I moved from the Midwest to Philadelphia for my medical residency and was completely overwhelmed with options on where to live. I knew I wanted someplace quiet & safe, a direct commute to work, and surrounded with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and outdoor activities. Overall, I wanted a peaceful place I could escape to after long and busy work days. I have found all of those things and more living at Abbotts Square in Society Hill.

I was hesitant to rent someplace other than Graduate Hospital and Fitler Square, where the majority of my friends/coworkers live. However, the uniqueness of the area and the slightly farther (but still manageable) distance from the hospital ended up being some of my favorite things about living in this area. Abbotts Square is located just next to the first stop on the Route 40 Septa bus, which drops you off directly at the entrance of the Hospital of UPenn. My commute is ~20-30 minutes from door-to-door, depending on the time of day, and it's a great time for me to unwind and ease into my morning/evening. We are located in Headhouse Square-- a beautiful square/market in the heart of Society Hill. Everything I need is easily accessible-- there's a grocery store 3 blocks away, a weekly farmer's market (year-round), a Wawa just below me for my morning coffee, and countless delicious restaurants and coffee shops. Living here, you're only a short walking distance to all of the best parts of the city-- Queen Village, Old City, the Delaware River Waterfront, Washington Square, and Rittenhouse.

As for the apartment building itself-- although from the exterior, Abbotts Square is not the most modern or glamorous building you've ever seen, it is clean, quiet, safe, well-built, and well-managed. Even though the building is located next to a very rowdy part of South Street, I cannot hear any street noises in my Westward-facing apartment. Our unit is well-insulated and amazingly quiet, so I never hear any noise from neighboring units. Most of the inhabitants of Abbotts Square are working professionals, families, and retired couples, which lends itself to a mature, clean, and quiet environment overall. The floor plan of our unit is open, spacious, and well-lit. We love the large, wall-to-wall windows in our living room and bedroom that provide views of the skyline and sunset. Our favorite features of our unit include solid hardwood flooring (NO carpet in the entire unit!), updated kitchen fixtures & appliances, a wood burning fireplace, and best of all: a spiral staircase that leads to a beautiful, private rooftop patio that directly overlooks the Ben Franklin Bridge and Delaware River to the East, and the skyline of Philadelphia to the West. Other amenities we enjoy about the apartment are the 24-hour kind, friendly doormen and women who receive and store packages at all hours of the day, a small but well-equipped gym, and a connected parking garage if we ever need it.

Overall, I would highly recommend living in this building and this area in general. If you work at UPenn, it is a slightly farther commute, and you will not be as close to many of your co-workers' apartments. However, for me, the trade-off is well worth it-- more restaurants and coffee shops, a beautiful historical neighborhood, affordable cost of living, and a space that allows you to separate work-life from home-life.

I love my apartment. The individuals that work at the Front Desk are helpful as are the maintenance staff. The noise in Headhouse square on the weekends is the only downfall to this location.
Also, working with Andris (VeryApt) was great! He even got them to paint the walls. :)