Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square Is All About Location, Community and an Iconic Park

A person of Philadelphia’s most coveted places to dwell,
Rittenhouse Square
or just “Rittenhouse” is each a community and public park in the center of the town. 

Initially termed “Southwest Square” by Philadelphia astronomer and clockmaker David Rittenhouse, the park was a person of William Penn’s five initial plazas and renamed in 1825. Practically two generations afterwards, the historical neighborhood skirting the square attributes an unrivaled location and features, a distinct medley of old and new, and an superb excellent of existence.

“The park itself is gorgeous, but it is the encompassing community with its exclusive allure and entry to the greatest dining establishments, bars and searching in the metropolis that sets it aside,” reported Eric Gerchberg, principal and serious estate agent at The Gerchberg Real Estate Workforce in Philadelphia. “Rittenhouse is centrally found to anything at all and all the things you’d require or want in the metropolis.”

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Boundaries

The borders are fuzzy. From north to south, Rittenhouse stretches from Market place Road or 

JFK Boulevard to Lombard Avenue or South Avenue, and from east to west, it spans from Broad Avenue (14^th) or 15^th Avenue to 23rd or 24^th Street. Although some take into account Fitler Square (just west) aspect of Rittenhouse, this booming community will continue to condition its very own persona, so that may fade in the long run.

Cost Vary

The housing price tag in Rittenhouse leans greater than most other sections of Philadelphia. A 5,000 sq. foot, four-bed room, four-and-a-half-bathtub condominium is now on the market for $6.95 million. Perched in 10 Rittenhouse Condominium on 18^th Avenue, the half-ground corner unit displays off park and metropolis views. 

Featuring resort-stage facilities and 48 tales of ultra-luxurious flats, The Laurel is slated to welcome residents future year The 48-story development at 1911 Walnut will be the tallest residential tower in Heart Metropolis, the title for the larger sized region of downtown Philly encompassing Rittenhouse, with condos starting off in the $2.5 million variety. 

Meanwhile, in phrases of properties, a double-extensive townhome on desirable Delancey Street––deemed a person of the city’s prettiest––is on the current market for $6.95 million as very well. An 8,000-square foot row household on the same street offered for $2.85 million in August. 

For buyers environment their sights on a smaller sized piece of the neighborhood, a restored two-bed room, two-rest room townhome generally lists among $500,000 to $700,000. 

Housing Inventory

Row residences and a handful of Victorian mansions mingle with high-increase construction––much of it built in the past couple decades––creating a assorted medley of serious estate for each household prospective buyers and renters. Some of the most alluring townhomes dot streets like Spruce, Pine and the quiet and practically mystery South Smedley, stretching involving the two. Quite a few row properties or brownstones have been divided into various models.

“If it is not a higher-rise apartment or rarer townhome, then possibilities are it is a condo in a palatial brownstone that was transformed,” Mr. Gerchberg stated.

Meanwhile, The Residences at the Rittenhouse Resort are some of the most lavish in the community, giving studio to 3-bed room flats, with perks this sort of as a pool, health and fitness center and limo provider, all courtesy of the 5-star Rittenhouse Resort. 

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What Helps make It Exclusive 

In terms of city dwelling, you won’t uncover a improved or more easy community in Center Metropolis, with uncomplicated access to the most effective of Philly.

Logan Sq., residence of the Franklin Institute, borders the neighborhood to the north, and the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork is about a 30-moment walk. Sans targeted traffic, Philadelphia International Airport is a fifty percent-hour taxi experience absent, and the community is minutes from Kelly Generate, I-676 and I-76, a reward for escaping town.

Just just one sq. block, Rittenhouse Square Park is the heart and soul of the community. Drawing individuals wanting for a location to read, unwind and wander their dogs, the out of doors jewel is a top rated desired destination among Philadelphians, offering a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle.

