The Metropolitan

I lived here for a year and really liked it! Excellent location– close to everything in center city! Easy to find cabs outside if you’re trying to go anywhere. 30 min to the PHL airport and about a $ 36 cab ride to the airport. 20min walk to 30^th station. Right by the suburban Septa spot. The building is near several cost effective parking lots including a lot that is $ 5 on weekends. There’s a deli and laundry place right downstairs. 5 blocks from chinatown and 5 blocks from rittenhouse. Prime location!
The maintenance people are super helpful. If you make a request online through the portal or just tell the front desk they will address the issue immediately. There’s a doorman who will sign your packages. I felt safe living here. In the one year I lived there, there was only one fire drill and it happened on Sat night around 11pm.
I lived in a studio and there was plenty of space. Two huge closets and a washer/​dryer inside the unit so you never have to leave. You have to pay for your own utilities. My PECO electricity bill was less than 30 a month during summer/​fall/​spring but went up to over 100 during winter because of the heater. Cable– comcast only. There’s a gym and basketball court on the 2^nd floor and a dog bath area– super convenient! This building is pet friendly. Elevators are fast!!! — I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve never had to really wait more than a few minutes for the elevator.
There is a deck on the 23^rd floor. might be 24 but I think it’s 23. It is pretty spacious and has wonderful views of the city! Super nice at night!
The prices are reasonably for center city compared to other buildings in center city. I’d def recommend this place if you want to live in center city aka middle of everything. The only reason I moved out is because I’m moving across the country to California.

I lived in the Metropolitan for 6 months in a short rental contract. We had a 2br/​2bath with the little balcony access facing the Love park.
The manager of the building, Joanne Marziani is extremely helpful.
We also had a parking spot in the parking lot at the back of the building which was very convenient as the loading dock of the building is also at the back (shared with Le Meridien hotel), so easy for food grocery.
I would definitively recommend this building!

I am updating my review to 5 stars now that Dilworth Park and The Philadelphia Family Court are both completed. Both of these areas were under construction while I was living in the Metropolitan, and were the main reason that I gave this building 4 stars instead of 5 stars. This construction previously made it necessary to walk on the West side of 15^th street in front of city hall, which is an area that one might not feel totally comfortable walking past due to the people that congregate there.
Now you can walk past Love park and City Hall, on the East side of 15^th street, and for the most part you are passing through a brand new, well lit, and very nice park on your way to the Rittenhouse and Walnut area, and you can avoid most of the undesirable elements.
Also, the location has parking available next door (cost is about $ 250 or $ 300 — which is pretty standard pricing for center city). Also, it is quite easy and convenient to get to the Vine St. Expressway from 15^th and Arch.
Finally, now that I have had the experience of living in another comparable «Luxury» building in Center City, I know that The Metropolitan Staff (including office staff, front desk staff, and maintenance) is extremely competent and professional compared to where I am currently living. I will write a review on my current building once I move out which should be in approximately 6 months.

I lived here for 3 years.
Pros:
1. The building is safe
2. The front desk will take your packages from Fedex/​UPS
3. Convenient location from 15^th Street Station and the heart of Center City
4. Close to the highway when you need to use your car
Cons:
1. I picked my apartment because it got a lot of natural sunlight and I had a great view of the Art Museum area. But about 1.5 years into my stay, construction began across the street. My apartment and all its windows faced 15^th Street during my time there and even though I was on a high floor, construction noise was significant (they would work till 2−3am almost every night and management did little to enforce noise restriction rules). The building that was constructed completely obscured my view of the Art Museum area. My rent went up even though management was aware of these issues. The noise might be less of an issue when the family courthouse across the street is completed but be careful about which apartment you pick.
2. You will hear your neighbors through the walls
3. Poor quality washer/​dryer in the units. I was not able to use them for my delicates and even some regular shirts got holes in them after a few wash cycles. This meant that I relied on the drycleaners a lot more than I normally would.
4. At least 1 of the main elevators seems be broken at any given time, but this is not a huge deal because there are 2 others
5. I was able to smell whatever my neighbors were cooking when I turned the heater on in the apartment
Overall, the close distance from the building to 15^th St Station was most important to me, so I put up with the noise issues. But my recommendation would be to pick an apartment in this building that doesn’t face 15^th Street. Also, prepare for a rent increase of ~ $ 50 each year if you extend your lease past 1 year.

The Metropolitan has been such a God send in this crazy city. We have lived here for about a year and it has been wonderful. Hardwood floors, washer and dryers in some units, upgraded kitchens/​baths, and the location just can’t be beat if you are looking to live in the center of it all (only downside is that it lacks a nearby grocery store, which isn’t ideal). The rooftop deck and gym facilities are just icing on the cake. The staff is very helpful and friendly. Definitely a place you need to check out if you’re looking to move!

I have lived in the Metropolitan (2 bedroom/​2bathroom apartment) for just about 2 years now and I LOVE it here. The location is wonderful as you can walk nearly anywhere downtown, you’re close to public transit, AND you have easy access to all nearby highways. The apartment isvery spacious and does not cut corners anywhere — beautiful hardwood floors throughout with updated kitchen and bathrooms. We have a lot of closet and storage space + the washer and dryer right in our unit. The building is monitored 24/​hours by a front desk attendant and even has a gym and community room that all tennants have access to as well as an amazing rooftop overlooking the city. Maintenance, front desk staff and those working in the office have always been readily available to assist with any request and are always very friendly and it’s been wonderful getting to know them. I would, hand down, recommend living at the Metropolitan to anyone. In my opinion, it is a great deal for the amenities you get compared to similar buildings throughout the city (I viewed at least 10 – 15 other apartments before landing here). If you’re looking for a new apartment, I would definitely check out this building!

