Archive for the ‘Graduate Hospital’ Category
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Even though the real estate market has been tumultuous for many recently, Philadelphia somehow seems to be doing much better compared to most other parts of the country. The local market has some activity, as in housing is being purchased and seeing increases. Additionally, construction of new single-family homes continues to go up, especially in the suburbs.
One point of prosperity in the Philly real estate market lies in the increase in existing home sales into December. December 2011 took in about five more percent of existing sales than December 2010 did. Sales from the end of last year thus far have been positive. This is something the housing market needs momentously. Thus far in 2012, there hasn’t been a significant increase in homes purchased but there is certainly a growing interest in property expected to take place.
On the seller’s side, there is hope that rising apartment rental rates could drive some potential buyers back into the fold in 2012. The average rental rate for all Philadelphia apartments has gone up nearly eight percent in the last year alone. This equals an increase of nearly $80 in the past year alone. The thought is that those individuals or couples on the fence about renting and buying could take a more serious look at buying, especially with today’s mortgage rates.
Reports have shown that mortgage rates have been hitting record lows throughout the country, as well as here in Philadelphia, which is certainly inviting for potential buyers. Right now, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is coming with 4.007 APR. With mortgage rates being this low and rentals continuing to increase in price, there is hope that some buyers will begin to see the benefits of buying in early 2012.
Right now, Philadelphia’s top selling areas have remained the northwestern and western areas of Center City. However, other parts of Philadelphia have retained their value attracting buyers and keeping the market going.
Right now, the big issue the city faces is sale prices, specifically for sellers. It is important to note that even though sales prices have dropped in this area, they have not plummeted as much as other cities across the country.
Rittenhouse Square, in western Center City, continues to show strength
In the coming months, there is reason to be optimistic that these prices can get a small pickup. Median prices were down about six percent in December from the previous year, but this could have been expected. The months of November and December are generally regarded as slow months for real estate anyway, but the numbers shouldn’t have too heavy an impact on the rest of the first quarter of 2012.
A glance at the early trends in 2012 Philadelphia real estate is truly a mixed bag right now. Coming off the month of December is usually not pretty for any market; however, the Philly market has looked rather stable in the early part of the year. Regardless, it should remain to be seen if factors such as mortgage rates, rising rental rates and an increase in existing home sales can positively influence the market for both buyers and sellers throughout the first half of 2012.
–By Emma Crawford, special to PhillyLiving.com
Tags: coldwell banker preferred, noah ostroff, Philly Living, Philly Living Blog
Posted in Art Museum, Bella Vista, Buying a Home, Center City, Chestnut Hill, Conventional Loans, East Falls, Fairmount, FHA, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Loft District, Logan Square, Market stats, Mortgages, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Point Breeze, Queen Village, Rentals, Rittenhouse Square, Roxborough, Selling your home, Society Hill, South Philly, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
On the whole, it’s still a good time to buy if you are in the market for real estate in Philadelphia. But some market conditions are beginning to trend more favorably for sellers as well.
That’s our reading of the data in the latest Philly Living Market Action Report. Our quarterly guide to real estate market trends in Center City and surrounding Philadelphia neighborhoods offers grounds for cautious optimism in the months to come. While sales volume is down for the quarter relative to the previous year, it is up significantly from the previous month and quarter, running counter to the usual end-of-year downturn. The average selling price for homes in Center City and environs rose significantly from last quarter and one year ago, while the median selling price fell slightly in both cases. This suggests that buyers on the whole are still looking for value, even though a few opted for properties at the upper end of the scale.
In terms of prices, the highest prices continue to be commanded in the city’s two most desirable neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square (19103) and Chestnut Hill (19118). Worth noting, however, is a continued, sustained upward trend in median selling prices in Southwest Center City and Point Breeze (19146), reflecting especially increased activity in the latter neighborhood.
Inventory continues to decline, offering the prospect of better prices for sellers in the months to come, but days on market rose slightly, suggesting buyers are still waiting sellers out. Sale price-to-list price ratio also dropped slightly from last year and last quarter but held steady from the previous month.
