It is. Just went to their website (http://www.parkway22.com/) and a notice pops up that "uncertain market conditions" have caused a temporary suspension of activities at their sales office.

In the time of irrational exuberance over the Philly real estate market, projects went up in NoLibs and Fishtown...and projects continue to go up (go see the FishKenLibs forum). At that same time projects ( not all, but some) in the FairGardenBrewery area got slowed. (For fear of height and shadows). But it also prevented some development that would have been out of character for the area (where as Fish/NoLibs has some funky looking places. Fairmount is not Funky).

But this stuff has an impact and slows the commercial development on Fairmount and Girard Ave.

All in all the area is not that bad (especially if you throw in the new places to eat more in Spring Garden and Francisville); and given that the neighborhood associations should reflect the wants of the area...well the area has the things it desires (like a parking lot).

If people want the laundry list of stores, the area needs more density (taller buildings) to support those shops.....

Oh, Mexican food would be great!!!

No, Fairmount is not funky. It's fairly staid.

However, it is plenty dense. I don't agree that having 30-story buildings is the only way to achieve density. It's a classic Philly rowhouse neighborhood, very little changed from the days when there were 3 or 4 shops on every major corner *and* a whole line of retail establishments on the main streets.

The physical configuration of the neighborhood has changed very little since those days. What has happened is the national trend towards suburbanized, car- and chain-oriented shopping developments. City dwellers lusted after these things as much as burbies, and when they started to build them I suspect Fairmounters climbed into their cars and took their shopping dollars elsewhere. As a result the small neighborhood stores folded. Now there are probably 1/10 of the stores there used to be, and some of those are even struggling to bring in customers.

Maybe pricey gas will finally convince people to leave the car parked and shop where they live.

I think if Fairmount Ave had an "anchor" store (like a medium size grocery that was fun to shop in), it would develop more foot traffic and support more retail. If I didn't HAVE to get in the car to shop I wouldn't, at least not all the time. I'd much rather have shopping in walking distance.

There are so many buildings in the neighborhood that used to have corner stores (not on Fairmount). I wish we had some intitiaive to develop those as retail again.

__________________
be aware that what the GOP says does not mean what it reads and what We perceive as to what THEY say is or isn't, is not what THEY mean. You dig....Great! (ms. e)

A few things; fewer families, smaller families, less density.
Cars+internet+burb choice=competition; the bar for a biz to make it is higher now than it was.

People in Fairmount drive to Whole Foods.

Gas prices would need to be really high before the drive to the City Line Target does not make sense (<10 miles)

I think the trick is the anchor store (grocery); but it would be on Girard (because it has the space) and I wonder if Fairmount people would use a store there. In fact, in May of 2006 (I think) Westrum presented at a Fairmount Neighborhood meeting regarding a grocery plan on Girard. Top concerns raised; "we need a shuttle and plenty of parking".

But I would drop a chuck of $$$ at a good produce place, butcher shop...not shoes, not clothes (those things would be worth a drive a bus ride to the city) maybe high end hardware store with landscape service, certainly a fancy wine store (which should offer deliver to all the BYOBs).

And here is an idea; Mexican Food.

my point being that if Fairmount HAD those things I mentioned, I wouldn't have to get in my car and drive anywhere.

And what's wrong with driving to Whole Foods? Tis a beotch dragging sacks of food home many blocks.

By the way, how is that car wash on 25th and Girard? I pass it all the time, a million spray bottles in there.

Sounds like some of you want to turn Faire Mount into the 'burbs with anchor stores and crap. You'll turn the place into a strip mall thinking like that. The horror. Let things crop up naturally... like points of organic avocado protruding from a locally grown bean taco... mmmm.... Mexican.

Please, someone escuche our call, por favor...

I agree; sort of. I think you and many others would not drive places and use the various biz we desire on Fairmount: but others would not; evidence: other posts (like Neil's) and how many drive to the Whole Foods (which is pretty close by)

Nothing wrong with driving to WF as carrying stuff sucks. I guess my point is driving for Fairmount is common place (please see various threads on parking). In short, there is a part of Fairmount that is very suburban, not Paoli suburban but Chestnut Hill Suburban

As for the anchor store idea; I do not want a mall but I do want to be able to grocery shop. Maybe not the BIG run I do every 2 weeks but if I want to grill steaks, veggies, etc I would like to walk to a place and get those things in the hood and also get a nice bottle of wine....bread...

TESCO is a UK company taking a run at US Urban Grocery retail. A touch high end and a chain, but I would suck it up and have a chain grocery/market on Fairmount (or Girard) if that could draw other stores and people.

Or maybe (as a starter) have the farmers market on the weekend as many of us work. Plus Sat market would get foot traffic and help other places.

The building stock of Fairmount Avenue doesn't make it the best retail strip...many of those buildings are homes without storefronts and the commercial establishments are scattered with residential ground-floor uses in between. While these buildings can be renovated to handle retail, one-by-one, it would take a very long time before you would have a continuous street wall of shops...by then it wouldn't be the same Fairmount Ave. Developing the giant parking lot in to something like Arlington, VA's Market Common (garage lined by shops, condos, and small parks) would help, but is a longshot.

Organizations like FAB need to stop pushing for Fairmount Ave to be the commercial spine and look at how shopping/dining was handled historically: with dispersed corner shops and compact strips on Girard, etc.

Taney and Girard, by the way, is now rumored to be the future home of the Mexican place you are asking for...I will start a thread for it...

For those of you interested in more retail for the neighborhood, how about a grocey store!! Please check out the community meeting next Tues.

Supermarket Forum Candidate's Night
Monday, May 19th at 6:30PM
St. Augustine's Church
27th and Girard

There is a thread on it:
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/fai...ate-night.html

While the meeting itself is more about the candidates running for office, it is being hosted by the Girard Avenue Supermarket Coalition and will focus on addressing the need of getting a supermarket in our neighborhood. The coalition group includes the surronding CDC's and I believe has secured funding, support, etc. for a group to come in a build on either 27th & Girard or 31st & Girard and I'm sure they will give an update on all potential options, including the Rite-Aid concept for the location as well.

By the way, when I said "anchor store," I certainly didn't mean box stores. I just meant a "necessities" store, like a grocery.

I drive to Whole Foods sometimes, but I wouldn't if it was on Fairmount. It's just a little bit farther than you want to schlep bags.

I think there are plenty of storefronts on Fairmount. It doesn't need to be wall-to-wall retail. That renovated building (next to the falling down one -- WTF is up with that, anyway) bodes well for some decent retail.

I know neil thinks Fairmount is kind of staid, but I think there are enough younguns around that some more fun shopping (bags/jewelry/shoes) with inexpensive rent could make a go of it.

__________________
be aware that what the GOP says does not mean what it reads and what We perceive as to what THEY say is or isn't, is not what THEY mean. You dig....Great! (ms. e)