I agree with CC, this will happen in time provided the overall economic health of the region is good. I also agree 100% with Vincent and oystermick above. Great thread Amy, thanks for starting it.

Seems every time I go up there one more thing has been removed or converted...maybe they aren't tearing things down but changing thier use.

You do have more knowledge on NYC preservation but my feel is that nothing's the same in two years in Manhattan.

__________________
"

Would you consider your friend a hipster? Artist, former 'urban pioneer' from NY (ie not Philly)? Was he born in NYC, or New York state? Im with ACE on this one, he needs to learn more about the area under the El.

This is not true. Most people want what they never had. Suburban/country folks long for the city, and many many city folks long for the burbs (esp ones that didnt grow up in affluent city areas) Its ok, and I bash neither side.

On Philly blog, its OK for someone who spent their entire live in Bloomsburg to move into SWCC, live there for 8 months and then bash all Philly natives for leaving. On the other hand, here on PB its not OK for Philly natives who spent 45 years in their Philly neighborhood and watched it go from great to crap, say something bad about their old hood.

Architecture fans see the uniqeness of Philly's grittier neighborhoods. So do the so called negadelphians who built and lived in those hoods for 50+ years.

Anyways, the burb bashing on this forum is hilarious. My mom has never had a drivers licence. She left Philly at ~age 45 for an inner ring burb. She does not shop at malls and walks for everything she needs. Sunday dinner is awesome, and she sources everything locally. (even Sarcones bread) Not all burbs are like Collegeville

[quote=Malloy]Would you consider your friend a hipster? Artist, former 'urban pioneer' from NY (ie not Philly)? Was he born in NYC, or New York state? Im with ACE on this one, he needs to learn more about the area under the El.


He was born in Northern Jersey to parents who grew up in Queens, moved to NYC long ago when he was in college and has been there ever since. Is an artist, but not a hipster. He's still there in Brookyn. I call my friend an urban pioneer because he's a person who doesn't make a lot of money and has always had to move into neighborhoods that were cheaper until- what do you know, the neighborhod becomes popular and the rents go up. I'm the one who left Brooklyn and returned to Philadelphia. My friend just vistied here for a few days. I disagree with you about people wanting what they never had, Malloy. A broad generalization. I'm philly born and bred (grew up in Logan, with long sojourns in W. Philly, S. Philly, Northern Liberties, center city) went to NYC for 5 years, now back in philly. I wouldn't move to a suburb. No way.

:great_po:

__________________
"

perhaps since you grew up in the city, you're not aware of how much city bashing goes on in the suburbs. at least you recognize the suckitude of collegeville. indeed, if it weren't for the trappe, it would be renamed hell.

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

Did you happen to miss the population drop in Philly over the last how many years? You are 1 person. The masses speak. Im Philly born and bred, lived in 6 Philly hoods (Im 28), and will not consider a burb. This does not negate the overwhelming population loss.

Yeah...the suburbs bash us for crime (check), parking (check), the wage tax (check), the corrupt government (check), and the crime (check again)

We deserve most of the comments...where most of the comment directed towards the suburbs aren't as true. The Main Line has a healthy amount of activities, so does towns like Newtown, Cherry Hill, West Chester...etc...without the crime, parking, wage tax, corrupt government, and crime...

__________________
"

Right. And the former suburban, now urban folks (for a year or so) diss the burbs for being boring and car centric. Hmm. If I was a Philly raised lower middle class family who HAD to work hard to provide for my family, Id probably go for the burbs. Call me crazy...

The wage tax is significant. My boss moved from a beautiful home on Delancey Pl to a nice spread on the Main Line. What was the #1 driver? Wage tax. He makes a lot of $$$, and after many many years in Philly he got sick of paying tens of thousands in extra city wage. His prop taxes on Delancey were $20k or so... higher than his current rate on the main line.

one woudl wonder why you even live here. what activities eh? there's people's light but really, they do kind of suck. moreover, it's not just that but also "it's nothing but a dump. there's no reason to go there. Everyone is rude and everything is more expensive." worst is when you here people say things like "the restaurants aren't even that good. I see no reason to leave wayne." that in spite of the fact there is hardly a more overrated, overpriced strip of mediocre schlock than north wayne ave. yes, the town is nice, but it needs to be said (margaret kuo's beign the glaring exception to this). and yes, it IS hard to find places like roxborough in the burbs where people are so friendly. don't kid yoruself, it's not limited to the obvious like our city's government and tax structure.

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