I currently live at the Metropolitan with my girlfriend and could not be happier. We have a 1BR/1.5bath unit that overlooks Love Park. Before we moved in, everything was detailed, cleaned and repainted. The loading dock and freight elevator was scheduled for us so we could move in easily. Fran, our maintenance guy, Louis, and the rest of the front desk staff are helpful and amazing. Packages are held for us which is always nice. The gym gets it done — two treadmills, two ellipticals, weights, a bike, a leg press — not really sure what more you need.
Joanne and the rest of her staff do an amazing job of coordinating the administrative end of things — rent, key fobs, communication, and the like.
Occasionally the elevators go down, but there’s always one that’s running and it gets fixed immediately. Work orders are given in at the front desk and are almost always fixed by the end of the day.
Sure it’s a bit pricey, but at the current rate, it’s luckily doable.

Great location; friendly, ultra-​responsive staff; spacious 1-​bedroom apartment; and very good building amenities compared to most high-​rise buildings in Philadelphia. I commute out of the city every day and it is very easy to get from the parking garages neighboring the building straight onto the highways. Have had a great experience so far!

We’ve lived in this building for almost 9 months and are very satisfied. We plan to be here a long time.
The building was built in the 1920s but turned into the current apartments about 30 years ago. You would not be able to tell that from either the condition of the building or the state of the apartments except for the hints that the Art Deco touches leave.
The location is so ideal. Pennsylvania Academy of Arts is literally in the backyard.
Location is so convenient that we gave up our car and rely on the two nearby Zipcar locations when we need a car.
There ARE inexpensive (relatively speaking) nearby, $ 210/​month parking possibilities within the same block for indoor parking. Even less if you are willing to walk 3 or 4 blocks to get your car. Convenient for guests, there’s a parking garage 2 blocks away that is only $ 5 nights and weekends.
Our 2 bedroom apartment is very spacious, more than the other buildings in this class that we looked at last year. That was important to us.
We are also taking advantage of a small 3 by 5 locked storage area in the basement assigned to us.
I can second the positive reviews of the staff, always helpful and attentive.
Given the constraints of an old building, they are doing a masterful job.
Old/​unique buildings have some advantages: Noise from other apartments essentially non-​existent. Due to unique layout (apartment has no ‘neighbors’ on 3 ½ sides and thick ceilings/​floors.

I’ve lived at the Metropolitan almost one year and I love it. They rent studios, one and two bedroom apartments. The amenities of the building are excellent. They provide an on-​site gym, conference room and rooftop deck with a skyline view that makes you feel like you live in Manhattan.
The Metropolitan is a pre-​World War I Art Deco building. It has a beautifully decorated lobby and with courteous and professional front desk staff. The apartments have been upgraded with modern appliances and include washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, hardwood floors, granite counter tops and modern light fixtures and bathrooms. The bedrooms are carpeted. The only units that do not have hardwood are the studios, which are carpeted.
In addition to newly renovated apartments, the Metropolitan has four amazing assets — the staff, the rooftop, the newly renovated gym, and the fact that they are dog friendly. All the staff are professional, friendly, and willing to assist you in every way. The rooftop deck is absolutely incredible. Open from the Spring through the early Fall, it is a haven filled with patio furniture for dining or lounging and lots of seasonal plants. For safety reasons no alcohol is allowed and it closes at 10:30 PM. And lastly, our dog is treated well by the staff. They just began allowing two animals per unit, so we will soon be getting a second dog.
An interesting fact about the building is that it used to be a military YMCA. You can see the remnants in the basement of the building where each unit has a storage locker. On the second floor, hidden from view, is a completely renovated, brand new gym that is amazing, along with a renovated and updated workout area. You can play basketball, volleyball or badmitten, and there is a scoreboard to keep track of your games. The gym has old school bleachers which are totally cool. There is also a doggie spa where you can wash your dog that is completely top notch. It has three completely renovated bathrooms and a shower for use, and it has a kitchenette with a fridge and space for tables when you are holding a function.
Being an older building it has problems from time to time, but Fran the maintenance man is always on hand to fix things and keeps the building well maintained. The only issues I have ever encountered involved elevators going down from time to time, but it’s not major. On occasion, however, the fire alarms go off for no apparent reason. They need to fix this. I understand that things go wrong from time to time, but the frequency can be annoying. Living high up it is incredibly inconvenient when the fire alarm goes off at 10:00 PM.
In my experience I would say that the management company, Reinhold Residential, truly pride themselves on their appearance and in running a good operation. In fact, every year they host a holiday party in the lobby for renters.
As far as amenities in the near vicinity, several parking structures are near, some expensive, No, parking is not included. There is a small market on the same block, two other food places on the same block, a very decent everyday restaurant around the corner owned by a Honduran, Aldo, who is consistently good for your staple breakfast and lunch, and two 7-Eleven’s not far. Groceries can be delivered to your door by Peadpod, which is highly convenient. You are also blocks away from many other nice restaurants, including Chinatown, which is walkable within ten minutes. And when you do return from that trip to the grocery store, Target, or elsewhere, there is a loading dock in the back for drop off.
All in all I love living at the Metropolitan. It has been a great home and has made living in Philadelphia a great experience.

This is a great building to live in. The amenities are fabulous, beautiful roof deck, nice gym and community room. Everything is clean, apartments are spacious. The front desk and rental staff and friendly and helpful, I really don’t have a negative thing to say about my 2+ years living here.