Jammerz

The neighborhood of Logan should not be confused with Logan Circle. They are totally two different neighborhoods. The North Philadelphia section known as Logan is an African American community that has seen considerable decline over the years. At the time of its development it was considered an early suburban community but as Philadelphia expanded Logan became urban.

The single family row homes that make up this neighborhood are almost identical from each other though many are showing signs of neglect as many residents have moved away from Logan. The number of empty houses has increased steadily over the last few years and their abandonment is showing.

Another often too common issue occurring in Logan is crime. There have been increasing reports of theft and assault occurring in the neighborhood with more incidents making headlines steadily. Obviously this doesn’t bode well for the reputation of a neighborhood that has seen so many plights in its history.

One plus to Logan is that the property value is pretty low and it’s close to public transportation. So if you want to buy a house and you don’t want to drive to other parts of the city, this neighborhood can help you with both.

I can’t count the number of hot summer nights I have gone to Logan Circle, also known as Logan Square, to cool off in the Swan Fountain. And never have I been the only one, people of all ages can be found swimming or just hanging out near it. It’s a popular attraction for residents and tourists alike.

Logan Circle is pretty much a park, though there are areas around that you can live in, they’re mostly high-rise apartments and condominiums. All of these places are of course, expensive but you’re really just paying for the location and the view. They’re not that great otherwise.

Expensive housing aside there are lots of areas of interest in Logan Circle. The Academy of Natural Science and the Franklin Institute, Moore College of Art and Design, and the Free Public Library are within walking distance of each other.

Of course because all of these great places are in one spot the traffic is often ridiculous in this area. And forget about parking, it is impossible most days, unless you want to park in one of the garages that are around. Otherwise you’re better off taking public transportation which will drop you off in a number of spots in the neighborhood.

The West Philadelphia neighborhood of Haddington is one that has a higher number of older citizens than other parts of the city with many of them having grown up in the area. The area is predominantly African American citizens who are working class to low income.

Haddington’s houses are most two-story rowhomes that are owned by the people who inhabit them. Most are in fair condition though in some parts of the neighborhood there are signs of neglect in the buildings and the property that surrounds them.

The neighborhood is cheap to live in though there are few places for rent which makes it unappealing to younger individuals not to mention there isn’t much to do as far as entertainment. Haddington is close to public transportation, the Market-Frankford Line runs nearby as do several bus routes. A majority of the residents utilize that service to get to and from the neighborhood. So if you did move there you could always travel to other areas.

Overall, Haddington is your standard West Philadelphia neighborhood, it’s a just a little close to the suburbs and its home to a lot of elderly citizens which is not that attractive to the younger crowd but that might be for the best.

Melrose Park isn’t really Philadelphia. It’s actually considered part of Montgomery County but apparently it’s just close enough to Philadelphia that it can get confused, I guess.

The area is your basic suburban residential community with single and two family homes that have nice yards and garages. Melrose Park is definitely the type of place where people settle down to raise families. It’s generally quiet and safe with tree lined streets and well kempt houses.
Melrose Park is near several shopping centers and malls like Willow Grove Park Mall and Cheltenham Square Mall. There are also the basic restaurants and grocery stores you find in suburban areas.

Septa’s regional rail does run through Melrose Park stopping at the Melrose Park railroad station and there are a few SEPTA bus routes that cater to the area. But for the most part if you are going to live in this suburban area you probably want to have a car. It will make your life a lot easier, especially if you have kids.

Melrose Park is a great area if you want to be near Philadelphia but not be in the city. It’s a stable, safe, community that’s just large enough to have what you need without being overwhelming.

Sometimes neighborhoods get lumped into other neighborhoods and West Oak Lane has that issue as part of the area is often considered to be a neighborhood called “Ogontz.” But really when you describe one you’re kind of describing the other.

West Oak Lane is a neighborhood that has seen its share of change. It started as a predominantly white neighborhood developed in the 1920s. Today the residents are mostly working class African-Americans.

The architecture in this neighborhood is different from other areas in that a large number of the houses are detached. There is also the luxury of small yards with many of them as well. And the streets in this neighborhood are lined with trees which is usually uncommon unless you are in West Philadelphia.

Some of the more historic buildings in West Oak Lane were demolished shortly after the businesses closed, Cedar Park Inn, a once popular tavern fell victim such fate.

West Oak Lane’s residents have a strong appreciation of Jazz Music and show it with the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival. They neighborhood has been hosting it every year since 2003 attracting jazz enthusiasts from all over.
The neighborhood also made unfortunate headlines in 2007 when an officer was shot and killed while on duty. His murder led to one of the biggest manhunts in Philadelphia’s history.

The Walnut Hill section of West Philadelphia is a predominantly black neighborhood. The area is becoming increasingly more attractive to students who attend U Penn and other nearby colleges as the cost of living is cheaper. This is a result of property increases in neighborhoods that are closer to campus.

The low income neighborhood has seen some renovations recently with young professionals taking advantage of the low property value and purchasing homes in the area. Many of these homes are the standard two to three story row homes you seen in West Philadelphia.

Walnut Hill has seen an increase in Muslim residents over the years as a result of the Masjid Jam'ia mosque, the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects mosque and Masjid Al Birr Wat Taqwa all of which are in the neighborhood. Concurrently there is an increase in the number of restaurants serving Halal food.

The crime rate in Walnut Hill has raised some concern recently with reports of theft and assaults occurring far more frequently.

Due to its location the neighborhood is easily accessible by public transportation. There are several trolleys that operate nearby and the Market-Frankford line is also within walking distance. Parking is not too bad either for those who have a car.

The neighborhood of West Poplar spans from North Broad Street to 8th street, just north of Chinatown. This area has seen a lot of change over the years; many of the original houses were demolished and replaced with new houses and apartment complexes.

The renovations were for the better as West Poplar was almost blighted with neglected homes and abandoned buildings. But the new improvements have led to property value increase and new residents moving into the area. There is also public housing and senior housing available along 8th and Fairmount Avenue.

West Poplar is also located near to the heavily gentrified Northern Liberties so residents can still be a part of the excitement without having to deal with the higher rent prices of that area. Public transportation is easy to come by here as well, the Market-Frankford line is close by and there are bus routes in the area.

Despite the positive improvements throughout the years there has been an increasing concern over violence in the areas. Many community members have come together to develop plans to prevent future issues and to keep the crime rates from increasing. There is definitely a group of residents who are interested in keeping West Poplar from returning to its neglected past.

