What are the most significant changes to Philly over the past 30 years? (Philadelphia: city hall, neighborhoods)

[BajanYankee]

I got the idea for this thread after reading a thread about how the SF Bay Area has changed since the tech boom (circa '98). Long-time residents mentioned things like the South Bay being full of walnut and cherry orchards as recently as the late 90s, the Bay Area having a lot of military installations and laboratories that are now defunct, more affordable neighborhoods, far more diversity in middle to upper middle class suburbs and SF/Oakland still having some manufacturing in the 90s. Obviously, SF is much wealthier and less gritty than it was 30-40 years ago.

By comparison, the Philadelphia region hasn't changed quite as dramatically as the Bay Area since 1990 or so. The region doesn't have an affordability crisis anywhere close to the level that the Bay Area has been experiencing. Affluent, mostly White suburbs in 1990 are pretty much affluent, mostly White suburbs in 2023. And the region has not had an industry that has fundamentally altered its character. That being said, what do you see as the most significant changes the Philadelphia area has undergone in the last 30 years?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

I got the idea for this thread after reading a thread about how the SF Bay Area has changed since the tech boom (circa '98). Long-time residents mentioned things like the South Bay being full of walnut and cherry orchards as recently as the late 90s, the Bay Area having a lot of military installations and laboratories that are now defunct, more affordable neighborhoods, far more diversity in middle to upper middle class suburbs and SF/Oakland still having some manufacturing in the 90s. Obviously, SF is much wealthier and less gritty than it was 30-40 years ago.

By comparison, the Philadelphia region hasn't changed quite as dramatically as the Bay Area since 1990 or so. The region doesn't have an affordability crisis anywhere close to the level that the Bay Area has been experiencing. Affluent, mostly White suburbs in 1990 are pretty much affluent, mostly White suburbs in 2023. And the region has not had an industry that has fundamentally altered its character. That being said, what do you see as the most significant changes the Philadelphia area has undergone in the last 30 years?

Unfortunately, the change I consider the most significant occurred outside the 30-year window.

It was the City Council's okaying of One Liberty Place in 1987.

That act, which tore up the unwritten "gentlemen's agreement" that no building would rise above the brim of William Penn's hat atop City Hall, sparked the construction spree that gave this city an actual skyline.

And once this place started to look like a big city, it began to act like one as well (probably helped along by something else that happened that year, the Center City District's Wednesday-night "Make It A Night" promotion. That got folks used to thinking about Center City as a place to have fun after business hours, and things snowballed from there).

[cpomp]

A re-birth in the great collection of suburban downtowns.

In the 80s and 90s, most little downtowns in the Philly area were either sleepy or tired/dreary and surrounded by generally nice suburbs. Nowadays, they are thriving. Media, West Chester, Phoenixville, Kennett, Conshohocken, Ardmore, Doylestown, etc.

Still some exceptions of course, such as Norristown.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by cpomp

A re-birth in the great collection of suburban downtowns.

In the 80s and 90s, most little downtowns in the Philly area were either sleepy or tired/dreary and surrounded by generally nice suburbs. Nowadays, they are thriving. Media, West Chester, Phoenixville, Kennett, Conshohocken, Ardmore, Doylestown, etc.

Still some exceptions of course, such as Norristown.

Can't +1 you via the usual mechanism so am doing so via this post.

[selhars]

Norristown… Now there is a study in… Well, it’s a study in something.

[pman]

Originally Posted by cpomp

A re-birth in the great collection of suburban downtowns.

In the 80s and 90s, most little downtowns in the Philly area were either sleepy or tired/dreary and surrounded by generally nice suburbs. Nowadays, they are thriving. Media, West Chester, Phoenixville, Kennett, Conshohocken, Ardmore, Doylestown, etc.

Still some exceptions of course, such as Norristown.

norristown is like upper darby, avoiding chester's fate while also avoiding west chester's fate (perhaps thankfully as where would working people live if norristown were expensive like west chester).

[Duderino]

Taking the bird's eye view, I think it's more than fair to say that Philly has clawed back from the thread of economic demise to reassert its national (and increasingly, international) relevance over the past 3 decades. It's not been with out fits and starts, but the trend is clear.

The region has transitioned very remarkably to the knowledge economy (and it definitely has developed a competitive advantage in the life sciences sector, which is poised to continue to blossom). Metro Philadelphia also continues to boast some of the most prosperous suburbs in the US. It's solidified its role as one of the critical wealth, human capital, and infrastructural hubs of the US. And it's located in the middle of arguably the most significant wealth, human capital, and infrastructural corridor in the world. Outsiders have woken up to the incredible value of the city (although regrettably, too many Pennsylvanians haven't).

The city is still grappling with some pronounced post-industrial issues that reared their ugly head over the past few years in light of new social challenges (as in most large cities), but it has still has the potential and resources to achieve much more modern-day greatness with the right vision and political leadership (which is, unfortunately, a heavy lift in Philadelphia and Harrisburg).

It's also (along with Chicago) amongst the very last of large, bona fide urban cities where the middle class has a fighting chance to survive, particularly when it comes to homeownership opportunity. That alone is an incredible asset.

[cpomp]

^ Great post.

To add (thought of this just now), the culinary scene of the city has grown exponentially and is nationally recognized.
I was tot 30+ years ago, but I can't imagine the culinary scene was anything like today.

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by selhars

Norristown… Now there is a study in… Well, it’s a study in something.

Delaware County has Chester City.
Chester County has Coatesville.
Bucks County has Lower Bucks.
Montgomery County has Norristown. It is what it is. Being the county seat doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be a success.

[HappyRider]

For better or worse, housing in Philly has remained surprisingly affordable. I would have thought by now it would resemble Boston, New York or Washington markets but for some reason it hasn't. You can still buy a very nice property in nice parts of south Philly for $300K. Nothing in the so-called affluent suburbs comes even close.