Quote:
Originally Posted by omnivore
Which suggests to me that there are also subjective factors at play: Philadelphia's out-of-date bad reputation, its place in the shadow of other east-coast cities, and perhaps even the ease and familiarity of locating stores in malls. To be charitable, I'm sure they base their location decisions on the numbers you cite, but they aren't uninfluenced by such subjective factors.
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On the whole Boston is on the top end of the scale on the national "positive" lists. Education,salary,home values. On the otherhand Philadlephia is usually at the top for the"negative" lists. Crime,poverty,HS dropouts.
Downtown Boston is every bit as dynamic as Center City Philly but doesnt have near the surrounding baggage. Zur summed it up pretty good.
I'll always remember reading a blurb in a local publication about a major Manhattan high end retail CEO who came down to Philly to scout a location. The limo stopped somewhere in Center City and the CEO didnt even get out of the limo.Took a quick look around at the demographics, apparently unimpressed, he told the Limo driver to immediately turn around.
Center City is getting better but it still has a long long way to go. Market East which has been discussed at nauseum needs a total transformation from its current bedraggled state into a productive quadrant of the city. More office jobs, more residences and much less discount retail. What they are doing in University City(Cira South with 5,000 new IRS employees, office tower, residential tower) that should have been done in Market East instead.