Moving from Brooklyn to the Philly area...help!

**loveaduck** · 11-11-2010, 10:46 AM

Hi all,

I am currently living in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and I love it. I would like to find a comparable neighborhood in the Philadelphia area. I will be starting a job in southern NJ right at the Philly border. Also, does anyone have any suggestions if it would be better to live in PA or NJ?

Just as background, I have lived in NYC most of my life, except for a few years in Boston for college and a semester in London.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you so much!!!

**desolate** · 11-11-2010, 11:34 AM

Explain Carroll Gardens and what city in South Jersey.

**phillycat** · 11-11-2010, 12:13 PM

I lived in Park Slope and have spent a lot of time in Carroll Gardens.

I think a lot of the nicer Philly neighborhoods feel a lot like like brownstone brooklyn. Queen Village, Fitler Square, Fairmount, parts of Bella Vista.

If you are working in NJ, you may want to stay on the eastern side of the city, which probably narrow your range to be Queen Village/Bella Vista. Really great neighborhoods, but it can be challenging to have a car.

As everyone and their brother will tell you, if you live in Philly but work in NJ, you will have to pay Philly city taxes on your income, about 3.8%. But as a fellow New Yorker, you couldn't pay me to live in New Jersey. I think you would find living in the suburbs after Brooklyn, London and Boston kind of disconcerting.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 11-11-2010, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by phillycat

I lived in Park Slope and have spent a lot of time in Carroll Gardens.

I think a lot of the nicer Philly neighborhoods feel a lot like like brownstone brooklyn. Queen Village, Fitler Square, Fairmount, parts of Bella Vista.

If you are working in NJ, you may want to stay on the eastern side of the city, which probably narrow your range to be Queen Village/Bella Vista. Really great neighborhoods, but it can be challenging to have a car.

As everyone and their brother will tell you, if you live in Philly but work in NJ, you will have to pay Philly city taxes on your income, about 3.8%. But as a fellow New Yorker, you couldn't pay me to live in New Jersey. I think you would find living in the suburbs after Brooklyn, London and Boston kind of disconcerting.

Parking is far easier for some reason in Bella Vista than Queen Village, but spot on recommendations all around.

**newmarlig** · 11-11-2010, 03:37 PM

It would really help to know where in South Jersey. For instance if you will need a car, then Queen Village might be the best choice. But if you can use the NJ High Speed line, you may want to be in center city (Washington Square West).

**lastmonthsrent** · 11-11-2010, 06:53 PM

The only thing close in comparison in South Nj is Collingswood and Collingswood might even be more like the asthetic of Bay Ridge. Otherwise the suggestions above of Bella Vista/Queen Village/Washington Square best compare to Park Slope. Keep in mind you will be able to cover alot more ground and neighborhoods in Philadelphia comapared to Brooklyn because we are a smaller space here comapred to Brooklyn. As mentioned these east side neighborhoods will put you in good proximity to take the PATCO train over to South NJ.

You will notice the brownstones that comapre to Parkslope/Carrol Gardens throughout center city here at the end of the day but it will be beneficial to stay on the east side if you are planning on using the train line to get over to NJ.

**It'sJessMe** · 11-11-2010, 11:25 PM

In moved from Manhattan to Philly to work in Southern Jersey, in 2001 (after also going to college in Boston!), and it was a wonderful move. I'm in Queen Village and it really would be a great place. My commute was 25 minutes max, very little traffic, (and I passed a bunch of big grocery stores in NJ that I prefer shopping in to Philly ones). This is really a great neighborhood and location for you.

**Burholme06** · 11-12-2010, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by lastmonthsrent

it will be beneficial to stay on the east side if you are planning on using the train line to get over to NJ.

PATCO goes as far as 16th and Locust. In that regard, Rittenhouse is actually more convenient to take Patco than Queen Village where you would need to walk all the way up to 8th and Market or 9th and Locust.