But there is also a palpable perception of neighborhood in Rittenhouse Sq.. The park is the location for the Pals of Rittenhouse Sq. gala each 12 months, and just about every spring, the Rittenhouse Row Pageant showcases the litany of vogue, arts, enjoyment, and cuisine choices on Walnut Avenue. 2 times every year, the Rittenhouse Wonderful Artwork Show highlights is effective by gifted artists from close to the U.S., and there’s a calendar year-spherical farmer’s industry on the square every Tuesday and Saturday.

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Luxurious Facilities 

The streets adjacent to the park are peppered with nearby companies and luxurious retail outlets these types of as Tiffany & Co., TUMI, Boyd’s and the avant-garde boutique Joan Shepp. Culinary-intelligent, spots like Le Gran Caffé L’Aquila, Café Lutécia and Parc––an homage to Belle Époque Paris––are favorites amongst people. But foodies trek from New York and past to dine at James Beard award-winning chef Greg Vernick’s flagship, Vernick Foodstuff & Drink, proven in a brownstone on Walnut Avenue involving 21^st and 22^nd streets.

Laurie Phillips, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway Household Solutions Fox & Roach Realtors, who specializes in Heart Metropolis Philadelphia luxury genuine estate, reported the personal colleges in the district have ready lists. Albert M. Greenfield Elementary College, the general public university for ZIP Code 19103––which consists of Rittenhouse Square––is highly regarded. Giving a bilingual education, Independence Constitution Faculty at 16th and Lombard in ZIP Code 19146 is also rated well, building the community a stellar decision for partners increasing small children. 

Who Life There

The community ranges from university students to one experts to families.

“Because Rittenhouse has a huge pool of rental inventory in addition to the owner-occupied townhomes and luxury rentals, there are loads of alternatives for all diverse walks of existence to reside there,” Mr. Gerchberg mentioned.

Simply click to perspective luxury qualities for sale in Rittenhouse Square

Notable Residents

Former 6ABC news anchor Monica Malpass lived in a sprawling rowhouse right up until recently, and movie star chef Stephen Starr, the talent powering some of the country’s prime-tier restaurants, once resided in the vicinity of 21^st and Locust. Celebrated athletes have flocked right here, also. Players from the Philadelphia Phillies, Flyers and Eagles have had a Rittenhouse address in excess of the several years. 

Outlook

Primarily based on the recent current market, Rittenhouse is poised for progress. 

“The market in Rittenhouse Square is brisk,” Ms. Phillips stated. “The only huge damaging has been a absence of superior-conclusion inventory.”

Men and women from the outskirts are flocking to Heart Town, and international traders are browsing for serious estate in this article, as well, Mr. Gerchberg documented. Transplants from other main metropolitan areas in the Northeast are driving the marketplace as perfectly.

The Laurel is generating substantial excitement in the neighborhood, although thoughts about this new sky-large undertaking are mixed. The setting up will alter the cityscape of Rittenhouse and Philly alone.

“For a very long time on the 1900 block of Walnut Street, there was a blighted vacant setting up,” Mr. Gerchberg stated. “The Laurel is developed on that lot, providing it existence once again and filling a literal void on the square.” The striking new tower will boast 24,000 sq. feet of retail room, an Equinox Health and fitness center that will be the city’s initial, as effectively as a new cafe principle helmed by two distinguished Philadelphia cooks.  

Households and properly-maintained condos continue to transfer at fast, and quite a few have numerous delivers, according to Ms. Phillips. But townhomes and condos in will need of renovation are generally sluggish-moving. She discussed that owing to a lack of normal contractors, individuals are hesitant to acquire a home that involves a revamp for the reason that of the ready listing. Quite a few contractors are booked a calendar year or much more out, so attributes in want of refurbishment might proceed to transfer at a slower speed.

Mr. Gerchberg believes the means to perform remotely is also driving desire. The proximity to D.C., Manhattan, and Boston lets people to stay in Philadelphia and perform from household, commuting on Amtrak when they need to have to achieve their company’s headquarters. “Luxury consumers are recognizing that they can work from wherever,” he reported. “And their dollar goes a ton even further in Rittenhouse and other components of Philadelphia than other big cities in the U.S.”

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