Mantua

Mantua has been described as a stick-and-stay neighborhood in Philadelphia where generations of African Americans have lived and traveled to work across the region. Just north of the University of Pennsylvania and tony Powelton Village, consider Mantua as historically across the tracks. It is bound on the northwest by Amtrak and Philadelphia Regional Rails. Americas first zoological park is an easy walk across the bridge.

Mantua is the neighborhood where the Mural Arts Program was born taking large walls and presenting beautiful paintings such as A Place Called Home and a portrait of famed singer Patty LaBelle. In fact, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles made a visit to see the gorgeous murals.

In three words Mantua is benefiting from location, location, location. It is a ten-minute trolley ride to Center City and buses transverse the neighborhood to various parts east and west. The housing stock is typically Philadelphian. Row homes abound but recently, new senior citizen and affordable high-rises have opened. Moreover, students from the nearby colleges and universities have moved into large homes that have been converted to apartments.

As a long-time resident and multiple property owner stated, Ill move when the University of Pennsylvania moves.

Mantua is a neighborhood that has seen a lot of change throughout the years. In the 1980s it was overrun my drugs and many of the community’s residents left the area. Businesses went under, buildings were abandoned and there were several empty lots.

The 1990s the city made an attempt to salvage the neighborhood and many buildings were sold and renovated. Nearby colleges like Drexel and University of Pennsylvania have brought in many students. The influx of student residents in Mantua has caused a new interest revitalizing the neighborhood. There are several organizations working on ways to improve the community.

Lancaster Ave is nearby and provides a variety of shopping and dining options as well as child care centers. Parking is sometimes difficult in Mantua but biking and public transportation are both easy forms of commuting in this neighborhood.
In addition Mantua also has a host of recreational centers and playgrounds. It is also reasonable close to the Philadelphia Zoo and The Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Parkway.

Mantua definitely still needs some improvement has far as appearance as it’s rough past is still notable present but there seem to be several community members who are invested in improving and returning it to the vibrant middle-class area it used to be.

Mantua is a neighborhood located in West Philadelphia. It is bound by Spring Garden Street to the north, Mantua Avenue to the south, 40th Street to the west and 31st Street to the east. The neighborhood is home to a large population of working class African Americans and has also seen recent gentrification because of all of the Drexel University students who live there.
Mantua offers plenty of large housing units that are perfect for college students, young professionals and families. This includes row homes, apartment complexes and condo’s. A lot of the larger homes have been split up into multiple apartments. This allows a person to have a unique living space in one of the city’s most historic houses.
The neighborhood is moderately priced and features many shops, bars and restaurants. It also is near Drexel University, one of the colleges located in Philadelphia. This allows the neighborhood to be a vibrant, hip environment for many college students and offers a lot of nightlife entertainment.
Parking is difficult to find in Mantua, so if you move there, consider riding a bike or taking public transportation. If you do own a car, be careful where you park it because the city parking authority is very, very strict about enforcing rules and you will probably get a ticket.