Why are you so hostile to any suggestion that things could be better than they are now?

OK, so South St doesn't have to become EXACTLY like Manayunk, or EXACTLY like Georgetown, or EXACTLY like anywhere else, but is it impossible to admit that those places have some positive elements that we can draw inspiration from? Why not identify what works in Montreal and Prague and Boston and any other great city and see how we can merge that into the existing culture to makes things better all round?

Or are you such a Philadelphian that any suggestion from anyone who's grandparents weren't born here is automatically thrown out as "those persnickety newcomers and their upiddy ideas?"

1. I think I just apologized and said that its ok if south street becomes manayunk, and I referenced an article to show how classy the place has become.
2. Montreal, Prague? Why don't you add a lunar summit on Uranus to cover all of your bases. How about Paris-Its got the louvre? You and so many people seem to pigeonhole yourselves with such anecdotal suggestions-yeah, those towns have great things, just like any other city. They also have dive bars, record shops, piercing shops, punk shops, strip clubs, drunks, druggies, and everything else inherent to a major city. What's your point? The only difference is that while you want everything your own utopian way, I appreciate all aspects our city, and understand that each neighborhood has their niche. A banana republic or tiffanys will never reside on south street, and its perfectly ok since I can get to one within a 10min. walk. Meanwhile, we do have more 3 bell restaurants than just about anywhere else in the city, and I enjoy them all. And although I don't buy too much clothing from south street, I am smart enough to open my eyes and realize that places like net, moda, and dr. denim are selling the same high end lines that are everywhere from KOP to rodeo drive-just because its not in the proper package for you complete with concierge services doesn't mean it doesn't already exist on south street.
3.The south street district comprises of about 30 sq. blocks, much of which has been encroached by spotty residential development through the years wihich breaks the flow of commercial traffic, thus effectively eliminating consistent walking traffic throughout the area. Despite these missteps through the years, we still have one of the only commercial sectors that is sustainable during both the day and night.
4.If you ever read anything from me you'd know that I'm not a native "philadelphian", my grandparents are not from here, nor my parents, nor anyone else in my family. Nice try.

I guess I'm just one of those "those persnickety newcomers and their upiddy ideas?"

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

Now wait a second.....nothing is worse than the fetid stench that emanates from Jim's Steaks. Well.....perhaps smoke stack emissions from a refinery or paper mill, but not from a place that makes (what some allege to be) food. Makes we want to hurl every time I walk by. [BLECH indeed!]

I don't particularly like South Street, and that's just my opinion. I hope the improvements, whatever they are, achieve whatever they were designed to. One thing I hope they considered is replacing all of the sh*tty rusted basement access doors on the sidewalks. I, for one, fear falling through them every time I step on one and I strongly suspect I'm not alone. Just replacing and/or removing the unnecessary ones would effectively double the usable width of the sidewalk. I hope that's part of the plan. It would make strolling the street far more comfortable for those that enjoy it.

I read here on the blog that Crescent City has closed. I had high hopes for that place. It was new, stylish, and had good food, and still failed. Why? I have no idea. Who's fault is is? Dunno, but I sincerely hope that the planned improvements have been carefully thought out so as to avoid a similar situation elsewhere.

I tend to agree that bermuda onions smell like putrid B.O.

See people...its possible to present yourself with an opinion without making stuff up to justify it.
And here again-a naysayer of south street with an educated, rational suggestion.

I have two of the basement doors, and the only reason I havent' replaced them is because of the district's years of crying wolf about when the streetscape is actually getting done-as previously posted, they've been talking about this since 95, and every year they say "no, its really happening now". Its gotten to the point that businesses don't believe the city anymore, although I'm being told that its for real now.

That said, I've heard mixed things about the doors. Apparently there's two plans-either they are including them in the streetscape or they are buying and providing them at a lower than wholesale rate...we'll see.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

In Alesis' defense, i dont think he/she was being hostile, it is just the way he/she writes that gives that impression. It seems rather that he really does want whats best for the district and the ideas that he is shooting down are a bit unrealistic. However, I agree with all parties that have written to a point. FRONTB who mentioned Manyunk and Georgetown I am sure realizes that there are downfalls to such suggestions. But in his/her defense i dont think they wanted to change the "niche" of South Street, although his thoughts were scattered and confused I read between the lines and realize he is arguing to make South Street more aesthetically appealing.

The truth of the matter is this, tourists may be flocking to our town via our marketing campaigns, but one thing is certain when they come to South Street there should be and will be a more desirable and attractive landscape.

We are all vested somehow someway in the long term success of the district, otherwise we would spend the time on this forum. That said, we all want the same and that is what is best for the district. Though we may come across to each other as having different agendas, i believe when you peel off the skin we all want the same.

AGREED!!!

Not sure if this is part of the plan though? Would they just make it part of the sidewalk, or change the doors?

All I'm hearing is

Poster 1 " some suggestion"
Alesis " No, that's stupid."
Poster 2 "some other suggestion"
Alesis "No, that's stupid too."

Maybe they need to come up with better suggestions.

And what is yours?


Do you want to keep South Street dirty, smelly and unattractive or would you rather add some curb appeal to the great history and shops that we currently have.

People said they want manayunk and I said "ok". Let's bring on the public urinators, deficators, and copulators. I'm a neighbor and I wouldn't be a fan of such things-but fecalphiliacs come in all sizes, and luckily we have some fetish stores in the neighborhood to curb your nasty desires for our community.

I also love how the supposed elite can't seem to comprehend a single fricken' thing-such as the many times I've said that I support the street rennovations.

Morons.

In your beloved montreal there is a convenience store chain called couche-tard, what an appropriate name for some on phillyblog.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying