What is the most popular suburban community?

[wilreynolds]

Also, the Victor building in Camden may seem to be absurdly priced, but you get a view of CC, (as opposed to a view of camden from the dockside apts), avoid the wage tax, and ferry rides into town. Last I heard they are almost at full occupency and it hasn't even opened yet (I dont think).

Good point, I'd rather be looking at the philly skyline! Camden has a long ways to go, but I think they're onto something.

The big thing down there is making people feel safe. Camden just has a bad rep. Kudos to NJ for doing a better job w/ the waterfront than Philly.

Look how quickly the NJ waterfront got turned around, they got tweeter, and the aquarium. Now this apartment complex.

from what I hear, they are trying to get rid of the prison, now that the waterfront property have such better (revenue generating) opportunities.

The safety factor is still a big one though. How is Camden handling that?

[eldondre]

camden is on to something with that building but i'd rather be in the philly skyline than looking at it. and you'd probably catch me dead walking around camden. i'll be looking forward to the new light rail line opening this fall. that's where jersey beats PA pants down!
I ahve a hard time believing that camden doesn;t have a few factors of its own. i'm sure it has something like a wage tax. it didn't become the poorest area in jersey by being the cheapest.

[Brian P]

I think many executives move to SJ for 2 reasons...

1 - Close proximity to CC - no argument about this one.

2 - It's so much cheaper. This is not to say that Cherry Hill or Vorhees are cheap, but they are much less than most places in PA, especially the places in PA where executives that work in the city might want to live, ie Bala all the way out route 30/SEPTA R5 to to Malvern.

[zogby blob]

Several of those burbs along the R5 are in the list of the most expensive places in the US to live.

[cc]

Originally Posted by EBerger

So remember kids, South Jersey IS a part of Greater Philadelphia, just as much as any PA burb.

I wonder where northern Delaware fits into this. Truth be told, I have not known anyone from Delaware who commuted to Philadelphia to work, though I don't doubt that there are those who do (and plenty go the other way). I imagine people from Delaware don't consider themselves to be suburbanites of Philadelphia.

[niel]

Yes, a colleague of mine commutes from Delaware, and not just from Wilmington. He gets on I-95 at the last (or first, depending on your point of view) exit before the Maryland state line. He lives in a semi-rural area (but a suburban development) out near Bear. I agree that he probably does not consider himself in a Philly suburb.

A commute that long would drive me nuts (I did commute from West Chester to Penn for about 10 months - 1.25 hours one-way - and it did indeed drive me nuts). I think sometimes he uses the train.

For you Simpsons fans, remember the episode that begins with the family taking a trip to the First State? Homer: "The Simpsons are going to Delaware!" (standing in front of an airline counter for "Air Delaware", whose logo is a map of the state with two small wings protruding from it); Lisa: "I want to see Wilmington!"

[djh]

Having recently moved into Cherry Hill, I must say I consider myself being part of Philly rather than NJ.

It's great being only a couple of minutes away, with the bridge and two rail lines. My wife works in University City so she takes the train non-stop from CH to 30th Street Station.

On the issue of the Victor Building, we checked out the apartments a while ago. The views of the city are fantastic and the company is doing an excellent job with the restoration. (Same company that restored the Left Bank building in Philly).

The trouble with Camden is that the area by the river is great, but once you get a block away it's rather nasty. As someone said, NJ have done a better job than Philly with waterfront restoration.

[Brian P]

Originally Posted by EBerger

I am too shocked when I read that some PA towns are considered to be burbs and South Jersey gets left out. So remember kids, South Jersey IS a part of Greater Philadelphia, just as much as any PA burb.

I just have a hard time accepting the fact that an area that is always trying to compete with its neighbor is part of the same group. When SJ tries to lure companies over the river to help the SJ economy, this is not an example of SJ being "part of Greater Philadelphia." I'd love to see Camden improve and re-invent itself, but not at Philadelphia's expense. That's a backward way of progressing forward.

[Stringbean]

I just happen to stumble over this subject, and I have to comment.
I also live in Cherry Hill and was born in Cherry Hill. But I am reading and cannot believe some of these comments.
Everyone in SJ is not from Philly. And I think we should get it straight. A city is a city. Camden is no worse than Philly. Crime is everywhere you go. That includes Cherry Hill, NJ. Yes Cherry Hill, the town in SJ that has the highest Domestic Violence rate :shock: Double than anyother town in SJ. Let's not pick on Camden because we all know why some of you's talk so badly about it. Let's check the history....Camden was a great city until about 20-25yrs ago. Some of that was a result to the race riots and how all of the businesses moved out of the city and to the suburbs. Not to mention the the corruption of many of the city's leaders. (What city has not had a few corrupted leaders.) So what is left?? nothing, which in turn the town becomes poor. Camden has been set back a little, but I am sure the city will get back on it's feet. As far as the two cities competing with each other, isn't that the AMERICAN way? :? Us Americans have been bullying and competing with people, other countries since the begining of time.

[IMPAQ]

Camden reminds me of Youngstown, OH... cold and desolate. I do think they're on the right track with revitalization and I think they will be successful one day with their plans. Philly, however... I'm not so optimistic with.