Convince me on Philly (Philadelphia, Chester: real estate, crime, houses)

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by foo cities

Whom are you foolin'? Washington DC is a whole lot more dynamic and cosmopolitan than Philly.

If people want to go to Philly, go Germantown, South Philly and the King of Prussia. Northeast is a cool , quiet neighborhood of Philly. Center City is overrated and mainly good for weekdays with a few exceptions like Rittenhouse and a few blocks of Chestnut st. Stick to the waterfront and South st.

As a former Philly resident who currently lives in the DC area, I believe that despite how Washington attracts an international population, there can be a certain monotonous, button-downed vibe here compared to more variety and creativity in Philly. DC has done better with revitalizing its neighborhoods to offer more places to go but to be fair, DC is about 1/4 of the size of Philly.

Your inclusion of Germantown and not Chestnut Hill, Manayunk or even Mt. Airy is interesting. The Northeast IMO is a concrete suburb that would not attract most younger professionals and is too far from Center City where the majority of nightlife and culture can be found.

If the OP loves or despises Virginia's Tysons Corner, he will find King of Prussia to be a slightly scaled-down version of it.

The waterfront is still woefully underdeveloped and South Street has seen better days. If this forum is any indication, most people enjoy the idea of having such a variety of things to do in Center City's two square miles not to mention the neighborhoods adjacent to it on all sides.

[MAV2281]

Did you make any decisions? I am kind of in a similar situation.

[Aimewitue]

Originally Posted by Tone509

As a former Philly resident who currently lives in the DC area, I believe that despite how Washington attracts an international population, there can be a certain monotonous, button-downed vibe here compared to more variety and creativity in Philly. DC has done better with revitalizing its neighborhoods to offer more places to go but to be fair, DC is about 1/4 of the size of Philly.

Your inclusion of Germantown and not Chestnut Hill, Manayunk or even Mt. Airy is interesting. The Northeast IMO is a concrete suburb that would not attract most younger professionals and is too far from Center City where the majority of nightlife and culture can be found.

If the OP loves or despises Virginia's Tysons Corner, he will find King of Prussia to be a slightly scaled-down version of it.

The waterfront is still woefully underdeveloped and South Street has seen better days. If this forum is any indication, most people enjoy the idea of having such a variety of things to do in Center City's two square miles not to mention the neighborhoods adjacent to it on all sides.

But I think a lot of people move to washington Dc like yourself, because it is more attractive for young professionals.

Washington dc is able to avoid the mass poverty that surrounds philadelphia due to the presence of the federal government. and the international population makes things very interesting in DC.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by foo cities

Whom are you foolin'? Washington DC is a whole lot more dynamic and cosmopolitan than Philly.

If people want to go to Philly, go Germantown, South Philly and the King of Prussia. Northeast is a cool , quiet neighborhood of Philly. Center City is overrated and mainly good for weekdays with a few exceptions like Rittenhouse and a few blocks of Chestnut st. Stick to the waterfront and South st.

Moderator Cut (Y)ou really need to stop recommending people visit Germantown. I don't know if you're high or your perception of the places is out-of-date by decades, but it's a very rough neighborhood that has very little to offer a tourist. Nearby Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy are another story, as are Manayunk and Roxborough.

Originally Posted by Aimewitue

But I think a lot of people move to washington Dc like yourself, because it is more attractive for young professionals.

Washington dc is able to avoid the mass poverty that surrounds philadelphia due to the presence of the federal government. and the international population makes things very interesting in DC.

One the other hand, Washington is the most soulless place on Earth. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy visiting, but I'd imagine the generic East Coast vibe becomes grating after a while. The amenities are great, but it lacks any personality.

[frankgn87]

Theres that word again! "souless" lol.. It it ain't an row home in Philly, its "souless" !!!! LOL

Take it from someone who lived in both. "souless" is in your mind.. A home is what you make it.. Happiness is within you..

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Tone509

As a former Philly resident who currently lives in the DC area, I believe that despite how Washington attracts an international population, there can be a certain monotonous, button-downed vibe here compared to more variety and creativity in Philly. DC has done better with revitalizing its neighborhoods to offer more places to go but to be fair, DC is about 1/4 of the size of Philly.

After stumbling across some info, I feel the need to correct myself. Philadelphia proper is about 142 square miles while Washington DC is about 68 square miles. So the latter is about half the size of rather than one-fourth (or one-fifth) as I've claimed here and in previous threads. My basic point still remains that Philadelphia's size makes its rate of improvement/gentrification more of a challenge than in DC.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

Theres that word again! "souless" lol.. It it ain't an row home in Philly, its "souless" !!!! LOL

Take it from someone who lived in both. "souless" is in your mind.. A home is what you make it.. Happiness is within you..

Did you even read the sentence I posted? This isn't an issue of suburbs vs. city. If you've been to Washington, you've probably gotten the sense that as a result of its government-centric economy (which makes it uniquely transient), The DC area never really acquired a real culture of its own. Washington is certainly nice and has a lot to offer, but it's the one large Mid-Atlantic city that has zero personality. I'm not saying a person deciding between Philly and D.C. should base their decision on that factor alone, but it's still important to point out.

[frankgn87]

I realize you did not call the Philly burbs 'souless" but you did it to another location. Its just not right. What is 'soul" anyway? Any area or home is what you make it. If you have great memories in it, it has a soul.. ya know? Call it what it is(Washington DC) but souless is not a word that should be used to describe an area heaven.. Thats all

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

I realize you did not call the Philly burbs 'souless" but you did it to another location. Its just not right. What is 'soul" anyway? Any area or home is what you make it. If you have great memories in it, it has a soul.. ya know? Call it what it is(Washington DC) but souless is not a word that should be used to describe an area heaven.. Thats all

I called certain Philly suburbs soulless, and when I say soulless, I refer to a combination of housing stock, amenities, walkability, and history--not the people who live there or the memories they've created. I can't speak for others, but I don't leverage that attitude as any kind of moral judgment--those kinds of suburbs exist for a good reason (and unlike some others) I neither think the people who live there are morally deficient, nor do I wish ill on their homes and pray for the post-war pre-fab suburbs to become ghettoes as urban elitists predict. It's an opinion, just as you have an opinion that the city of Philadelphia is overwhelmingly crime-ridden and dirty.

Also, I didn't see this before, but while Philadelphia's city proper is certainly still more blighted than D.C.'s overall, "mass poverty" definitely does NOT "surround" our city, Aimewutie. In fact, I would say our inner ring suburbs are overall in much better shape than yours.

[BTA88]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

I realize you did not call the Philly burbs 'souless" but you did it to another location. Its just not right.

Hey, all I'm saying is I've never heard of any genre of music called DC Soul.