New York vs. Philadelphia (Gates, Thompson: rent, condos, houses)

[welder]

Im sorry, i just reread your post. The movie could have been pulled off in Lancaster? Come on wit that! U've seen the movie obviously. And at the end of it, go to the special features. Check out the interview with the Director. And listen to him give the reason why he chose Pittsburgh as a location. Because of the "look and feel". Is there more going on in Philly than Pittsburgh? Of course there is. But that doesnt take away the neighborhoods and how they can feel similiar. I never felt like I was walking around Mannhattan in Center City. Do u?

[solibs]

Originally Posted by welder

The Pittsburgh of today's population is declining as I type this. Its half the size as it was when my old man was born. Compared to Chicago and NYC, Philly it is basically a black and white city. Of course there are asians and other races there. In fact from what I remember, alot of the laundramats where owned and operated by the asians. That was my experience there. I'm living in NYC right now. I'm sorry to tell u that Philly doesnt feel like NYC to me. I NEVER felt the energy of NYC in Philly. Not even close. Im just telling u my experience there. As I posted before, I'm not knocking Philly. And I dont care if Philly is only 100 miles from NYC. 20 miles west of NYC there's a big difference. Alot of NY'ers who are living in Philly now might disagree with me.

Who is saying Philly has the same feel, vibe or energy as NYC? Why would anyone try to say that it does? If I was looking for that I would still live there. I don't like it so I don't.

I'm from New York. Not, i moved there from Iowa and lived in Brooklyn Heights for 2 years. 4 generations, Flatbush/Kensington, from there. My dad just left in '03 to be close to my grandparents in Orlando. My mom still lives in JC.

Again, I don't know where in South Philly you hung out but it sounds like it was a long time ago and it sounds like you probably spent all of your time in Center City. This is not a black & white city in the sense that it's multi-generational african-americans and european-americans as you'd expect to find in some small southern city. The city is full of immigrants from nigeria, liberia, togo, and ethiopia as well as from haiti, jamaica and other Caribbean Islands. They're all black/african american on the census short form. Russians, Poles, Serbs, Albanians, Algerians, Moroccans, and 90% of the Latinos are all white. I don't know how that makes a place not diverse but OK. It's black/white.

I think of Philly, I think of a big Pittsburgh, sorry. Did I say 13th and wolf? My bad, I did mean 10th. I noticed u listed some rent prices. 900 to 1000 was the going rate for a 1 bedroom around south philly when I was there. I looked at studios for $600. Rocky wouldnt have lived in them! LOL Them streets in Philly can change on a dime too! A good rent might be on a horrible street. The diversity thing? I went to Philly on June 17th of this yr. My ex wife wanted to grab a few things from that Wal Mart over by the pier. I even made a comment to her about how white and black Philly was.

Sorry man, but similar architecture doesn't make cities the same. There are many places in Pittsburgh (outside of downtown) that feel like places in the Philadelphia suburbs, sort of, but that's about it. Pittsburgh has a very midwestern vibe and is nothing like Philly - not the Southside, not Bloomfield, not Lawrenceville, none of it. Not in the bars or clubs, not in the restaurants or art galleries, not on the campuses or in the parks. Compare Pittsburgh to Columbus or Buffalo. Not Philly.

I moved here in December of 1999. I've lived in a few different neighborhoods and looked for apartments more than a few time. One of my first apartments in South Philly was in 2002 - it was a brand new 2 bedroom, about 800 s/f with central air, washer/dryer, the works - for $795. It was only about 4 blocks from where you say your place was. I own a rental property. I did some mighty thorough research before renting it out and I think maybe, in your case, someone was trying to take advantage of a hayseed yinzer.

[solibs]

Originally Posted by welder

Im sorry, i just reread your post. The movie could have been pulled off in Lancaster? Come on wit that! U've seen the movie obviously. And at the end of it, go to the special features. Check out the interview with the Director. And listen to him give the reason why he chose Pittsburgh as a location. Because of the "look and feel". Is there more going on in Philly than Pittsburgh? Of course there is. But that doesnt take away the neighborhoods and how they can feel similiar. I never felt like I was walking around Mannhattan in Center City. Do u?

I saw the movie. I don't own it. It was filmed on the Southside and in the Strip District. The strip district could be any formerly industrial/warehouse area in any big city. It certainly doesn't look like many places in South Philly. The southside doesn't even have rowhouses! It doesn't look like South Philly on film or in person and it certainly doesn't feel like it. Conshohocken, sure. Phoenixville or West Chester, maybe.

South Philly

Now find me a row of brownstone townhouses in Pittsburgh -

This is from the southside, note the housing style on the left hand side of the street.

[welder]

Compare Philly to Pittsburgh, not NYC!

[welder]

Nice rowhouses. You ever visit the Mexican War streets on the northside in Pittsburgh? It was also filmed in Bloomfield, Hartwood acres, and some other neighborhoods and areas as well. I had a super long post to respond to u, but my comperter loss the conection, and I lost my post. I dont have the energy or the desire to repeat all that in a post again. Atleast your a STEELER FAN though.... What would the world do without them? Their god's little angels.....

[welder]

I guess u could say that about Philly's Italian Market then too?

[welder]

Who said anything about the SOUTHSIDE having rowhouses? U said southside, not me.

[welder]

I guess the southside does have rowhouses after seeing your photo. Not the brick ones like in Lawerenceville though. Ive only been to the southside a couple times in my life actually. Got drunk there twice, and had my taxes done their. My bad, I used to buy my work clothes and welding hoods from there too. After Carson street, Im lost. I did work at the LTV steel mill (now closed)there before.

[welder]

alright, go and type "Terraced Houses". When u see that website Wiki, click on it. U know the one that has information about everything. Now go the the bottom of the page. Next to the "lawerenceville" picture, on the right, it says pre war victorian rowhouses or something. Those are the mexican war streets my man. The photo u showed up above with the black car, see how similiar they look. Tell me that photo couldnt have been shot in Philly.

[welder]

better yet, type in "mexican war street row homes in pittsburgh". There's a listing, not Wiki, but something local from the pittsburgh. Hit that sight, you'll see alot of philly like stuff with a bunch of photos. U never been to the mexican war streets? This is my last respone too on this subject. If Philly feels more NYC to u or anyone else, great. I didnt to me when I lived there, and it didnt when I visited in June. Philly feels very PA. like. I couldnt compare Philly to Boston or San fran or any other city in the country, except for another PA. town. Im glad I didnt mention how the outskirts reminded me of Erie, Pa. (your probably shadow boxing as u read this) My ex wife aint impressed with Mannhattan one bit. The skyline or anything, she could care less. It impresses me still. A little less though after seeing it so much. But u do have to admit, the Mexican War Streets is a pretty cool neighborhood. And not to many cities have housing stock that looks like that. Even if u didnt think it reminds u of Philly. Shadyside and some other east end neighborhoods are cool too. Im going to get crucified for saying this, both Gino's and Pats, are over rated. There I said it. There's actually a diner right next to that motel6 south of the airport. The cheese steaks are way better than Gino's or Pats. Last time I ordered from Gino's it felt like the "SOUP NAZI" was taking the order. Maybe my different accent or something threw him off. He shook his head when I repeated " prevalone without". And dear I say I had ones as good in the burgh? Pizza too? Especially from BLOOMFIELD. Dont get me started on HOT wings. Pittsburgh and Buffalo NY win that. Buffalo being number 1 of course. Yinz understand though Im sure LOL.....