Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

Huge stone mansions have made Chestnut Hill one of the most desirable places to live in Philadelphia. Spacious green lawns, which are at a premium in Philadelphia, surround the gracious homes.

Transportation is available along Germantown Avenue where for many years the longest trolley route in the world travelled from Chestnut Hill to South Philadelphia. Regrettably, the Route 23 has been discontinued in 1992 in favor of a transit bus which makes it a less of an adventure. However, the Belgian block that held the trolley tracks still remain on Germantown Avenue.

There is plenty of shopping along Germantown Avenue if you have “deep pockets.” Antique shops, dress boutiques, and galleries line the avenue.

Morris Arboretuem, owned by the University of Pennsylvania, provides a perfect backdrop for weddings and special occasions.

Property values have skyrocketed upwards to 57 percent increases according to a recent survey by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Former Mayor Frank Rizzo and his family resided in Chestnut Hill.

LaSalle College and Chestnut Hill College are within the community. Chestnut Hill College recently converted from an all-girls institution. A number of private schools call Chestnut Hill home. They include: Crefeld School, The Chestnut Hill Academy, and Springside School. Several Friends School located nearby and include: The William Penn Charter School, Germantown Friends, and Abington Friends School. St. Joseph’s Preparatory is one of the finest high schools in the region.

Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood located in Northwest Philadelphia. It is situated between Northwestern Avenue to the northwest, Wissahickon Gorge, which is part of Fairmont Park, to the west, Stenton Avenue to the east and Cresheim Valley to the southeast.
It is one of the most expensive sections of the city to live in and offers some of the most beautiful architecture that can be found anywhere in Philadelphia. In 2005, Chestnut Hill has a median home sale price of $398,500. The neighborhood contains a large variety of 19th and early 20th century residential buildings designed by many of the city’s most prominent architects.
One of the most notable sites in Chestnut Hill is Inglewood Cottage which is a Gothic Revival villa built in 1850 that is located on Bethlehem Pike. Another draw to Chestnut Hill is the Philadelphia Cricket Club, founded in 1854, which is the oldest country club in the United States. It offers tennis, cricket and trapshooting. The area is also home to Chestnut Hill College.
Chestnut Hill has a large trolley network that runs through it that provides public transportation to the neighborhood’s residents.
The area is largely inhabited by families and is a great place to raise kids. The houses offer large yards for children to run and play and the public schools located in Chestnut Hill, including John Story Jenks School, are some of the best in Philadelphia

Have you ever watched a television series on the WB network and thought “Where is this neighborhood? Neighborhoods this cute do not exist.” Chestnut Hill is one of those neighborhoods. The homes are immaculate, the architecture is amazing. There are a variety of posh boutiques, restaurants and taverns that have been owned and operated by families for generations. And the residents are polite and friendly.
It is those charms that make Chestnut Hill appealing but it is also part of the reason that it is an expensive area to live in. It is definitely a neighborhood for wealthier families who prefer a quieter lifestyle and want their children to attend nearby private schools.

Public transportation in Chestnut Hill is not as easily accessible as other parts of Philadelphia so having a car in this neighborhood is worthwhile. Parking has been a known complaint by many residents but the neighborhood has worked to resolve that issue with parking lots.

Even if you can’t afford to live in Chestnut Hill it is definitely worth visiting, especially if you are into horticultural. It is home to the Morris Arboretum where you can see the Hamilton Fernery—the only greenhouse of this style in the United States. That alone will make you feel like you’re in a television series.