Talk about old-time living: The Lower Swedish Cabin in Clifton Heights is considered one of the oldest log cabins in the U.S.
Located just six miles west of downtown Philadelphia, Clifton Heights occupies some prime real estate in this neck of the woods
Talk about old-time living: The Lower Swedish Cabin in Clifton Heights is considered one of the oldest log cabins in the U.S.
Located just six miles west of downtown Philadelphia, Clifton Heights occupies some prime real estate in this neck of the woods. Sure, it's a small town, with a population of roughly 6,652, but it packs a big punch. It's technically a borough of Pennsylvania and part of Delaware County, an area with a rich history. It even has a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Lower Swedish Cabin.
Looking to rent an apartment in Clifton Heights? Better get your game face on. The whole borough spans only 0.6 square miles, which means that there are a lot of people packed into every crevice, nook and cranny. But don't lose hope. Just because a lot of people want to be this close to downtown Philly doesn't mean that, with a little patience and tenacity, you can't get your own place here too. First of all, rental apartments are slightly less expensive than you'll find in the rest of Pennsylvania, which is great news for anyone on a budget. You can use the extra cash to live it up in Philly, or maybe just pay for your commute back and forth if you're planning to drive or take public transit. Secondly, there are a large number of rental properties available here, so that already ups your chances of scoring a place compared to some suburbs that are all about sales, sales, sales. Things are looking up already.
As for what you're going to need to rent well, because this is such a tight market, listen closely. Get a binder and fill it up with every document that a landlord could possibly want from you. We are working with a sense of urgency here, guys. If you see a place you absolutely love, you're not going to want to wait on it. Get copies of your ID, your credit report, your bank statements, pay stubs, letters of reference, letter of employment, any paperwork you need for your pets basically, just bring it all. Heck, stick your college degree in there for good measure. That way, when you go to meet prospective landlords, you won't have to waste time digging around for the right information. It will be a huge help in boosting you to the top of the pile of applications. You know what else will help? The big fat check you write for your deposit. Why hold off on paying upfront? As long as you are dealing with a trustworthy landlord or management company, you may as well put money down to secure your place before someone else gets it.
North: The north side of Clifton Heights runs along the beautiful Darby Creek. Here, you'll find meandering tree-lined streets and subdivisions, as well as a number of parks, including Gillespie Park and Kent Park Dog Park. It's also home to the Lower Swedish Cabin, mentioned above. The cabin was likely built between 1640 and 1650 by Swedish immigrants. A number of movies were filmed here in the early 1900's, and then the house served as a private residence until it was declared a Historic Landmark, making it the property of the city. The area is serviced by a number of SEPTA light-rail stops, which run into downtown Philadelphia.
South: The south side of Clifton Heights is a little further from Philadelphia and a bit quieter because of this. The intersections of N. Springfield and N. Oak Avenue and N. Oak and W. Baltimore are near the center of town. Property here is a mix of smaller homes and one-bedroom apartments for rent in small apartment buildings.
Because Clifton Heights is technically a borough of Philadelphia, it's important to understand what life in Philadelphia is all about. Philly is the second largest city on the East Coast, next to New York, and the fifth most populous city in the United States. Commonly called "The City of Brotherly Love," it was founded by William Penn in 1682 and has a long and rich history. It served as a meeting point for the Founding Fathers of the United States during the American Revolution. They signed the Declaration of Independence here in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. In addition to its important role in American history, Philly is also known for its arts and culture. The city has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other city in America. It's also home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and a number of awesome art and science museums, including the Franklin Institute, the Rodin Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
When it comes to food, Philly definitely has its own distinct flavor. Be ready to chow down on hoagies, scrapple, soft pretzels, water ice and, of course, the famous Philly cheesesteak. It also has quite a few high-end restaurants for those looking for more than just an on-the-go bite. As far as weather goes, Philly has hot, muggy summers and cold, snowy winters, averaging around 23 inches of snowfall every year. Residents think that the climate is pretty mild and many people move here in order to enjoy the four distinct seasons.
The city has everything sports fans could want, whether you're rooting for the Eagles football team, the Flyers hockey team, the Phillies baseball team or the 76ers basketball team. Be prepared to cheer! These sports teams make for exciting entertainment all year round, from rooting along at the ballpark to pumping your fist at the arena.
South Street and Old City are known for having a rockin' night life, so head over here if you're looking for fun. You can also find some great live music in the area. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has some wonderful classical music by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Many great hip-hop and rap artists got their start in Philly, including DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, The Goats, Freeway, Eve and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.
The city is serviced by the SEPTA regional transit authority, which operates five subway-surface trolleys that run on street-level tracks in West Philadelphia and subway tunnels in Center City. Amtrak also runs in and out of the city for easy access to other East Coast towns. For excursions from Philly, New York City is only a short drive or train ride away, and you can also easily get to D.C., Boston and other parts of the East Coast.
Winters bring great ski weather, and many people head to the Poconos or the mountains in upstate New York or Massachusetts to hit the slopes. The Poconos are also a popular summertime retreat when the snow melts and the flowers start to bloom and in fall when people flock there to see the leaves change colors. Heading further west into Pennsylvania, you'll find the city of Pittsburgh. The surrounding countryside is often referred to as Amish Country for the large Amish population that lives there, and this has become a tourist destination in and of itself. Also, there's always the Hershey factory, located in good old Hershey, Pennsylvania. Rumor has it you get free candy bars if you stop in for a tour.
