I just got back from a monster day of apartment hunting, and I’m beat. It had a pleasant, relaxing ending, though, and it was very productive, so it’s all good.
Click on for stories, descriptions, and pictures, if you’re interested. Some are ni-ice.
I woke up today pretty early (for me… 8ish) to check for e-mails from future-work and the woman finding my apartment listings. Nothing. But instead of going back to bed, I panicked, because I really wanted to hear from my future employers and about visiting apartments.
But eventually i got my appointments, and left for Northern Liberties at 1ish. I got to the El station by 1:30 (went to Video Vault first) and to my first apartment viewing by 2:10. The first building I saw was 1700 N 5th St, “The Lamp Factory”. The first place I saw was pretty cool— it was bi-level, with a spiral staircase. I’ve always wanted a spiral staircase. But it was kinda small; each level was a little bigger than my current studio. It was cheap, though. The floors, unfortunately, were finished plywood, with was kind of odd. But it had a skylight. (It was a stand-alone unit— no wall-sharing neighbors.)
I didn’t get any pictures of that one; I remembered I had my camera on the second unit in that building, which was a single-level open floor plan typical loft. Not the highest quality appointments, but the same price as the first unit.
Second building was just a couple doors down at 1730 N 5th, another type of factory that I can’t remember. The units were bigger here (the three I saw were 1680 sf apiece), and there was a passenger elevator. (The first building did have a freight elevator.) The first unit was nothing special (except for being large and cheap-ish), but then I went up to the fifth floor, and that had a great view. Then I visited the one right above that — same unit, but the “penthouse” level — and the view was even better, and it had a cathedral ceiling. Only $50 more than the one right below it per month, but that was still quite a bit.
Then I walked around for a LONG time— like two hours. Walked down to Old City, passed another building (the one I previously thought of as my favorite), called the number on the awning, and all the units are full. Aw. I passed the building at 750 N 5th, called the number, and left a voicemail. The location was better, so I wouldn’t be averse to going back.
Then I visited a property at Girard and 3rd. This one used to be a factory as well, but the company completely finished it. It had the works— doorman, mail room, communal outside deck, etc. The bad part was that they took out all of the “loft” charm. Yeah, the ceilings are kinda high, but the hardwood is new and the walls are completely vanilla drywall. It even had a separate, doored-off bedroom. And get this— no outside windows. The natural light in the apartment came from windows looking onto the building’s central solarium. So in short, better location, better amenities, soulless apartment. (And more expensive, even with the two-year-lease discount.)
Then I walked down to Old City again. Why? Because there’s no place to relax in Northern Liberties— none that I could see and be adventurous enough to enter, anyway. Then I walked back up to this charming little park, met my friend Suzanne who lives in a nice townhouse overlooking said park, and tried some of the local fare— North Third and Seven Hundred.
All in all, a really nice neighborhood— really fun energy. It’s, well… neighborhoody. Commute to campus is completely doable, and the downsides seem to be worth it for the cheap, awesome, raw loft apartments. I might try to see some more later if I haven’t already exhausted my options.
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