Generally, this was a fine place to live. There was front desk security, they held packages at the desk for a decent amount of time, emergency maintenance was quick, and there weren't that many pests (on the 7th floor).

That said, I still wouldn't recommend it - Firstly, the rent was prohibitive for the space you got. I could have gotten a very nice 1 bedroom in or near rittenhouse square with the price I was paying. Very nice.

Second, the management was unresponsive. The year I was living there, there was a constant fight between the management and disgruntled tenants. Postings on the wall, notices in our mailboxes ("our" being people who were not involved in this dispute). It was ridiculous. People complained about very petty things, like having to walk a little further to the laundry machine while the current laundry room was under renovation, or security didn't smile when they walked by. On the other hand, there were some very valid complaints, such as security failing to check ID at the desk. If you were Asian (as the composition of this building predominantly is), you invariably were let through without a second glance. Were the walls lined with asbestos' We were never told.

Third, for several maintenance complaints, there was no response. I tend not to blame maintenance for this problem, because I know Chestnut Hall worked their team like dogs - 24 hour on call for one man, this is unreasonable.

Fourth, lack of notice when entering apartment. My apartment was shown twice without my knowledge. The rental agent argued with me in front of her prospective tenant that she had left a notice in my mailbox. She had not. The morning my roommate moved out, management pounded on my door at 8AM, "wondering" if I had also moved out without leaving the other key. I had not. There were several other times management took the initiative of entering the apartment without giving any notice whatsoever.

Fifth, security was lax. The benefits of having a security guard at the desk were slim to none - they let in people they never saw before, and stopped the people they saw every single day and night. This annoyance alone influenced me to hate this place.

Sixth, two words -- Three Bars. One at the corner of 39th and Chestnut. One at the corner of 39th and Sansom. One between 39th and 40th on Sansom. Not to mention Frat Row a couple blocks away (could still hear them), and the houses that line Sansom. You can hear everything, including that guy puking at the corner of 39th and Walnut. You can hear that fighting outside the bar. And this all happens at 2.30 am.

Finally, I cannot emphasize this enough, this place was just Not. Worth. The. Money. I'm sure it's nicer than a lot of places in University City, almost positive. But it is Not. Worth. It.

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