**eldondre** · 11-12-2010, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by phillycat

I lived in Park Slope and have spent a lot of time in Carroll Gardens.

I think a lot of the nicer Philly neighborhoods feel a lot like like brownstone brooklyn. Queen Village, Fitler Square, Fairmount, parts of Bella Vista.

If you are working in NJ, you may want to stay on the eastern side of the city, which probably narrow your range to be Queen Village/Bella Vista. Really great neighborhoods, but it can be challenging to have a car.

As everyone and their brother will tell you, if you live in Philly but work in NJ, you will have to pay Philly city taxes on your income, about 3.8%. But as a fellow New Yorker, you couldn't pay me to live in New Jersey. I think you would find living in the suburbs after Brooklyn, London and Boston kind of disconcerting.

I don't think that's necessarily the case, spring garden/logan sq is right off 676 and really isn't much further considering you're due west of the ben franklin bridge.

**phillycat** · 11-12-2010, 10:19 AM

True, but 676 can be a nightmare and I dont think Spring Garden/Logan has the same intimate feel as the other neighborhoods. But it could be an option.

**eldondre** · 11-12-2010, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by phillycat

True, but 676 can be a nightmare and I dont think Spring Garden/Logan has the same intimate feel as the other neighborhoods. But it could be an option.

you can even stay on vine and get on the ben franklin near franklin sq and it's not too far. I don't know anything about carroll gardens but thought I'd add that (froam a transportation perspective) since I live down in SG. I don't think I realized it before living here. it doesn't have the feel of a queen village but it's improving. l'aube has been a great addition though I suspect things will really change when starr and vetri's places open. FWIW, there are NJT buses nearby that leave from Broad and Vine

**desolate** · 11-12-2010, 12:12 PM

We stilldon't know where the poster works so it's pretty hard to recommend options.

If you don't work right along Patco in NJ there's no real reason to live by it on the Philly side.

**billy ross** · 11-12-2010, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by phillycat

I lived in Park Slope and have spent a lot of time in Carroll Gardens.

I think a lot of the nicer Philly neighborhoods feel a lot like like brownstone brooklyn. Queen Village, Fitler Square, Fairmount, parts of Bella Vista.

If you are working in NJ, you may want to stay on the eastern side of the city, which probably narrow your range to be Queen Village/Bella Vista. Really great neighborhoods, but it can be challenging to have a car.

As everyone and their brother will tell you, if you live in Philly but work in NJ, you will have to pay Philly city taxes on your income, about 3.8%. But as a fellow New Yorker, you couldn't pay me to live in New Jersey. I think you would find living in the suburbs after Brooklyn, London and Boston kind of disconcerting.

Jersey's taxes are no slouch. Since Philly is flat tax land and Jersey uses a sliding scale, as income goes up Philly actually becomes cheaper. I don't think that the difference, in the end, is enough to get worked up about.

If the OP is working near the High Speed Line it may make sense to live near the Locust Street Subway (i.e. the portion of the High Speed Line south of Market in Philly).

**billy ross** · 11-12-2010, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by phillycat

True, but 676 can be a nightmare and I dont think Spring Garden/Logan has the same intimate feel as the other neighborhoods. But it could be an option.

I like the feel of Spring Garden more than I like the feel of Fairmount. SG's generally much grander and prettier.

**billy ross** · 11-12-2010, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by desolate

We stilldon't know where the poster works so it's pretty hard to recommend options.

If you don't work right along Patco in NJ there's no real reason to live by it on the Philly side.

Haddonfield, Westmont, and Collingswood are all fairly close to the Cooper River Park, and all three stops are generally a pleasant walk or jog from the Cooper River Park area. If the OP works in Cherry Hill or Pennsauken close to the Cooper River Park, it still may be advantageous to live near the PATCO, since on pleasant days the car can be left at the shop or lent out to a friend and the OP wouldn't be left stuck in getting to and from work.

