Every time I walk by the Spruce St side of the University Mews at the corner of 45th and Spruce I notice had bad it looks. This is the perfect example of what Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities) described as being wrong with city planning. I know that this development was built in the 60's and it was typical of planning from the time; orienting everything away from the street and towards the inside court. My problem stems from the fact that the wall and fences look distasteful and also that there is a lack of lighting on that part of the block at night. With the homes facing in towards the center court the sidewalk is lot more dangerous because there are no watchful eyes on the street and with the lack of lighting I think we are begging for something to happen here. Any ideas on what can be done?

I agree. University Mews was probably revolutionary for its time (although I can't help but wonder what stood on that block before its construction). While the indivdual homes may be pleasant to live in (or not, I wouldn't know), this was simply an early incarnation of a gated community. The fences that enclose their backyards are horrendous. Tear them down!

You bring up an excellent point though. Even the small windows on these homes are counterintuitive to safety. The more eyes on the street, the safer. Even curtains which are forever kept drawn is an invitation for crime. Open up your windows and let your house become an integral part of the city!

In a normal setting, urban or not, University Mews might not stick out so much. But given that they are in the middle of a Victorian setting, they don't add much to the quality of life in the neighborhood. Where front porches and ornate woodwork are the norm, University Mews seems to be the antithesis of all this.

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I stole this from http://www.librarygrrrl.net/mews/

Charles Moselley Swain Residence
This is what used to be where the Mews sits now, on the southwest corner of 45th and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia, PA. As stated on this page, "In this substantial home of the most comfortable type, characteristic of the best part of West Philadelphia, resides Charles M. Swain, the president of City Trust Co., Director of the Merchants' National Bank, etc., former Councilman and son of the founder of the "Public Ledger."

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I work for O'Donnell Real Estate and we just sold a couple houses in UMews. I showed each of them a few times. I would agree with most of what is said above. And maybe it would be good to take down the fences that face Spruce however you would really need to take down all of them and I doubt the people that own them would all agree to that. They do afford a certain amount of privacy to the yards. I am not a big fan of most modern architecture, but I do like the layouts of the places I have been in in the Mews. Either way I doubt there is much of anything that could or will be done regarding the way it is set up. Maybe you could ask the board to put up some lighting on the street sides.

A few months ago I met a older gentleman who had grown up at 45th and Osage. This guy was fascinating. He was a professor. He had taught at Penn, Tulane, and several other places including a few around the world - Africa ect. Anyway he said when he was a kid the house that stood there had been vacant for years and was the haunted house of the neighborhood.

PaulG - I couldn't agree more! I've lived in the neighborhood for 8 months now and I have the exact same thought every time I pass those ugly wooden fences. What a poor design!

Whoever mentioned putting up lights had a great idea. I'd be surprised if they'd agree to it, but it would definitely make that area feel safer at night.

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- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
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This is really fascinating to me. I've been trying to find out information on this house for sometime now and I've never found anyone who remembers the house or knows anything about it. All I have is a copy of the one picture on the link above. My great-great-great grandfather is Charles Moseley Swain and while I have found a great bit of info on him, nothing on his house. If there are any history buffs out there or people who remember the neighborhood prior to when it was torn down in 1961, I'd love to hear about it.

There is a book I have called Images of America - West Philadelphia - University City to 52nd St. There is a picture on page 47. I got it at Barnes and Noble for $20 bucks. But there are also websites you should be able to find pictures of it. Check out Temple. I will try to remember to scan it and post it. Or if you are ever in West Philly stop by my office at 4534 Baltimore.

Well I live in the Mews, and have done so for almost 3 years now. (I'm the librarygrrrl of the link above.) The community feeling inside the Mews is great and I love it, but I agree about the lighting facing Spruce.

I'll forward this thread to the Mews Executive Board. I make no promises that anything will come of it. However, if they don't know about neighbors' concerns, they can never begin to address the issue.

That would be great, librarygrrrl - thanks! During the day, the overhanging trees look nice but at night, those fences and the street lights being blocked by the trees really make that part of Spruce a dead zone.

__________________
- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi