I have lived in a one-bedroom in the Rosemont Plaza for just over a year. The neighborhood is extremely safe and is convenient given its proximity to 476, 76, KOP, and Northwest Philadelphia. There is a quiet small park across the street, and a McDonalds, Subway and CVS within easy walking distance.
Rosemont Plaza hosts some very big rooms. If you are in the front of the building (facing Lancaster) you have wonderful light throughout the day. Lancaster Ave however can be quite loud in the early morning and in the early evening during rush hour. The free (non-HD) cable included with rent was a nice perk when I was searching for apartments, and the fact that they have Comcast SportsNet was a huge plus! The granite countertop in kitchen with modern flooring/appliances was also a draw, although the bathrooms and lobby are outmoded- the bathrooms in the lobby are however gorgeous! While rooms are big, there is only a moderate amount of closet space. The bathroom itself is around the size of a walk-in closet.
I was pleasantly surprised when I moved in to see that they installed a new white carpet in my apartment. The padding under the carpet is dull, however, and sometimes if your neighbor slams their door/ kitchen cabinet loudly you can feel it. The noise from their kitchen into our bedroom could be trying at times, although it did improve after we had a discussion about it. Overall we have found that the apartment is rather quiet. Management was willing to fix/repair any and all issues noted on move-in.
There are many benefits to living in the Rosemont Plaza. In addition to basic cable, electric, water and trash are included in the rent. Parking is also free, ample and safe. The management just repaved the parking lot so it is very even and smooth. The project to repave was fairly painless and was finished in under a week, although the lengthy construction project to repair/update the roof/awning in front of building appears to be stymied after several months with no progress, leaving the entrance with a bit of any eyesore. In the basement are reasonably priced large-load washers and dryers with electronic card payment system.
There is a US Mailbox in front of the building and packages are safely kept in the conveniently located front office, which hosts evening and weekend hours. The manager also works late to accommodate resident's works schedules, and this allows issues to be discussed face-to-face. The traffic light in front of the building at Lancaster and Airdale also offers a long light for residents to enter/exit building at any time of the day or evening.
Residence includes a limited access to Villanova University's fitness centers for only $25 a year. There is a pool in the back that is open Memorial Day to Labor Day for $125 per resident (with additional family members being $75 per year, and guests around $10 per day). The pool is large and beautiful with a diving pool and deep end. Not all residents buy memberships to the pool or decide to go swimming, so often you have a large pool to enjoy with yourself and the lifeguard. My experience is that lifeguards are not always reliable to show up/stay until the posted times (it is scheduled to be open until 7PM during the week and 6PM on the weekends), although management did refund cost of my pool pass because of this issue last year.
Residents are polite and willing to engage in conversation. Undergraduate Villanova students cannot live in the building per an agreement with the University, and there doesn't seem to be an abundance of young professionals who live in the building either. Management is however very community-minded and community-friendly, and the complex is accessible and very welcoming of persons of all abilities. The complex hosts quarterly blood drives and semi-annual arts and crafts shows. The lobby also offers free books/magazines in lobby to take/leave for others.
Management is most often willing to accommodate tenant's needs and offers free automatic bill pay. They also do a great job with upkeep of the building/hallways/ grounds, which adds to the experience of living there. On the downside there is a mandatory three-month notification for move-out (which management was unwilling to waive after two uninvited animal guests entered our apartment late last month).
Overall my wife and I have had a pleasant time residing here. For the location, generous utilities, and overall hassle-free experience it's hard to go wrong by choosing to live at the Rosemont Plaza! read more
