Tbullsr, I was simply stating my personal feelings on the matter. You have your feelings on the matter and I have mine. You find the city depressing, I find Warminster and many suburbs depressing. That's why I said "to each his own." There was no malice or condescension intended.

I'm sure the good people in North Philly appreciate your maturity.

Unless something is done about the rental/absentee landlord situation, I'm afraid Mayfair will quickly become the next Frankford. I grew up in Frankford and it's like deja vu living here in Mayfair. I'm not giving up hope (yet) but I'm becoming less optimistic every day. The quality of the people coming into the neighborhood leaves alot to be desired.

It's like a plague or cancer in that it creeps slowly, block by block, street, by street, until one day you wake up and BAM, your once lovely neighborhood is now a piece of sh*t.

I must admit I too find Warminster unappealing. I enjoy having neighbors, living somewhere with a strong neighborhood identity, and being able to walk places. I dispise bland homogenized corporate chain "experiences" and being dependent on a car for everything and the traffic problems that result at various times. To me that is the major difference between living in a place like the lower Northeast and living in a place like Warminster. I realize that those values are very out of step with current typical middle American values. Even in the city, places like Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden will have a wait for seating while independent places will be almost always have a table open.

Like Geno, I have a to each their own attitude. If you want to live there, go for it, you will definitely find yourself in tune with the majority of Americans in how they choose to live. There are trade-offs to living here in the Lower Northeast and I accept that.

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"Things are starting to get interesting right about now"

All comments made by me on his board are given freely and probably worth what you paid for them.

Grap,
Luckily there is time to do something about. There are numerous civic organizations that offer an chance to help steer our neighborhoods in the right direction. Be a leader or a follower - just join in, and get other neighbors involved. If you can't find a group addressing what you want fixed, start your own. It's easier than ever.

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"Things are starting to get interesting right about now"

All comments made by me on his board are given freely and probably worth what you paid for them.

I'm not giving up. I'm active in the community. But sometimes it feels like one step forward, two steps backward.

We actually had a neighbor on our block who put his house up for sale and was going to move to Warminster. It would have been devastating if they left and I think it would have opened the floodgates and others would have quickly followed. A bunch of us who have no intention of leaving actually had some heart to heart talks with him and his wife. I think he and his wife actually sat down and thought this through and came to the realization that the pros outweighed the cons . Next thing you know, the For Sale sign was down and he's still here. A happy ending.

Well said.

Thats great news! Lets hope more people follow suit!

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This is the world we live in
And these are the hands were given
Use them and lets start trying
To make it a place worth living in.

I think personally that the dramatic decline we saw in the 90's has stopped. Mayfair will never be "ol Mayfair" but it doesn't mean it isn't going to go downhill. It will just be different.

Frankford's a lost cause. Sorry...too many issues and not enough positives to help it out.

These neighborhoods thrived because everyone was accountable because there were years of families who lived there. Bring in a large amount of new (and poor) people and there goes the community that held a bad situation together.

Also, total lack of jobs....houses in disrepair..bad planning (lots of factories and abandoned lots..etc coupled with the distance from Center City...the El is more of a negative than a positive.)

Frankford may come back but not before Kensington. That's crazy to even me....

I think Scoats is right. Tacony will stay nice and may improve...developers feel it's worth it..and that should tell you something.

(Ex-patriot Summerdale Resident)

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"

I was in Boston last summer and met up with a couple of people from Philadelphia. Naturally they asked me what neighborhood I lived in and the first thing I said was "Frankford". Then I corrected myself and said "up near Franklin Mills" which they nodded to.

Modern day Frankford just isn't the place I grew up in. That's why I sold my house and moved out. When there are gun shots being fired at the top of my block I think it's a good time to move. I like breathing.

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Beer Me