Point Breeze Really That Gentrified? (neighborhood, zoning, street)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I live in Francisville and there seems to be a fair amount of resentment to me.

Really? Do you feel comfortable about explaining what you mean? Are people coming up to you saying stuff? I've lived in the area for 20 years and have never seen/heard about any movement to stop gentrification.

[Fireshaker]

As a current Point Breeze resident (15th & Tasker-ish), I have to admit that your take is pretty spot-on. The "Newbold" sections seem to be the nicest and most rebuilt; the father west you go, the more it drops off in a big hurry.

The thing is, the neighborhood IS changing. There's a ton of new construction all over the place, and vacancies are slowly being filled in. But if it doesn't feel like it's coalesced into a new and shiny whole, it's probably because there's just so much left to be done, and, as noted above, various neighborhood groups would rather obstruct than help drive the improvements.

Also a big factor, I think--the complete non-entity that is Point Breeze Avenue. Part of why the gentrification has been slower to move westward is because there's no businesses or commerce helping to pull people that way. Aside from, what, American Sardine and Breezy's, there's very little of note. If the neighborhood can get some traction on remaking PB Ave, that would go a long way. It's got tremendous bones--there's no reason it can't one day be our very own Passyunk Ave.

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by Fireshaker

Also a big factor, I think--the complete non-entity that is Point Breeze Avenue. Part of why the gentrification has been slower to move westward is because there's no businesses or commerce helping to pull people that way. Aside from, what, American Sardine and Breezy's, there's very little of note. If the neighborhood can get some traction on remaking PB Ave, that would go a long way. It's got tremendous bones--there's no reason it can't one day be our very own Passyunk Ave.

You bring up an excellent point about lack of businesses in the area. As an aside, is Breezy's even there anymore? I thought I heard it had closed down.

[Fireshaker]

Originally Posted by LibraGirl123

You bring up an excellent point about lack of businesses in the area. As an aside, is Breezy's even there anymore? I thought I heard it had closed down.

I had heard it was temporarily closed pending some sort of move or renovation, but not gone for good. At least, I hope not--it's really an underappreciated gem.

[PhilliesPhan2013]

Originally Posted by Fireshaker

Also a big factor, I think--the complete non-entity that is Point Breeze Avenue. Part of why the gentrification has been slower to move westward is because there's no businesses or commerce helping to pull people that way. Aside from, what, American Sardine and Breezy's, there's very little of note. If the neighborhood can get some traction on remaking PB Ave, that would go a long way. It's got tremendous bones--there's no reason it can't one day be our very own Passyunk Ave.

Exactly! When I graduate from college in 2 years and start investing in real estate, I will be eyeing parcels on Point Breeze Avenue. I believe that it does have the potential to become a vibrant corridor, similar to East Passyunk Avenue. If this happens, then investment will spread in all directions. Also, it is only a matter of time before Washington Avenue is developed along the northern extremity of the neighborhood. PB as a neighborhoods has tons of potential. It walkable and bikeable to Center City, has a stop on the Broad Street Line (Tasker-Morris), and is surrounded by other successful neighborhoods.

As a future developer, I also have my eye on Grays Ferry and Forgotten Bottom. As PB does eventually gentrify and Penn continues to develop its new campus at 34th and Grays Ferry Avenue, these two neighborhoods will become primed for development. The only issue with this area is that it is really auto-centric in nature. This will change with the continuation of the Schuylkill River Trail. Plus, for those who work in University City (or even Center City), a bike commute from these two neighborhoods is not bad at all. 34th Street will take one into University City, and going east on Grays Ferry Avenue will take one into Center City.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Really? Do you feel comfortable about explaining what you mean? Are people coming up to you saying stuff? I've lived in the area for 20 years and have never seen/heard about any movement to stop gentrification.

I didn't say it was a movement, I just said there was resentment. It's not like there's one monolithic thing I can point to, just a lot of little things—notes on cars, antagonistic behavior, throwing trash in people's yards, having block parties that the new people are clearly not welcome at, that kind of thing.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I didn't say it was a movement, I just said there was resentment. It's not like there's one monolithic thing I can point to, just a lot of little things—notes on cars, antagonistic behavior, throwing trash in people's yards, having block parties that the new people are clearly not welcome at, that kind of thing.

That's disheartening to hear.

[roma258]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Point Breeze is slowing changing for the better, I am sure there is unrest as the neighborhood transitions, but its a losing battle for anyone against the improvements, so they might as well embrace it, rather than fight it.

The only neighborhood that I would consider in "rapid gentrification" is Fishtown, literally changed overnight.

Huh? Fishtown's gentrification has been going on at least 10 years, if not longer. Johny Brenda's opened when, 2005? Sure Frankford ave has seen a real explosion in the last 3 years, but there had been slow incremental process for some time prior.

Anyway, on to Point Breeze, went out to American Sardine bar couple weeks ago and the vibe walking through the neighborhood was tense. I think the racial element is palpable, rich white peeps pushing out poor black people. I guess that's just the nature of the beast, but seeing it in real time really drives home that reality. There is certainly a class element of what's happening in Fishtown as well, but the longtimers were much more established and obviously the race element was mostly absent. I dunno, of all the gentrifying areas I've been to, PB gives off the most unease.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by roma258

Huh? Fishtown's gentrification has been going on at least 10 years, if not longer. Johny Brenda's opened when, 2005? Sure Frankford ave has seen a real explosion in the last 3 years, but there had been slow incremental process for some time prior.

Anyway, on to Point Breeze, went out to American Sardine bar couple weeks ago and the vibe walking through the neighborhood was tense. I think the racial element is palpable, rich white peeps pushing out poor black people. I guess that's just the nature of the beast, but seeing it in real time really drives home that reality. There is certainly a class element of what's happening in Fishtown as well, but the longtimers were much more established and obviously the race element was mostly absent. I dunno, of all the gentrifying areas I've been to, PB gives off the most unease.

Is that really happening though? If so, it must be renters. Those who choose to sell their houses for a profit aren't really synonymous with what "gentrification" really is.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by roma258

Huh? Fishtown's gentrification has been going on at least 10 years, if not longer. Johny Brenda's opened when, 2005? Sure Frankford ave has seen a real explosion in the last 3 years, but there had been slow incremental process for some time prior.

Anyway, on to Point Breeze, went out to American Sardine bar couple weeks ago and the vibe walking through the neighborhood was tense. I think the racial element is palpable, rich white peeps pushing out poor black people. I guess that's just the nature of the beast, but seeing it in real time really drives home that reality. There is certainly a class element of what's happening in Fishtown as well, but the longtimers were much more established and obviously the race element was mostly absent. I dunno, of all the gentrifying areas I've been to, PB gives off the most unease.

Yeah, totally agree with this. Doesn't help that the "community organization" self-named Concerned Citizens (i.e. racist agenda-driven bigots) got their hands on a copy machine and frequently send out hate propaganda with horrible misspelling and grammar. Their flyers are straight-up hate speech. "White devil," etc...

Just one of many ridiculous "community meetings," via link below (I'm offended and I'm not even Jewish). If this was a was white group saying things openly like this about African Americans, the National Guard, FBI and CIA would be here in 30 seconds. Anyway, I digress...: Point Breeze meeting ends after 'anti-Semitic' comments

Unfortunately, the poverty pimp, Kenyatta Johnson, inflames this attitude because, once ousted from his do-nothing city gig, he'll stop making six figures a year for working 15 hours a week. Ultimately, it won't matter, as free market demand always wins in the end, but it's going to take another decade plus to turn this neighborhood. Shame...