Packard Motor Car Building (Spring Garden/Fairmount)

[Flipadelphia]

I posted here a couple months back regarding my wife and I moving to Philadelphia next month. We did the apartment hunt thing today and really liked what we saw at the Packard Motor Car Building at 317 North Broad Street. I realize it's sort of in the middle of nowhere, especially compared to the Rittenhouse area and other spots south of Market, but it seems like that area of North Broad, up through the 600 block with Osteria and the newer restaurants next door, is getting busier and more developed.

Basically, this is your chance to convince us not to rent there. Whether there are safety concerns in the immediate area, potential problems in my wife walking from there to Jefferson and back for work early in the morning and around 5-6 p.m. or if you just have horror stories about that particular building, please let me know. Likewise, if you have positive comments about the area, building or otherwise, I'd appreciate it if you shared those, as well.

On a related note, how secure would we feel walking back from a restaurant or bar near Rittenhouse back to the Packard late at night? With all the businesses in the area, I have to think that area could get relatively deserted as the night goes on. Lastly, if anyone has any thoughts on Packard's location, features, etc. relative to its sister properties, The Metropolitan or Lofts on Logan, I welcome them. We also liked certain things about those buildings.

Thanks a lot.

[newphil]

Have you seen this?

Philadelphia County Safety Map - Google Maps

[GStanza]

stay in suburbia if you are worried about 'safety' -- its philly, its north broad... you need common sense to live in philly, no matter where you are, if you are paranoid and saftey consious you will mark yourself as a target for crime and personal harm -- if you cant be a big boi and take care of yourself and your woman at night - again I truly recomend suburbia...VERY 'safe'...

[BeckyJ]

stay in suburbia if you are worried about 'safety' -- its philly, its north broad... you need common sense to live in philly, no matter where you are, if you are paranoid and saftey consious you will mark yourself as a target for crime and personal harm -- if you cant be a big boi and take care of yourself and your woman at night - again I truly recomend suburbia...VERY 'safe'...

Not very useful. Next time you have a thought about responding, you should probably just let it go.

OP - Pay attention to your surroundings; don't walk around with your iPod or phone out and in your ears. I don't know about the building itself, but the area is fine, if, as you noted, a bit off the beaten path. I think you'd be fine.

[eldondre]

I posted here a couple months back regarding my wife and I moving to Philadelphia next month. We did the apartment hunt thing today and really liked what we saw at the Packard Motor Car Building at 317 North Broad Street. I realize it's sort of in the middle of nowhere, especially compared to the Rittenhouse area and other spots south of Market, but it seems like that area of North Broad, up through the 600 block with Osteria and the newer restaurants next door, is getting busier and more developed.

Basically, this is your chance to convince us not to rent there. Whether there are safety concerns in the immediate area, potential problems in my wife walking from there to Jefferson and back for work early in the morning and around 5-6 p.m. or if you just have horror stories about that particular building, please let me know. Likewise, if you have positive comments about the area, building or otherwise, I'd appreciate it if you shared those, as well.

On a related note, how secure would we feel walking back from a restaurant or bar near Rittenhouse back to the Packard late at night? With all the businesses in the area, I have to think that area could get relatively deserted as the night goes on. Lastly, if anyone has any thoughts on Packard's location, features, etc. relative to its sister properties, The Metropolitan or Lofts on Logan, I welcome them. We also liked certain things about those buildings.

Thanks a lot.

I lived there about ten years ago and never had any issues coming home. we usually took broad st which is well lit and trafficked, with the hospital there, there are usually some people around. as for the packard, the south side could get pretty hot in the summer with those big windows (on the flipside, we didn't use the heat much in the winter). I understand they've been redone since then though. there's more to do nearby now (prohibition taproom, the restaurants on north broad) and chinatown is very close...especially the competing vietnamese restaurants on 11th, and of course, the terminal is a very short walk.

[Malloy]

Agreed. The area is not bad, but rest assured it is improving on Broad, both N and S of the apt building.

Not very useful. Next time you have a thought about responding, you should probably just let it go.

OP - Pay attention to your surroundings; don't walk around with your iPod or phone out and in your ears. I don't know about the building itself, but the area is fine, if, as you noted, a bit off the beaten path. I think you'd be fine.

[Hospitalitygirl]

I lived there about ten years ago and never had any issues coming home. we usually took broad st which is well lit and trafficked, with the hospital there, there are usually some people around. as for the packard, the south side could get pretty hot in the summer with those big windows (on the flipside, we didn't use the heat much in the winter). I understand they've been redone since then though. there's more to do nearby now (prohibition taproom, the restaurants on north broad) and chinatown is very close...especially the competing vietnamese restaurants on 11th, and of course, the terminal is a very short walk.

Good points here; if you like the building and exercise all of the normal safety habits one should in any city, you'll be fine.

[radiocolin]

Friends lived there for a few months. They enjoyed it but thought it was a little pricey. Good area, easy to get to stuff, BSL is right there.