East Parkside is a pretty busy neighborhood despite how far west it is located. Most of the heavy traffic has to do with the major tourist attractions that are located in this area. People regularly visit the Philadelphia Zoo and the Mann Center of Performing Arts. Not to mention, the Please Touch Museum recently moved to the area as well.

Needless to say driving through this area can be quite cumbersome and traffic jams are regular. East Parkside is located I-76 which is a busy route on its own. But of course there are plenty of bus routes that run through the area if you want to sit back and ride instead of driving through the mess.

The architecture in this neighborhood which is from the 19th century is amazing though some buildings have sadly been neglected. There is however a community organization working to preserve and renovate much of the neighborhood. In addition, the organization is attempting to make the homes environmentally friendly, sustainable homes, which fits with Philadelphia’s whole “going green” plan.

The predominantly African-American East is affordable though attempts to revitalize the area are increasing property values. The crime rate is moderate in this area as well with most reports being theft.

East Falls is one of my favorite neighborhoods because it always seems to be improving. It pays attention to the competition of neighboring areas but so far isn’t compromising it’s small town feel to make a buck.

Located near several other charming neighborhoods like Roxborough and Manayunk, East Falls is increasing in popularity. It’s location gives residents the ability to travel to Center City and elsewhere with ease whether it’s via public transportation, bike or car. This makes it especially appealing to young professionals and students.

The houses and apartment in East Falls are also nice, though somewhat expensive. The neighborhood has several elaborate mansions and two train stations which add to the visual appeal of the neighborhood.
In addition its residential areas East Falls also has several restaurants, coffee shops and stores so residents don’t have to wander too far from the area. The addition of the Arthur Ashe Tennis and Education Center is also credited for drawing many new people to the area and increasing the property value.

Overall, East Falls is a consistently growing and improving what it has to offer. It’s a community that seems to take pride in keeping the area safe, clean and interesting, though in the process that is making it expensive.

The West Philadelphia neighborhood of Dunlap is a low income area with many residents being below the poverty line. It’s located between Haddington and Mill Creek both areas with high crime rates. Dunlap unfortunately is known for having issues with crime as well.

The property value is Dunlap is low and many of the houses are in need of repair having been neglected of abandoned for years. The streets of the neighborhood are also covered in trash in most areas.

Dunlap also has a senior housing unit which was once the historic Thomas Dunlap School from which the neighborhood gets its name. The area is accessible by public transportation which a majority of the residents utilize. The Market-Frankford line runs through the area as do several bus routes. Driving is also an option with some off street parking available.

For shopping and entertainment residents generally go further east to businesses on Market Street and South to those on Baltimore Avenue. Aside from basic corner shops in the neighborhood general shopping is done elsewhere.
KirkBride Center, a drug rehabilitation center that also focuses on mental health is also located in the Dunlap neighborhood and assists individuals throughout Philadelphia and some surrounding areas.

Nestled between Roxborough and Manayunk is yet another little neighborhood that is so cute it makes you want to rip your face off. It’s also so expensive most of us will probably never live there.

The predominantly white Dearnley Park residents are average when it comes to their income so they can afford the expensive rent and the pricey houses. In fact most of the residents own the houses they inhabit in Dearnley Park.
Not only is the neighborhood quaint, quiet and safe it’s also in a great location. If you live in Dearnley Park you are close to the wilderness of Wissahickon Valley Park. And you can play golf at any of the surrounding country/golf clubs. It’s no wonder the wealthier citizens choose to live in this general section of Philadelphia.

If you’re into small boutiques and coffee shops you can always venture over to the main retail areas of Manayunk, Dearnley Park is too small to have its own.

Having a car, which most of Dearnley Park’s resident do, is key to living in this area because it is so far from other parts of the city. But don’t fret if you a car is not in the budget because you spend too much money on rent public transportation is also available.

The further west you go into West Philadelphia the sketchier it gets until eventually you just end up in the suburbs. Carroll Park is no exception to rule when it comes to neighborhoods that are neglected and consistently being consumed with crime.

Most of the residents of Carroll Park are working class to low income African-Americans. Most people who live in the area utilize public transportation which is easily accessible in this neighborhood. It is also automobile friendly with off street parking available.

There are several parks in the area include the park of the same name. Though many of the parks show signs of vandalism and are covered in trash in some areas. Because of the high crime there isn’t much of nightlife in this area either, you would have to leave Carroll Park for other parts of the city. And even though it’s located in West Philadelphia it’s still kind of a commute for students and thus not ideal.

Overall Carroll Park is a cheap neighborhood to live in if you can get past the crime and general poor aesthetic of the area. Otherwise you’re better off looking at another neighborhood in West Philadelphia. It's not short on them.

Andorra is another one of those neighborhoods that makes you feel like you are not in Philadelphia. Often considered part of the Roxborough neighborhood, Andorra is located on the bluffs which allows for a delightful view of the city. These large hills also make parking interesting as well.

The northwest neighborhood is much more like a suburban area than any other part of Philadelphia. It has its own strip mall, parking lots and plenty of off street parking. The housing options range from large apartment complexes to single and double family houses, most of which have small yards and a few with garages.

Andorra is a family oriented neighborhood; it’s safe and quiet with plenty of activities for individuals of all ages. It is, however, one of the more expensive neighborhoods to live in but that’s kind of the price you pay for the luxury of safety in Philadelphia.

Most of the houses in Andorra are owner occupied with very few renters. It is also a predominantly white neighborhood.

The neighborhood is also easily accessibly my public transportation so if you work further in the city you don’t have to drive and deal with parking. Buses and Regional Rail are both available in Andorra.

The neighborhood of Franklinville used to be an industrial area. Like much of North Philadelphia when industries went under the population dispersed leaving the community to crumble. Today Franklinville doesn’t really exist as a neighborhood anymore. Most people from the area that is listed as Franklinville—a triangle district that consists of West Sedgley Avenue, North Broad Street and West Hunting Park Avenue, actually considered themselves from Hunting Park.

Whether you call it Franklinville or Hunting Park there are is an example of urban decay. Many of the buildings have been abandoned and neglected. The streets are filthy and the crime rate is considerably high in this part of Philadelphia.

