Home  >  Philadelphia  >  West Philadelphia  >  University City Apartments  >  AKA University City

High-rise Apartment
University City, 2929 Walnut St | Philadelphia
Overview
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Amenities
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Top Amenities

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  •  Cat friendly
  •  Dog friendly
  •  Fitness Center
  •  Granite Countertops
  •  Hardwood Floors
  •  Indoor Pool  
  •  Parking Garage  
  •  Resident Lounge  
  •  Rooftop Deck
  •  Stainless Steel Appliances
  •  Tennis Courts
  •  Washer/Dryer In Unit

User Rating

9.0
Excellent
7 Reviews

About this Location

Trader Joe’s
9 min via 44 (bus)
MFL (metro) - 6 min
30th Street Station - 10 min
Schuylkill Banks
5 min walk
Lots of bars and
restaurants nearby

Pricing 
updated 9 hrs ago

Studio, 1 Bath
$2,250+
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath
$2,650+
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath
$4,400+
2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths
$3,615+
Schedule Appointment At
(786) 403-0330
  • Bedrooms

    •  Walk-in Closets
  • Building Related

    •  Elevators
    •  Smoke-Free Community
  • Convenience

    •  Business Center
    •  Conference Room
    •  Dry Cleaning Valet Service
    •  Package Receiving
  • Entertainment

    •  Coffee Bar
    •  Game Room
    •  Game Table
    •  Resident Events
    •  Resident Lounge  
    •  Rooftop Deck
    •  Theater Room
  • Kitchen

    •  Dishwasher
    •  Garbage Disposal
    •  Granite Countertops
    •  Luxury Cabinets
    •  Microwave
    •  Refrigerator
    •  Stainless Steel Appliances
    •  Stove & Oven
  • Laundry

    •  Washer/Dryer In Unit
  • Lease Terms

    •  Furnished Units Available
    •  Online Rent Payment
  • Living Room

    •  Air Conditioning  
    •  Hardwood Floors
    •  Large Windows
    •  Lots of Sunlight
  • Parking & Transportation

    •  Bike Storage
    •  Parking Garage  
  • Pet Terms & Amenities

    •  Cat friendly
    •  Dog friendly
  • Security & Maintenance

    •  24 Hour Emergency Maintenance
    •  24-Hour Front Desk
    •  Controlled Access
  • Sports & Fitness

    •  Aerobics & Cardio Room
    •  Fitness Center
    •  Indoor Pool  
    •  Tennis Courts
    •  Yoga Studio
  • Storage

    •  Additional Storage Available
  • View

    •  Amazing Views
X

Overall rating 9.0/10, based on 7 renter reviews Write a review

8.3
Location
9.6
Amenities
8.7
Management
6.1
Value
6.6
Social
9.4
Safety
Excellent
6
Great
0
Good
1
Average
0
Terrible
0
Filter reviews for
9
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Great experience all around

It's a little more expensive than some of the alternatives, but the building and its apartments are great and very conveniently located.

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Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
9
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Expensive but worth it

Great location, equidistant between campus and Rittenhouse. It is on the expensive side, but the views, amenities and location are worth it.

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  • Couple
  • 2 beds / 2 baths
9
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

?

It’s a good apartment, though a bit far from school

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  • 1 bed / 1 bath
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Great place, but staff isn't always reactive

Modern building nicely located between Rittenhouse and campus.

However because of COVID they are short staffed, so many services are temporarily discontinued and some resident requests take forever to be fulfilled.

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Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
9
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

AKA Review

I really enjoy living in this building. The amenities are excellent, especially 24-hour concierge, package receiving center, responsive maintenance, and gym/pool/rooftop. You definitely pay for these services through high rent, though.

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Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
10
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Rent is worth it

Yes, it's expensive, but it is so worth it. I study at home more than the library, so I enjoy how quiet it is. I also love that everything is right there. It's such a short walk to school and a short walk to campus. There is almost always a bus running during the day to get you back and forth even quicker. The gym is so nice, and it doesn't hurt that there is a bar on the 28th level either. Front desk staff is so accommodating - truly the best living experience.

