In your opinion, is the negative connotation associated with North Philly diminishing?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by mancat100

I drove through the Oxford Circle area recently. While it’s still okay, it did seem to be fraying a bit judging by the maintenance of quite a few homes. Not exactly run down, but not quite neat and tidy either. One thought that ran through my mind was if this is how many fully-downtrodden neighborhoods looked at the beginning of their slide. I admired the stone fronts of many of the homes and can see the appeal, so I hope those homes are better maintained as time goes on.

I lived just off Oxford Circle for 18 months in 2011-13. That stint opened my eyes to the transformations taking place in the Northeast, parts of which are now among the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.

In the immediate area, immigrants from the Caribbean, in particular the Dominican Republic but also Haiti and some of the English-speaking Caribbean islands, had settled in sizable numbers, and African-Americans were also moving in to join a diminshing number of white ethnics.

They still held sway at the Circle Tavern on the circle itself. The most uncomfortable half hour I spent in those 18 months was the time I spent drinking a beer in that bar one Saturday night. But I wonder how much of this may have been class cues too? For I did see other African-Americans wearing AFSCME DC 33 jackets patronizing the place on occasion.

Then there was the block cleanup day on the block of Alma Street where I roomed with a fellow PGMCer (Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus). I was shoveling fallen leaves into bags with an elderly Haitian immigrant who spoke no English; I knew no Creole. We communicated entirely via smiles and hand gestures.

Or the one morning where I found myself waiting for the inbound El at Margaret-Orthodox (not yet renamed for the bus platforms below - Arrott Transportation Center is now its name) with the Caribbean-American woman (black, English-speaking) who lived next door to where I did. She went on at some length about the African-Americans who were moving into the neighborhood and dragging it down.

A Northeast-native friend - he owns the Grey Lodge Public House in Mayfair, the Hop Angel Brauhaus in Fox Chase and a third bar just below Bridesburg - said to me in a conversation after I'd moved out that Castor Gardens, the neighborhood to Oxford Circle's north, "has always smelled like a$$," though.

[bursitis]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

A Northeast-native friend - he owns the Grey Lodge Public House in Mayfair, the Hop Angel Brauhaus in Fox Chase and a third bar just below Bridesburg - said to me in a conversation after I'd moved out that Castor Gardens, the neighborhood to Oxford Circle's north, "has always smelled like a$$," though.

The bar in port Richmond is Bonk's.


We're Byrne's people, but Bonk's is good, too. Very good cheesesteak and the atmosphere is chill.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by bursitis

Oxford Circle is not 'OK.'

I agree. The appearance of the homes many still be OK but it's only due to the fact that the decline has been more recent.

[selhars]

Is there any way in hell they're going to get that price for that house?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by selhars

Is there any way in hell they're going to get that price for that house?

What house?

[selhars]

Post #47:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...10331741_zpid/

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by selhars

Post #47:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...10331741_zpid/

That house-flipper's on the bleeding edge of change for sure.

But that place is a notch or two above the typical rehab these days. I don't think they'll get $400k for it in that location, but were it in some other neighborhood that's further along the curve, they would.

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

I agree. I don't want to make it sound like I grew up a long time ago, but even as a kid growing up in West, I still remember "never go west of 40th Street" being a prominent phrase. Back in the 2000s, development was just starting to heat up in what's considered University City--I still remember new buildings rising along Chestnut Street as my mom would drive towards the Schuylkill Expressway. Nowadays, people aren't afraid to cross 52nd Street. My transplant girlfriend and I walked to The Irvine, a converted warehouse south of 52nd and Baltimore, a few nights ago, as we will be moving in together this summer. She didn't feel afraid, and I couldn't help but tell her that people with the means to live elsewhere would've NEVER considered living that far south and west while growing up.

Kingsessing is similar, with a ton of transplants moving in between 52nd, the Media/Elwyn Line tracks, 49th Street, and Kingsessing Avenue.

North Philly, specifically the Lower North, will be a shining star this decade. Though I'm not as bullish about the neighborhoods north of the Northeast Corridor tracks, the North Station District and a few projects at Broad and Erie (a new Marriott-branded hotel has been proposed at the Beury Building!) have the potential to transform the geographical center of North Philly in a very positive way. Heading north, Logan has the bones to be a very cool neighborhood--it just needs a coordinated level of investment.

The " Irvine,?' You mean " Apple Storage " right? lol

[PhilliesPhan2013]

Originally Posted by Lenses & Lights.

The " Irvine,?' You mean " Apple Storage " right? lol

It was the Apple Storage Building while I was growing up, but remember that I mentioned that my girlfriend is a fairly recent transplant. It's "The Irvine" to her and in the discussions that we have that involve possibly moving there this summer.

The building also has a huge neon sign with its new name that lights up the night, so I'm using its new name for those who may not be familiar with it lol.

[ActualUDResident]

Originally Posted by bursitis

Kensington is a huge section.


Yes, some parts are revitalized, but it'll be decades (if ever) for the area north of Lehigh to get 'there.' Actually, it'll take decades for south of Lehigh, also.


The entire area would have to be leveled being as the housing stock is awful. Same for most of North Philly.


I laugh at whoever thinks Broad and Erie has 'arrived.' LOL!

Fishtown is unique. Every neighborhood isn't the next Fishtown.


Hopefully, all these pie in the sky dreams come true.

Kensington has been gentrified, not revitalized. The original communities tried to revitalize their neighborhood before any transplants ever wanted anything to do with it, just like in every other blue collar or lower-income part of the city. Nobody cared to help them in these efforts or treat them like they matter until newcomers moved in. That's not revitalization.

And it's so great to see you advocating for demolishing entire neighborhoods due to "awful" housing stock. Urban renewal was such a success, after all.