For full details on activity in Philadelphia’s neighborhood housing markets, request a copy of the latest Market Action Report at phillyliving.com/reports.
Philadelphia street scene by Adam Jones, Ph.D., used under a Creative Commons license
Posted in Art Museum, Articles, Bella Vista, Buying a Home, Center City, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Loft District, Logan Square, Luxury Homes, Market stats, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Point Breeze, Queen Village, Rittenhouse Square, Roxborough, Selling your home, Society Hill, South Philly, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
In case you have been living under a rock, the Center City District’s semi-annual Restaurant Week is just around the corner. Actually, “Restaurant Week” is now a misnomer – this popular event, now in its 10th year, runs for two weeks – from Jan. 22-27 and Jan. 29-Feb. 3 for the winter edition. (Another two-week Restaurant Week takes place in the fall.)
Maybe we could dine at Osteria for $65 a head, but we doubt we could get out of Le Bec-Fin for that little.
Philadelphia-area food lovers devour this event, and with good reason: more than 100 of Center City’s best restaruants offer special three-course prix fixe menus for just $35 for dinner – and many of them also offer special $20 lunch menus. (Tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages are not included in the package deal.) For adventurous diners, Restaurant Week offers a chance to sample unusual fare and high-end dining experiences ($35 for dinner at Le Bec-Fin? Sign us up!) they might not otherwise consider.
The event draws large crowds to the participating restaurants. Many restaurateurs love Restaurant Week for the exposure it gives their restaurants to new patrons. So does the Center City District. Echoing economic development officials in other cities that run such events, the CCD’s Kristen Linker told Forbes last fall, “Since its inception in 2003, Center City District Restaurant Week has generated over $23.9 million in additional revenues for the restaurants and pumped over $90.7 million into Center City Philadelphia’s economy.”
Not among the fans, however, is Marc Vetri, quite possibly the most celebrated chef in Philadelphia today. In a status update on his Facebook page, Vetri said that the discount dining deal really isn’t that much of one, especially after figuring in the wine, tax and tip. You could dine at his Osteria restaurant in Fairmount, he said, for about what the Restaurant Week special would run per person after throwing in all the rest. (The full text of his complaint can be found on Foobooz.) Add the crowds and the harried waitstaff to that, he said, and you might be better off dining at the restaurant of your choice on a normal night.
To some, these are fighting words. To others, Vetri has revealed the emperor has no clothes. What do you think? Share your comments here.
–By Sandy Smith
Photo of Le Bec-Fin by TexasDex from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons Share-Alike 3.0 license
Tags: coldwell banker preferred, marc vetri, noah ostroff, philadelphia real estate, philadelphia restaurants, restaurant week, restaurants in philadelphia
Posted in Articles, Center City, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Logan Square, Old City, Philadelphia real estate, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
There are now 76 markets where the real estate picture is expected to look better in the months to come, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index, released Jan. 9. The Philadelphia real estate market is one of those 76.
The addition of 40 metro areas to the monthly list of improving markets suggests that the fitful housing market recovery is spreading beyond the smaller markets that were not as heavily affected by the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008. Last month, there were 41 cities on the list. (Five of those – Anchorage, Alaska; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Canton, Ohio; Scranton, Pa., and Charleston, W. Va. – dropped off the list.)
“While relatively small metropolitan areas continue to dominate the list of improving housing markets, it’s important to note that several major metros in diverse parts of the country have now joined the field as well – including such metros as Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Nashville and Philadelphia,”NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said in a news release. “This is an encouraging sign that gradually strengthening economic conditions are starting to take hold across a broader swath of America.”
The NAHB and title insurer First American base the index on trends in three categories: employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and growth in single-family housing construction permits from the U.S. Census Bureau. A metro area that has had six consecutive months of growth from a prior trough in all three areas gets added to the index.
What does this mean for you, the Philadelphia home owner or buyer? If you are in the latter camp, we suggest you accelerate your house-hunting timetable if you can. While home price growth is forecast to be modest for the year ahead, prices are expected to rise, and that means that you are more likely to get the home you want at a great price now than later. If you are a home owner, talk with your Realtor about the ideal time to put your home on the market if you are still weighing your options. Our team of real estate experts can assist you in determining when and how to best take advantage of a rising market.
