Airy to be a little quiet for your tastes... depending on what your tastes are.

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I live near the corner of 49th and Springfield and have done so for more than 6 years. I also own a business not far from their at 50th and Baltimore. The southern half of the smaller sub-neighborhood Cedar Park (south of Baltimore) has some truly amazing architecture and the 4600 to 4800 blocks of Springfield are truly stunning. 48th, from Baltimore to Kingsessing and many of the smaller streets in this area (Beaumont, Warrington, Trinity, etc.) are really beautiful and quite safe. 49th and St. Bernard begin to look just a little bit scrubby but is still a great area to live.

SW of there, esp. across the R3 railroad tracks you have crossed from Cedar Park to Kingsessing and the neighborhood changes fairly dramaticly - although currently there is a huge ammount of renovation going on on a massive scale along Springfield out to 52nd and along 52nd at Springfield so who knows - maybe this little section of big Victorians "across the tracks" will improve noticeably in the not to distant future.

Anyhow there are are two different photo tours of this neighborhood on the blog you should check out to get a feel for what the neighborhood is like. I love it and still all these years later it still makes me happy to walk up and down Springfield. Check out these links ->
http://phillyblog.com/forum/ftopic8709.html

http://phillyblog.com/forum/ftopic7518.html

Re:joeyO's comments. Everybody will always put a plug in for their own neighborhood so I can't blame him for trying to pick off a new recruit for his. Once of the major things affecting housing prices in all of UCity is a program by Penn which gives its employees sizable finacial incentives to buy in Univesity City. Over the last 15 years this program has had a dramatic impact on housing values in the area and there is every indication that it will continue to do so for the near future. Penn (including the hospital and helath complex) is the largest private employer in Philadelphia. They recently extended the Penn Mortgage Enhancement Program to 52nd St.

Yes, I am a little biased. But it is still a great area to buy. UCity is nice and definitely has its own feel which I personally like a lot. But you can't beet my proximity to center city. It is all virtually within walking distance.

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Whatever happened to respecting people for their opinions because they are wealthier than you are? - Weblo_Village

This may be kind of random, but you didn't happen to stay at Cornerstone B and B this past weekend, did you? There was a young artist couple from NY there looking at those some areas. Perhaps there are many people like you?

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seand

thank you for that, it's the most informative sensibility we've heard throughout our entire search. i took a look at the photo blogs, too.

again, thank you