New York vs. Philadelphia (Union, East Hampton: construction, income, living in)

[DITC]

they dont have to bow down but they have this insane inferiority complex and they really need to lighten up

Originally Posted by welder

I agree with the racist comment. They remind me of Pittsburgh'ers. I heard the 'N WORD" used alot when I was there. I said it felt like living in a bigger more expensive version of Pittsburgh. In fact I probably agree with everything u just wrote. I never said NYC wasnt rich in its own history. But Philly doesnt have to bow down to NYC or any other cities in terms of history or their contributions to America. Read where I first started posting on this thread. I dont know how I ended up defending Philly. LOL I guess I just like given ALL cities their props when deserved.

Rainrock you cant guarantee that Philly will rise in 10 years, although I personally think it would be so easy just to fill the city with people. It definitely has the capacity to become a bigger player on a global scale. But they havent done anything in YEARS. I guarantee there is tons of empty office space in Philadelphia and they are trying to build a 1500 ft high tower? For what, homeless mice to live in?

When I said money passing through, I wasnt referring to salaries I was referring to managed money (like banks and hedge funds). I should have clarified what I meant, the finance industry yields a budding downtown chock full of yuppies in any city it is present, and there are billions upon billions of dollars being managed in Fairfield. UBS and RBS' America headquarters are both in Stamford. I think Goldman has a backup office space in Greenwich in the event of an attack. There are hundreds of hedge funds cramped into the county too. Downtown Stamford looks like a giant yuppie work/dormitory compound. They are building like crazy and its a boring place but the kids are moving there for $$$$$$$ jobs. The same reason nobody in NY finance wants to move to the proposed "Wall Street West" in Northeast PA is the same reason why nobody wants to spread operations to Philly...these arent interesting, high class places by reputation. Hence Stamford area as Manhattan's little brother.

Philadelphia could blow Stamford out of the water as far as total package offered to people in finance, if Philadelphia could just figure out how to market themselves. They have the Ivy league school, they have a Rutgers campus across the river, they have GREAT hospitals, a decent lawyer stock. They will never get the entertainment set unless 30 years after a huge renaissance, Philadelphia gets cachet. The one thing missing is FINANCE. A Philadelphia uprise and spread away from NY would be good for many reasons. Philadelphia could use the gentrification with its ridiculous crime and bare empty blocks and lower density of residents, while NY needs a break from it. This would allow the middle and working classes in NY some breathing room from rising real estate and hipster/yuppy invasaion. It also would create new jobs in Philly and allow property values to rise in Philly, maybe give the people some hope even in the gutter and bring a bit of new light to the city. This also spreads out our financial system in the event of another attack. The industry is still pretty condensed into downtown, midtown, and Stamford/Greenwich (and Chicago / SF).

Originally Posted by rainrock

The City of Philadlephia absolutely would love to steal some commerce from NJ/NYC, no question about it. Center City has improved enough where its not out of the question. 15-20 years ago companies from NYC would have scoffed at the notion of moving to Philadlephia but Center City/University City are becoming a very interesting place with a very bright outlook.I think its good for the east coast to have Center City Philly becoming one of the nations premiere destinations.Which it will be in 10 years.

The Philly suburbs want no parts of rapid growth and the wealthier counties do everything in their power to prevent it. They are perfectly content with their bio-pharma nucleus, uncrowded high scoring schools and no crime.They are not looking for an infusion of anyone.

As far as Fairfield County alone taking in more money than metro Philly? Come on now lets not get carried away here. Metro Philadlephia has the 8th or 9th largest economy in the world.

Fairfield County CT.
800,000 people
$80,000 per capita household income


Chester County Pa.
500,000 people
$83,146 per capita income

Montgomery County pa.
800,000 people
$74,000 per capita income

Bucks County Pa
600,000
$71,000 per capita income

The western 2/3 of Delaware County
400,000
$85,000 per capita income

Then in south jersey Burlington,Gloucester are another 1,000,000 people making close to the same money that Fairfield Co. does.

Wilmington De.(New castle Co.) another area of close to a million people doing very well.




Some neighborhoods of Philly are struggling mightily. Center City is prospering,the vast majority of the suburbs are prospering. Add it all up and maybe 10% of the people in the Philly area are not living well. Its not that bad, really.

Philly kinda reminds me of a beat up version of Boston.

[Kbinspections]

Originally Posted by DITC

they dont have to bow down but they have this insane inferiority complex and they really need to lighten up




Rainrock you cant guarantee that Philly will rise in 10 years, although I personally think it would be so easy just to fill the city with people. It definitely has the capacity to become a bigger player on a global scale. But they havent done anything in YEARS. I guarantee there is tons of empty office space in Philadelphia and they are trying to build a 1500 ft high tower? For what, homeless mice to live in?