Tags: buying a home in philadelphia, center city real estate, coldwell banker preferred, living in philly, noah ostroff, philadelphia real estate
Posted in Art Museum, Articles, Bella Vista, Buying a Home, Center City, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Loft District, Logan Square, Market stats, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Point Breeze, Queen Village, Rittenhouse Square, Roxborough, Selling your home, Society Hill, South Philly, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Location: 801 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Enrollment: 705 students in grades K-9 in 2010-11
Student-teacher ratio: 19.7 in 2010
Demographics: African-American, 99%; White, 0%; Asian, <1%; Latino, <1; all others, <1%. 99% of Russell Byers students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Metrics:
Attendance rate (2010-11) 94%.
PSSA performance (2011, percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced):
| Subject |
This School |
District Public Schools |
State |
| Math |
64.3% |
58.6% |
77.1% |
| Reading |
60.3% |
52.0% |
73.5% |
| Science |
48.6% |
34.8% |
60.9% |
| Writing |
69.4% |
51.2% |
75.0% |
Profile: The Universal Institute Charter School’s curriculum is based on the School District of Philadelphia’s Core Curriculum, employs a project-based approach to learning and emphasizes career readiness, civic responsibility and community involvement. UICS uses the “School to Career” model to structure its instructional program; the model is a K-12 program that is designed “to prepare students for success in the world of work, further education, employment, enterpreneurship and/or service to the community.” UICS also draws on community resources and institutions in its Graduate Hospital-area neighborhood to enrich its offerings.
Tags: 19146, best places to live, education, graduate hospital area schools, living in philly, philadelphia charter schools, philadelphia real estate, philadelphia schools, schools in 19146
Posted in Articles, Buying a Home, Center City, Graduate Hospital, Schools | No Comments »
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Location: 1600 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Enrollment: 746 students in grades K-8 in 2010-11
Student-teacher ratio: 12.4 in 2010
Demographics: African-American, 54.4%; White, 24.5%; Asian, 3.8%; Latino, 12.9%; all others, 4.4%. 46% of Independence students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Metrics:
Attendance rate (2010-11) 96%.
PSSA performance (2011, percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced):
| Subject |
This School |
District Public Schools |
State |
| Math |
78.3% |
58.6% |
77.1% |
| Reading |
69.3% |
52.0% |
73.5% |
| Science |
69.5% |
34.8% |
60.9% |
| Writing |
81.1% |
51.2% |
75.0% |
Profile: Independence Charter School was founded in 2001 by a group of parents and community members committed to raising their children in Philadelphia. The school’s curriculum aims to produce, in the words of the school’s mission, “independent, thoughtful global citizens” by incorporating ideas and cultures of the world and second language acquisition into the curriculum. All Independence students take Spanish classes in one of two programs (enhanced or immersion) each year; starting with the sixth grade, students are introduced to Arabic as well. The school takes advantage of its Center City location near the Avenue of the Arts to incorporate the resources of the city’s many cultural institutions into its curriculum through field trips and classroom work. The school accepts students from all over the city; admission is by a blind lottery conducted each fall.
Tags: 19146, best places to live, buying a home in philadelphia, center city real estate, charter schools in philadelphia, independence charter school, living in philly, philadelphia real estate, philadelphia schools, schools in 19146, schools in graduate hospital, schools in philadelphia
Posted in Articles, Center City, Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Pages, Philadelphia real estate, Schools | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
Location: 1700 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Enrollment: 233 students in grades K-8 in 2011-12
Student-teacher ratio: 12.3 in 2010
Demographics: African-American, 87.6%; White, 0.9%; Asian, 0.9%; Latino, 5.2%; all others, 5.6%. 3.9% of Stanton students are classified as gifted, and 12.9% have learning disabilities. 89.2% are economically disadvantaged, and 1.3% are learning English as a second language.
Attendance area: The Stanton attendance area includes the southeast quarter of the Graduate Hospital area. It is bounded on the north by South Street, on the east by Broad Street, on the south by Federal Street and on the west by 18th Street below Washington Avenue and 19th Street above it.
