Phiadelphia's Revitalization (Philadelphia, Trappe, Avoca: fit in, buying a home, buying)

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

As a resident of University City I don't have to tell anyone here that I've seen major changes to my area in the 15 years I've been here. The process is rather slow and gradual. Example when I first moved here I was told "the neighborhood is nice, but don't venture west of 46th Street." A couple of years after that it was 48th Street, then 50th, now 52nd. People walking pedigreed little dogs in Malcolm X Park and sipping lattes in sidewalk cafes overlooking the park.

Powelton Village was pretty but rather shabby 15 years ago ... lots of artists (like the Tiberinos) and Hippies (like Einhorn a bit earlier). Now it's ... expensive! Back then "West Powelton" was still 'the 'hood' ... unquestionably becoming gentrified now.

It doesn't happen overnight.

Philly needs to (or should have much better in the past) removed blight and homes windowless condemned and boarded up. Yard and empty lot owners pressured to clean it up. Especially where its easily seen to all.

One difference I've seen in Philly is how gentrification and blight continue in the same block till gentrification is virtually all complete.

Many locals see the good and improving. Yes we applaud it. But outsiders see blight and debris in neighborhoods recommended as gentrified up and coming still. The areas and same block, looks still with blighted housing, lots not cleared, streets not having street-sweeping services can look very un-kept. Streets where tightness showcases power-line poles that do not help and stand out more then a block with a lot more green and trees with the poles.

Many do not realize leaving blight for years in a unsafe and looks awful condition. Despite the neighborhood elevated as gentrifying and highly recommended still hurt outsider opinions of the city.

The we don't care what outsiders think or perceive-- fixes nothing. It means Philly struggles much more to show much more improvement, if the blight was not removed BEFORE the gentrifying began. It creates a still dirtier and run-down appearance despite signs of renewal all around.

*Clean the streets though as a necessary value. Philly -- should not be the ONLY Major city without city street-sweeping services. It shows, and that is problem . Even shows in street-views 360's. It really does and how NEW Infill has still blight left around it -- till years might pass and it finally is replaced and removed. (not all can afford CC and how its business clean the streets by a private service that all can benefit).

My understanding is FUNDING is there. The city just gave up the fight with people on these streets with claims of no place to move vehicles to? It is unfortunate and ALL these aspects can effect a second rate stigma and KEEP it ongoing.

Just addressing the topic. Not bashing. But these are valid points...

[ElijahAstin]

Assuming I'm understanding you correctly...

Originally Posted by DavePa

Philly needs to (or should have much better in the past) removed blight and homes windowless condemned and boarded up. Yard and empty lot owners pressured to clean it up. Especially where its easily seen to all.

While I understand where you're coming from, those actions lead to gap teeth, which can eventually multiply into urban prairie.

Originally Posted by DavePa

One difference I've seen in Philly is how gentrification and blight continue in the same block till gentrification is virtually all complete.

I don't see how that's unique to Philly. I'm open to counter-examples, but one or two cherry-picked cities doth not a trend make.

Originally Posted by DavePa

Many locals see the good and improving. Yes we applaud it. But outsiders see blight and debris in neighborhoods recommended as gentrified up and coming still.

That all depends on the neighborhood in question (and again, I don't see this as unique).

Originally Posted by DavePa

The areas and same block, looks still with blighted housing, lots not cleared[...]

See responses one through three.

Originally Posted by DavePa

[...]streets not having street-sweeping services can look very un-kept.

I agree this is a problem, though less so in the more desirable parts of town.

Originally Posted by DavePa

Streets where tightness showcases power-line poles that do not help and stand out more then a block with a lot more green and trees with the poles.

To the extent that I can understand your gripe, this sounds like a DavePa pet peeve that DavePa, and very few others, finds aesthetically concerning in an old and dense Northeastern city.

Originally Posted by DavePa

Many do not realize leaving blight for years in a unsafe and looks awful condition.

