I hear ya man. I was saying something similar to my mother last week.

I agree with you 100% that the city should be encouraging job growth, however as you know that's not happening and will not happen until there is a swing in City Council or mayor. There are no guarantees of a pro-business city council happening, and I basically have given up hope that job growth will ever occur in the city. I will remain skeptical until proven wrong.

I would love to see UC become a haven for job growth and young residents. I can see the young residents part of it but I just don't see the job growth.

i tell my parents the same thing too, and also remind them how much money they lost out on by selling their house in UC in the 90s

Drexel would rather build dorms in the middle of Powelton than help families renovate homes.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...s/12173135.htm
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/l...n/12126785.htm
http://www.thetriangle.org/media/pap...s-963887.shtml

__________________
- George -

http://www.barackobama.com

From todays DP
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vn.../42df3031b0097

Its nice to hear folks being so positive. Heavy handed intimidation tactics by a certain local politician and the closing of the Firehouse has made me feel down on the whole greater UCity neighborhood in a way I haven't felt ever since I've moved here. It's good to step back sometimes I guess.

The demand for University housing is huge! Drexel, Temple, U Penn - all the same. You think there are a lot of students now, just wait till 2008, 09, 10.

Sean,
Your experience on your block is really depressing; it stinks, and I would never blame you for letting it turn you off on the neighborhood's future.

On the other hand, I do think there are all kinds of good things happening around the hood, as well. Not that all the changes are good but some of them are or could be. Penn announced they'd utilize Lea as a laboratory school for their ed students, a development that over time could really help out the broader neighborhood a lot. If Lea becomes--as it has been in the past--a successful public school, it will do a world of good for folks west of 47th Street, and make it a much better place for families of all economic levels. It remains to be seen how the new high schools--the new West Philly and the Penn-sponsored school--will impact the neighborhood, but honestly the odds are that it will be an improvement for the people already here, even if it's not handled perfectly.

It's possible--but by no means guaranteed--that the efforts to improve Baltimore's commercial district east of your block could start to see some fruition. It sounds likely that we'll get a different location--and maybe different management?--for the liquor store on the 4900 block of Baltimore, something that would probably be good for Cedar Park but also for the neighborhood as a whole.

The new water ice store at 52nd between LArchwood and Osage is a well-done local establishment. It's a little sad that it has the bullet-proof glass, but it's a pleasant, seemingly well-run little store on a block that didn't have a lot of local development. Malcolm X park seems to me to be well run and well maintained.

It's not all rose-colored; there are some chances for big mistakes as well as big improvements, but I think there's some good going along with the frustrating things that you've experienced. And some reason for hope.

Who knows? If the Satellite Cafe expands, and the grill finds a good location, and the Firehouse finds a good tenant, maybe that won't look so bad in a year or so.

Thanks, gpd. It's been hard lately. I've actually had thoughts about leaving my favorite neighborhood in the city lately. It especially sucks when just asking questions about a certain politician's pet projects doesn't just seem to bring down personal wrath but wrath on the whole neighborhood (like a whispered threats of a total cut off of neighborhood funds). Sometimes I just don't get it - I thought competent politics (even if its slightly crooked) was all about "co-opting" - giving a little to keep yourself reflected in a positive light. Lately I have only seen a lot of the iron fist and "I don't give a damn what a bad light this puts me in - I just don't care".

The politician's behavior you describe doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Unfortunately, I'm not surprised. Any chance UCD can help broker things for you at all? What about the press? Could one of the weekly newspapers get interested in it?


One other sign of goodness in the neighborhood is a postcard that came in the mail today...advertising a handbag collection opening at a certain neighborhood boutique Friday night.