About 9 months ago I made a trip to DC, as I got off the train and into my cab I realized how many cranes I saw in the skyline, mostly residential condos and the like but there were numerous cranes building things, I was a bit depressed, where are our cranes I thought?

Today there is a lot of constructuction buzz about, and I love it. The piece below chronicales a 18-20 hour period as I went from neighborhood to neighborhood and realized just how great this city is.

Northern Liberties
Fast forward to last week...I moved my company into a new office in Northern Liberties, and realized how easy it is to fall in love with this city over and over and over again. I took my drive down spring garden and got into Northern Liberties, when you aren't just driving through (I walked to silk city for lunch) I noticed how many really nice row homes there are and how many new places are being built....ahh growth, the sounds of renovations on a warm afternoon.

Fishtown
I had to go to Columbus BLVD to pick up some stuff from staples...WOW there is a lot of buzz in this area, the construction, the activity on girard, seeing some of the places I've heard about on the blog here was so nice to see, I didn't realize how close Fishtown was to no libs....

What's that 2 cranes in the skyline? Oh the Waterfront condos...nice!

As I continue down Columbus looking for the new best buy (a guy needs a coffeemaker, right?) ...WOW!!! The ikea / best buy / chik - fil -a / pier 1 stores look...good...while I am not all for the strip mall look, I am for urban diversity in architecture (some modern, some classic old school), nice!

Old City
On the way back...more cranes...a LOT of cranes in old city / society hill...more condos (that I can not afford), but I like it!

Chilling in Fairmount w/ a view of west Philly
I stop by my baddies place, we chat about his bike being stolen piece by piece in front of the DA's office, when I notice, man this guy's got a great view of the Cira Centre!! Ahh adding to the skyline, love it, (hopefully the jobs will start coming too)

I drive through various streets in Fairmount and think, my next home could be here if I can find a duplex w/ a garage, this part of town is just beautiful...Neil I am jealous!

Back in the Manayunk

After a long, long day, I take a seat and think...about Phillyblog and the people I'd like to think that visit and read the good bad and ugly about the city, and hopefully the impact that Phillyblog has had on the city. I also think of the moderators and partners who have helped me be a part of this love affair with the city that has grown and grown and grown, and will hopefully continue forever.

Tomorrow I'll go mountain biking on some of the best trails in the north east..it is about 500 feet from my back yard, and I am still in the city!!!

Whether it is the bowling alleys, the new condos, the new skyscrapers, the dog parks,, the eagles, the mummers, I'm just glad to know that I'm here to see all of this...now if we can just get on top of the job situation I"ll be ecstatic.

Did I see homeless and shady guys on corners dealing drugs in this stint...yes...but I can only think that 5-10 years ago that kind of activity was more prevalent in all of these areas (maybe with the exception of old city), I can only help but think that things are heading in the right direction.

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Wil, I like your optimism, and I share it. I'm happy to see things changing and growing, even when some of that change is painful & I don't necessarily agree with all of it (e.g. 18th & Sansom). The city really is buzzing in a way it certainly wasn't when I first visited in 1990.

As a born and raised Midwesterner who has traveled all over the world, I definitely rank Philadelphia as one of my favorite places. We can be critics easy enough, but I couldn't imagine being up at State College teaching ... talk about boring! I honestly would put Philadelphia equal to New York, San Fran, Chicago, Boston, and D.C. as places I would love to live and work. I've been here just over 5 years now, and I feel I am just beginning to appreciate what the city has to offer. Sometimes it takes a while to get one's barrings, but once you do, it is pretty cool.

Yea man. Good stuff Wil.

Also, I call for a ban of 'world class' on this forums. It gets old.

Construction is all fine and dandy until they put dumpsters on my street and take up 6 parking spots.

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Well that is true, but look on the bright side...it means things are getting better, if you own, that is real important, if you rent well I guess it is just a pain.

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I like your optimism, as well, Wil. I, too, love Philly and trust in that Phillyblog has made an impact on the way I view the city. I'm sure it has for others as well.

I love Philly for all that it is and all that it can be. I love the Eagles and, yes, even the Sixers. I love the "City of Neighborhoods" concept. I miss Tony Luke's. I miss (terribly!) Vietnam Palace. I love the Asian grocery store I used to frequent around Adams and Rising Sun. I miss NWL's. I miss having a Wawa within minutes.

Jobs? I had a great job. Sure, it was in South Jersey, but I loved it and it was a very short ride there.

The issue that drove me away was the tax situation. To me, the privledge to live in Philadelphia wasn't worth 4.33% (or whatever it is now). But to each his own.

Plus I'm still bitter about the city elections. :rolling_:

I miss the damn place! But like breaking up with someone from an abusive relationship... you may love that person like hell, but they'll keep beating on you in a drunken rage night after night after night.

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I applaud your enthusiam also, Wil. Personally, I have to say all those cranes don't really inspire a fraction of the enthusiasm and hope I feel when I see someone - some real people not real estate corporation - earning sweat equity fixing up houses around my West Philly hood, in the so-called "Graduate Hospital", in Fishtown, in the edges Fairmount/Brewerytown, etc. That's what makes Philly so much more of an exciting place to be than the 2 of the so-called "world-class" cities everyone likes to cite so much, NY and SF. How many creative and interesting folks do I know in those places - quite a few - it seems like half of my old SF hood The Mission has moved to Williamsburg/Greenpoint in NYC. How many of them own their own homes? Zero. How many artists, musicians, artisans, choreographers, activists, or just generally intelligent, interesting folks have I met in Philly who own their own homes? I don't know 40 or 50. It makes a huge difference. It sows the seeds for an interesting vibrant city in way that is often disounted quite a bit on this new construction mad board.

And DC, please. I would take Fells Point in Baltimore in a heartbeat over most of DC's overinflated "up and coming" neighborhoods.

Great post, Wil. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm. I needed it on this gray, gloomy day.

Thank you, Seand. That's my side of the Yin/Yan situation. Let Wil chase his cranes :razz: , give me a young couple in overalls wearing a tool belt fixing up their first home.

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