Renovations and new apartment complexes have seen some property value increase in the low-income neighborhood but it’s still a far cry from being gentrified. The mostly Puerto Rican neighborhood needs a lot of work considering the number of abandoned and overgrown lots that make up the area.

The neighborhood does have access to public transportation and parking is relatively easy in the area. So commuting to and from Franklinville or Hunting Park can be done with ease.

Basically, the neighborhood is so bad it barely even exists anymore so you probably don't want to live there.

Somerton is like a mini version of Philadelphia in that it is one neighborhood that is made up of a lot of different neighborhoods. There are also several subdivisions in Somerton making this far northeast neighborhood a predominantly residential area.

The neighborhood consists of predominantly white residents but in recent years there has been an increase in foreign immigration, especially Russian and Indian individuals. Somerton is a middle class neighborhood with an increasing property value. The housing styles varying in many sections because of when the divisions were made, Old Somerton has larger mid-1900s homes while the homes in Philmont heights are newer and not as detailed because they were built in the 1970s.

Somerton is a lot of busy streets in the area as most of the residents drive. It’s a car friendly community but parking can be minimal depending on which section of the neighborhood you are in. Somerton is also far from the rest of Philadelphia’s main areas of interest which makes having a car handy. Though there are bus routes that run through Somerton, making public transportation an option.

Somerton also seems to have a many practicing religious residents with several church groups existing in the area.

Once a Native American settlement, Parkwood Manor was a planned residential community that was developed in 1950s. Though the diversity has increased in Parkwood Manor, the neighborhood is still predominantly white.

The population in the community has also seen a decrease with more single people moving to into the area. The residential neighborhood is good shape with the brick row homes being taken care of and the streets kept clean. The property value in Parkwood is high making the neighborhood somewhat expensive to live in.

In addition to being a clean, relatively safe area this middle class neighborhood is also located near a popular tourist attraction, the Franklin Mills Mall. Franklin Mills provides over 200 stores and several dining options both inside and outside of the shopping center.

There are also many parks and open recreational areas for residents to enjoy. These areas provide space for walking, jogging and bike riding. In addition, Parkwood is home to Byberry Industrial Park. That industrial section employs over 5,000 people in the area.

Parkwood as a whole has a lot to offer residents who do not want to travel into the city often. It’s a safe area with plenty of shopping and entertainment options.

Forget about the fact the it’s often mispronounced, that’s common with a lot of Philadelphia areas, this North Philadelphia neighborhood has gone south throughout the years with many of the businesses closing and residents leaving. Ogontz is often considered part of the West Oak Lane, which is a much larger neighborhood and much of what happens there trails over.

Ogontz is a predominantly middle-class African American community. While some of the houses are the typical, row homes found through the Philadelphia, Ogontz has some architecture that is distinct to its neighborhood. Many of the houses are detached on tree lined streets with small yards. This set-up gives it a very suburban feel and makes it appealing to families with children.
The neighborhood used to have several historic sites such as the tavern Cedar Park Inn and The Ogontz theatre. Both of these locations were eventually closed down and demolished.

Due to its distance from the rest of the city and major public transportation, owning a car is Ogontz is handy. Parking isn’t too difficult either as the residential area offers plenty of off street parking.

Supposedly the struggling shopping district on Ogontz Ave is being revitalized but for any major shopping you’re going to have to commute to other neighborhoods.

The neighborhood of Northwood is one that is pretty much surrounded by dead people. The entire west side of the neighborhood is made up of cemeteries; both the Oakland Cemetery and the Greenwood Cemetery can be found there. The Greenwood Cemetery which was established in 1869 is considered a historic cemetery. The Knights of Pythias created it for internments of their members.

Northwood is a mainly residential neighborhood that is fairly easy to get around. Having a car here is optimal if you desire getting to other parts of the city as it is fair distance from Center City or other well known parts of Philadelphia.
It is a moderately priced neighborhood with diverse residents. The distance of Northwood from the rest of Philadelphia makes you feel like you are not in the city anymore. It is almost like being in the suburbs.

The schools in Northwood have also been making headlines for their accelerated graduation options. The charter schools also have a good reputation in the community as well. This aspect is one reason this neighborhood is appealing to families with children.

In general, Northwood seems like a good neighborhood for families and older individuals who want to stay within the city limits but not feel like they’re in the city.

Spruce Hill is a neighborhood that has been taken over by students due to its proximity to the University of Penn and Drexel University. At one time it was a relatively inexpensive neighborhood which is was part of the attraction to students. But eventually realtors caught on and the property value increased.

Many of the large homes in Spruce Hill have been converted into apartments or rented out to groups of individuals, mostly college students. You can also find young professionals and small families living in this area as well. But it makes sense that it’s an attractive area to students, it’s close to campus and close to bars and restaurants. Not to mention off street parking is available and public transportation is easily accessible. Students do not have to travel far from campus or home to meet their needs.

Spruce Hill is also surrounded by other really great West Philly neighborhoods like Cedar Park and West Powelton which makes it an excellent location. Clark Park is within walking distance as is Baltimore Avenue where there are several shops and restaurants.

The ethnically diverse neighborhood though increasing in rent prices is still doable compared to other neighborhoods in the University City district. You just have to look around for the deals.

Germantown, obviously founded by German settlers, is located in the northwest section of Philadelphia. It’s a neighborhood that is about two miles long and rich in history which is clear in the historic architecture.

The south section of the neighborhood went downhill in the 1990s when many residents left the area. It is now a predominantly African American community that falls in the lower income bracket with 25% of the residents living below the poverty line.

The cost of living in Germantown is inexpensive and property value is low, about 40% of residents own their houses while the other 60% rent. Many of the houses have been neglected and some abandoned. The streets also show neglect as they’re covered in trash in many places. Not every block is the same though, like a lot of Philadelphia neighborhoods things change block by block.

Germantown is accessible by public transportation and there are several school and area of interest in the neighborhood such as Johnson House and Rittenhouse Town.

Overall if you’re looking to live in Germantown, the southwest area of the neighborhood is not the first on the list of suggested areas. It does not showcase what the neighborhood can potentially offer.

Woodland Terrace is smaller neighborhood in West Philadelphia that spans from Baltimore Pike to Woodland Ave and 40th and 41st. It is an extremely pretty neighborhood with tree-lined streets and large “Italianate twin” mansions.

Most of the homes in this area are owned or divided into apartments and rented. They are also in decent condition with maintained yards and floral gardens. The property value of Woodland Terrace is high because of its location and condition.
Woodland Terrace is located in what is known as the “West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District” because this represents the transformation of farmland to urban residential development. Trolleys are still accessible from Woodland Terrace to Center City. And there is off street parking for automobiles.

The Woodlands Cemetery is also within each of this neighborhood. In addition to many notable burials like Civil War general John Joseph Abercrombie and artist Rembrandt Peale the cemetery also has a community garden and an apiary.
Clark Park, the shops on Baltimore Avenue and many other great locations in West Philadelphia are within bike or walking distance of Woodland Terrace. In addition it's near U Penn, Penn Hospital and CHOP which is great for students or faculty of those locations.

Academy Gardens doesn’t really have much to do with gardens or anything floral for that matter, though it does have its share of trees. The far northeast neighborhood began with inexpensive starter homes, many of which were unfinished but these days it’s a lot different from its humble beginnings

The homes in this upper middle class neighborhood were renovated and expanded over the years and the property value increased. The predominantly white Academy Gardens is not the cheapest northeast Philadelphia neighborhood to live in.
While the neighborhoods first residents were mostly veterans from World War II, Academy Garden has attracted families to the community. There are a few local sports organizations like Penn-Academy and Crispin Gardens which make it an attractive area for raising children.

While Academy Gardens is a mainly a residential area there is retail located along Holmes Avenue and Willits Road. The neighborhood is kind of spread out and it’s quite a distance from the rest of the city so having access to a car is ideal if you are going to live here.

The neighborhood is also within driving distance from the notable Pennypack Park which is a great day time getaway spot for families and couples.

There really is not much to attract people to the neighborhood of Angora. The southwest Philadelphia neighborhood was pretty much given up on by the city. It was certified as being destroyed and beyond repair.

Many of the houses are abandoned and boarded up or at the very best look like they should be boarded up even though some of them are inhabited. The low-income area is filled with abandon lots overgrown with weeds, stray cats roam freely and trash collects in the gutters of the streets. It’s not exactly a place you want to call home.

Even still some people have hope for Angora Terrace and few other sections of the neighborhood. The residents of these areas have made some attempt not to let the neighborhood crumble entirely. Though not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, the houses in this part of the neighborhood are far more inhabitable than the section mentioned above.
Angora is near some parks and recreational centers like Kingsessings and it’s not too far from Bartram Garden’s. But you could move to another neighborhood that is safer and cleaner and be just as close. Sometimes cheaper rent is not worth the risks that come with it.

Bartram Village, also known as Bartram’s Garden is located in Southwest Philadelphia and barely a neighborhood. The section from 54th to 56th streets and Woodland Avenue are housing projects. The other side of the tracks is a world of natural wonder and rich history courtesy of a pre-revolutionary man.

The public housing area of Bartram is far nicer than most public housing areas of Philadelphia. The predominantly African-American community is in decent condition and feels considerably safer than what you would expect if you were comparing it to other areas of the same income bracket.

The part of Bartram Village that attracts people to it is the estate and gardens of John Bartram, a notable botanist. The 46 acre garden is the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America. If you’re not interested in just walking down the trails of the garden, there are special events that are held at Bartram’s Garden. There are annual plant sales and holiday specific festivities that draw crowds. It is a beautiful place worth checking out and is often overlooked by people who live in the city.
Bartram Village is an interesting mix of tourist attraction and public housing projects. It’s a bizarre look into different worlds.

Not a neighborhood but a mansion located in Fairmount Park, Belmont Mansion was designed and built in 1745 by English lawyer William Peters. The mansion housed many people during the Revolution, prominent figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Madison all stayed at Belmont.

Surrounded by a large garden, Belmont Mansion now attracts visitors who not only want to see the amazing view of the city but also take a look into history at the Underground Railroad Museum which is located there.
Although it will cost you a pretty penny, visitors can also rent the Belmont Mansion for private parties, weddings, meeting and other special events. The American Women’s Heritage Society also holds events at Belmont Mansion regularly.

The location of the mansion is ideal for tourist of Philadelphia as it gives them the opportunity to visit other parts of Fairmount Park and it provides a look into a large and interesting portion of the history of the city. Living in this area can be a bit expensive depending on the neighborhood you choose. Belmont, the neighborhood that takes its name from the mansion is not as expensive but it also has a reputation of having a lot of crime and many of the buildings are neglected.

Before you get to the Northeast portion of Philadelphia you will find at the last river-front neighborhood. This predominantly white area is known as Bridesburg and was once the go-to place for Polish immigrants.

Bridesburg is a small, clean almost crime-free neighborhood. There is a strong “American pride” vibe present in the number of American flags and “support the troops” memorabilia that decorates the houses and cars in this area. There is a definite small-town, close-knit feel to this area of Philadelphia.

There are several bars in the area as well as places that are kind of the essentials of a community, places to buy food, restaurants, and hardware stores. You don’t need to go too far for something in Bridesburg. The houses are large row homes with front or back yards. More houses are being built as the neighborhood expands and the property value increases.

Most of the residents in Bridesburg are older, having grown up in the area but people from neighboring areas are also moving to the neighborhood because it is affordable and safe. Thus it is a nice place to raise children.
Bridesburg has a large number of churches for a small neighborhood, many of which are Catholic.

Burholme Park isn’t really a neighborhood in as much as it is, well, a park. The park along with the Robert W. Ryerss Museum and Library were gifts to the city by a descendent of the Ryerss family. Robert Ryerss and his wife were prominent philanthropists and animal rights activists. Robert is credited as playing a large role in the creation of Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals.

The heavily wooded park is located in the neighborhood of Fox Chase; it contains three baseball diamonds, three football fields and a soccer field, which are a big draw for sports organizations. There is also a mini golf/driving range at the park.

Burholme Park is also kid friend as it has a playground for children and is a popular site for sledding in the winter months because of the large hill the park is located on.

For history buffs the museum and library that were also donated by the Ryerss family contains several generations of artifacts from the family’s travels. The museum has an extensive Asian artifact collection. In the library you will find over 11,000 books that were all part of Robert Ryerss personal collection.
Burholme Park as a whole is an excellent place to visit as there is something for everyone.

Once a rich farmland area, Bustleton is now a middle class residential neighborhood. Bustleton is located in the Northeast near Fox Chase; the property value in this area has been increasing steadily. One of the draws is the school in the area as there are several that service the neighborhood including prep schools and charter schools.

Another Bustleton attraction is the Lower Dubli Baptist Church, also known as Pennypack Baptist. It is one of the oldest churches in the United States. It is also near Pennypack Park which is another tourist attraction.
The predominantly white neighborhood is also the location of two of the most dangerous intersection in the United States. Roosevelt Boulevard at Grant Avenue and Red Lion Road is known to have a very large number of accidents, so much that it became the first intersection to have camera installed to record vehicles running red lights.

If that scares you away from driving in Bustleton you can always take public transportation. There are several bus routes that service the area as well West Trenton and Fox Chase rail lines.
Overall, Bustleton is a pretty nice, safe neighborhood it’s just not as diverse as the rest of the city and it’s a little on the expensive side.

Usually when someone says “Byberry” the first thing many people think of is the mental institution, Philadelphia State Hospital which was located on Roosevelt Boulevard. The institution closed its doors in 1990 but the building remained of interest to ghost hunters, vandals and kids trying to creep themselves out.

It’s kind of hard to look past the mental institution as it has been such a huge part of the Northeast neighborhood’s history. There are many websites and books dedicated to telling its dark history. But the Byberry neighborhood is making attempts to get away from that gloomy past. In 2006 demolition of the building began in order to make room for new luxury apartments and a senior center living community.

These renovations are an attempt to improve the neighborhood and increase property value for the neighborhood. The efforts are definitely paying off, Byberry is pretty expensive working class neighborhood to live in and it is considered relatively safe with a low crime rate.

However, no matter what is done to gentrify the neighborhood there is no way Byberry is going to get away from its mental institution past and people who are intrigued by that history will continue to visit the area based on that.

Cedarbrook is not as pretty as its name. The north Philadelphia neighborhood is a predominantly low income area. The rowhomes and single family houses are showing the wear of years of neglect. And the streets are no better; they are covered with trash often blocking the sewer drains.

Much like other neighborhoods in North Philadelphia Cedarbrook is known for being a violent area consumed by crime. Theft and vandalism are common occurrences in this district where 10% of the residents are below the poverty line. It is not an ideal area for families with children as it does not offer much for their welling being.
Many of the residents of Cedarbrook are African-American, over 95% with Caucasians accounting for 2%. It is not a racially diverse community by any means.

As with a lot of smaller neighborhoods there are corner stores but any major shopping will require commuting to another area which can be done by public or car. One interesting fact about Cedarbrook is that its boundaries make it almost precisely rectangular. Another “claim to fame” is the Ivy Hill Cemetery which was established in 1867. The northwestern portion of Cedarbrook is often referred to as Ivy Hill because of the cemetery.

Clearview is a small low income neighborhood located in Southwest Philadelphia. Spanning from 78th to 84th street this predominantly African-American district is pretty similar to the other neighborhoods in this area. Most of the houses are in bad shape having been neglected for years, several are abandoned. The yards are unkempt and the streets are covered with trash.

The neighborhood’s property value is low as a result of the condition of the buildings and the high crime rate, so it is relatively cheap to live in Clearview. This section is furthest Southwest point in the city before you are out of Philadelphia County; this makes the commute to other areas a bit time consuming. However, there are trolleys and buses that run through the neighborhood and driving is relatively easy as well.

As far as dining out or entertainment, there isn’t much to offer in this neighborhood. It has the basic corner store spots and Chinese food but otherwise you are going to have to venture to another neighborhood to get anything beyond that. The same goes with shopping; Clearview doesn’t have much to offer.

For the most part, the residents of Clearview grew up in this area and few people really move to Clearview for any reason outside that.

In the Northeast area of Philadelphia there is a neighborhood called Crescentville that seems to have a lot of varying sides to it, meaning that the characteristics of the neighborhood change depending on which side you are.

The main divider of this neighborhood is Rising Sun Avenue. The avenue itself has a host of shops and restaurants but any of the stores along the avenue have a high turnover rate so the business that is there now may not be there next year. Though most residents of the neighborhood frequent the avenue the sides of the avenue they live on are different in comparison to one another.

The east side of the avenue is a predominantly African-American, Asian and Hispanic population. The houses are mostly row homes that have been neglected throughout the years. This side of Crescentville also has a history of racial tension and increasing crime activity.

To the west of Rising Sun avenue the changes have been a little slower with less illegal activity. Many of the residents from the east side of Rising Sun Avenue have actually moved to the west side in order to get away from the crime and downfall that was plaguing that area of the neighborhood.

Crestmont Farms is a small affluent neighborhood located in Northeast Philadelphia along the Buck County Line. This residential area was originally a 40 acre farm before the land was divided up to accommodate the construction of 70 single family homes.

Property value in Crestmont Farms is high so living in the area is expensive. The residential area is quiet with very little crime. There also isn’t much do within Crestmont Farms and public access is limited so a car is necessary.

Crestmont Farms is barely in Philadelphia and does not even seem like it is part of the city because of its distance and vast difference from the rest of the area. It definitely feels more like a suburb. It bordered by the Poquessing Creek which is kind of the dividing line between Bucks County and Philadelphia.

A majority of the residents are in Crestmont Farms are in the higher income bracket and are home owners. There are few renters in the area though there are some nicer apartment complexes available for young professionals. Crestmont Farms is not the type of neighborhood you want to live in if you are looking for an “awesome nightlife” It is a relatively quiet and simple community.

The neighborhood of Eastwick has an interesting border of land around it. One side there is the Darby Creek, the other side you have the Schuylkill River, 70th street is just north and south you will find the Philadelphia International Airport.

These neighboring areas contribute greatly to the present condition of Eastwick.
Sometimes referred to as “the Meadows” Eastwick is often plagued with flooding and environmental issues like brownfield clean-ups. Because the neighborhood is boarded by Darby Creek, which is a marshy area and the Schuylkill heavy rains as resulted in a lot of flood damage that has left many houses and buildings in the area abandoned.

Eastwick is a predominantly industrial area as many distributing companies are taking advantage of its vicinity to the airport. Many of these companies provide employment to residents in Philadelphia as the area is relatively easy to access via public transportation.

The neighborhood is also attractive to individuals who work at the Philadelphia International Airport. Most of the people who reside in Eastwick are transient workers such as pilots and flight attendants.

