My utility bill is about $100 each month for a studio apartment.

Very Convenient

Staff (including security and maintenance) are extremely friendly and super helpful with everything and anything. Laundry is right on your floor and you get a laundry card from the lobby in a few quick seconds. Garbage is also on your floor. There's an elevator and although the interior of the building itself is old, they did a pretty good job renovating. The price is great for how close it is to Drexel and Upenn campuses.

Safe and convenient. Close to campus and decent parking at fresh grocer. Overpriced, faulty fire alarms, non-working elevators, etc. Overpriced and crappy.

Overall I do like living in this building, but it definitely does have its issues. I will start with the pros. The community is friendly. It is mostly grad students from what I can tell. People are generally quiet and respectful. The hallways are a little run down but the apartments are nice. I feel like I have a ton of space for the price. The location is really convenient. It is a 10 minute walk from the law school, and everything you need is in walking distance. The area seems safe as well. It is right next to Penn's undergrad campus so there are always a ton of students in the area. It gets less safe as you go a little bit further west. There is 24 hour security / concierge which is nice. The package system is also very convenient. Maintenance here has always been friendly and helpful and management has always been responsive to issues that arise.

Now to the cons. My biggest issue by far since moving here was a period of 2 months where a tenant was chain smoking cigarettes indoors non-stop - which is against the building's rules. The building is old and the walls are thin so the smoke traveled and it made my apartment smell. To management's credit, it seems like they finally got the tenant to stop. Another issue that has been ongoing is one with the fire alarm system. It goes off randomly, sometimes in the middle of the night and on a few occasions it forced people out of their rooms really late at night. A lot of people think this is connected to the smoking, but management has not given a sure answer. Lastly, I would say that this building has temperature control issues. I am on the top floor, and I actually get a lot of heat from the apartments below me. I rarely even have to use my heat in the winter and sometimes even have to open my windows and use a fan to cool it down. I have heard that parts of the building do not have it as good and I hear some rooms are cold in the winter.

Overall I have liked living here, but like any building there are some downsides that you should consider.

I've been staying at Chestnut Hall since I move to Philly. Overall the experience is good here, the management office is friendly and fast response to all issues. And location is perfect since all necessary facilities (restaurants, groceries, USPS, UPS, cinema, etc ) you need are within 3 to 5 minutes walk from apartment, although you might need 15 min walk to Drexel campus.

Alternatively, the apartment itself might be a little bit outdated (interior looks like 1990's). But the price is truly attractive compared to those newly decorated apartments near campus(like 3737 chestnut or 3601 market).

Chestnut Hall is great! The heating is controlled by the landlord, so it can get incredibly warm in the winter time (I left my windows open it was so warm). Heating aside, it it a great place for UPenn students who want to live in a building that feels like an extension of campus. My studio was the perfect size, came with a range and fridge, and allowed adequate space to host dinner parties.

Chestnut Hall is okay. I like being within close walking distance to school. That said, the building is basically on the Penn Campus and the back side is above several undergraduate bars, which can be outrageously loud at night and on weekends.

Overall, I would recommend living in Center City. But if you want to live within close walking distance to school, this is an okay option.

My apartment is a decent size, but the location is what makes the building worth the price. It is close to the law school but not right on top of it. Management are friendly, and the building is clean and feels safe. It is also close to a grocery store.

The building is on the older side, but it is well maintained and very convenient for students and employees commuting to the University of Pennsylvania. The maintenance and any service requests are taken care of well and very promptly. Rooms may be smaller, but it is great for living alone