The problem is that the rowhome does not work in a big city like Philly. A rowhome hood needs a commercial street and corner stores, and needs people to get to know one another. However, in a place like Philly there is street after street of rowhomes, making all of this harder to occur, IMO. Smaller cities and boroughs do much better with the rowhome, as they are obviously not as large, and this makes it easier to reach businesses streets and the downtown or center of the city/borough.

Just my opinion, but 3-4 story walkups/lofts/and a mix of rowhomes/townhomes is much better for a big city, because they allow a lot of 1st story stores and businesses.

__________________
I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake

- On the lookout for black people and immigrants

I like the discussion here, good topic... I just want to add to some good points made on why Philly is a city of neighborhoods, more than a city the way other cities are.

As I often point out, the public trasportation infrastructure is also largely to blame for the lack of more dense commercial corridors in this city, and I think while it may not be the reason why people moved out, it is most certainly a major reason why people are not moving in to the extent possible.

I've been saying since I first returned from college in D.C. that Philly's subway system sucks, and as far as going out and relying on public transportation to get around, many young just-out-of-college types have to rely on cars in this city. B/c cars are so expensive to legally own in the city (city car insurance), many people with the most money to burn are not living in the city, but instead, in fringes like Manayunk (while illegally having their cars in the city), Ardmore, and many other close suburbs.

If the city does not capitalize on the opportunity to build a diagonally orientied subway to improve the rapid get-around-ability of this city's residents, a huge potential draw to city life will be lost. We really should not have such slow-moving transit in a city this size. It is a disgrace.

Anyone ever heard of south street? True it may not be everyone's cup of tea but go there on a weekend. the place is busting at the seems. I cannot argue pittsburgh but I will be taking a weekend trip this summer. I hope it is as good as you say it is, honestly.

If transportation were as important as you say, southern and western cities would be empty, no? I do agree that transportation improvements would greatly improve the city but inconjunction with many other reforms.

True, I don't think anyone is against the things you described. Adding to the existing hoods with more mixed use is always good. I'd suport and new zoning law that allowed 3 extra stories if the ground floor would be dedicated to commercial. remove the stupid parking. 1 for 1 rules all together. This would allow for the type of development we all want. Developers would make money on 5 condos and retail rent of the first floor could pay for maintenance lowering the condo fee. On the other hand I think three story neighborhoods can still survive just not the way we build and use them today.

Stinkweed-

Transportation is the difference between western cities and eastern cities. Cities here were not designed for cars, western cities and suburbs were. Mass transportation is then important in eastern cities because there is no other convient way to get around. A city without good mass transit and not designed for cars is a city that won't be around for much longer.


/Unless the price of gas here goes closer to the $5-$7 a gallon that the rest of the world is paying

LA was designed around cars and has by far worse traffic than here. I agree that transportation is a great catalyst but we need jobs and density first. Not that we have to go building every skyscraper that comes along but just fill in what we already have first.

Interesting topic. Since I'm not originally from here, I can't speak to the argument of whether rowhouses are good or bad... but I will agree with the argument that the lack of jobs here is crippling.

The payscale for many jobs here is abysmal considering that this is supposedly a metropolitan area -- many employers here are apparently ignoring the fact that housing here is not inexpensive. It is certainly less expensive than NYC, but we're not talking Okefenokee swamp here; the cost of living is not much different than where I'm from. That's the main reason I moved from CC to UC.

Having only one major commercial center is a huge problem as well. In terms of the job market, I'm seriously beginning to wonder if I made a mistake moving here.

__________________
- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi

I think good transportation is something of a chicken and the egg situation. While a good commercial area can develop around a well used transit hub - it's not a gaurentee. But a good commercial area without a good transit hub may not develop - certianly not to its full potential.

I wouldn;t say ignoring. the balance doe snot favor workers. there are mroe workers than jobs (1/4
of Philadelphians commute outside city limits). Many of us would jsut love to have a job in cc let alone one that pays extremely well.
rowhomes are not why people aren't moving in. the first things out of people's mouths are "why woudl I want to pay the wage tax?" "Crime?" "No jobs." "The schools are terrible." Not, "I hate those homes."

Speculator housing? They were built to meet a then robust demand for housing. They couldn;t build 'em fast enough. As a city ages dumpy houses can be replaced...assuming there's demand. not everyone wants to live in condos (hello, most of america lives in a house!) and so houses are not a bad thing. I agree basic rowhomes lack character and I woudl prefer soemthing a little nicer. be it a twin, or a "townhome" with a bay window and stoop.

__________________
"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"