The Philly vs. Baltimore comparison thread

[eldondre]

I've been to Baltimore many times but not all over. I have seen whole blocks of abandoned rowhomes and warehouses...most notably the American Brewery Bldg (which is now being renovated for some non-profit). the harbor is nice, if a bit boring. I'd venture to say, Harbor East has been the biggest suprise. A local bakery owner bought up a bunch of abandoned warehouses, vacant land, etc. He almost went bankrupt but the city helped him out. Over time, he took risks, sometimes with the help of the city, such as the marriott. Downtown only now appears to be seeing revitalization. It also appears to be much easier to demolish and get approval to build in Baltimore. Baltimore's Howard St is far more blighted than Philly's Market East. That said, I like Baltimore, it's quaint neighborhoods, it's quirky and definitely hilly downtown....It too has a strawberry mansion area. It's also not that much cheaper than Philly and I'd agree that it's biggest problem is the state of Md. There are people who live without a car, but far fewer than Philly. they now have a whole foods and a super fresh downtown. Recently the MTA reduced the off peak frequency on the subway from 22 min to 11 min...making it useful outside of business hours.
BTW, isn't washington crossing really pigtown?

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by eberger

Chestnut Hill

That is the closest neighborhood, but I don't think they quite compare. Number one, some of the architecture in Roland Park is just incredible. I am not as familiar with Chestnut Hill, but I haven't seen anything to compare. Two, the topography is quite different...Chestnut Hill has some beautiful parts, but the whole area of Roland Park is beautiful.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by Marianne

That is the closest neighborhood, but I don't think they quite compare. Number one, some of the architecture in Roland Park is just incredible. I am not as familiar with Chestnut Hill, but I haven't seen anything to compare. Two, the topography is quite different...Chestnut Hill has some beautiful parts, but the whole area of Roland Park is beautiful.

Then you really don't know Chestnut Hill--take a ride some day. It's gorgeous, with great mansions and such.

[Brian P]

Originally Posted by eldondre

... That said, I like Baltimore, it's quaint neighborhoods, it's quirky and definitely hilly downtown....It too has a strawberry mansion area. It's also not that much cheaper than Philly and I'd agree that it's biggest problem is the state of Md. There are people who live without a car, but far fewer than Philly. they now have a whole foods and a super fresh downtown. Recently the MTA reduced the off peak frequency on the subway from 22 min to 11 min...making it useful outside of business hours.
BTW, isn't washington crossing really pigtown?

Maybe I missed your point, but how is being in Maryland Baltimore's biggest problem? Something tells me Philadelphia would be more appreciated (all population issues aside) if it were in MD as opposed to anti-change, anti-development, small-minded PA.

MD has a significantly higher personal income tax rate (state + local can be 7% or more, which is around PA + the wage tax), but much lower property taxes and business taxes. Further, Maryland's infrastructure, while serving a smaller population in a much smaller state, is generally leagues better than our's. By the way, I am not from MD, I'm a PA resident my whole life.

[eldondre]

Originally Posted by Brian P

Maybe I missed your point, but how is being in Maryland Baltimore's biggest problem? Something tells me Philadelphia would be more appreciated (all population issues aside) if it were in MD as opposed to anti-change, anti-development, small-minded PA.

MD has a significantly higher personal income tax rate (state + local can be 7% or more, which is around PA + the wage tax), but much lower property taxes and business taxes. Further, Maryland's infrastructure, while serving a smaller population in a much smaller state, is generally leagues better than our's. By the way, I am not from MD, I'm a PA resident my whole life.

most of MD hates Baltimore. Property taxes seem much higher in Md than PA. the city of Philadelphia is far more anti-development (I'm not going into namecalling a whole state but you can if you wish) than Baltimore and, more importantly, community groups have far more power in Philly and in PA in general. I read the Baltimore Sun regularly and it's apparent that the mayor does whatever they want, even if it includes demolishing beautiful old 19th c apartments for a prayer garden or the last 18th c buildings downtown for a hospital expansion...for better and for worse. That said, I suppose the business taxes are lower in Md (something I was hoping Rendell woudl have addressed) but power is much more expensive (which has forced many manufacturers into PA). On the downside, Philly's oppressive business taxes have led to s situation where Baltimore has more employment in manufacturing in absolute numbers than Philly...a much larger city. I don't really have a point, I'm comparing the two cities but I seriously doubt that Philly would be more appreciated in MD, queen of sprawl, posterchild for how not to plan a state. They may have better roads, but it ain't cheap. It also has a higher crime rate.

[Marianne]

Does Philly have something similar?
http://www.avam.org/

This place is really cool...and the gift shop alone is worth a visit.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by Marianne

Does Philly have something similar?
http://www.avam.org/

This place is really cool...and the gift shop alone is worth a visit.

Here's a listing of museums in and around Philadelphia. I don't think it's complete, but it is pretty thorough--time to explore.

http://www.phillyfunguide.com/sites.php?category=50

[Hospitalitygirl]

http://www.icaphila.org/

This is actually what you want.

[WQstur]

Okay I can tell you never went to Baltimore by this.

Originally Posted by sharkfood

2. It goes without saying that the streets are virtually free of trash, even in not so nice neighborhoods.


3. Philadelphia is far more blighted than Baltimore. Yes, you can go to Sandtown-Winchester and find boarded up rowhouses and empty grass lots, but it feels much different from North Philadelphia. The grass is cut in the grassy lots; they are not overgrown with weeds. And the abandoned homes are neatly boarded up and look more rustic than threatening. I imagine that Baltimore probably looks about the way Philadelphia looked around 1980, before the serious decay set in for the next two decades. Of course, the comparison is even more stark when it comes to commercial buildings. By and large, the commercial/industrial buildings in Baltimore are occupied by thriving businesses and there is no endless parade of industrial hulks as one might see in Kensington.

4. The number of different housing projects scattered here and there around Center City and University City never ceases to amaze me. Philadelphia was never a socially progressive city. How exactly did we come to have this many projects? At least three of our close-in neighborhoods, Northern Liberties, Bella Vista and Queen Village are directly impacted by nearby housing projects. Except for one tastefully rebuilt project on the east side of downtown, I just can't think of any projects that impact Baltimore's close in neighborhoods like Butchers Hill, Canton and Federal Hill.

The dirtiest American streets I've been to have been to Baltimore.

I've worked on houses in what I were told were "moderatly bad" neighborhoods. The abondement and trash were worse than some of the most forgotten North Philly blocks. I witnessed drug deals, people screaming, everything on these blocks in B-more. It made the worse areas of North Philly look like Disney land.

And on issue of projects, go from West Baltimore to Downtown/Inner Harbour. Its MILES of Projects all the way to I believe Lombard. Even that part of Downtown is kind of bombed out.

Well Baltimore has a 50% higher murder rate than Philly so they must be doing something right.

[eldondre]

Actually, the areas I've visited have had very clean streets. Supposedly (according to one cabbie) that was one of the things the last mayor fixed. that said, there are lots of projects.