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University City, 3900 Chestnut St | Philadelphia
Overview
Photos
Amenities
Floorplans

Top Amenities

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  •  24-Hour Front Desk
  •  Building Laundry Room
  •  Central A/C
  •  Elevators
  •  Fitness Center
  •  Granite Countertops
  •  Pet Friendly
  •  Stainless Steel Appliances
  •  Surface Parking Lot

User Rating

6.0
Average
49 Reviews

About this Location

CVS Pharmacy
4 min walk
Clark Park
19 min walk
MFL (metro) - 7 min
21 (bus) - 3 min
Lots of bars and
restaurants nearby

Pricing 
updated 23 hrs ago

Studio, 1 Bath
$1,156+
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath
$1,401+
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath
$2,065+
Schedule Appointment At
(786) 403-0330
  • Building Related

    •  Elevators
  • Kitchen

    •  Dishwasher
    •  Garbage Disposal
    •  Granite Countertops
    •  Microwave
    •  Stainless Steel Appliances
  • Laundry

    •  Building Laundry Room
  • Living Room

    •  Central A/C
  • Parking & Transportation

    •  Surface Parking Lot
  • Security & Maintenance

    •  24-Hour Front Desk
X

Overall rating 6.0/10, based on 49 renter reviews Write a review

9.1
Location
4.2
Amenities
5.5
Management
6.4
Value
5.2
Social
8.1
Safety
Excellent
6
Great
13
Good
17
Average
10
Terrible
3

Chestnut Hall reviews and highlights

  • Filled with graduate and professional students from Penn
  • Good location
  • Front desk quickly responds to noise complaints
  • Building feels very safe
  • Kitchen is small
  • Expensive for an older building
  • Good living experience for students in University City
  • Management staff is great
  • Chestnut hall is a safe, clean building that is kept well
  • Leasing office staff is unhelpful
  • Complex is very quiet
  • Strict no pet policy
Filter reviews for
5
Average
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Just okay.

Safe and convenient. Close to campus and decent parking at fresh grocer. Overpriced, faulty fire alarms, non-working elevators, etc. Overpriced and crappy.

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Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Pros and Cons

Overall I do like living in this building, but it definitely does have its issues. I will start with the pros. The community is friendly. It is mostly grad students from what I can tell. People are generally quiet and respectful. The hallways are a little run down but the apartments are nice. I feel like I have a ton of space for the price. The location is really convenient. It is a 10 minute walk from the law school, and everything you need is in walking distance. The area seems safe as well. It is right next to Penn's undergrad campus so there are always a ton of students in the area. It gets less safe as you go a little bit further west. There is 24 hour security / concierge which is nice. The package system is also very convenient. Maintenance here has always been friendly and helpful and management has always been responsive to issues that arise.

Now to the cons. My biggest issue by far since moving here was a period of 2 months where a tenant was chain smoking cigarettes indoors non-stop - which is against the building's rules. The building is old and the walls are thin so the smoke traveled and it made my apartment smell. To management's credit, it seems like they finally got the tenant to stop. Another issue that has been ongoing is one with the fire alarm system. It goes off randomly, sometimes in the middle of the night and on a few occasions it forced people out of their rooms really late at night. A lot of people think this is connected to the smoking, but management has not given a sure answer. Lastly, I would say that this building has temperature control issues. I am on the top floor, and I actually get a lot of heat from the apartments below me. I rarely even have to use my heat in the winter and sometimes even have to open my windows and use a fan to cool it down. I have heard that parts of the building do not have it as good and I hear some rooms are cold in the winter.

Overall I have liked living here, but like any building there are some downsides that you should consider.

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Apr 4, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the great feedback! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Overall it's good

I've been staying at Chestnut Hall since I move to Philly. Overall the experience is good here, the management office is friendly and fast response to all issues. And location is perfect since all necessary facilities (restaurants, groceries, USPS, UPS, cinema, etc ) you need are within 3 to 5 minutes walk from apartment, although you might need 15 min walk to Drexel campus.

Alternatively, the apartment itself might be a little bit outdated (interior looks like 1990's). But the price is truly attractive compared to those newly decorated apartments near campus(like 3737 chestnut or 3601 market).

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoy the location and management at Chestnut Hall! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • Roommates
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Chestnut Hall

Chestnut Hall is great! The heating is controlled by the landlord, so it can get incredibly warm in the winter time (I left my windows open it was so warm). Heating aside, it it a great place for UPenn students who want to live in a building that feels like an extension of campus. My studio was the perfect size, came with a range and fridge, and allowed adequate space to host dinner parties.

