The Academy House Condominiums
1420 Locust St. Philadelphia, PA 19102
Snapshot
The Academy House At a Glance
| FEATURE | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| Year Built |
1976 |
| Residences |
576 |
| Parking | On-site Rental |
| Pets | Cat Friendly |
Located just off The Avenue of the Arts, this building offers a wide variety of flat condo sizes and floor plans, with many residences featuring balconies and generous closet space. Residents have a 24-hour front desk, fitness center, community spaces, and access to rental parking in the building. Academy House is a non-smoking, cat-friendly building. Its central location puts Rittenhouse Square, Broad Street, restaurants, theaters, shopping, and major medical institutions within easy reach.
Listings
Outline
- Address: 1420 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts / Center City
- Building Type: High-rise condominium
- Floor Plans: All residences are flats with no interior stairs
- Outdoor Space: Many condos have private balconies
- Front Desk: 24-hour staffed front desk
- Fitness: On-site fitness center
- Parking: Rental parking is available in the building; additional garages are nearby
- Utilities: Many utilities are included in the monthly condo fee
- Pets: Cats permitted; dogs are not allowed
- Smoking: Non-smoking building
- Recent Improvements: Renovated lobby, refreshed residential hallways, replacement of interior unit windows, updated lighting and signage
- Location: Convenient to Rittenhouse Square, the Avenue of the Arts, Jefferson, Penn, public transportation, shopping, dining, and theaters
The Academy House Building Layout
Quick Sales Stats
| Year | Total Sales | Top Sales Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | $595,000 |
| 2024 | 28 | $725,000 |
| 2023 | 24 | $560,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | $820,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | $660,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | $740,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | $529,900 |
| 2018 | 18 | $669,000 |
| 2017 | 19 | $575,000 |
*Detailed sales data for every condo at The Academy House is available upon request.
Two Cents
I’ve long referred to Academy House as the “Toyota of Center City condos.” I mean that as a compliment. It isn’t trying to be the newest or flashiest condominium building in Philadelphia. What it offers is something many buyers ultimately value more: a good location, practical floor plans, useful amenities, and a building that has remained consistently relevant to Center City buyers.
One thing I think buyers sometimes underestimate here is livability. Many units have very good closet space, balconies are fairly common, and every condo is a flat, which is something that can become increasingly important to buyers who simply don’t want stairs in their home. The variety of floor plans also means Academy House can work for buyers at several different price points.
I’ve also watched the condominium association continue to put money back into the property. Improvements to the lobby, hallways, windows, lighting, and other common areas have helped keep the building from feeling stuck in the era in which it was built.
There are a few things buyers should understand before looking here. Dogs are not permitted, parking is generally rented rather than deeded to individual condos, and the monthly fees can initially look high until you examine what those fees include.
I’ve sold condos here over the years and have had clients make Academy House their home. For the right buyer, I think its greatest strength is fairly simple: it does a lot of things well without asking buyers to pay for a luxury-building image they may not particularly want.
Recent Sales
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Photos
Floorplans
