Al Shapiro Fine Apartments

The kitchen is spacious and the rooms are also a liveable size. Big windows in the rooms but not much natural light in the living room / kitchen. For the price we pay to be in Rittenhouse I think it's pretty great (a lot of other places were much more expensive). However it is an older building so I think has a higher risk of mice problems, etc. We've only seen one but the whole back of our kitchen is covered in the foam they use to keep them out so I'm guessing it's been an issue. It also gets loud at night on the weekends because we are facing the street.

Its been pretty good! The apartment location is fantastic! I love that all of the utilities except internet are included in the rent and there is a stackable in-unit laundry. The cons - the kitchen is a galley kitchen (has all the appliances though, including dishwasher), it has central AC/heat so there isnt a ton of control over house temp, no pool or gym, no dogs allowed. The pros - quiet, safe, in-unit washer/dryer, very charming, chillest landlord, best location, affordable, young-adult neighbors (no young college kids), thick walls/good soundproofing, beautiful large windows, dedicated maintenance guy you can text and he actually comes.

Amazing view and location, but meh management

The location in Rittenhouse is safe, clean, and close to all the amenities that Center City affords. The property is well maintained, quiet, and safe with a lockbox entrance. It has a laundry center and a small gym on premise. The management is the only bad mark. They have an attitude a little bit and getting answers to questions can be hard to get. Otherwise I love the property. It has central air, which is great during the summer and winter to control the temperature. The apartment layouts vary by floor. My apartment has an in-unit washer and dryer.

Great location, prompt maintenance

The mgmt team gets things solved promptly, the contract is a big wack but overall its a good steady place to live really close to school

I love my apartment. It is affordable for the area and convenient to both work and center city. I have in apartment washer and dryer which is life changing. I have an adorable balcony with French doors. It is spacious but kitchen is small and there is limited storage. My bedroom does face the street so it is sometimes noisy but Lombard isn't too loud. Management doesn't bother you and is fairly responsive. Overall a great place to live!

I've really enjoyed living at the Newport, which I describe to friends as a "hybrid" of a brownstone and sky rise. For those looking for a solid in-between option, the Newport can't be beat- it's an old school Philly apartment building with nine floors, lots of space, tons of sunlight, high ceilings, and a small but fully equipped gym in the basement.

For other amenities, we have our own dishwasher, washer/dryer, and small balcony, along with ample closet space and beautiful hardwood floors. The best part is the price; it's value can't be beat, though this is definitely kept down by a lack of a doorman.

As for the neighborhood around 16th and Spruce, there are lots of fantastic restaurants and coffee shops nearby, and it's just a few minutes walk to the heart of Rittenhouse. While it's certainly not a very social building, there are a number of Penn grad students who live here (mostly med school from what we can tell), and plenty of classmates to share ubers with in neighboring buildings or nearby brownstones.

Management could be more responsive, but they're definitely not the worst we've experienced.

Good price, decent location. Not too social, a bit far from school, but can't beat price. Management is a bit hard to reach.

Great location, well priced, a bit old inside that needs renovation

Location: Great location near the Square, restaurants, bars, two blocks from the bus stop (where the bus isn't yet too crowded). Cute coffee shop and Thai restaurant right across the street. Lots of coffee shops in the area. Close to Flywheel, markets, dry cleaners, and CVS. A bit far from school - about a 35-40 minute walk at a brisk pace.

Building: No frills, no doorman, very small, older gym. Building management is very unresponsive but the maintenance man is amazing and responds very quickly.

Unit: In-unit (normal-size) washer and dryer is very convenient. Huge windows facing west (beautiful sunsets) so lots of natural light. Tall ceilings. Nice hardwood floors everywhere. Spacious living room. Very small bedrooms, but great built-in organization in the closets. Kitchen does not have granite or stainless and lacks in cabinet/pantry storage. Units vary.

Price: Cheaper than most in Rittenhouse, but you get what you pay for (limited amenities, no granite or stainless). Additional cost will be cable/internet and electric (Aug - Oct has been ~$50-65 a month) only.

Great location and aesthetic!

The Newport has been largely under-the-radar for MBA students. It offers a great location, large rooms with high ceilings and great amenities for a very competitive price.

Smaller apartment complex, in a quiet neighborhood that's still close to Rittenhouse Square and right next to the Kimmel Center. It is not as flash as some of the other buildings Wharton students live in, but it was recently renovated and has some nice amenities, including a gym.

The Newport has cheaper two bedrooms than most of the other options in the Center City Area and it comes with some amenities you would not expect at the price range like a Washer and Dryer and a gym. The surrounding area is fairly quiet, but the location is still pretty convenient. Lots of nice shopping and restaurants nearby.