$620,163Average Value$411Average Price per Sq Ft16Homes For Sale
Restaurants and residences along city streets
Walking along the sidewalks of Bella Vista, situated near Center City in Philadelphia, it might seem like there’s a restaurant or market on every corner. It’s not far from the truth, as branded awnings and signage jut out from many rowhouse facades. A point of pride in Bella Vista is its vibrant restaurant scene, and walkability to those spots is part of the appeal. “The restaurants are phenomenal,” says Sean Elstone, a Realtor with Keller Williams Main Line Realty. “There’s a lot to do around here, too, but if you’re single or older, this is a neighborhood that fits no matter where you are in life. It’s got everything. That’s why I love it here.”
Since parking is scarce, residents in Bella Vista often walk to get around. Much of Bella Vista is laid out in a grid-like pattern, and sidewalks run parallel to the flat fronts of the rowhouses. “Everybody can live in Bella Vista: it’s friendly, you feel safe and the restaurants are awesome,” says Beverly Rosa, a broker and property manager with Tara Management Services. Those on foot pass by murals and advertisements commemorating the city’s beloved sports teams, and during the sports season, crowds of fans funnel southward to Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Flyers games. “You can definitely feel the anxiety in the air before the season starts,” says Mike Faber, a Realtor with Keller Williams Empower. “If we’re performing badly, you’ll not only hear it, but also see that in emotions and attitudes around the city. It’s quite an interesting phenomenon.”
Pat's King of Steaks is a famous cheesesteak restaurant in Bella Vista.
Bella Vista is a short walk away from Center City Philadelphia.
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Walkable streets run along lines of rowhouses
The streets of Bella Vista are lined with trees and the facades of rowhouses. Far and away the primary style of housing in Bella Vista, the rowhouses blend into the cityscape. Their convenience means residents are able to walk to shops, restaurants and more. “You have high-rise buildings as opposed to single-family dwellings,” Rosa says. “It’s more movers and shakers. I have absolutely no second thoughts about raising my children in this city. It’s a great place to live.” The CAP crime score in Bella Vista is a 4 out of 10, aligning with the national average.
Bella Vista shares some qualities with Rittenhouse Square, one of the most famed and expensive neighborhoods in the city, but averages around half the cost. “In my mind, it’s equivalent to living in the most coveted neighborhood in Philadelphia,” Elstone says, adding that he considers Bella Vista the closest runner-up. “It’s tree-lined and you don’t have to have an outsized bank account to live here.” In Bella Vista, prices can range anywhere from $200,000 to over $1 million. They primarily fall between $450,000 and $750,000, with prices continuing to rise. Higher costs depend on the homes including amenities like garage spots and roof decks. “The lots tend to be a little bit more on the condensed side in Bella Vista,” Faber says. “It’s a densely-populated neighborhood. You get a lot of quirky and funny houses that are not very deep, which makes them interesting functionality-wise on the inside.”
Brick row homes in Bella Vista have picturesque architecture with Victorian details.
The homes in Bella Vista are commonly made from brick or stone.
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A bustling hub of Italian food in Bella Vista
Philadelphia’s Italian Market occupies a stretch of 9th Street and is made up of vendors under the shade of tent canopies, small cafes with seating and more. “You can get lost in the Italian Market,” Elstone says. “You walk in, say you want a cut of meat and they will literally cut it for you. They’ve got Italian shops there, like pastas, cheeses and all of that stuff.” The market dates to around the turn of the 20th century.
On the west side, Bart’s Bagels stocks freshly-baked items under bright blue signage. “Bart’s Bagels is actually one of the best bagel shops in all of Philadelphia,” Elstone says. “It’s phenomenal.” Morning Glory Diner has been in business for over 20 years and is open daily for breakfast and lunch. Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly is one of the most notable restaurants in the area, and lines for its famed cheesesteaks stretch out the door. Isgro Pastries stocks freshly-baked goods to the west of Bella Vista, and grocery shoppers head north to Whole Foods and ACME Markets locations.
