On the Market: An Urbane Condo in Rittenhouse Square for $647.5K

Want this handsome Wanamaker House condo for less? Go carless and save $50K on a deeded parking space.


2021 Chancellor St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 | Bright MLS images via RE/MAX One

This handsome single-family townhome that’s part of the Wanamaker House condominium offers great modern style, some very nice features and some great community amenities.

One of those features is purely optional, and bypassing the option could save you a bundle.

There are two active listings for this condo, one with the option and one without. Let’s look at what they share first — namely, the residence.

It’s a handsome contemporary home on a tree-shaded, secluded block of Chancellor Street a block west of Rittenhouse Square. It was built as part of the Wanamaker House development, a mid-1970s condominium that incorporated the former residence of department-store magnate John Wanamaker and surrounded it with modern townhomes and a high-rise tower.

This unit is not atypical of the two-story townhouses. It gets lots of light through its south-facing bay windows, and there’s a small yard in front where you can sit and enjoy the fresh air and passing scene.

Living/dining room

The living/dining room has built-in frosted-glass-front cabinets where you can store your china, crystal, books and other things.

Kitchen

The kitchen has been updated with stainless steel appliances and newer cabinets, including another glass-front china cabinet.

Master bedroom

Master bedroom half bath/closet

Upstairs, you’ll find a guest bedroom, a marble-tile hall bath and a master suite with its own pass-through half bath and walk-in closet with custom shelving.

You can access the Wanamaker House’s community amenities, including its rooftop swimming pool, through the building garage, which extends beneath your residence.

And all this is in a great location, with fine dining, great shopping and Rittenhouse Square itself just steps away.

Now let’s deal with the option.

Pool

The condo comes with a deeded parking space in the garage. The sale price above includes the $50,000 cost of the deeded parking space. Given where this condo is located, however, you might just be able to live car-free, given that all of your daily needs as well as your nice-to-haves are within walking distance and there are plenty of SEPTA transit routes around you to take you wherever else you need to go (Rittenhouse Square is one of the city’s most walkable and transit-friendly neighborhoods, earning both a Walk Score and a Transit Score of 100).

If you already don’t own a car, pass on the deeded parking space and save yourself 50 grand. If you do, consider ditching it and add the cost of registration, insurance, maintenance and fuel to your $50,000 savings. Then book yourself a nice vacation to reward yourself for your savvy.

THE FINE PRINT

BEDS: 2

BATHS: 2 full, 1 half

SQUARE FEET: 1,300

SALE PRICE: $647,500 with deeded parking space, $596,500 without

OTHER STUFF: The monthly condo fee of $650 covers exterior and common area maintenance, snow and trash removal, water and sewer service, and access to the community amenities. There may be restrictions on some pets.

2021 Chancellor St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 (with deeded parking | without deeded parking) [Liz Lutz | RE/MAX One]