When I said money passing through, I wasnt referring to salaries I was referring to managed money (like banks and hedge funds). I should have clarified what I meant, the finance industry yields a budding downtown chock full of yuppies in any city it is present, and there are billions upon billions of dollars being managed in Fairfield. UBS and RBS' America headquarters are both in Stamford. I think Goldman has a backup office space in Greenwich in the event of an attack. There are hundreds of hedge funds cramped into the county too. Downtown Stamford looks like a giant yuppie work/dormitory compound. They are building like crazy and its a boring place but the kids are moving there for $$$$$$$ jobs. The same reason nobody in NY finance wants to move to the proposed "Wall Street West" in Northeast PA is the same reason why nobody wants to spread operations to Philly...these arent interesting, high class places by reputation. Hence Stamford area as Manhattan's little brother.

Philadelphia could blow Stamford out of the water as far as total package offered to people in finance, if Philadelphia could just figure out how to market themselves. They have the Ivy league school, they have a Rutgers campus across the river, they have GREAT hospitals, a decent lawyer stock. They will never get the entertainment set unless 30 years after a huge renaissance, Philadelphia gets cachet. The one thing missing is FINANCE. A Philadelphia uprise and spread away from NY would be good for many reasons. Philadelphia could use the gentrification with its ridiculous crime and bare empty blocks and lower density of residents, while NY needs a break from it. This would allow the middle and working classes in NY some breathing room from rising real estate and hipster/yuppy invasaion. It also would create new jobs in Philly and allow property values to rise in Philly, maybe give the people some hope even in the gutter and bring a bit of new light to the city. This also spreads out our financial system in the event of another attack. The industry is still pretty condensed into downtown, midtown, and Stamford/Greenwich (and Chicago / SF).





Philly kinda reminds me of a beat up version of Boston.

Good one....IMO, I like NY, Boston and DC more than Philly. Did'nt seem that there was alot to do in Philly for a tourist. some great restaurants though.

[welder]

Slickrick1, I dont know if your were born and raised in the burgh or not. But Lawerenceville has a ton of rowhouses. The ones on the northside in the Mexican war streets really look like some City Center ones. When I moved to Philly from Chicago, people were talking about how much construction was going on there. Most of it was in their downtown area. But in seemed so SMALL compared to what is and was going on in Chicago. Its hard to find a city block of the northside in Chicago that they havent done some type of investing. Whether it's new construction or gutting out an old building for condos. Everywhere u looked on the northside something was going on. I remember getting my haircut in Philly. This barber was going on an on about ALL the new construction in Philly. To me, it was like comparing Vegas to Atlantic City. The difference between what was going on in Chicago compared to Philly. Someone who was born an raised in Pittsburgh, and takes a vacation to Philly might see a big difference. Live there for a couple months though. See if it dont feel similiar. Philly is really the country's 5th largest city (phoenix aint a city). But the difference between there and Chicago is HUGE. And of cours the difference between NYC and Chicago is HUGE. So, when someone tells me how Philly is like NYC, I totally disagree. Philly to me, doesnt feel like a world city (which it aint). And the look of the place, the narrow streets, rowhouses, attitudes of the people, very Pa. And Philadelphian's defiantely have a COMPLEX about living in the shadow of NYC. I dont know why NYC'ers got the stereotype of being rude an nasty. It must have been a Philly tourist in NYC that they took for mistake as a NYC'er. They are the nastiest people I've ever came across in America (Boston aint far behind). And saying that only 10% of Philadelphian's are not living well, a BIG LOL. Maybe in the suburbs, but not in the city. You're trying to include ALL the surrounding AREAS to water down the %'s. If that were that case, Philly would be above the national average. Go to a city like Seattle and maybe that's true, but not in Philly. You're trying to say that, only 145,000 Philadelphians aint living good? Probably, the other way around. There's only 145,000 that are living good. Im talking city, not SUBURB.

[Rachael84]

Philadelphia has awesome history, I don't know what you guys are talking about with there's nothing to see. It's not a place I'd like to live, but there's so much history to see. I loved it since I'm a history buff. But after a few days, there wouldn't be that much more to do if you come from a place like NYC lol

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by DITC

they dont have to bow down but they have this insane inferiority complex and they really need to lighten up




Rainrock you cant guarantee that Philly will rise in 10 years, although I personally think it would be so easy just to fill the city with people. It definitely has the capacity to become a bigger player on a global scale. But they havent done anything in YEARS.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/...8f48899f_b.jpg

You are misguided. Way way too much to list but I would guess between 35-40 major projects have been completed or underway in Center City/University City in the past 5 years.Office vacancy rate in Center City is hovering around 9% despite 2.5 M sq ft of new office space that has just been completed with Comcast Center and Cira Centre,both 100% occupied before they opened the doors. Cira South is an $800 M mixed use project that is underway as we speak, it will bring 5,000 IRS jobs and possibly 1,500 Blackrock employees who are rumored to be moving from North jersey.