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the awesome review! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Chestnut Hall Studio

My apartment is a decent size, but the location is what makes the building worth the price. It is close to the law school but not right on top of it. Management are friendly, and the building is clean and feels safe. It is also close to a grocery store.

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the review! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
5
Average
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Noisy - depending on which side you live on.

Chestnut Hall is okay. I like being within close walking distance to school. That said, the building is basically on the Penn Campus and the back side is above several undergraduate bars, which can be outrageously loud at night and on weekends.

Overall, I would recommend living in Center City. But if you want to live within close walking distance to school, this is an okay option.

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Hi there, I'd love to hear more about your frustrations and see about reaching a solution to first and foremost make sure you feel right at home. If you'd reach out to me at ICanHelp@Aimco.com, we can discuss. Looking forward to it! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social

Convenient location and good maintenance

The building is on the older side, but it is well maintained and very convenient for students and employees commuting to the University of Pennsylvania. The maintenance and any service requests are taken care of well and very promptly. Rooms may be smaller, but it is great for living alone

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the feedback! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
6
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social

Solid apartment in a good location

The best thing about Chestnut Hall is that the location is very convenient. It's pretty close to Drexel's campus and is close to the Fresh Grocer and lots of restaurants and bars. There are also lots of other students that live at Chestnut Hall. Management has been pretty responsive and easy to work with, but the building is on the older side and a little overpriced.

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you enjoy the location! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Roommates
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
6
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social

Convenient location for space and privacy

39th and chestnut is about a 15 minute walk from my office building, making it very simple to commute even in the worst of weather. The apartments themselves are roomy; they offer studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments. The kitchen is small, but functional. Mostly, the complex is very quiet and filled with graduate students/professional students from Penn

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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm sorry to see we only scored a six in your eyes, so if you have any feedback for how you think we can improve, feel free to email me at ICanHelp@Aimco.com. Thanks! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social

Chestnut Hall Apartments

Good location, building was very expensive for how old it was. The stove and oven were very old. However the repair staff was always on point and fixed any issues within 1 day.

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  Yes   1
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Mar 20, 2018
Comment from George , Guest Services Associate at AIMCO at Chestnut Hall
Thanks for the feedback! -George
Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • Studio / 1 bath

The Neighborhood

Signature Spots

dining 31 Recs

Zesto Pizza & Grill
Enjay’s Pizza
Bobby’s Burger Palace
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grocery 4 Recs

Aldi
Trader Joe’s
Mariposa Food Co-op
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convenience 2 Recs

CVS Pharmacy
Wawa
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fitness 28 Recs

Fit Gym University City
Penn Campus Recreation
Bikram Yoga West Philly
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parks 10 Recs

James G. Kaskey Memorial Garden
James G. Kaskey Memorial Park
Dilworth Park
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coffee 16 Recs

Capogiro Gelato
Beiler’s Donuts
Winterfell Dessert
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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 at Chestnut Hall

Surface Parking Lot

Parking Near Chestnut Hall

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

159 reviews
University City feels very safe with so many students living in the area as well as the added presence of University security. There are plenty of restaurants and easy access to basic necessities (e.g. grocery store, pharmacy). I really like it because it makes getting to work super convenient and street parking is much more available for visitors (or if you're like me and occasionally borrow your parents' car) compared to other areas of the city. It is also very close to the Schuylkill River Trail for walking/running/biking, is a quick walk into Center City, and gives you easy access to a variety of public transportation as well as major highways.
I love living in this neighborhood! There are a few parks nearby, and there's all kinds of great food places. I definitely try to be cautious and aware of my surroundings, but overall I feel very safe where I live. I love that I can easily walk to school and that the SEPTA trolley lines go right past my house- easy to get to center city for internships, etc.

Lately it has gotten a little noisy at night on my street, but otherwise I have few complaints about the neighborhood.
Living along Baltimore Ave is great - tons of small shops, restaurants, and bars. It's also really easy to get to school or center city on the trolleys. Neighborhood has all the city amenities but is way cheaper and quieter than center city.
I am in UCity, right across the street from the law school. It's quiet but it is kind of far from rittenhouse and center city. There are only a few restaurants and bars around here, but its a short uber into the city.
University City is a bustling college town with plenty of bars, restaurants and nightlife. You don't need to go far to find whatever is you're looking for.
For Penn students, the location is perfect, less than a five minute walk to school. There are bars, food, etc though center city offers more options.
Very close to university and law school. Good fast food options. A bit far from downtown
Nice and clean, seemingly safe, not much to do in the area though

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