Home  >  Philadelphia  >  West Philadelphia  >  University City Apartments  >  Sansom Place West

High-rise Apartment
University City, 3650 Chestnut St | Philadelphia
Overview
Photos
Amenities

Top Amenities

View All >
  •  Building Laundry Room
  •  Dishwasher
  •  Doorman Building
  •  Fitness Center
  •  Furnished Units Available
  •  Granite Countertops
  •  Individually Controlled Heat & A/C
  •  Minimum Lease Term  
  •  Parking Available
  •  Pet Friendly
  •  Short Term Rentals
  •  Stainless Steel Appliances

User Rating

6.5
Good
15 Reviews

About this Location

Trader Joe’s
10 min via 13 (light rail)
MFL (metro) - 9 min
21 (bus) - 2 min
Schuylkill Banks
21 min walk
Lots of bars and
restaurants nearby

Pricing 

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath
$900+
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath
$1,900+
3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath
$2,400+

student only housing

Open to UPenn students only.

Please visit UPenn's student housing site or call (215) 898-6846 for leasing information.

  • Building Related

    •  Elevators
  • Kitchen

    •  Garbage Disposal
    •  Microwave
  • Laundry

    •  Building Laundry Room
  • Lease Terms

    •  Furnished Units Available
    •  Minimum Lease Term  
  • Living Room

    •  Individually Controlled Heat & A/C
X

Overall rating 6.5/10, based on 15 renter reviews Write a review

8.6
Location
6.1
Amenities
6.7
Management
6.6
Value
6.7
Social
8.1
Safety
Excellent
2
Great
4
Good
5
Average
2
Terrible
2
Filter reviews for
10
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Sansom Place West Review

Inexpensive and good quality

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
3
Terrible
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Thoughts

The building is outdated , there’s roaches and mice, half the building no is cold half the building is hit during the summer. Graduate school is already expensive but adding almost $2k a month is not reasonable for a college student. And there’s no aid to help.

The kitchen appliances are super outdated and most do not work properly and there’s no counter space or oven space. For this to be a IVY League it does not feel like one

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
5
Average
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Cheapest way to live very close to the Penn Bookstore

For GSE and SP2 students, its location very close to their classrooms. Yet here is a trade-off, the utilities can be somewhat old and not fancy- just average.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

On Campus - SPW

I am a GA so I get free housing here. It’s a great gig for those interested!

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes   1
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Good for a short time

If you are only going to be in Philly for a short time, it would be a convenient place. However, no space for gatherings with friends.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • Roommates
  • 2 beds / 1 bath
6
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Small

A bit small apartment.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Roommates
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
6
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Sansom Place West Review

I lived in a single room with shared bathroom. I, a female, did not know that I was gonna share a bathroom with a male. I was never notified about the info of my "housemate", because it never show up on the website which we sign up for the housing. That person is okay, but the whole experience is super awkward.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Would Make the Same Choice Again!

Pros:
- Hassle-free: furnished, most utilities included (on top of "free" laundry, cable, small gym, vacuum, etc.)
- Great if you are unable to personally come visit buildings before settling on one
- 24/7 security: bringing in guests is more hassle, but you get the peace of mind knowing that it'll be very difficult for outsiders to intrude upon your residence
- So close to the law school: amazing for those 9 AM classes and snowy/cold days
- Less expensive compared to some of the other options nearby e.g. Domus, etc.
- Many social activities organized by housing

Cons:
- May be able to find cheaper options slightly further away from the law school
- Rooms are quite old, so there are leftover stains/marks and some items don't function as properly (e.g. curtains are hard to move)
- Further from Center City, but honestly you spend a lot of time on campus, so it may ultimately be cheaper to Uber to Center City when needed than paying for Uber all the time when it gets snowy or when you're in a time crunch, etc.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

This building is pretty good

So. I've lived here for a number of years now. It's fun living with Penn students. Since it's mostly for graduate students.
The building is fine at a good location and has pretty much everything you need. However, it is a bit old looking and the Internet sometimes is slow.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes   1
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
6
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Could use some improvements

Penn has been developing new buildings, but it has not been maintaining or updating well the older buildings. It is not as clean and the internet is not as stable and fast for paying a thousand a month. However, it has everything you need for a nice comfortable living. It is just overpriced.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes   1
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath

