Home  >  Philadelphia  >  West Philadelphia  >  University City Apartments  >  The Axis

Mid-Rise Apartment  «  Altman Management Company
University City, 20 S 36th St | Philadelphia
Overview
Photos
Amenities

Top Amenities

View All >
  •  24-Hour Front Desk
  •  Bike Storage
  •  Building Laundry Room
  •  Business Center
  •  Elevators
  •  Fitness Center
  •  Granite Countertops
  •  Pet Friendly
  •  Stainless Steel Appliances
  •  Surface Parking Lot
  •  Wall-to-Wall Carpets
  •  Window Unit A/C

User Rating

8.0
Great
9 Reviews

About this Location

Trader Joe’s
8 min via 10 (light rail)
MFL (metro) - 5 min
10 (light rail) - 1 min
Schuylkill Banks
19 min walk
Lots of bars and
restaurants nearby

Pricing 

Studio, 1 Bath
$1,200+
VeryApt is not currently accepting inquiries for The Axis
  • Building Related

    •  Elevators
  • Convenience

    •  Business Center
  • Entertainment

    •  Game Room
    •  Theater Room
  • Kitchen

    •  Dishwasher
    •  Microwave
    •  Refrigerator
    •  Stove & Oven
  • Laundry

    •  Building Laundry Room
  • Living Room

    •  Wall-to-Wall Carpets
    •  Window Unit A/C
  • Parking & Transportation

    •  Bike Storage
    •  Surface Parking Lot
  • Security & Maintenance

    •  24-Hour Front Desk
  • Sports & Fitness

    •  Fitness Center
X

Overall rating 8.0/10, based on 9 renter reviews Write a review

9.6
Location
7.8
Amenities
8.8
Management
8.4
Value
6.9
Social
8.9
Safety
Excellent
3
Great
4
Good
1
Average
1
Terrible
0
Filter reviews for
7
Good
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Short Term Lease but Definitely Student Housing

It is important to know that this is student housing. It is overall a quiet place, nice staff, and all things are covered in the rent. Each floor within the housing floor is dirty and need a deep cleaning. In addition, the kitchens are shared spaces, always tidy, and need some additional cleaning as well. They do have front desk staff present 24 hours a day which is a nice touch while being in a new city.

They also offer room cleaning services, deep cleaning of your room carpet, and more.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Studio

Super close to campus, can walk to campus in <5 minutes. Biggest drawback is no kitchen in the unit, although there are communal kitchens (gets annoying that you can't always use it when you want + kitchen is often messy), so found that it was easiest to cook large portions over the weekend and save/meal prep for the week. Price of rent was worth it for me as a 2nd year hoping to rotate at an all year site outside of Philly because the flexible lease (7 months) made more financial sense than renting somewhere cheaper for a whole year, but price of rent isn't quite worth it if you're planning on living here a full year. Mix of people living here, mostly students but also working professionals, never found noise to be an issue. Rent includes all utilities, and place comes furnished.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Axis Apartments Review

Great value

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Good

The staff is very kind and always available. The rooms are nice with attached bathroom. The gym is well maintained and open 24/7. The only issue is that you have to share a kitchen and pay for laundry. Otherwise it’s a great place to live!

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Couple
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
10
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Location!

Amazing location! Responsive staff. Fantastic deal!

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
4
Average
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Cheap dorm-style housing

For Philly, very affordable and close to school. However, it’s an old building and not the most comfortable to live in, despite the staff trying their best.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
9
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Great location!

Less than a 5 minute walk to the law school (Penn Law). There's a grocery store a block down and a few blocks up. Close to the Penn campus, trolley stations, and restaurants. Management is super friendly and usually gets any maintenance issues fixed the same day or next day. The gym onsite is pretty convenient, especially during the winter. There are 2 common kitchens in the building (I rarely use them though). I would say that for the location, the rent is pretty reasonable for what you get.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath
8
Great
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

Dorm Living

Dorm living, one room, includes a bathroom, but doesn't include a kitchen--there are communal kitchens available in the building. The administration is really helpful, responsive, and honest. Good place to live, it's really close to the Law School. Rent includes all utilities. Flexible lease lengths is also a benefit, I am on a 9 month lease, which is great because I'll be spending my summer in New York.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes   3
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • 1 bed / 1 bath
10
Excellent
Overall score
Location
Amenities
Management
Value
Social
Safety

The axis on 36th street

Everything is included in the rent.
10 minutes walk to Drexel.
Restaurants and a 24 hour Wawa across the street.
Staff are very helpful.
Gym located on the first floor. Not a lot of work out machines available but convenient when the weather is bad and I don't feel like going to DAC.

Keep reading
Was this review helpful?
  Yes   5
  No
Reviewed by
 
  • Studio / 1 bath

The Neighborhood

Signature Spots

dining 31 Recs

Zesto Pizza & Grill
Magic Carpet
Chewy’s Food Truck
See more

grocery 3 Recs

Trader Joe’s
Aldi
Whole Foods Market
See more

convenience 3 Recs

CVS Pharmacy
Wawa
Old Nelson Food Company
See more

fitness 25 Recs

Penn Campus Recreation
Hotbox Yoga West Philly
Class of 1923 Ice Rink
See more

parks 13 Recs

James G. Kaskey Memorial Park
James G. Kaskey Memorial Garden
Clark Park
See more

coffee 15 Recs

Federal Donuts
Reed’s Coffee & Tea House
Starbucks
See more

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 The Axis

Surface Parking Lot

Parking Near The Axis

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.

Similar apartments & condos

  University City

Studio $1,090
1 Bed $1,275
  University City

Studio $1,156
1 Bed $1,401
2 Beds $1,894

Check availability
  Powelton Village

Studio $1,299
1 Bed $1,429
2 Beds $659

Check availability
  University City

Studio $1,100
1 Bed $1,400

Check availability
  University City

Studio $1,200
1 Bed $1,400
2 Beds $1,850

Check availability
  Northern Liberties

Studio $1,300

Check availability