What are the most significant changes to Philly over the past 30 years? (Philadelphia: condo, crime rate)

[Tweb66]

The biggest improvement has been the proliferation of cell phone stores, obviously.. In 1993, there were only a few, patronized by the wealthy. Now, every neighborhood has multiple locations!


Negative? People are too poor to pay for a pay phone and they have all been removed.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by AshbyQuin

Kensington experienced the largest decline, followed by the lower Northeast. West Oak Lane, Logan and Chinatown lesser extent.

The Riverwards, excluding Kensington and University City have undergone significant improvements.

Brewerytown, Temple Area, Point Breeze, and Germantown (Wayne Ave/Junction area) have received significant investment, yet continue to face the same issues as 30 years ago.





All in all, it balances out IMO.

You need to split Kensington into four parts.

East Kensington below Lehigh Avenue has improved dramatically. Apartment buildings are marching steadily northward up American Street, removing a good bit of South (Old) Kensington's remaining industrial character, and the residential blocks to American Street's west have also experienced reinvestment. It's really the area near the railroad viaduct that has gone into decline thanks to the drugs, and West Kensington has yet to experience much in the way of change one way or the other — it remains the mostly poor, somewhat rundown neighborhood it's long been.

Germantown, where I live, isn't as bad as those living outside it believe it is. Yes, it still has crime problems (I was close to collateral damage myself when some kid started firing on West Chelten Avenue one day in the spring one year ago), but it doesn't really look rundown or beat up, and it's incredibly varied. What Ken Weinstein's done at Wayne Junction has been nothing short of phenomenal, and (a) he's not finished yet (b) it's happening without displacing either near neighbors (some of whom are investors in a Mosaic Development Partners residential project that's part of the Wayne Junction makeover) or the one major industrial employer still located there, Wayne Mills. In fact, it's even added a manufacturer to the area: Merzbacher's bakery, which produces amazing bread and a muffin that's become hugely popular.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by Duderino

I hear this claim a lot from the Negadelphians, yet there's little effort to actually back it up.

If there's a "greater number" of declining neighborhoods, please name them.

It has nothing to do with 'Negadelphians.' It's called reality.
Eastwick, Wissinoming, Bridesburg, Port Richmond, Mayfair, Tacony, Holmesburg, Rhawnhurst, Bustleton, Castor Gardens, Parkwood, Oxford Circle, Lawncrest, Juniata ... and that's not even naming neighborhoods in other sections of the city, but I'm pretty sure they're not ALL improving. You don't even live here, so what do you know other than what you read about Center City and South Philly?

[Hermit12]

And, by and large, there are large sections of Kensington, including Harrowgate, that are worse off now than thirty years ago. But, it is nice to see some of it improving.

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

Any stats on quality of life?

From my vantage point (and selhars if I may), it's gotten and is getting worse.

It's much better now than 30 years ago. It's gotten worse since 2019, but it had been improving dramatically for the 25 years before that.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

It's much better now than 30 years ago. It's gotten worse since 2019, but it had been improving dramatically for the 25 years before that.

You don't live in Philly ...

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

You don't live in Philly ...

I'm in Philly every day.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

I'm in Philly every day.

In and out ... living here is a different story. There's more to Philly than Center City.

There's a reason you live in the peaceful, clean, safe environs of Newtown. And I don't blame you.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

It has nothing to do with 'Negadelphians.' It's called reality.
Eastwick, Wissinoming, Bridesburg, Port Richmond, Mayfair, Tacony, Holmesburg, Rhawnhurst, Bustleton, Castor Gardens, Parkwood, Oxford Circle, Lawncrest, Juniata ... and that's not even naming neighborhoods in other sections of the city, but I'm pretty sure they're not ALL improving. You don't even live here, so what do you know other than what you read about Center City and South Philly?

30 years ago, nearly every one of these places were on the verge of decline and now they've been declining for 30 years. No area took the brunt of the opioid crisis like Kensington and the lower NE.


One big difference imo from 30 years ago to today is we had a much better Mayor with Rendell compared to Kenney. Kenney is a weak man who did nothing to improve the quality of service delivered by the city. Couple that with a bad police chief, a bad DA, a bad superintendent, and a mostly idiot city council who can't tell you which way is up, and you get today.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

30 years ago, nearly every one of these places were on the verge of decline and now they've been declining for 30 years. No area took the brunt of the opioid crisis like Kensington and the lower NE.


One big difference imo from 30 years ago to today is we had a much better Mayor with Rendell compared to Kenney. Kenney is a weak man who did nothing to improve the quality of service delivered by the city. Couple that with a bad police chief, a bad DA, a bad superintendent, and a mostly idiot city council who can't tell you which way is up, and you get today.

Kenney also pales by comparison to his immediate predecessor, Michael Nutter.

His relations with City Council were something less than smooth, but he ran the most ethical administration of any post-Clark/Dliworth mayor IMO, and he did have competent people running the schools and the Police Department.