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Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
10
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Amazing location, amenities, and staff

I'll start by saying that my wife and I are really bummed to be moving out of Philly in July - we've been living here since June 2017 thanks to VeryApt's help finding the place. The AKA is amazing! The views of the city from our wall-to-wall windows are unparalleled in their beauty. We're super close to 30th St Station as well as to the 21 & 42 bus routes for anyone who works at HUP or the VA like I do (or who goes to Wharton).

The 28th floor is incredible - free coffee & snacks (including granola bars & figs) each morning, a fully-furnished movie theater with free movies & sporting events each weekend, an indoor swimming pool, and a fitness area with a ton of machines including two Pelotons (not to mention daily classes). And of course, the staff - both at the 28th floor and the concierge at the ground level - are nothing short of amazing.

This definitely is a higher-end place compared to the other high-rises we looked at, but my wife and I have no regrets about the rent since it's well worth it to be living here.

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  • Couple
  • 1 bed / 1 bath

The Neighborhood

Signature Spots

dining 35 Recs

Walnut Street Cafe
La Dominique
Bridgewater’s Pub
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grocery 2 Recs

Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods Market
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convenience 3 Recs

CVS Pharmacy
Old Nelson Food Company
Rite Aid
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fitness 25 Recs

The Levy Tennis Pavilion
Class of 1923 Ice Rink
Balance Studios
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parks 13 Recs

Cira Green
Schuylkill River Dog Run
Penn Park
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coffee 26 Recs

OCF Coffee House
Almaz Cafe
La Colombe Coffee
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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 AKA University City

Parking Garage

Parking garage adjacent to building, Self-park only, Starting at $300/month

Parking Near AKA University City

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

158 reviews
Close enough to campus to walk, but far enough away that you don't feel surrounded by just students. Clark Park is lovely, there's something for everybody - farmers market on Saturdays, regular flea markets, off-leash area for dogs, playground, etc. Several coffee shops within 2 blocks and some good places to eat within 5 blocks. Grocery shopping isn't super convenient if you buy a lot at once, but doable if you're just carrying one or two bags. Street parking isn't too bad but gets competitive on the weekends.
I chose the neighborhood for proximity to the school. If I could choose otherwise, I would be over by Rittenhouse or further West around the Clark Park area. It feels a bit commercial in U City (not so charming or friendly). BUT everything you need is here and it is very convenient. The only real downside is an aesthetic one.
Gentrifying area of West Philly, given Penn's presence and expansion into the neighborhood. Easily walkable. Within several blocks of Clark Park, where there are lots of community events and family-friendly activities in addition to walking paths and dog park. Lots of cute shops and restaurants along Baltimore Ave plus great hole-in-the-wall spots if you want to explore a bit more.
I enjoy living in University City. It is perfect if you want to live in a low key area very close to school. Most people in the area are affiliated with Penn, so the community is generally pretty young and active. You are in walking distance from everything you might need. You do not need a car to get around. Even if you plan on spending a good deal of time in Center City, you can get there easily by rail or by Uber. I wouldn't have chosen to live anywhere else during 1L.
I have developed a sincere appreciation for the lifestyle and restaurants in University City over the last few months. UC is excellent for student budgets: for about $12 per person you get an entire feast at The Greek Lady, a giant cold-banishing soup at the Ramen Bar, or a 15-vegetable salad at Axis Pizza. There's a full grocery store (Fresh Grocer), several nice coffeehouses, and did I mention the 3 block walk to class? In terms of safety it's about the same as Rittenhouse or Center City.
Pros:
- Close to campus (~20 min walk, ~8 min trolley ride)
- Generally safe because University City in general has been highly gentrified.
- Charming and diverse community
- CLARK PARK! (and the Farmers' Market!!!)

Cons:
- No nearby grocery stores (except Fresh Grocer which is gross)
- Can be sketchy after dark
It's hard to pinpoint exactly where University City is right now as a neighborhood, because it's changing so rapidly. It's gone from one of the most dangerous campuses in the country ~5 years ago to incredibly safe. With the new FMC Tower going up at 30th/Walnut, it's hard to say exactly what this area will be like next year... but it's only getting better. It's a nice way to avoid Rittenhouse prices while still being only a stone's throw away from Rittenhouse (and yet at the same time not sacrifice on proximity to campus).
I am right by Clark park which is on the border or UC and West Philly. It is much quieter and more residential. The food scene is incredible with lots of smaller, family-owned restaurants serving food from many different cultures. There have been no major crime issues as well.

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