Yes. That's exactly what happened. Fishtown was where all the artists who couldn't afford NoLibs anymore went several years before any big developers got interested and I know of several musicians who bought in SWCC including questlove from the Roots before anything was anounced at Naval Homes.

sorry to move this discussion backwards, but i agree w/ seand. i'm less enthusiastic now, as new hi-rises are being built, than i was about a year or two ago when small-scale development and rehab began to take place. i feel that's the kind of development that this city needs in order to set it apart from NYC and Boston (in a good way, not a bad way). REINSTATE THE GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT!

sean: Okiedokie.

Look I don't think developers pull out the open studio map and go "O.K. lets put some condos here" but they do definitely check out if DIY-ers are doing something in an area as a bellweather of its an area they want to invest in.

ugh...this thread is getting a little hard to stomach.

I think that there is more than enough room for both new development and fringe, artsy neighborhoods. So, should there be no cranes? Is that a good sign?

The most important thing to me, is not to decrease the amount of cranes, as they are a sign of investment in our city. No, it is to get these developers to design quality, city-friendly projects. Everyone living in this city should have a little bit of NIMBY in him or her. We should all scrutinize the projects, give feedback, and hopefully end up with well-designed buildings. No developer should be able to storm in and erect the cheapest building possible in order to maximize profit.

Well said.

I can't speak for Seand (I could but why should I), but what I meant by agreeing with him is that as an indication of neighborhood (and city) economic health, I am more pleased to see people fixing up their houses and making a commitment to live here in Philadelphia for a longer term.

The cranes come down in a year or so - people live here for years.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

the one thing chris keeps forgetting is that there are no bankers or stockbrokers in philly, only lawyers.
DC's problem is there is absolutely no middle class. there ain't no rung.

Well said to both of the above. Homeowners doing it for themselves regardless of how "hip" an area is percieved to be is the thing builds community and turns neighborhoods for the better at a more fundemental level than any big condo development does. Homeowners keep tabs on their immediate surroundings and invest in their city and neighborhood at a deeper level than condo developers ever do, but some (not all) of those folks who move into said condo developments lay down roots and become "invested" in their community as well. Before the chicken and egg arguement of who comes first digression came up, my point was more that the work of hundreds or even thousands of individual homeowners and DIYers make at least as important an impact on the texture of the city as individual large scale developments.

I think we do need skyscrapers to actually compete with NYC and Boston, wysong. Back in the 70's NYC and Boston had skyscrapers, while we were stuck in the stone ages with Willy Penn and City Hall, and the stupid gentleman's agreement. Even though I don't agree with the location of 1PP, I do support skyscrapers in the city, depending on the location and which part of the city it's going to be located at. I don't support building skyscrapers at South Phila, Fishtown, North Phila, and West Phila, but I do support building a few at UC. I wouldn't be surprised in the future if they built some skyscrapers at Manayunk.

Reinstate the gentleman's agreement . . . and the Phillies still won't win.

There are stockbrokers and bankers in Philadelhphia. Just not headquarters, although there are a few. And, while there are few bank headquarters here, there are massive regional offices (Wachovia, for instance).

And there is a huge middle class in DC - both in the suburbs and in the city. They work for the government and for many private companies. DC is probably the most middle class city I've ever lived in.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs