the potential of North Philly - Page 3 - PhillyBlog

Prophetik Soul · #21 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 01:04 PM

Someone already said it but what also makes North Central Phila. attractive is that there are huge tracts of land with nothing on them that can easily be developed. From the west side of North PHila. to the east side in the Spanish sections, it is obvious.

I wish I had bought one of those lots 15 years ago and just sat on it. The next wave of development in 5 years is going to be as my puerto rican friends says, in 'Rican' land: that area east of broad, south of allegheny, north of diamond.

emckelvy · #22 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 04:12 PM

I only see major redevelopment kicking off if Michael Nutter is able to make a dent at the level of gun violence happening. The violence will scare major investors away if it's not decreased.
I really do think that Temple will have to take a lead role in development efforts along the Broad St corridor, i.e. sponsoring academic programs at local schools, investment in buildings, and sponsor home ownership by employees in the vicinity.
I grew up around 16th & Dauphin and seeing what has happened to the area is sad. While growing up in the 70's and 80's, it was a decent place to live. Lot of potential to be a decent neighborhood again, but the right leadership is needed to get the ball rolling.

uly55es1 · #23 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prophetik Soul

I grew up poor at 20th and Diamond in the 70s and 80s. Thank God for a college education, I was able to move on. I have fond memories of riding my bike through Temple because it felt like a park.

Gentrification is a loaded term depending on which end you are on. I am looking at it from both ends as someone who saw the negative side growing up poor and as someone who sees some of the benefits now.

I believe officially the cold war is over. Temple has won.

1. Many long time residents are seeing that they can charge college students high rents just like the developers and they are following suit. Some are selling their property while others rent it out. (My wife's parents have been on their block for over 25 years. In the last 10 years, it went from family friendly to student majority)

2. Temple has been building consistently for the last 17 years making the school and community attractive.

3. Poor folk are getting displaced by a lack of services and now by high taxes and rent.

4. If you look closely, people are not moving in the areas near broad and diamond yet but you do see houses being rehabbed. Its coming but its not there yet. This part of North Philly is habitable to college students because they are so transient. Ironically, people seem to ignore the fact that many of them nor the developers care about the community either. Just look at the trash that litters any block that is majority students.

5. People right now are buying homes in North philly south of girard, west of broad all the way over to the park. (I know cuz I work over there).

There are success stories of mixed income communities in the U.S. Sadly, this is not happening in North Phila. for the most part. People make a lot of noise about helping the poor folks but not much materializes (except for the homes built east of broad and south of girard.)

The next wave:
1. North philly (from my definition since I was a kid) is anything north of city hall up to olney, west to fairmount park, east to Kensington Ave. As areas are gentrified, you will see renewed emphasis on the community names (Fairmount, Brewrytown, etc) to re-sell the community to upper middle class folk. No one wants to call where they live North Philly because of the bad associations.

2. Broad St. from city hall up to Lehigh is going to be developed in the next 10 years with Temple being a major part of that.

3. West and Southwest Philly is going through what 20th and diamond went through in the 80s.

Just some thoughts.

Lots of good points especially the last paragraph. I live in East Oak Lane. We never ID as North Philly. We ID as East Oak Lane. Your predictions are interesting and I think plausible. Do you think that there will be a complete overhaul of North Philly Station. It is a waste not to be able to catch a train to New York or DC from there.

emckelvy · #24 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 06:43 PM

I'm betting if Temple really establishes itself around Broad & Lehigh, this could be a start to bring in enough students, workers, and supporting businesses that would make overhauling the North Philly Station economically feasible.
When I was a little kid, we used to run through the tunnels underground and dodge what we called "the acid water", that dripped down from the ceiling.

Prophetik Soul · #25 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uly55es1

Lots of good points especially the last paragraph. I live in East Oak Lane. We never ID as North Philly. We ID as East Oak Lane. Your predictions are interesting and I think plausible. Do you think that there will be a complete overhaul of North Philly Station. It is a waste not to be able to catch a train to New York or DC from there.

Yes but not until some credible businesses begin to pop up. There is a big warehouse on the corner of Broad and Lehigh that my wife noticed has new windows now. The problem is that Broad and Lehigh is the center. Temple is moving up from Diamond (there are vacant lots on the way up) and moving down from Erie (mostly run down apt. buildings after allegheny). But there is not much there yet. Some other businesses and developers may have to take notice. When they work their way down, then eventually someone will bring it up. But I agree, it is a waste.