what is living in Tacony, philadelphia like? (Penn: section 8, apartment)

[kingdom woman]

I was interested in moving there from west palm beach, fl.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by kingdom woman

I was interested in moving there from west palm beach, fl.

Tacony is a white, working class part of the city with mostly row houses and small apartment buildings but it doesn't feel crowded. It has a train station and is a short ride to the downtown but it is far enough away that it hasn't been invaded by the trendy set. It is sort of gritty although there are lots of trees. it is easy to park on the street. There is plenty of good shopping not that far away but a car is recomended, not absolutly nessesary depending on your life style. It is actually a relativly poor area but safe and respectable with a low cost of living.

[lititzman2003]

I agree with most of what Bryson said expect that I feel the neighborhood is not as safe as it used to be. I would not invest in property in Tacony.

[PennKid]

Tacony is a relatively quiet area in Northeast Philly, characterized by single-family homes, some of them attached, and some of them stand-alone or twins, with the occasional house being quite grand and opulent. The area was originally developed as a company town for the workers of the Disston Saw Works, which was one of America's leading producers of precision instruments until the mid-20th century. The neighborhood was for a long time a bastion of Italians in the Northeast, and remains so today to some extent. Although once in a while you will hear grumblings about too many new black or Hispanic newcomers, there really aren't more than a handful, and it's mostly white and lower-middle class. I think it's architecturally a wonderful area, and the larger houses are beautiful examples of classic Americana. It's also pretty safe, really not more or less than it was during the couple decades. I actually think buying a house here would be a fine investment.

[RW 41]

Originally Posted by PennKid

Tacony is a relatively quiet area in Northeast Philly, characterized by single-family homes, some of them attached, and some of them stand-alone or twins, with the occasional house being quite grand and opulent. The area was originally developed as a company town for the workers of the Disston Saw Works, which was one of America's leading producers of precision instruments until the mid-20th century. The neighborhood was for a long time a bastion of Italians in the Northeast, and remains so today to some extent. Although once in a while you will hear grumblings about too many new black or Hispanic newcomers, there really aren't more than a handful, and it's mostly white and lower-middle class. I think it's architecturally a wonderful area, and the larger houses are beautiful examples of classic Americana. It's also pretty safe, really not more or less than it was during the couple decades. I actually think buying a house here would be a fine investment.

There are more than a "handful" of blacks and Hispanics residing in Tacony, I would classify it as a racially mixed neighborhood. I'm up that way a lot and I wouldn't say it's exactly a safe, clean area, but there are some nice homes there. Mayfair proper and Holmesburg are probably better options for the OP.

[slickvic277]

RW 41 is closer to describing Tacony then anyone else so far. Not to call people out but are any of you even really familiar with the neighborhood at all? I lived there for about 4 years. Tacony by and large is a $hit hole. it can be deceiving at times because there are still some nice blocks with nice houses but this is the exception not the norm. There's a lot of drug use in Tacony, section 8, and slum lord property owners. There's prostitutes all over Torresdale ave. And home invasions are a problem too.

It's really just a crying shame because like I said there's a lot of nice blocks and houses in certain parts of Tacony but not enough to justify buying a house there.IMO.

West Mayfair/Holmesburg is much much nicer and it's basically just the next neighborhood over. But as with Tacony there's parts that are nicer then others. If your looking in the area I would recommend looking on the west side of Frankford ave. and north of Cottman.

[RW 41]

Originally Posted by slickvic277

RW 41 is closer to describing Tacony then anyone else so far. Not to call people out but are any of you even really familiar with the neighborhood at all? I lived there for about 4 years. Tacony by and large is a $hit hole. it can be deceiving at times because there are still some nice blocks with nice houses but this is the exception not the norm. There's a lot of drug use in Tacony, section 8, and slum lord property owners. There's prostitutes all over Torresdale ave. And home invasions are a problem too.

It's really just a crying shame because like I said there's a lot of nice blocks and houses in certain parts of Tacony but not enough to justify buying a house there.IMO.

West Mayfair/Holmesburg is much much nicer and it's basically just the next neighborhood over. But as with Tacony there's parts that are nicer then others. If your looking in the are I would recommend looking on the west side of Frankford ave. and north of Cottman.

Thanks, Vic. I didn't want to be so blunt, but what you say is absolutely true. I'm thinking of buying one of those little houses on Knorr Street, near Charles, in Mayfair, but I would never buy in Tacony.

[slickvic277]

Originally Posted by RW 41

Thanks, Vic. I didn't want to be so blunt, but what you say is absolutely true. I'm thinking of buying one of those little houses on Knorr Street, near Charles, in Mayfair, but I would never buy in Tacony.

Lots of people buying in Mayfair in the past few months. I bought my house a little over two years ago, then my buddy bought one about 8 months ago another friend is buying around the corner from me, and another friend of mine is buying one on brighton street. Overall still a great area just gotta watch what section because each area is different with in the neighborhood.

If the city could fix the school system we would be STAYING here as well. All the guy's who just bought including myself will be moving once the kids start coming but for now the family's are all young. So we'll stay.

Those are some tiny houses. You live buy yourself? Besides the traffic from the shoprite there, it's a nice little section. Good luck.

[RW 41]

Originally Posted by slickvic277

Lots of people buying in Mayfair in the past few months. I bought my house a little over two years ago, then my buddy bought one about 8 months ago another friend is buying around the corner from me, and another friend of mine is buying one on brighton street. Overall still a great area just gotta watch what section because each area is different with in the neighborhood.

If the city could fix the school system we would be STAYING here as well. All the guy's who just bought including myself will be moving once the kids start coming but for now the family's are all young. So we'll stay.

Those are some tiny houses. You live buy yourself? Besides the traffic from the shoprite there, it's a nice little section. Good luck.

Yeah, I'd be by myself ... I wouldn't have to worry about schools or what's roaming around Frankford Ave and I know the area very well.
I'm just considering it for now, contemplating changing jobs first. Plus, I'm not certain I want to leave Bridesburg where the property values are rising for an area where the property values are dropping. I do really like those houses though and I can eventually see myself in one. I'm not the type to leave the comfort of the city, even when I get older.

[PennKid]

Maybe I should clarify what I mean when I say Tacony; I mean the area bounded by approximately Cheltenham to the Southwest, to Princeton in the Northeast, from Torresdale to the River. This is where a lot of the well-kept stand-alone homes seem to be, with some especially nice ones towards Disston Park and the train station. I will agree that the immediate area around Harbison looks as if it has seen better days (although a flat-out ghetto I don't think it is). A couple guys that I did tech with here at Penn lived up closer to Cheltenham Ave., and they all liked it (they disputed among themselves whether or not they lived in Wissinoming or Tacony), and they were a diverse group of old-schools Northeasterners, Hispanics, and Polish immigrants. My own personal experience comes from some research I had to do with the Tacony Historical Society which required me to be up there once a week for a semester. The immediate area around them I dare say is actually beautiful, and Im always amazed at how comparatively quiet the area is- you even hear birds chirping I also did some flooring for a house on Hegerman when I needed some fast cash, and I liked the street as well (as did all the Brazilians who worked with me; there seems to be a high concentration of them in Tacony. I'm sorry if my general impressions are too optimistic, but I like to err on the side of niceness as regards philadelphia neighborhoods.