Metrics:
Attendance rate (2010-11) 92.3%.
PSSA performance (2011, percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced):
| Subject |
School |
District |
State |
| Math |
73.9% |
58.6% |
77.1% |
| Reading |
75.4% |
52.0% |
73.5% |
| Science |
42.1% |
34.8% |
60.9% |
| Writing |
87.3% |
51.2% |
75.0% |
Profile: Named for the man who served as Secretary of War in the Lincoln and Andrew Johnson administrations, Edwin M. Stanton School features a curriculum that focuses on the cultural arts, and its effectiveness is reflected in the school’s performance on the PSSA reading and writing tests, where Stanton students outperform state averages. Music, art, drama and dance are the keys used at Stanton to unlock knowledge of the world’s various cultures. The school’s Home and School Association is community-focused, sponsoring activities like Thanksgiving basket donations, a winter coat drive and a holiday spirit drive for needy families in the community.
Note: The School District of Philadelphia has proposed that Stanton School be closed as of fall 2012. Students in its attendance area would attend either Chester A. Arthur or George W. Childs schools.
Tags: 19146, buying a home in philadelphia, education, living in philly
Posted in Articles, Buying a Home, Center City, Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Pages, Philadelphia real estate, Schools | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Location: 2200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Enrollment: 520 students in grades K-8 in 2011-12
Student-teacher ratio: 13.8 in 2010
Demographics: African-American, 47.1%; White, 33.5%; Asian, 7.5%; Latino, 4.2%; all others, 7.7%. 9.8% of Greenfield students are classified as gifted, and 16.5% have learning disabilities. 57.7% are economically disadvantaged, and 1.5% are learning English as a second language.
Attendance area: The Greenfield attendance area includes the residential portion of Logan Square, Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square and the northern part of the Graduate Hospital area (Southwest Center City). It is bounded on the north by the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on the south by Bainbridge Street, on the east by Broad Street and on the west by the Schuylkill.
Metrics:
Attendance rate (2010) 94.5%.
PSSA performance (2011, percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced):
| Subject |
School |
District |
State |
| Math |
71.6% |
58.6% |
77.1% |
| Reading |
67.9% |
52.0% |
73.5% |
| Science |
60.2% |
34.8% |
60.9% |
| Writing |
58.3% |
51.2% |
75.0% |
Profile: Named for a longtime Philadelphia real estate titan and champion of intergroup harmony, Albert M. Greenfield School prides itself on its ethnic and economic diversity and its academic excellence. The school consistently ranks among the better elementary schools in the city and well outperforms its demographically similar peers. The school is well equipped, with computer access in every classroom, two computer labs, two science labs and a state-of-the-art library. Greenfield students benefit from several curriculum reform programs, including Core Knowledge, Mathematics in Context, and Mathland, and go on to attend some of the city’s most academically rigorous and challenging high schools. Greenfield has an active and involved Home and School Association that works to incorporate the region’s artistic, cultural and historic resources into the school’s curriculum and activities. The school also provides a wealth of extra-curricular activities, including Scrabble Club, Homework Club, Science Club, Health Club, Art Club, Yoga Club, Spanish Club, String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Newspaper, Yearbook, American Girl Club, Business Club, Student Council, Learning Club, Safety Patrol, Sports Club, Kickball, Chess Club and Math 24 Club.
Tags: 19103, 19130, 19146, Albert M. Greenfield School, buying a home in philadelphia, education, greenfield school, greenfield school district, living in philly, philadelphia real estate, philadelphia schools, schools in graduate hospital, schools in philadelphia, schools in rittenhouse square
Posted in Art Museum, Articles, Buying a Home, Center City, Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Pages, Philadelphia real estate, Rittenhouse Square, Schools | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Location: 2000 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Enrollment: 194 students in grades K-8 in 2011-12
Student-teacher ratio: 9.0 in 2010
Demographics: African-American, 86.1%; White, 1%; Asian, 2.1%; Latino, 5.2%; all others, 5.7%. 1% of Arthur students are classified as gifted, and 22.2% have learning disabilities. 89.2% are economically disadvantaged, and 2.6% are learning English as a second language.
