Welcome back to Curbed Comparisons, a dive into the options available for a certain price point in various neighborhoods. This week we looked for only one-bedrooms that each offered something more. Is one person's loft another person’s townhouse? Let's find out! Today's price: $1,550/month.
↑ Rittenhouse Square (1 bed, 1 bath)—Available early next month, this second-floor unit has a recently updated kitchen that is a little pinched. But that’s what allows for the large living space and loft sleeping area overhead. There is also a vintage marble mantle and tall arched windows—not to mention a location that’s a walk to the symphony or Rittenhouse Square dining.
↑ Manayunk (1 bed, 2 baths)—This unit isn't available until early September, but it may be worth planning ahead for. At 980 square feet, not only does it boast space, but the timber-framed loft is almost dizzying in its height. The kitchen is small and some rooms seem oddly shaped, but this may be the cost of utilizing the original wood, brick, stone, and large arched window from this old manufacturing building.
↑ West Kensington (1 bed, 1 bath)—At $1,525/month, this Tie Factory Lofts apartment is huge (1,320 square feet), and really takes the phrase "open floor plan" to heart. There is a separate bedroom and a simple bath, though the 12-foot open truss ceilings and shared roof deck with Center City views offer some offset.
↑ University City (Studio, 1 bath) — At $1,530/month, this unit is small with a galley kitchen, but there are recent updates like stainless steel appliances. There’s also a sleeping alcove to separate the living space a little. Perks: The pet-friendly apartment building is close to UPenn and Drexel and has a fitness center.
↑ Graduate Hospital (1 bed, 1 bath)—This Naval Square apartment is the smallest unit this week at 420 square feet. It has a tight living and kitchen area, but there is a sleeping alcove and a loft, accessible via a ladder. The tight quarters may also harken to this compound’s days as the first U.S. Naval Academy. What the apartment lacks in space it makes up in amenities: Gated parking, a pool, and a fitness center.