J & J Pizza is a popular lunch option for many Bella Vista residents.
9th St is packed throughout the day for the 9th St Italian Market Festival.
Residents often rely on their own two feet to get around. “Philadelphia is known as a walking city,” Rosa says. For drivers, access to Interstate 95 is only about a mile east of Bella Vista. “It depends on the time of day and route, but you’re not really pigeonholed into just one way to get around the city,” Faber says. “As far as ease to get on the highway system, I would say it’s fairly easy to do in Philly given it’s not that large and you’re surrounded and bordered by large highways.” Interstate 95 is accessible via a drive of about a mile. SEPTA buses run along several streets in Bella Vista, including 7th, 8th and 9th.
If a trip to New York City is on the daily planner, residents can get there by car, bus or rail. “Door-to-door, it all depends on the mode of transportation,” Elstone says. “The train can be between an hour and an hour and a half, and driving is similar unless you’re hitting rush hour.” There’s also a bus that runs from Philadelphia’s Chinatown to New York’s Chinatown, and Elstone likens the area to New York itself. “For the most part, you’re just going to weave your way through Philly,” Elstone says of getting around within the city. “Philly is like Manhattan, and our Brooklyn is Fishtown.”
The pups will love the tree lined blocks of Bella Vista.
Bella Vista borders highly sought after Queens Village along the Delaware River.
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Fans catch beloved sports teams in person or on TV
Some of Philadelphia’s most popular gatherings, no matter the time of year or record of the teams, are professional sporting events. All three stadiums sit south of Bella Vista: the Phillies take the diamond at Citizens Bank Park; the Eagles play football at Lincoln Financial Field; and the 76ers and Flyers share Wells Fargo Center for basketball and hockey, respectively. “Philly is fanatical about our sports,” Elstone says. “There aren’t a lot of cities that I think could rival the passion and draw for any one of the sports teams, especially when they’re winning.”
On game days, particularly for the Eagles, the atmosphere takes over the city. “The whole city is in on it,” Faber says. “You’ll see a lot of people rocking jerseys, and everyone’s taking the Broad Street line down to the stadium. That’s quite an experience in itself, being on a train packed with fans going down to tailgate. It gets a little rowdy.” Bars are popular spots for catching games as well, including the Xfinity Live! Philadelphia entertainment complex near the stadiums.
Small parks amid the cityscape
Pocket parks are the most common green spaces found around Bella Vista. “We have one of the best park systems in the country, as far as an urban park system goes,” Elstone says. The Palumbo Recreation Center is Bella Vista’s largest outdoor spot. Visitors can take swings at its baseball diamond, where the outfield doubles as a soccer pitch; head to the playground; or shoot hoops on its dual basketball courts.
“I would say Philly is actually pretty decent with green spaces,” Faber says. “In most neighborhoods, there’s probably at least one park you can go to.” Bella Vista also has Cianfrani Park within its borders. Cianfrani has served as a green space for over half a century and hosts events like a flea market and summer concerts. A few blocks north, Washington Square offers a network of walking paths, and to the northwest, Rittenhouse Square is a local favorite and features tree-lined paths and open areas.
Pups can cool off at the pool in Christopher Columbus Park in Bella Vista.
Take in the Philadelphia arts in Bella Vista at Cianfrani Park.
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A pair of schools in central Philadelphia
Students in Bella Vista can attend the George W. Nebinger School, the only educational institution located within the neighborhood. The school serves kindergarten through eighth grade and receives a C from Niche. Horace Furness High School follows, also scoring a C with Niche. Furness High offers Advanced Placement programs and sports like volleyball, bowling and badminton.
Furness Horace High School is located in Pennsport of South Philadelphia
The George Nebinger School lines the bottom of the building with paintings made by the students.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Bella Vista
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Bella Vista Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Bella Vista, Philadelphia sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Bella Vista, Philadelphia over the last 12 months is $542,000, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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