Jackass I said nothing about african american moron. Why don't you go stick your head up your kahoowie.

If you equate ghetto and run down neighborhoods with african americans then that's your beef.
And by the way, I was never a "white liberal" so quit acting like you know anything about me.

I think this sums up the OP's inquiry perfectly. I think that Ridley Park is the cream of the crop in the area.

Chester has "good bones". Perhaps as more of the middle class is priced out of good neighborhoods (when home prices go back up again) then Chester will improve. Even though the original industry isn't there, it's proximity to Philly and surrounds along with Widener, the waterfront, and nearby hospitals should be enough to support it. There were almost identical situations in a couple of towns outside of Detroit. Of course, now that Michigan's economy is in the crapper...the situation is a little precarious, but they aren't yet showing serious signs of reverting back to their humble beginnings.

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I can't see this happening unless the city of Chester gets a handle on drug crime and violence. And of course the school district is an utter disgrace of continual mismanagement and swinging doors among administrators. I believe they have one of the lowest schores in the country. In order to attract more industry and serious homeowners, a great deal has to improve.

[quote=Peanut206;759892]Jackass I said nothing about african american moron. Why don't you go stick your head up your kahoowie.

If you equate ghetto and run down neighborhoods with african americans then that's your beef.
And by the way, I was never a "white liberal" so quit acting like you know anything about me.[/quote

I understood exactly what you meant. Ghetto means a rise in crime (particularly drugs and violence), property neglect and an eventual downturn in the appearence and safety of a neighborhood or community.

FWIW, my street in Ridley shows plenty of "ghetto" behavior from the white people. I didn't grow up here, so I can't comment on how things have changed over the years, just that its going on. It has nothing to do with race.

As I referenced above, I didn't grow up in the area. Today, I drove through Chester (in the daytime) and in places I was astonished at the houses I saw. I know it's a rough place, but I look at the general buildings and think "what happened?". I'm a little rough on the location, but maybe 22nd street and Providence(?). You need to drive a bit in before you see run down areas. Widener seemed ok, but until I got to FedEx at Blueball, everything was just busted.

FedEx is in Lower Chichester - the municipality that is making its own mobile phone laws, gun laws, and more. It seems as though you traveled down 9th St. in Chester, which turns into Ridge Rd. in Trainer, PA, and then into Lower Chichester.

Chester was left behind with the times, like Flint, MI and other areas that lost manufacturing jobs. I know many old-timers who really loved what Chester once was. It's sad.

Have a look at this:

http://www.oldchesterpa.com/

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Yup, something like MacDade to Providence Rd to 20-something to Edgemont to 9th....wherever the GPS told me to go to avoid the backup on 95!

My dad taught at St. James in Chester for years (until Tony Bevilacqua unceremoniously closed it in '93). I think that may have played a part in Chester's downfall (combined with factory closings, etc.)--it was a great alternative for boys in the neighborhood to the horrific public schools.

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Well, Chester was a war zone then - the state police were called in several times. At the time, it was said that Chester's murder rate rivalled that of Pittsburgh - and the per capita was one of the highest in the U.S. It was already gone, but St. James did further insulate Chester from the surrounding communities. I had many friends who transferred from SJ into my high school, at the time, and they probably haven't stepped foot in Chester since then. I know of one who did go back and work in the city, but most stay away.

__________________
"He taught by example that part of respecting another person is taking the time to criticise his or her views."

--Melissa Lane, The Guardian; obituary for philosopher of science Peter Lipton.

Farewell Eddy Arnold...Make the World Go Away...

MAGIC THEATER
ENTRANCE NOT FOR EVERYBODY
FOR MADMEN ONLY!