Renters Rate Edgewater Tops Among Philly Apartment Buildings

Apartment-search startup VeryApt asked local renters to share their opinions about the buildings they lived in. 2,500 of them responded. Here are the ones that topped their lists in a dozen categories.

2,500 Philly renters can't be wrong: they give the Edgewater top marks among local apartment complexes. | Photo: Courtesy of Bozzuto Management Company and  Ray Cavicchio Photography

2,500 Philly renters can’t be wrong: they give the Edgewater top marks among local apartment complexes. | Photo: Courtesy of Bozzuto Management Company and Ray Cavicchio Photography

Looking for an apartment in Philadelphia that’s attractive and nicely equipped, with great management and amenities? How about one with a really cool pool or a first-class fitness center?

Apartment-search startup company VeryApt got recommendations and opinions from some 2,500 renters in Philadelphia, and based on that feedback, they’ve come up with lists of “Renters’ Best” favorites in 12 different categories, plus a list of the best management companies and a list of the top 50 local rental properties citywide.

Topping that Top 50 list is The Edgewater, the apartment-townhouse development on the Schuylkill’s east bank in Logan Square. The Bozzuto-managed complex was also rated tops for families as well as the best large (100 or more units) apartment complex in the city; it took the No. 2 spot in property service.

The other four properties that rounded out the overall top five were Naval Square in Graduate Hospital, which took top honors in the rental condo category; The Warwick in Rittenhouse Square, which finished right behind Naval Square in rental condos; 1700 Chestnut in Rittenhouse Square, which topped the boutique properties list, and the Lofts at 1835 Arch Street in Logan Square, No. 3 on the large properties list.

The survey respondents rated Domus in University City tops among luxury rentals. Those looking for outstanding value should put The Roosevelt in Rittenhouse Square at the top of their list. 2400 Chestnut, another Schuylkill-side building, proved its onetime nickname of “Graduate Tower C” among Penn students remains apt, as it was named the top property for graduate students. Pet owners put the RiverLoft in Fitler Square at the top of their rankings, and The Granary in Logan Square took top honors for common amenities.

Logan Square’s 1900 Arch had the best fitness center, and Rittenhouse Square’s 1500 Locust had the best pool. Taking the top spot in property service was 2400 Chestnut.

As for the property managers themselves, here are the 10 companies that Philly renters said were the best:

  1. Dranoff Properties
  2. 2400 Chestnut
  3. Pearl Properties
  4. Forest City
  5. UDR
  6. Rittenhouse Management
  7. Greystar
  8. Allan Domb Real Estate
  9. Bozzuto Management
  10. EB Realty

“Management is an important factor in choosing an apartment,” said Jack Wise, city launch manager for VeryApt.

The Philly “Renters’ Best” guide is the first the Philadelphia-based company has produced. It builds on work the company has done with its college and university partners, for which it has produced housing guides aimed at students, but, Wise said, “This is the first time we’ve done a citywide guide.”

To obtain the renter feedback VeryApt distributed cards through its partner apartment managers asking tenants to complete an opinion survey and solicited participation through a Facebook ad campaign that rewarded participation with a $5 Starbucks gift card. The surveys were collected over a period of two years, then analyzed to obtain data and produce rankings.

“‘Renter’s Best’ is the culmination of a ton of work we’ve done in Philly,” said Wise. “We want everything [in our guides] to be data-based and unbiased on our end.” That includes rating the management companies with which they have partnerships: “We don’t want to play favorites.”

VeryApt has reviews of apartments in more than 30 cities nationwide as of now. Philadelphia is one of 12 cities where the company is focusing its efforts.