The cost of living in this neighborhood is relatively cheap but there it’s pretty far from the rest of the city and there are a lot of issues with water damage. It is however very close to the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge which is a great place to visit.

The predominantly African-American, Elmwood, also sometimes referred to as Elmwood Park, is located in the Southeast section of West Philadelphia. This district has seen its share of racial hostility having been the site of a “civil disturbance” by white rioters when an interracial couple and an African-American family both purchased homes in the neighborhood.

Elmwood used to be inhabited by a large number of Polish-American and Irish-American families. However sometime between 1990 and 2000 that population decreased and the neighborhood became a slightly more diverse area with African-Americans, West African immigrants and Vietnamese American refugees all moving into the area.

Now a low-income neighborhood many of the buildings are showing signs of neglect and properties have stood empty for long periods of time. Like many areas in West Philadelphia there have been reports of an increase in illegal activity such as muggings and theft.

Elmwood’s main line of transportation is the trolley which runs through the neighborhood as well as several buses. While there are some corner stores and restaurants in the area many residents travel outside of the neighborhood to the more business friendly Baltimore Ave or further into the city for better shopping options.

Overall Elmwood is pretty typical neighborhood for that section of West Philadelphia.

This predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood was once the Norris Family’s Fair Hill Estate. It is also the location of Fair Hill Burial Ground, a cemetery that was established by Quakers in 1702. Like many neighborhoods, Fairhill has undergone a lot of changes throughout its history. During the 1950s the German-American population that was once lived in the area began to move. The parish that they established during their time there is now empty and abandoned.

Unfortunately the parish isn’t the only building that has been neglected in Fairhill. The North Philadelphia neighborhood has plenty of abandoned or crumbling properties along its dirty streets. The low income neighborhood also has a high crime rate. The intersection on Third Street and Indiana Avenue had a novel written about it. The area is known as the “Badlands” because of its reputation of gang violence and drug activity. The intersection was also ranked number two on the city’s list of recreational drug corners.

Fairhill consists primarily of row homes, most of which are owned by the people who live in them. Property value is low so the area is relatively inexpensive to live in. This is also due to the high crime and poor schools in the area.

Talk about a diverse neighborhood, Feltonville’s population is a mixture of Korean Americans, Haitians, Cambodian-American, Domincan-American and more. There are reportedly over 27 languages spoken in the neighborhood.

The Northeast section has a history of crime from robberies to murder but also in recent years made the news after over 500 animal remains and several emaciated animals were found in a house in Feltonville. It is believed many of the animals were being used for religious sacrificial ceremonies. Perhaps that makes Feltonville a very spiritual neighborhood. Either way it is inexpensive to live there and there are plenty of empty houses to choose from.

Feltonville is near Olney and Hunting Park so much of the shopping districts are shared between these neighborhoods. Public transportation can be used to get around but having a car is easier and parking is readily available as most of the houses in this neighborhood are abandoned or where houses should or could be there are just empty lots.

Unfortunately this neighborhood falls into the neglected and forgotten about category. There is no real reason to go there and most people who live here were raised in the area. It’s predominantly low income community and the crime rate is not showing any signs of improving.

One of the things I find interesting about living in West Philadelphia is that you can walk from one street to the next and feel like you changed locations altogether. Nearly every street is different, let alone neighborhood. In the case of Garden Court, it’s an entire neighborhood that feels different from all other neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

Located West of Spruce Hill, Garden Court was once referred to as “the most exclusive location in West Philadelphia” and is today one of the most expensive neighborhoods in this part of West Philadelphia. There are a variety of housing types from large brick homes built in the 1920s to condominiums most of which are kept in great condition.

The streets in Garden Court are noted as being design for automobiles. When Clarence Siegel planned the neighborhood in the 1920s he did so with the automobile in mind as opposed to the trolley that was so popular at the time.
Garden Court is a racially diverse area and most of its residents fall into the higher income bracket. With property value being one of the highest in West Philadelphia it’s relatively expensive to live in this neighborhood. Though it is worth walking through and admiring the well maintained yards and the community garden.

Let’s hear it for another North Philadelphia neighborhood that has flourishing past only to have crumbled over the years into a dangerous, neglected area. Tucked between neighboring areas like Port Richmond and Kensington, Harrowgate was once a nice little neighborhood with a natural spring running through it. Of course that spring dried up in 1800 but it’s still part of the history as is Cedar Grove, the estate of the Paschall and Morris families.

Eventually the mansion was moved to Fairmount Park and Harrowgate was left as a low-income neighborhood with empty lots and neglected buildings. While some say the predominantly Puerto Rican community is safe, it depends on what you’re comparing it to, other parts of North Philly, then yes, it’s safer than most. There is still a high volume of theft and assault. It’s still very much a neglected neighborhood but the cost of living is cheap, which can be attractive.

There is access to public transportation in Harrowgate that having a car is a plus in this neighborhood as it makes it easier to get to other parts of the city and off street parking is readily available. Plus the neighborhood is in reach of major highways making it easy to get around as well.

Gentrification will get you sooner or later if you’re a neighborhood located in South Philadelphia, especially if you’re on the east side of Broad Street, Hawthorne is no exception. With new houses being built regularly and old houses being renovated the neighborhood’s property value is increasing. Thus living in the area is becoming more expensive.

The location is part of what is so appealing; most of what attracts people to South Philadelphia is in reach from Hawthorne. It is within walking distance of the shopping district in Center City and the ever changing for the worse, South Street shops. It’s also within reach of the Italian Market and Asian supermarkets along Washington Ave.

Parking in this neighborhood can be a pain and many spots are metered unless you have a neighborhood permit. Public transportation is easily accessible however as it’s conveniently located along the Broad Street line as well as on the routes of several buses. Or you can also always hail a cab; they tend to pass through this area regularly.

Of course as a result of the high foot traffic that runs through this area there is an increase in littering. The streets are covered in the usual South Philly filth but that’s kind of the price you pay to be so close to the excitement.

Holmesburg is a neighborhood with a lot of interesting history behind it. Located in the northeast part of Philadelphia Holmesburg was founded by runaway slaves before and during the Civil War. It is now one of the longest continuous African-American communities in the United States.

The neighborhood is also home to the history Pennypack Theatre which was built in 1920 and designed by the famous architect William Harold Lee. The building has been used for many different businesses throughout the years. Mostly recent it has been used for a Pizza Hut, Wing Street and dollar store.

Holmesburg is also the site of the Philadelphia Prison System which includes several correctional centers and facilities. The Holmesburg Prison has even appeared in a few major movies such as Up Close & Personal starring Robert Redford.

As neighborhood Holmesburg has a lot to offer, it’s within reach of several parks including Pennypack Park, not to mention the general surroundings of the area have a suburban feel to it. Transportation is done by car easily and I-95 is within reach. But you can also access to public transportation with relative ease as well.
Holmesburg has a diverse population and strong sense of community and prides itself on its diversity and role of consciousness in the city.

Juniata Park is a working class neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. Before its development in the mid 1920s the area was mostly farmlands. Today Juniata Park is a residential area of row homes with a large Irish-American and Puerto Rican population.

One defining structure of Juniata Park is the 18-hole golf course called the Juniata Golf Club; it is located north of the neighborhood. Surrounding the golf course are two parks that were a popular attraction to child in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately like many areas of Philadelphia the increasing crime rate has ruined much of Juniata Park and made it unsafe. Incidents of vandalism and theft are on the rise and keeping potential residents away.

The shopping options in Juniata Park are in the area of Kensington and Hunting Park. Though there are a few corner stores in the area. Public transportation via the Market-Frankford line is easily accessible as well as bus routes that run through the neighborhood. Driving is also easy to do in this residential section with plenty of off street parking available.

Juniata Park also has several schools such as Hopkins Elementary and Juniata Park Academy. The neighborhood has an abundance of churches as well, as the past residents of the neighborhood used to be very religious/spiritual group.

Much like other neighborhoods in North Philadelphia, Hunting Park is plagued with neglected buildings, empty lots and a high crime rate. The mostly residential neighborhood consists of row homes and single family houses in a low-income area.

Hunting Park’s peak time of development was from 1920 to the 1940s when North Philadelphia was growing community. The population began to drop off in the 1950s and that’s when the neighborhood began to decline and quickly became a lower income community. The population in Hunting Park is predominantly Puerto Rican and African American.

The neighborhood gets its name from a large park in the area. The park has always been a popular location for recreational activity. It was even home to a minor league baseball team. At one point there was a lake that housed small rowboats for rent. Eventually a city pool was built at that location.

There are rumors that Hunting Park is experiencing gentrification with property value increasing but it’s not noticeable. The area still appears to be falling apart and is dirty. Outside of the park itself there are few areas of interest to visit. There are limited shopping options and a few small restaurants and corner shops.

Sometimes the word “park” in a neighborhood name can be misleading as it makes the place sound like it may automatically be nice. In the case of Lexington Park it’s not that far from the truth. The middle-class neighborhood is actually pretty nice.

Located in the northeast portion of Philadelphia Lexington Park is an attractive neighborhood to those looking for a pleasant place to raise their family. Consistent primarily of twin and single houses, Lexington Park used to be home to Sylvester Stallone, though he claims to have grown up in Mayfair. It’s speculated that he says this become Mayfair is a “blue collar” neighborhood while Lexington Park is a more of a “white collar” community, which doesn’t really fit the “Rocky” reputation.

Another attractive point about Lexington Park is that it is close to Pennypack Park, which is 1,600 acres of woodlands and wetlands. It also has playgrounds and trails for hiking and biking. It’s a great place to visit for young couples and families with children.

Lexington Park is considered a safe, low crime area. Most of the homes are owned by the people who live in them and are well maintained. It does however lack in diversity, a majority of the residents in Lexington Park are white.

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.

Usually when you meet someone in Philadelphia they’re not from Philadelphia or even from Pennsylvania. A lot of people have moved to the city from neighboring states like New Jersey. However, the neighborhood of Mayfair which is located in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia claims that 90% of its residents are from Pennsylvania. That’s kind of impressive.

The predominantly white neighborhood consists of row houses that have front yards and garages; they’re much more spacious than those you would see in other areas of the city. They’re also mostly owned by the people who live in them, there are few renters in Mayfair.

Shopping is pretty easy in this area as there are several plazas along Roosevelt Boulevard and Frankford Avenue. The Mayfair Diner tends to be a popular place to eat among residents, especially the younger crowd.

Driving is the common mode of transportation in Mayfair and parking is available. But for those that do not have access to a vehicle you can still get around with public transportation. There are buses that run through the neighborhood.
Mayfair's crime rate is on the rise but it’s relatively inexpensive to live in which is another appealing factor. Plus, it's near Pennypack Park, everyone loves a park.

Millbrook is a subdivision made up of ranch style homes and row homes in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Often referred to as Chalfont, the middle class neighborhood is located near Franklin Mills Mall. This super mall is a huge draw for tourists as it has over 200 shops and two food courts among other things. There are also not major chain stores not attached to the mall in the same plaza.

Because of the vicinity to the mall and major highways traffic near Millbrook tends to get heavy especially during peak hours. Public transportation is accessible as there are a few bus routes that run through the area. Ideally if you choose to live in Millbrook you would want to own or have access to a car because it will make getting around much easier. Plus parking is relatively easy in the neighborhood as well.

Overall Millbrook is a pleasant suburban-esque community that is pretty distant from the rest of the city. Another draw of the neighborhood is that crime rate is low and it’s clean. The downside however is that it’s a little expensive if you’re renting. Most of the residents in Millbrook are homeowners who have been there for some time.

Many neighborhoods in Philadelphia consist of row homes, and it’s actually expected when someone is describing an area. However, one of the distinctions of Morrell Park, one that is always mentioned when talking about the neighborhood is that these row homes have garages. The garages are located in the front of the homes, facing the streets. Of course this makes off street parking less abundant because you can’t block the driveways.

Morrell Park is a residential area, which kind of explains the garages, so if you’re looking to shop you’re not going to find much here outside of the usual corner stores. There isn’t much industry going on in this neighborhood.

Driving through this neighborhood is also kind of confusing because the there are not many streets that run all the way through and usually end up in the one lonely cul-de-sac. The general layout of Morrell Park is different than other areas of Philadelphia; it seems almost out of place. This may have something to do with the neighborhoods past.

Morrell Park used to be the summer estate of Edward Morrell who was a congressman from 1900 to 1907. He lived here with his wife. The neighborhood was eventually inhabited by families moving from other area of Philadelphia in the 1960s.

The neighborhood of North Central is located exactly as its name says in north central Philadelphia. It’s a low income area made up of African Americans and Latino Americans.