Philadlephia Convention Center is currently undergoing an $800 M expansion which will double its size and has spun of a half dozen hotel projects.There is alot going on in Center City, where are you getting this stuff from?

Some of the bigger projects completed

Comcast Center
Cira Center
Murano
Constitution Center
Kimmel Center of Performing Arts
Museum of Jewish History
Symphony House
Waterfront Square 5 condo towers
Naval Square
Domus
Radian
Edgewater
101 Walnut
208 Old City
Westrn Union Condos

This is a great site that will give you a glimpse of what has and what is going on in Center City.Nobody is saying its Manhattan but it is certainly comparable to its immediate peers SF/Bos/Sea/dal/Hou in downtown investment.


Great site by Brad from phillyskyline
http://www.phillyskyline.com/skinny/skinny.php


Like I said currently $5 B dollars worth of construction going on in Center City and another $5 B going on across the Schuylkill River in University City.

I was in Center City last week and a couple of out-of-town business men were walking down Walnut Street which was absolutely mobbed with people. One of them asks the other" Are you sure we didnt fly into Manhattan." Absolute true story.

Another lady I overheard say "I like Philadelphia so much better than New York, its so much cleaner." True story.

I guarantee there is tons of empty office space in Philadelphia and they are trying to build a 1500 ft high tower? For what, homeless mice to live in?

I'll admit in this economy no one is knocking down the door to rent large tracts of office space but this project is to Philadlephia what the Empire State Building was to NYC, what the Sears tower was to Chicago. Its a calling card to announce that Philadlephia wants to get in the game. Thats all, how can you fault Philadlephia fro having a vision?

the finance industry yields a budding downtown chock full of yuppies in any city it is present, and there are billions upon billions of dollars being managed in Fairfield. UBS and RBS' America headquarters are both in Stamford. I think Goldman has a backup office space in Greenwich in the event of an attack. There are hundreds of hedge funds cramped into the county too. Downtown Stamford looks like a giant yuppie work/dormitory compound. They are building like crazy and its a boring place but the kids are moving there for $$$$$$$ jobs.

I'll have to do some homework on this but my guess is that the Philly area as a whole blows the headlights off of Stamford, and Fairfield County in the finance industry. Theres 300,000 yuppies that go to work in Center City everyday, I doubt seriously if Stamford has 10% of that total

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by welder

And the look of the place, the narrow streets, rowhouses, attitudes of the people, very Pa. And Philadelphian's defiantely have a COMPLEX about living in the shadow of NYC.

I disagree with this notion about having an inferiority complex. You know who likes to use that expression? New Yorkers who are fixated on self-importance.Nobody in the Philadelphia area really cares one way or the other about NYC. To suburban Philadlephians, NYC may as well be on Pluto they could care less. Phillys inferiority complex towards NYC is a myth concocted by NYers.

And saying that only 10% of Philadelphian's are not living well, a BIG LOL.

Reread what I typed. I said the Philly area(region) not the city.
5.8 M people live in the Philaldephia area. Maybe 10% of that are struggling below the poverty line.

You're trying to say that, only 145,000 Philadelphians aint living good? Probably, the other way around. There's only 145,000 that are living good. Im talking city, not SUBURB.

I dont need a pittsburgh native hopping around the country telling me about the facts and figures of Philadlephia which(as modest as can be) probably know better than anyone on the entire city-data forum.

Center City -90,000 people Vine to Wshington-River to river,. They are all doing pretty well. Right?

University City-50,000 people

NW Philly-150,000 people
Chestnut Hill,Mt Airy,East falls,Andorra,Manayunk,Roxborough,Wissahickon

NE Philaldephia- 400,000 people. 92% middle class white.

Thats 700,000 people right there that are doing pretty damn good. Then you have 400,000 people doing ok. Places like South Philly,Fishtown,Northern Liberties,Overbrook Farms,Ogontz. That leaves about 400,000 people (25%) not living well,
hardly the 1.3 million you estimated.

If you want to smear the city at least do it within the bounds of reality. Dont start making stuff up to make your argument look good thats what we call libel.

[welder]

Hey RAINROCK, you never did comment on the "only 10% of Philadelphian's not living well " statement. What % of them yuppies are commuting in from the burbs?

[welder]

oops, there u go, give me a min to read

[welder]

To "suburban philadelphian's"? What about the over 1.4 million residents of the ACTUAL city think? Well, then maybe we should include all of LI. Places like the East Hamptons, etc. We're talking cities here my man, not SUBURBS. Most suburbs across the ENTIRE country LIVE WELL. Poor people for the most part, have always been city dweelers. I dont need to do any search on the internet to know that. I have SEEN first hand what I'm claiming here. All my knowledge is FIRSTHAND experience. MY trips were'nt done on some labtop.

[welder]

Just so u know also, LA has the most millinoires, then Chicago. There was a article in the Wall Street Journal about it.