Help finding a new place to live?

August 13, 2008 9:30 PM

Conshohocken, PA had a massive fire today at the Riverwalk Millenium Apartment/Condos. Luckily, from what we've seen there were no serious injuries, but the buildings look like they are a complete loss. Friends were supposed to move in to one of the new apartments next week, and are now trying to find a similar living situation to get into by September. One will be working in Philly, the other in Bryn Mawr, they don't really know the area that well, and can't get back to PA until next week. They sort of fell into this lease because of a lucky coincidence, and need some help figuring out where else to look that would be similarly convenient, new and clean. $1500 per month would be the maximum they could afford for a one bedroom. Thanks for any help
posted by mmf to home & garden (12 comments total)

Try Ardmore and Haverford...not new constructions but nice.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:43 PM on August 13, 2008

Off-topic: Glad to hear everyone's okay - my brother's condo is about a mile from there, and when I found out I had a panicky few minutes but he and his place are safe and sound.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:44 PM on August 13, 2008

Oh damn, hope me.

We live in Mt Airy, very near a septa train station. Our rent is incredibly cheap (< $1000 for large 1br (small 2br) apartment). A representative listing of postings on Craiglist suggests that there are plenty of options for you well within your price range. If they don't have a car, getting to Bryn Mawr from Mt Airy is a bit tricky because it's on a different line, so you'd have to go via 30th Station. Getting to central Philly via train is easy, fast, and very recommended. It isn't cheaper than gas, yet, but it is cheaper once you take parking into account.

My building is the opposite of new, but it is clean. I guess I'm a hopeless romantic who'd prefer a building with character over something new. Most of the buildings in my area are really, really nice but not new. So keep that in mind when looking for apartments.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:55 PM on August 13, 2008

I remember when we were trying to arrange for my mother to move to an apt in that area, we were looking at this place:

http://www.homeproperties.com/apartments/apartment-details.asp?PropertyId=251

Not a ton of character, but clean and pleasant, and they definitely have 1BRs in your friends' range.
posted by tigerbelly at 3:13 AM on August 14, 2008

Bryn Mawr 1br (or nearby - villanova, haverford, ardmore, narberth) are easily within that range. I've never used them, but the Marks group owns a ton of properties.

Septa's R5 regional rail line makes it easy-ish, to live anywhere on the 'main line' and travel to anywhere else - and they should ask the rental group about how far from the R5 they are; so if you live in Ardmore (or Wynnewood or Merion), hopping on the R5 west, takes you to Bryn Mawr (and east takes you to philly.) The other possibility is somewhere along the 101 high speed line, which stops (for a bit) in Bryn Mawr (and towns nearby). It runs more frequently and gets into the city.
posted by filmgeek at 3:43 AM on August 14, 2008

For $1500 a month in the Philadelphia area you can get just about any 1 BR you want. If that's their price range, they shouldn't have any problems locating something. Tell them to try Historic Landmarks for Living, they handle upscale rental properties and have a huge selection locations.
posted by The Straightener at 6:02 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]

2nd the Straightener -- $1500 for a one-bedroom can get them a pretty luxe place, pretty much anywhere.
posted by desuetude at 6:42 AM on August 14, 2008

Seconding getting something near the R5 Septa line. Rode it into the city this morning .. stopped at Bryn Mawr along the way. Look for any of the towns along Route 30 (also known as Lancaster Ave.). Or just Google Septa, look at the R5 schedule for R5 Paoli and see all the stops. They're the same as the towns.
posted by lpsguy at 7:13 AM on August 14, 2008

dude, that sucks. i read about it this morning. is the riverview doing anything to help residents find alternate housing? will they be let out of their lease without hassle? i'd definitely find that out if i were them, but then again i am neurotic and don't trust leasing agencies.

if one is in bryn mawr and one is in philly, i'd say living on the main line (the r5 regional rail line) is your best bet in terms of convenience. there are tons of apartment/condo complexes on and just off of lancaster ave (which runs mostly parallel to the r5 tracks). check out bryn mawr, rosemont, villanova, etc.

normally i would never advocate the main line because to me it seems haughty and white, but it really is the most convenient place for your friends to find a place.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:28 AM on August 14, 2008

Try The Metropolitan on 15th and Arch. That's where I lived. I paid $1,500 for a one-bedroom. You're looking right at City Hall from your window (it's a bloick away) , but it is sort of out of the way for the better shops.

It's part of the "Historic Landmarks for Living" realty group.
posted by Zambrano at 9:40 AM on August 14, 2008

Thank you all for the great answers. Amazingly, the developer called today and offered them an apartment in one of their other near-by properties, with transfer of all their deposits, etc.
posted by mmf at 5:40 PM on August 14, 2008

For anyone else who has been affected by the fire (or know someone who was), it looks like they're launching a website to help people with news & updates. I think you can also post offers of help...

ConshohockenCares.com (via)
posted by polexa at 2:07 PM on August 19, 2008