It’s vicinity to Temple University gave some hope that neighborhood would improve but as of now it’s still much like many other areas in north Philadelphia, the houses are neglected and the sidewalks and streets are covered in trash. Illegal activities like drug dealing and theft are also a common part of life in North Central.

Public transportation is accessibly in the neighborhood via the Broad Street line which it is relatively close to, as well as several bus routes that run to and from North Central. Off street parking is also not too difficult for those who want to drive.

Shopping options are pretty basic; there are fast food restaurants along Broad Street as well as your basic corners stores, Chinese restaurants and discount stores. Anything else you’re going to have to travel a little further but nothing unbearable.

The neighborhood isn’t really a tourist attraction and while you can definitely find a “fixer-upper” for cheap North Central shouldn’t be the first on your list of areas to invest in. It still has a long way to go before it will be considered worthwhile.

Oxford Circle has been quickly headed south when it comes to the type of neighborhood it is. Once a clean, working class community of brick row homes, Oxford Circle has become rough area with dirty streets and increasing crime rates.

Several long time residents of Oxford Circle have left the neighborhood because they no longer feel safe there. Or the appearance of the community is not what it used to be, yards are unkempt, houses are falling apart.
The local businesses are all closing up as well. The mom and pop shops the locals loved are no more, unable to keep afloat in the market. Those who are religious are finding many of their churches closing as a result of the change in the community.

Oxford Circle schools are also seeing an increase in crime on their campuses that eventually leads to the trash riddle streets. The future of neighborhood doesn’t look promising either with many people giving up and headed to other, less dangerous communities.

A majority of the current residents of Oxford Circle are renters. It’s a pretty inexpensive community to live in but that is also because of the cons of living there. Many of the houses are falling apart because they’re rented out by people who don’t care to people who don’t care. So, while it’s cheap to invest in property in Oxford Circle, it’s probably not really worth it.

Paschall is a neighborhood located in Southwest Philadelphia. It is an area known for its drug related activity more than anything else. But in the last year the neighborhood was marked as a place for renovation and was set to be known for a different kind of green, one that is better for the environment.

In 2010 the Philadelphia Housing Authority broke ground for the development and/or renovation of 1,200 houses in an attempt to improve the condition of the neighborhood. The public housing will be made of green technologies, meaning they’re safer for the earth. They will contain solar panels that will cut electricity bills in half.

Paschall is a lower income neighborhood with many residents on public assistance. As a result the living costs are cheap and property value is low. Of course the crime is still a large concern but the new construction of the housing community on Paschall Ave and the development of more open streets the city hopes to turn the once dangerous neighborhood into a thriving, safe area.
It is a course a work in progress, change doesn’t happen overnight. The neighborhood is still not the safest place in the city but it’s also not the worst.

There isn’t much going on in Rhawnhurst, the neighborhood located in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Most of the homes here were built in 1960s so they are ranch style or duplexes. This was to support the housing demand that occurred during the baby boom that followed World War II.

If you’re looking to shop then Rhawnhurst is not the place for you. There is next to nothing here in the way of shopping. There are a few shopping centers like Bell’s Corner but you’re better off traveling elsewhere. And if you’re traveling a car would probably be a good idea as public transportation isn’t all that great either. There are buses that will get you to the El but that’s going to take forever.

For the most part Rhawnhurst feels like a neighborhood that was left unfinished. It was started during a time where the interest in housing development was high and then it was left alone. It does have a variety of churches catering to most religions. And is relatively close to Pennypack Park, which is a great urban park that attracts a lot of visitors. The popular dog park, Bradford Park is also nearby so there is at least somewhere to go with your canine companion.

Tacony’s notable place in history is that it is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Philadelphia. Now of course what this means is that Tacony has undergone a lot of transformations over the years. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was once home to the wealthy and powerful families, now most of its residents fall in the lower to middle class income bracket.

The racially mixed neighborhood has a reputation of having a high volume of home invasions in addition to other crime, including drug dealing and prostitution. While some blocks are considerably nicer than others, Tacony for the most part is run down and not considered a safe area by many of the people who live there.

There is public transportation in the area but having a car is ideal especially if you want to travel to other parts of the city. Don’t worry about parking; there is plenty off street spots for that. However, there have also been a lot of complaints about cars being vandalized in the area, so park at your own risk.

Basically, Tacony is another one of those neighborhoods that you probably don’t want at the top of your list of places to move to or you at least want to plan accordingly and look for a house on one of the nicer blocks.

Do you like crime? Like watching stray dogs dig in the trash? If you answered “yes” then Wissinoming may be the place for you. The northeast Philadelphia neighborhood is steadily increasing in crime activity with no sign of improving anytime soon and more people are moving out of the area than to it.

Wissinoming wasn’t always a dead zone and you can see this in the sporadic well maintained homes throughout the neighborhood. These homes are few and far between so they stand out amongst the houses that are falling in around the people that inhabit them. A lot of this decay is blamed on absentee landlords who rent their property to irresponsible tenants.

As a result of the overgrown yards and dirty streets the property value of Wissinoming is low so it’s cheap to buy houses there. And there is plenty of property to buy; lots of the houses in the district are vacant.

Even the perks of living in the community, like cheap rent and easy access to I-95 can’t overshadow the negatives of Wissinoming. It’s gotten so bad that the residents there are more and more concerned to the point that they won’t let their children play outside in the front yard.

Sometimes the abundance of student residents prevents people from moving into an area. The current residents of Yorktown, a neighborhood south of the Temple University’s main campus were fully aware of that issue and did not want students over running their suburban-like neighborhood. In recent years they have been very vocal about their concerns.

Yorktown was one of the first neighborhood s of its kind, a suburban style, to be marketed to African Americans. Growing concern over student housing consuming the area eventually led to a zoning law prohibiting the development of student housing. Though there are still some houses occupied by students.

In addition to being located close to the main campus of Temple University, Yorktown is a neighborhood near many major public transportation routes such as the Broad Street line. Along the same lines because of being close to Temple there is also a lot of traffic and parking can be difficult because of students parking in the area.

Yorktown is holding strong to its working class roots and trying hard to avoid the gentrification that is taking over some other areas of the city. Though residents of the neighborhood are more concerned with people moving in and out of the district, they want a community of people who are interested in the neighborhood to inhabit it. As of now the cost of living in Yorktown is fairly reasonable.