Claymont - Brookview and Stoneybrook

[Xalrun]

This is really unsettling news to find out my old development and school got knocked down. I went to darley road for 4 years and just moved from brookview 4 years ago.

[hdirwin]

Yes, I lived in Brookview from 1964-1973 (age four to 13). I never thought of them as "luxurious," but, when we first moved there, they were very well maintained. The last time I drove through Brookview, probably four or more years ago, it was quite horrid. They were in disrepair and looked like they should be demolished. I've since seen the demolition site and now wish they still stood so I could see the duplex where my parents, sister, grandmother and I all shared a two bedroom apartment at 78 Bayard Drive.

I remember that, while attending Claymont High School, when some people discovered that you lived in Brookview, you could feel a distinct air of snobbery because you didn't live in a "real" house but had to live in substandard apartments. When my parents finally rented a house on Harvey Road with four bedrooms, I was delighted to finally have my own room and not have to share a bedroom with my sister and grandmother. It felt like a palace and, to some extent, in comparison to that cramped little duplex, it was enormous. It even had a garage, a yard, a glassed-in porch and a basement--all foreign to me until we moved there.

[virgode]

From 1964-1973, I would imagine Brookview was a great place to live.
Even in a portion of the 80s. By the time they finally brought the
demolition crew in, it was far over do. Drugs, shootings, robberies and
homisides. Pizza delivery ppl wouldn't even go in there.

I live in Claymont now, When you go out on Philadelphia Pk and see swarms of state police,
under cover and county too, you know somethings wrong. There are still hot spots, that
they could demolition tommorrow,
I'd personally volunteer to drive some of the equipment if I knew how.

[Claymonster]

Hey everyone,

I grew up in Claymont. Lived their all my life... went to Darley Road, friends went to Holy Rosary, then I went to Talley. I was there from 1982 - 2008; I suppose I missed all of the glory stories from the 60's and 70's. Hard to imagine it really.

People in my age group typically don't make it out of there. Maybe 1 in 25 "made it"... I remember getting an automated phone call when I was 11, letting me know that the police had found a body stuffed in a storm drain less than a mile from where we lived. I was chased by crackheads. My car was egged... and then had 2 glass bottles thrown at it while driving on Darley Rd... I saw a man randomly punch through the glass of a bus stop (he was by himself! And was NOT on the phone!)... stopped thieves at the drug store near Total Wine (multiple times)... got spit on for not agreeing to the demand of "give me those blunts behind the counter" while working at said drug store... had multiple friends getting jumped/mugged (guess I got lucky)... and was chased by a tweaked out lunatic in a jeep while I was running on foot as a kid, he jumped out, grabbed me, stared me down with his bright yellow eyes and screamed "Do you want to die!?". I pissed my pants. I was like 8.

I couldn't make this up if you paid me. Well, actually, I would make this up if you paid me... but who would pay someone to make stories about Claymont? I can't even believe I found this forum.

The list could literally fill pages. Those are just what came to mind. The scary part is? My parents were great and kept me out of harm's way; I hung out with the right group of kids (small group of friends), got a real education and got the hell out of there. I couldn't imagine living in Claymont without good parents, without a good education, without productive hobbies and without good friends. No way I would have moved forward in life.

Claymont is no joke. It's not as bad as a criminal-hotspot in Wilmington or Philly of course, but, it's bad news and needs to be fixed.

The "Renaissance"? I wish it the best of luck. I have a feeling they will simply replace some churches with the 7th liquor store on Philly Pike... swap out the Dollar Store for a strip joint... and if Archmere relocates to Greenville/Wilmington; they will have a great spot for another satellite casino to keep Harrah's company.

I'm in PA now. Anytime I bump into an unsuccessful person from my old hood', I feel like I'm in the witness relocation program. Terrible.

Anyways, if you still live there, get productive immediately and spend as little time in C-Mont as possible. You will be staring at the bottom of an empty bottle (or vial) in record time if you mingle with the wrong crowd.

The craziest memory is still the fact that kids were regularly mugged on Halloween, seriously injured, just to steal their candy. That will keep you on your toes in C-Mont. Hahahaha... you knew to pick a costume that allowed for some agility. When you heard kids scream "Get them!", they weren't referring to the Snickers - it was time to run.

[virgode]

Your one of the lucky youths that grew up in the area without becoming part of the element thats bringing Claymont down and will keep it this way.

[Jay Diesel]

u lived in BV and was 3 in 1979? your my age boss. I probably know u. I lived on Wiltshire rd by the post office but hung out in BV and The Hill. it was safe living up there back in the day cause everyone looked out for one another up there. outsiders were not welcome. but now it's a damn mess. before they shut down BV a county cop told me 75% of BV was mexican. wtf happened there? and The Hill isn't as "Dusty" as it once was.

[quiet life]

Wait a minute!! Brookview apts used to be up the street from Claymont Steak shop. I noticed, the last time I was down there, that they had a few latins working in the the steak shop. I didn't put it together in my mind. Things are changing. Hopefully for the better.

[BROOKVIEWHELL]

omg!!!!! Its gone?
I lived in brookview from 1989-1994. I worked at concord mall,had 2 dogs and was willing to live any place,as long as i could have my dog's.
Were i was living then, was a friends house and his mother was nuts.i had to get the hell out of there.
Here came brookview apts. What a dump but i didnt care,i looked at the app to get in and could only wonder how they could want anyone there to make rent in one pay check. My friend,who could work anyone,took the app and filled it out. Omg, he lied like hell,told them she works for me.had his sister act as my last land lord and bingo!!! I was in.

I have to say this much, they would kill you, with late charges if you were late with rent and toss your ass in a hart beat.
The maintenance crew there were a scary ass bunch but helped me out more then once.
A drug dealer,lived in my apt before i moved in. My place was ram sacked about 3 times and i had to put up a note bored on my front door,that said, the guy that use to live here is at, bla bla jail and wants visitors. They never touched the apt again.

I lived at the end of bayer dr and the house next to the apt was full of teenagers. The cops were always busting the house and hell braking lose all over. One night,i herd more screaming then the norm,i opened my door and here come about 10 girls screaming,i yelled at them and let them in my apt. Told them to go to the bath room.all 10 stuffed in there,i hear banging on the door. Wrapped head in a towel,slapped cream on my face,kicked off my shoes,garbed my rob and went to the door. The cops,just looked at me.....yes, can i help u? They said never mind and left.
The people,that lived around me were all wonderful and helped me out,saved my ass and even stuck up for me, when my pit bull bit both of the mail ******* [they were sisters,no lie] i even got married in my living room. Feb 26th.1994.

I left and moved back home, when my mum became ill with cancer.
What i paid in rent was about $375. What i pay now is just sick but i also do not live in that kind of area but it was not so bad. I was robbed 2 times,but all in all,i was lucky,very lucky.
I have not gone back there since and found out that brookview was gone.

My ? Is, what did or will they find in that place?
*bodies.
*drugs.
*money.
I also wonder what the father and son, got for the place.
Here they would come,before sundown on friday,heading to there 3 bed room apt, that they only stayed in if they could not make it back to philly, brfoe sun down.