The Neighborhood

Signature Spots

dining 33 Recs

Magic Carpet
Zesto Pizza & Grill
White Dog Cafe
See more

grocery 3 Recs

Trader Joe’s
Aldi
Whole Foods Market
See more

convenience 2 Recs

CVS Pharmacy
Wawa
See more

fitness 27 Recs

Penn Campus Recreation
Hotbox Yoga West Philly
Fit Gym University City
See more

parks 13 Recs

James G. Kaskey Memorial Park
James G. Kaskey Memorial Garden
Clark Park
See more

coffee 15 Recs

Federal Donuts
Sugar Philly Truck
Capogiro Gelato
See more

About University City

Sitting west of the Schuylkill River, University City is the scholastic center of West Philadelphia. University City combines the diversity of a college town with the energy of a large metropolitan area. Public parks, farmers markets, restaurants, and theaters, this neighborhood has it all.
Fresh Grocer
College Feel
Very Walkable
Heart of UPenn
Lots of Students
Cheaper than Center City
Solid Restaurants and Bars
Median rents in University City
Studio
$
1,300
1 Bedroom
$
2,200
2 Bedroom
$
2,950

Getting around University City


Parking Near Sansom Place West

No parking is available at Sansom Place West, but there is parking nearby.
Parking rates are for informational purposes only and may vary — for most up to date pricing, please reach out to the garage directly.

University City Reviews

158 reviews
Close enough to campus to walk, but far enough away that you don't feel surrounded by just students. Clark Park is lovely, there's something for everybody - farmers market on Saturdays, regular flea markets, off-leash area for dogs, playground, etc. Several coffee shops within 2 blocks and some good places to eat within 5 blocks. Grocery shopping isn't super convenient if you buy a lot at once, but doable if you're just carrying one or two bags. Street parking isn't too bad but gets competitive on the weekends.
I chose the neighborhood for proximity to the school. If I could choose otherwise, I would be over by Rittenhouse or further West around the Clark Park area. It feels a bit commercial in U City (not so charming or friendly). BUT everything you need is here and it is very convenient. The only real downside is an aesthetic one.
Gentrifying area of West Philly, given Penn's presence and expansion into the neighborhood. Easily walkable. Within several blocks of Clark Park, where there are lots of community events and family-friendly activities in addition to walking paths and dog park. Lots of cute shops and restaurants along Baltimore Ave plus great hole-in-the-wall spots if you want to explore a bit more.
I enjoy living in University City. It is perfect if you want to live in a low key area very close to school. Most people in the area are affiliated with Penn, so the community is generally pretty young and active. You are in walking distance from everything you might need. You do not need a car to get around. Even if you plan on spending a good deal of time in Center City, you can get there easily by rail or by Uber. I wouldn't have chosen to live anywhere else during 1L.
I have developed a sincere appreciation for the lifestyle and restaurants in University City over the last few months. UC is excellent for student budgets: for about $12 per person you get an entire feast at The Greek Lady, a giant cold-banishing soup at the Ramen Bar, or a 15-vegetable salad at Axis Pizza. There's a full grocery store (Fresh Grocer), several nice coffeehouses, and did I mention the 3 block walk to class? In terms of safety it's about the same as Rittenhouse or Center City.
Pros:
- Close to campus (~20 min walk, ~8 min trolley ride)
- Generally safe because University City in general has been highly gentrified.
- Charming and diverse community
- CLARK PARK! (and the Farmers' Market!!!)

Cons:
- No nearby grocery stores (except Fresh Grocer which is gross)
- Can be sketchy after dark
It's hard to pinpoint exactly where University City is right now as a neighborhood, because it's changing so rapidly. It's gone from one of the most dangerous campuses in the country ~5 years ago to incredibly safe. With the new FMC Tower going up at 30th/Walnut, it's hard to say exactly what this area will be like next year... but it's only getting better. It's a nice way to avoid Rittenhouse prices while still being only a stone's throw away from Rittenhouse (and yet at the same time not sacrifice on proximity to campus).
I am right by Clark park which is on the border or UC and West Philly. It is much quieter and more residential. The food scene is incredible with lots of smaller, family-owned restaurants serving food from many different cultures. There have been no major crime issues as well.

Similar apartments & condos

  University City

1 Bed $1,650
2 Beds $2,000
  University City

Studio $805
1 Bed $935
2 Beds $1,050

Check availability
  University City

Studio $1,156
1 Bed $1,401
2 Beds $1,894

Check availability
  University City

1 Bed $1,100
2 Beds $2,200
  University City

  Spruce Hill

Studio $800
1 Bed $950

Check availability