Newbold

[WillABro]

These two have been real helpful with me finding a new place to live:


City of Philadelphia: Map

Zillow - Real Estate, Homes for Sale, Recent Sales, Apartment Rentals


The first one gives you access to know what is renting out the places in the area and other fun stuff like who if fixing up what there...The second one tells you the prices of housing in the area plus when the houses were bought and for how much and if there are any foreclosures..

This is really helpful if you can physically go to these areas anytime soon...

Thanks for the links.

[Naveen]

I didn't realize you'd be renting. If that's the case, there's really no need to be in Point Breeze or Newbold. Basically, if you're north of Washington Ave. you're ok. If you're to the south of Washington Ave., then stay to the east side of Broad St. There are parts south of Washington and east of Broad that can be sketchy (say, 7th and Tasker), but do the Google Streetview and you'll be ok. Passyunk Square (where I lived until about 6 mo's ago) is awesome.

One additional question that could open up a big bag of worms: where are you going to send your son to school? Are you thinking public, private, or home?

The urban / suburban divide in Cincinnati is horrendous. I have never seen such a nasty divide.

As OffenseTaken said, there is an urban/suburban divide here too, but absolutely nothing like in Cincinnati. Compared to Cincinnati, our suburbanites adore the city.

[WillABro]

One additional question that could open up a big bag of worms: where are you going to send your son to school? Are you thinking public, private, or home?

Public. My wife is keeping tabs on the catchment maps and checking into them as neighborhoods come onto our radar. I am the meat head who would look into a rougher neighborhood where she would have us in Rittenhouse Square. I think Passyunk Square may be a good compromise. ;-)

[lastmonthsrent]

It should be pointed out that while Newbold is further developed than Point Breeze mainly by virtue of encompassing a smaller area closer to Broad, the perception that it is far less prone to crime is a little misguided. There have been a few incidents recently around 15th-16th and Federal, which is solidly in the Newbold area, but when those events are reported they always get reported as Point Breeze. People who are going to commit a crime don't worry about crossing invisible neighborhood lines.

A few other examples in Newbold where it doesn't get the negative affiliation, though there are many more:
Man shot in Point Breeze, 2 arrested in connection with shooting

Man hospitalized in Point Breeze shooting

I'm a big booster for both Newbold and greater Point Breeze, but I always tell people, especially those with young children, that they should get a feel for Philly before diving in headfirst to the area. There is a ton of upside to a family owning a home in the neighborhood, but much less upside to one renting. As far as the cost of buying, there are certainly some great deals in the area, but when you start getting into the upper tier of properties over $200,000, to be perfectly honest there are plenty of other stabler, more developed, safer neighborhoods where you can pay the same price in South Philly.

Federal steet is not Newbold. Newbold begins at Reed St. Anything North of Reed and West of 16th is Point Breeze. back to the earlier point Newbold as a neighborhood is an invented name inspired by the original name for Hicks St. At the end of the day it's all really Point Breeze.

[hubba1]

Federal steet is not Newbold. Newbold begins at Reed St. Anything North of Reed and West of 16th is Point Breeze. back to the earlier point Newbold as a neighborhood is an invented name inspired by the original name for Hicks St. At the end of the day it's all really Point Breeze.

I still disagree with "it's all point breeze" and "it was all called point breeze before" Growing up in, what is now considered Passyunk Square, and now living in Newbold, on 15th and Mifflin, I NEVER heard or called 15th and Tasker, or 16th and McKean Point breeze... it was just "the other side of broad", but Point Breeze was always known as starting up a few blocks, around 18th or so... but never heard anyone in South Philly consider 15th street a part of Point Breeze.

[2happy4u]

I still disagree with "it's all point breeze" and "it was all called point breeze before" Growing up in, what is now considered Passyunk Square, and now living in Newbold, on 15th and Mifflin, I NEVER heard or called 15th and Tasker, or 16th and McKean Point breeze... it was just "the other side of broad", but Point Breeze was always known as starting up a few blocks, around 18th or so... but never heard anyone in South Philly consider 15th street a part of Point Breeze.

Who invented passyunk sq.? People on this side called it the other side of broad, people on that side called it PB.

[CHIOSSO]

I love all the phoney baloney names, and the phoney people who use them.

[Naveen]

I love all the phoney baloney names, and the phoney people who use them.

Names in general are phoney, and often times even baloney. I think every person should be referred to as "that guy" or "that girl" (older people can be "that man" or "that woman"). And every place should be called "over there" or "around here" (you can also be more specific and say things like "where I'm from" or "that county to the east"). It will put a stop to all the phoney baloney-ness that pervades "this city".

[WillABro]

I assume all the names, new or old, are designated to sell real estate at some point or another.

[Giavella Water]

I assume all the names, new or old, are designated to sell real estate at some point or another.

Of course. There is/was a section of Philly that was known as the Badlands for all the reasons you can imagine. I haven't heard the term used for a few yrs. now. But do you think any development would occur in an area with such a name even if it wasn't an official name?

[CHIOSSO]

Or you could say I live in south philly.

[WillABro]

Of course. There is/was a section of Philly that was known as the Badlands for all the reasons you can imagine. I haven't heard the term used for a few yrs. now. But do you think any development would occur in an area with such a name even if it wasn't an official name?

I watched some older youtube videos on the badlands. Very heart breaking.

[JerzBoy]

The area of Newbold you would want to consider would probably be south of either Moore or Morris Streets and east of 16th street. Basically, the closer to the South Philly Taproom and Brew/Ultimo, the better. That area is relatively safe and you are less than 3 blocks away from all the action on East Passyunk Ave with lower housing costs and slightly easier parking.

[WillABro]

The area of Newbold you would want to consider would probably be south of either Moore or Morris Streets and east of 16th street. Basically, the closer to the South Philly Taproom and Brew/Ultimo, the better. That area is relatively safe and you are less than 3 blocks away from all the action on East Passyunk Ave with lower housing costs and slightly easier parking.

Now that's good info. I would be amenable to saving a couple hundred dollars a month in rent to be in a decent area that hasn't gone trendy yet. Of course for me it all comes down to catchment as well, I will have to look at the catchment map. Thanks.

[OffenseTaken]

Of course. There is/was a section of Philly that was known as the Badlands for all the reasons you can imagine. I haven't heard the term used for a few yrs. now. But do you think any development would occur in an area with such a name even if it wasn't an official name?

The only time I've ever heard that used was when a neighbor of mine caught someone trying to steal his bike, and he shouted at him to "go back to the Badlands" (among other things).

[CHIOSSO]

The badlands name was a news media concoction.

[JerzBoy]

Now that's good info. I would be amenable to saving a couple hundred dollars a month in rent to be in a decent area that hasn't gone trendy yet. Of course for me it all comes down to catchment as well, I will have to look at the catchment map. Thanks.

I believe that area is zoned for Girard Elementary which I don't know much about. You aren't bound solely to your neighborhood school though. Most schools will take out of catchment kids if they have the space available (Andrew Jackson and AS Jenks are fairly close-by elementary schools with decent reputations). Plus you also have the charter school option.

[Oladybug]

I love all the phoney baloney names, and the phoney people who use them.

I can tell you that the name East Passyunk Crossing happened in '06 when a group of neighbors banded together to try to make it a cleaner and safer neighborhood. Since then, many dedicated EPX volunteers have been putting in lots of time and money and effort to do just that. I wish more of my neighbors would have this kind of civic pride.

[paulnkathy]

First, thanks for the reply. I haven't drilled down to specific blocks just yet. I do see a lot of scumbag landlords/realtors advertising Point Breeze and calling it new bold. I mean way west of 18th street. Anywho, just learning the lay of the land. Thanks again.

WillABro, I'm a "scumbag realtor" who recently purchased a home in Newbold with my wife. I guess I'm fortunate in that I don't believe my family or my clients think I'm a scumbag, but who knows? Anyway, good luck in your relo to Philly, but watch out. There are a couple thousand of us scumbags living and working here, and contributing to our communities.

[paulnkathy]

First, thanks for the reply. I haven't drilled down to specific blocks just yet. I do see a lot of scumbag landlords/realtors advertising Point Breeze and calling it new bold. I mean way west of 18th street. Anywho, just learning the lay of the land. Thanks again.

WilABro, I also forgot, I also hold a leadership post in our volunteer civic association, giving many hours of my time. I hope those people don't figure out that I'm a "scumbag realtor"