Many of the houses in the neighborhood are large single homes or twins built at a later period than much of central North Philadelphia.

East Oak Lane is bounded towards the north by Cheltenham Avenue (the border between Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township), Broad Street towards the west, Godfrey Avenue towards the south, and towards the east by N. 5th street (as defined by the Oak Lane Community Action Association).

[1] In 1695, a Welshman named Griffith Miles bought 250 acres of land and built a log home along a dirt road that would later be known as Oak Lane.

"[2]: 10  Numerous architectural styles are visible, for example, in the area between 65th and 69th Avenues, with homes that have been the subjects of paintings by artist Chuck Connelly.

[6] Across the railroad tracks, a row of shops, most built in the second half of the 20th century, gives the impression of a small town Main Street.