This is a strawman argument riddled with weasel words. Name one person who's touted places like Strawberry Mansion and Nicetown as turnkey neighborhoods primed for rapid gentrification.

Originally Posted by DavePa

Despite the neighborhood elevated as gentrifying and highly recommended still hurt outsider opinions of the city.

See above.

Originally Posted by DavePa

The == we don't care what outsiders think or perceive-- fixes nothing. It means Philly struggles much more to show much more improvement[...]

This is a strawman argument without weasel words.

Originally Posted by DavePa

[...]if the blight was not removed BEFORE the gentrifying began. It creates a still dirtier and run-down appearance despite signs of renewal all around.

But gentrification doesn't always spring from working and middle class neighborhoods that all agree are baseline safe and stable. Just to name an example in Pittsburgh, where I had the pleasure of returningthis weekend, Garfield is undergoing gentrification yet started off (and to an extent, still has) dicey and rough spots, not dissimilar to Point Breeze in Philadelphia.

Originally Posted by DavePa

*** Clean the streets though as a necessary value. Philly -- should not be the ONLY Major city without city street-sweeping services. It shows, and that IS A PROBLEM. Even shows in street-views 360's.

Once again, I agree.

Originally Posted by DavePa

It really does and how NEW Infill has still blight left around it -- till years might pass and it finally is replaced and removed. (not all can afford CC and how its business clean the streets by a private service that all can benefit).

Addressing your new sub-points, many desirable neighborhoods are outside Center City, yet not a complete filthy mess.

Originally Posted by DavePa

My understanding is FUNDING is there. The city just gave up the fight with people on these streets with claims of no place to move vehicles to?

As much as I'd love the City to be sitting on top of a giant pile of money, that simply doesn't square with reality. I don't know the answer to this one, though, and will credit you for bringing up a good point.

Originally Posted by DavePa

It is unfortunate and ALL these aspects can effect a second rate stigma and KEEP it ongoing.

As I understood your post, you made one good point regarding street cleaning. If I misunderstood anything else, I encourage you to rephrase.

Originally Posted by DavePa

Just addressing the topic. Not bashing. But these are valid points.

You sort of addressed the topic and made one valid point. Your post didn't strike me as mean-spirited, though, so I'll give you that.

[kyb01]

Yes, agreed! That was a fabulous reply to Mr DelCo Times columnist. And, no, you will likely not get even a prefunctory response from him.

One point though some of the tax issues can not be resolved locally. They need resolution by the PA legislature too.
Also this is important to remember about Nutter. His first term was during the Great Recession so there was a lot that could have gone wrong that was out of his control.

[jjv007]

Awesome e-mail reply!

[cpomp]

thanks everyone!

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

thanks everyone!

You haven't heard jack from him, right?

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

You haven't heard jack from him, right?

Nope, I actually had copied the opinion section editors on the email, nothing from anyone...

[PHL10]

Great response Ccomp! We can all trash him for the Geno's/Pat's business but it really is a head scratcher about the Navy Yard. It sounds like he has no idea what has been happening there and the amount of employment that now exists including the HQ of GSK, Urban Outfitters, and Tasktkake to name a few.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Nope, I actually had copied the opinion section editors on the email, nothing from anyone...

That rag knows who their audience is. Bone-headed Negadelphians.

[DavePa]

Mayor Kenney's 'Zero Waste' Initiative Should Restore Street Sweeping Services

- Street sweeping should be one of our bedrock municipal services, and Philadelphia did provide this service at one point, but as Ryan Briggs reported last year, the program was canceled in response to political pressure from residents who didn't want to move their cars.
- Restoring the service has a political problem, not a money problem: it would cost only $18 million to buy the sweepers and just $3 million in annual salaries to clean the city every other week.
- Jim Kenney pledged during the 2015 campaign to bring the service back, but after he was elected, he suggested there could be an opt-out provision for areas with strong opposition to alternate-side parking.