Attendance area: The Arthur attendance area takes in most of Southwest Center City and the southern portion of the Graduate Hospital area. It is bounded on the north by Bainbridge Street, on the east by 19th Street, on the south by Washington Avenue and on the west by the Schuylkill.
Metrics:
Attendance rate (2010-11) 93.3%.
PSSA performance (2011, percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced):
| Subject |
School |
District |
State |
| Math |
60.3% |
58.6% |
77.1% |
| Reading |
50.4% |
52.0% |
73.5% |
| Science |
55.5% |
34.8% |
60.9% |
| Writing |
54.3% |
51.2% |
75.0% |
Profile: Named for the 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur School is the smallest of the schools serving greater Center City and has the lowest student-teacher ratio of any Center City public school. School facilities include three courtyards for recreation, a community garden, a science lab and a technology lab. The school’s Staff Mentoring Program pairs teachers with students in need of additional adult guidance and support. Arthur offers a before-school program and extra-curricular activities that include Health Club, Girls Club, Arts Club, Yearbook, Math 24 Club, Early Elementary Math Club and Reading Club. The Police Athletic League, which is housed in the school building, provides after-school recreational activities to students free of charge.
Tags: 19146, buying a home in philadelphia, center city real estate, living in philly, Philly Living
Posted in Articles, Center City, Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Pages, Philadelphia real estate, Schools | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Contrary to the conventional wisdom on the subject, cities are great places to raise children. In addition to the lessons they learn in class, they get exposure to a host of real-world sights, sounds and experiences that will stay with them for life. Good city schools capitalize on this potential by bringing the community into the classroom through partnerships and special programs.
If you are considering buying a home in Philadelphia, you have many options for educating your child. Greater Center City contains within its borders outstanding public, charter, parochial and private schools, each with their own unique strengths. Our School Report Card series is designed to help you make informed choices about the best places for you to live in Center City if your children are part of the picture.
Each Report Card contains data on demographics, attendance, enrollment, student-teacher ratios and academic performance as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests where available. School profiles contain information on areas of academic emphasis, special programs offered, community and parent involvement and extracurricular activities. Use the links below to read about each school:
Elementary Schools
Public Schools: Chester A. Arthur, Bache-Martin, Albert M. Greenfield, Andrew Jackson, Gen. Philip Kearny, Gen. George A. McCall, William M. Meredith, George W. Nebinger, Spring Garden, Edwin M. Stanton, Laura Wheeler Waring
Charter Schools: Christopher Columbus, Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures, Independence, Laboratory Charter School of Communications and Languages, Math, Civics & Sciences, People for People, Russell Byers, Universal Institute
Parochial Schools: Holy Redeemer, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Francis Xavier, St. Gabriel, St. Mary Interparochial, St. Peter the Apostle
Private Schools: Friends Select School, The Philadelphia School, St. Peter’s School
Secondary Schools
Public Schools: Academy at Palumbo*, Bodine High School for International Affairs*, Business & Technology*, Constitution*, Creative and Performing Arts*, Benjamin Franklin, Franklin Learning Center*, Horace Howard Furness, Julia Reynolds Masterman*, Parkway Center City*, Science Leadership Academy*, South Philadelphia
(*=citywide magnet school)
Charter Schools: Architecture and Design, Friere, Math, Civics & Sciences, Philadelphia Electrical and Technology, World Communications
Parochial Schools: John W. Hallahan (girls), Roman Catholic (boys)
Private Schools: City Center Academy, Friends Select, St. Joseph’s Prep
–Sandy Smith
Tags: best places to live, buying a home in philadelphia, education, families in center city, kids in center city, living in philly, Philadelphia Kids
Posted in Art Museum, Articles, Bella Vista, Center City, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Loft District, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Queen Village, Rittenhouse Square, Schools | No Comments »
Even though the real estate market has been tumultuous for many recently, Philadelphia somehow seems to be doing much better compared to most other parts of the country. The local market has some activity, as in housing is being purchased and seeing increases. Additionally, construction of new single-family homes continues to go up, especially in the suburbs.
