The PPA should be forced to come.

They are becoming a top reason why people don't like to come into Center City..

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Yes, but did you notice how convenient the PPA's parking lot is? It's practically award-winning.

Which, if any, of those 4 steps did San Francisco follow? There's homeless everywhere, there's a row of strip clubs and porn theatres on Market St, and their outdoor art is ... um, i don't remember seeing any.

Seattle is boring.

The worst fate for Philadelphia would be to turn it into an "urban theme park." I'd rather have 4 more years of John Street than... OK, maybe becoming a theme park is the 2nd worst thing.

I don't think there's room for a Camaro dealership in CC. Besides, isn't Old City enough for them?




I agree with you about one thing, at least.

It's only about $35 for non-members to attend. It isn't just for movers and shakers. Planners attend. People from some of the architectural firms. Business consultants.

Suburban New Yorkers could shop in White Plains or Mahway but they'd much rather spend the day in Manhattan. Ditto every other cosmopolitan city in this world that gets it.Their downtowns are bursting at the seams with shoppers,diners,tourists,cultural-goers. People want to be part of that scene.

Suburban Philadelphians differ greatly in this regard. They do not shop in Center City because of Philadelphia's lack of vision, poor retail options, terrible crime, and I agree with your statements regarding the tragic parking situations.

You seem to have a vision that Center City is this isolated area that should only be enjoyed by the people that live there, thats ridiculous. Center Ciy should be the mecca for 6 million metro Philadlephians. Sadly it is not, its improving but has a long way to go.

But I do agree with you that the PPA gestapo may do more harm to Philadelphia than good.

Yesterday they had 3 tow trucks lined up at 6th + walnut at 3:29 pm. By 3:31 they had 3 out of state cars towed and headed to some god forsaken lot in north philly. Those people came to Philly to spend money in this city and that is how they are thanked. Toursits see a parking meter and they put money in it, I'm sure most tourists don't even bother to read the time restrictions on the signs.

I just bought an apartment in Spring Garden. $35 is like a weeks worth of being able to eat.

Philadelphia is a cultural mecca for many, from both within and outside the region. Our art museum has had shows here that cannot be seen elsewhere, or in very limited markets, so people have come in in droves. We also have the best flower show in the country, and they come in from all over the place to see that as well. These are not just day trips. Many of these cultural to-dos involve hotel stays. Which means restaurant business, which should also mean SHOPPING. It isn't the worst in the world, but really, we should be treated with much more respect than we seem to be.

Stop with the Manhattan comparison.

Manhatten does have unique shopping that can't be matched and is located in an area that is unable to use cars...hence critical mass with density and transit plus the massive influx of wealth just because it's NYC also include topography...a peninsula surrounded by swamp, islands, blight, dense housing and suburbs...

SO STOP.


We currently have Walnut Street as "chic" shopping.


As for the "Center City's an island"

It is... there's not much reason for people to drive back down besides dinner.

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I think some of you guys are being too hard on suburban folk. I know people that may do their after work shopping in their local mall, but prefer Walnut Street on a nice saturday/sunday. Hasn't anyone else seen how crowded the streets and stores have been these past couple of weekends? I bet that it isn't all CC residents.

I am not. I have suggested a compelling reason for a serious upgrade to our own shopping.

ebergerI think some of you guys are being too hard on suburban folk. I know people that may do their after work shopping in their local mall, but prefer Walnut Street on a nice saturday/sunday. Hasn't anyone else seen how crowded the streets and stores have been these past couple of weekends? I bet that it isn't all CC residents.

Agreed, they have been, and it is peak tourist season right now. I just wish we had better shopping to offer as well