Originally Posted by asg

In more pressing matters, and highly unrelated to this topic, is Batman worth the hype?

Originally Posted by alesis

Maybe our arduous detective forgot this one in their fair and balanced reporting:
Home is what you make of it!
From: -Anonymous-
Date posted: 1/23/2008
Years at this apartment: 1999 - 2008
http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...Riverview.html
Although I am not from the South Philadelphia area to have known the former condition of Riverview, I must say that I like the area very much. However, I feel that home, in this case,the Riverview is what you make of it. It is my belief and personal experience that Riverview is a stepping stone with many incentives to better yourself and your family physically & economically. I have been able to emotionally provide for my family,attend college and work part-time as I continue to reach my goals of becoming a nurse. Over the years it has been the goal of managment to assist and provide afterschool and GED programs, scholarships and other educational opportunities to all residents who avail themselves to them. We have been made aware of all the opportunities available;but you can not make those who could benefit from them, attend if they themselves don't see the personal need to do so.There are onsite social workers who assist tenants with LIHEAP applications or whatever your personal issuses. If they cannot do so personally they will direct you to the assistance you need. Sadly,time and time again,very few take advantage of it. There are few places people can live, where due to the income guidelines (moderate to low-income) you can take care of your family,at least modestly save some money, get assistance if qualified for utility allowance, educational & job opportunities,ample parking,convienences to center city, highways and other ammenities...at an affordable cost.
As is evident, crime is taking place throughout the entire city, so one neighborhood is no better than the next. It is so easy to complain, but as a solution,we can individually make ourselves responsible to at least live by the golden rule, we'd see an improvement. Trully,home is what you make of it.

Originally Posted by alesis

...Last night I went to midingt showing(12:30am) of batman. On my cab ride there, I had the driver loop around the projects a couple of times, and the problems were quite obvious. While the area was very quiet and very peaceful, the undercurrent of kids(both black and white)running around the streets are obviously the problem. Add that with the dealers sitting in the cars on the corner, and its pretty obvious where the problem is and how simple it would be for a special enforcement team to work on a solution...

Originally Posted by McSpazitron

Jeez. The cab driver must have LOVED this request.

Originally Posted by Eddy333

Nice outrage, but a) they are not million dollar apartments, b) the vast majority of folks living there are not "gangsta thugs", c) the majority of folks living there are working poor and so cannot be classified as "lazy, shiftless thugs," and d) people are not "shooting it out every night."

The situation (shootings and drugs) is deeply concerning, and much needs to be done about it, but getting hysterical and throwing around racial and socioeconomic stereotypes doesn't accomplish anything.

RCA has not "destroyed a beautiful neighborhood." As others have pointed out, the housing project was here long before the coffee shop crowd moved in. The beautiful neighborhood evolved around the project.

There's a lot of evidence showing that concentrating lower income, subsidized housing in one area is a big mistake, and a huge effort should be made to either improve the conditions and management of the complex or move residents to alternate, scattered residential sites so the poverty, drugs, rivalries, and mischief are not piled up on top of each other. The units could then be sold at market rate.

They're actually pretty nice units. Small with no basement, but central air and enough back yard for kids. Perfect for 1st time buyers who are not loaded enough to buy a $700,000 shoe box.

Originally Posted by GreenSTdude

Divide the number of units by what it cost the government to build and maintain the place and you are probably talking in the neighborhood of 1 mil per unit. Must be nice to get a house for free.

BTW - scattering the PHA tenents into middle class neighborhood has proven to be a disaster for those neighborhoods. The PHA people don't all of a sudden turn into the Huxtables because they live near normal. law abiding working folks.

Originally Posted by GreenSTdude

Divide the number of units by what it cost the government to build and maintain the place and you are probably talking in the neighborhood of 1 mil per unit. Must be nice to get a house for free.

BTW - scattering the PHA tenents into middle class neighborhood has proven to be a disaster for those neighborhoods. The PHA people don't all of a sudden turn into the Huxtables because they live near normal. law abiding working folks.