How's South Philladelphia like? (Philadelphia, Washington: crime, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[beautycovergirl]

How's South Philladelphia like? Is the crime there fairly high?
whats there to do? What ethnic groups reside there?
How's Queens Village and Pennsport like?

[john_starks]

well some young kid, 23, got shot over the weekend returning from his shift at starbucks. that's not very comforting to the residents who live here. but living in queen village is great. its family friendly, trendy, offbeat, close to all the center city action. but you need to be aware of your surroundings... this city is no joke...

i guess there's a reason this area becomes a ghost town after 1pm. the crime is not a laughing matter. too many young kids out with guns just looking for trouble..

[bryson662001]

South Philadelphia is a huge area made up of dozens of neighborhoods that range from very affluent to dirt poor ghetto slums. Every ethnic group has a foothold there including the italian American mafia. There are commercial centers, both mom and pop and big box, sports arenas, industrial and port facilitys as well as residential. It is well served by public transportation and circled by freeways. Whatever you can say about South Philly will be true......and false.

[john_starks]

^^ i meant 1 am.

but bryson is right, south philly is vast. it covers a lot of ground, including the stadiums and the naval shipyard

[newmarlig]

You really need to narrow your question. South Philly is quite large, some parts good, others not good. Queen Village is a great neighborhood.

[StuckPA]

Basically anything below Washington Ave is a slum.

[Tone509]

If your experience is just south of Washington Avenue then I can see your point of view. However, there are a lot of middle to upper-middle enclaves, especially in lower South Philly. They even redid a notorious public housing area (I'm sorry I can't remember the name) into a nicer townhouse setting.

Originally Posted by StuckPA

Basically anything below Washington Ave is a slum.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by StuckPA

Basically anything below Washington Ave is a slum.

Could you define your definition of slum?

Overall South Philly has probably seen better days but parts are still immaculate. Packer Park, Girard Estates in particular. Passyunk Ave from Broad to Queen Village is one of the most unique urban experiences you'll find in this country. i've never felt unsafe and am impressed on how clean South Philly still is. With that being said it must have really been something back in the day, and it offers a small glimpse of what the glory days of the old ethnic european neighborhoods in Philly were like.

Heres a photo collage of Girard Estates from phillyskyline.

phillyskyline.com | GIRARD ESTATE, SOUTH PHILLY by Joe Minardi

[StuckPA]

Take a walk down Snyder Ave from Front as far west as you like and you'll see. That's just one street,I can provide more

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by StuckPA

Take a walk down Snyder Ave from Front as far west as you like and you'll see. That's just one street,I can provide more

It's Philadelphia, not Beverly Hills. These are all working class neighborhoods for the most part. There is nothing wrong with Snyder Av but Oregon is better and that's further south. Actually the best of South Philly is south of Snyder Av. Packer Park is almost posh. The only really bad part of S Philly anymore is west of Broad between Washington and Snyder. (Those folks you see on the 17)