Old City
So You’re Thinking of Living in…
Old City
Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States
Old City is where Philadelphia began. For most of its first 200 years of existence, Old City was home to everything that mattered in Philadelphia, from the city government to its stores, its port, and a good chunk of its residents. Spiritual descendants of those residents remain on the nation’s oldest residential street, but these days, they have been joined by newer arrivals who have transformed Old City’s former warehouses and small factories into desirable Philadelphia real estate.
Stretching from Front Street on the east to 6th Street on the west and from Callowhill Street on the north to Walnut on the south, Old City is arguably the funkiest of all Center City neighborhoods. The 19th-century commercial buildings, with shops and galleries on their street floors and offices and residences above, give the district a feel more like that of New York’s SoHo or Tribeca than like a typical Philadelphia residential neighborhood.
Sandwiched between the riverfront and the city’s most historic attractions, Old City draws visitors from around the region and the world. If you like art and vibrant nightlife with a bohemian flair, it will draw you to live there too.
Attractions and Amenities
Third Street in Old City, viewed from the Ben Franklin Bridge
Lovers of history love Old City, as the past abounds at almost every turn there. Independence Hall, the birthplace of the nation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, anchors its southwest corner, and the rest of the commmunity’s southern edge houses more historic treasures, including the Liberty Bell, Carpenters’ Hall, the American Philosophical Society and the First and Second Banks of the United States. The neighborhood’s northern half does not lack for history, either: here you will find the Betsy Ross House, the National Constitution Center, the United States Mint, the Fireman’s Hall museum and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States.
Penn’s Landing, at Old City’s eastern end, offers a waterfront promenade lined with history of its own, including the U.S.S. Olympia and Becuna, the Moshulu tall ship-restaurant, and the Independence Seaport Museum. The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing hosts film screenings, concerts, festivals and other outdoor events from spring through fall. Independence Mall and Franklin Square form Old City’s western boundary and also offer green space for relaxation. Families with children will find the carousel and miniature golf course at Franklin Square appealing as well. Finally, Race Street Pier is the neighborhood’s newest park, extending out into the Delaware to offer more intimate views of the water.
The Ben Franklin Bridge, which looms over Old City’s north end, connects Philadelphia and Camden and has walkways for strollers, joggers and bicyclists. A seasonal ferry also connects Penn’s Landing to Camden waterfront attractions, including the Riversharks minor league ballpark, the USS New Jersey and the Adventure Aquarium.
The area from Market to Chestnut streets and Front to Third streets is a popular entertainment zone with hip, eclectic restaurants and dance clubs. The weekend party crosses Market Street once a month on First Friday, when the area’s art galleries throw their doors open for public art openings and receptions. As the event has grown in popularity over the years, local business owners have also joined in the fun with special First Friday activities of their own. Good dining and nightlife options can be found on both sides of Market Street, including:
DiNardo's Famous Seafood
…or just take a walk around the neighborhood and discover your own new favorites.
While Old City’s lively night scene tends to attract the childless, the neighborhood is served by a good public school, the Gen. George A. McCall School in next-door Society Hill. Small grocers such as Mulberry Market on Race Street provide the main food shopping options within the neighborhood, but it is easy to get to supermarkets in adjacent Society Hill and Northern Liberties, and the Reading Terminal Market lies six blocks to the west.
Old City’s churches are among the city’s most historic. Especially noteworthy in this regard are Christ Church (Episcopal), St. Augustine Church (Roman Catholic), the Arch Street Meeting House (Quaker), Old First Reformed Church (United Church of Christ) and St. George’s United Methodist Church.
Contemporary Philadelphia is a blend of the old and the new, and Old City is no exception. Multifamily condominium and apartment buildings dominate Old City real estate; the many converted 19th-century factories and shops offer loft-style living while newer buildings added in the last decade boast the latest in features and amenities. Single-family townhomes can also be found, mostly in the area north of Race Street. (Elfreth’s Alley has them as well, but don’t hold your breath waiting for one of these to become available.)
Old City is also among Center City’s more affordable places to live. The average listing price for homes in Old City during the week of Sep. 21, according to Trulia.com, was $529,533. Although the neighborhood has a reputation as a playground for grownups, most of the nightspots are found south of Market, separated from the bulk of the residential zone by the gallery district. The Old City Civic Association works hard to keep the area welcoming and attractive for residents while balancing their needs with those of the business community.