Similarly, if the OP works in the tourist section of Camden's waterfront, the ferry, which runs in the warm months, may be a viable alternative to driving every day, so living where access to the Philly side of the ferry is easy would make sense.

**loveaduck** · 11-13-2010, 04:53 PM

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I will definitely look into some of the neighborhoods suggested. I will clarify some things, first, I will need to buy a car for the move, I will need to be traveling from Southern NJ, in Gloucester County to several places right outside Philly. But my main office will be in NJ where I will be spending the bulk of my time. And as Phillycat mentioned, as a New Yorker, I really don't want to live in NJ. I thought as a good transition from NY, I should live in the city before maybe branching out into suburbia.

**phillycat** · 11-13-2010, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by loveaduck

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I will definitely look into some of the neighborhoods suggested. I will clarify some things, first, I will need to buy a car for the move, I will need to be traveling from Southern NJ, in Gloucester County to several places right outside Philly. But my main office will be in NJ where I will be spending the bulk of my time. And as Phillycat mentioned, as a New Yorker, I really don't want to live in NJ. I thought as a good transition from NY, I should live in the city before maybe branching out into suburbia.

It's a little easier to commute by car from Philly's neighborhoods than it would be in Brooklyn, but not much. There's no alternate side of the street parking, but unless you are in a permit zone finding parking at night in a lot of neighborhoods can be pretty challenging. If I had to drive every day I would spring for a garage spot.

Since it sounds like you have a relatively long drive into Jersey, I think Queen Village/Bella Vista would be best for you, so you can jump right onto one of the bridges. Definitely come visit and tour around. The NYC to Philly transition takes a bit of adjustment, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lower cost of living, more mellow pace, and general neighborlyness. Welcome.

**It'sJessMe** · 11-13-2010, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by phillycat

Definitely come visit and tour around. The NYC to Philly transition takes a bit of adjustment, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lower cost of living, more mellow pace, and general neighborlyness. Welcome.

The transition took me about 30 seconds. And it took my husband - who never wanted to leave NYC and thought he'd go back at least once a month - about 3 days. He's been back maybe 5 times in 10 years. But otherwise I agree completely - come visit, and you'll enjoy all the other benefits. (We bought our 3 BR house with garage and garden for exactly the amount I sold my UWS 1BR for.)

**Townleybomb** · 11-14-2010, 12:39 AM

I second Bella Vista and Queen Village, and would recommend looking further down in South Philadelphia as well. I've lived in the Italian Market/Passyunk Avenue area since I moved back here and wouldn't live anywhere else. There are plenty of great neighborhoods further south as well (which would probably be very convenient for you if you're crossing the Walt Whitman bridge for work). Although I'm car-free, I imagine that owning a car is less of a headache the further south you go, and your housing dollar will go a lot farther as well!

**desolate** · 11-15-2010, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by loveaduck

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I will definitely look into some of the neighborhoods suggested. I will clarify some things, first, I will need to buy a car for the move, I will need to be traveling from Southern NJ, in Gloucester County to several places right outside Philly. But my main office will be in NJ where I will be spending the bulk of my time. And as Phillycat mentioned, as a New Yorker, I really don't want to live in NJ. I thought as a good transition from NY, I should live in the city before maybe branching out into suburbia.

It's "south jersey" down here and Gloucester's kinda big.

Be warned, Friday afternoons in the summer the entire city tries to squeeze onto the N/S Freeway (ROute 42/295 area)

Driving back and forth you will need to get an DRPA EZ-Pass for bridge tolls. Commutters get a discount.

I would not live in Philadelphia at first.

They will charge you 3% to "live there" when it seems you won't really ever be there except for visits.

Move to Haddonfield or possible Collingswood. Haddonfield is possilby one of the nicest towns in the country. (officially)

There are also some great luxary apartment complexes areound Deptford Mall that would give you excellent highway access to NJ and Philly.