Deterioration of Kensington

[sweendog024]

From my understanding the term "The Badlands" is really just an alternate name for a general area (no actual boundary) where the drug trade in Kensington is the most prevalent

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by sweendog024

i've never seen the documentary, do you know where i could get a copy or watch it online?

Just google American Arsenal Philadelphia.. I beleive it's for sale for about $24.00 or you can ask PBS or History Channell when will it air again.

[PennKid]

This map of today's census tracts might be helpful to this analysis:

Mapping the 2010 U.S. Census - NYTimes.com


Kensington was once (early 1900s) used to refer to the entire triangle east of front, south of the regional rail/Amtrak tracks, and west of Frankford creek. Over time, the southwestern part of this triangle gained its own identity as Fishtown (today's census tracts 16, 158, and 143), and the southeastern parts as Port Richmond (census tracts 15008, 378, and 379). These neighborhood's economy, more dependent on shipping, refinery jobs, and construction/electrician union labor, never completely collapsed, and these neighborhoods have kept a stable middle-class white population up to this day (all these neighborhoods are at least 90% white).

The northern parts, the core definition of Kensington, still dependent on heavy manufacturing, suffered when these industries vanished, and much (but certainly not all) of the stable working-class white community vanished in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, to be replaced mostly by Puerto Ricans. These are today's census tracts 161, 178, 179, 382, 188, 192, 17701, and 17702 which range from 10%-65% white in 2010. With few jobs available, these neighborhoods are well-known for their drug trade and prostitution.

There has been a quite substantial gentrification affecting all these neighborhoods recently for their interesting housing stock, so all the neighborhoods, both stable and poor, have recently seen an influx of artists and creative-economy types, with the wave felt more strongly towards the west, closer to Center City, than to the east.

So there's your story, as good as I can tell it.

[jennm59]

I live in Port Richmond (below Aramingo, and before Allegheny) and I have to say that it's 99.8% Caucasian. It's mostly working-class union-types...with the new folks (new families, young professionals, gay couples, artsy-types) moving in. It's an interesting mix right now. Some of the older folks are suspicious that the young couples are coming...others are happy that at least their home values are going up. The gentrification is slower here than Fishtown, but it's pretty noticeable. You almost always hear construction noises around the neighborhood of people having work done on their homes on a nice day, and to me, that's a good thing.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by jennm59

I live in Port Richmond (below Aramingo, and before Allegheny) and I have to say that it's 99.8% Caucasian. It's mostly working-class union-types...with the new folks (new families, young professionals, gay couples, artsy-types) moving in. It's an interesting mix right now. Some of the older folks are suspicious that the young couples are coming...others are happy that at least their home values are going up. The gentrification is slower here than Fishtown, but it's pretty noticeable. You almost always hear construction noises around the neighborhood of people having work done on their homes on a nice day, and to me, that's a good thing.

That activity is moving through Kensington too. In the end its good for the neighborhood. You need new people to come in and help keep the neighborhood going. Letting things stand still leads to decline, so its nice to see the area remain dynamic.

[otters21]

Originally Posted by Marius Pontmercy

That activity is moving through Kensington too. In the end its good for the neighborhood. You need new people to come in and help keep the neighborhood going. Letting things stand still leads to decline, so its nice to see the area remain dynamic.

What areas of actual Kensington are seeing revitalization activity and also what areas have potential to see things improving ?

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by otters21

What areas of actual Kensington are seeing revitalization activity and also what areas have potential to see things improving ?

I hesitate to say... you're not a land speculator are you?

[otters21]

Originally Posted by Marius Pontmercy

I hesitate to say... you're not a land speculator are you?

No I am not a land speculator -just someone who would like to see their native city's neighborhoods to be back on the upswing. I am now in Columbus Ohio since 1994( I had to leave Philly because of my job-not my choice ). In fact before I left I was living on the border of Fishtown and Kensington -East Norris St. between Sepviva and Tulip Sts. Since I left Philly I have seen how many stable neighborhoods deteriorate such as much of Kensington, Overbrook-west of 63rd, Grays Ferry , Snyder Ave around 21st St., most of Southwest Philly, parts of the lower Northeast ( Oxford Circle -Summerdale , Frankford etc.) and that was not a good thing. I would just like to know if I would ever move back to Philly what areas are or are becoming nice places to live and no, the suburbs and the upscale areas of Center City do not appeal to me ( My husband and I are burger and a beer-in-the-corner bar folk).

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by otters21

No I am not a land speculator -just someone who would like to see their native city's neighborhoods to be back on the upswing. I am now in Columbus Ohio since 1994( I had to leave Philly because of my job-not my choice ). In fact before I left I was living on the border of Fishtown and Kensington -East Norris St. between Sepviva and Tulip Sts. Since I left Philly I have seen how many stable neighborhoods deteriorate such as much of Kensington, Overbrook-west of 63rd, Grays Ferry , Snyder Ave around 21st St., most of Southwest Philly, parts of the lower Northeast ( Oxford Circle -Summerdale , Frankford etc.) and that was not a good thing. I would just like to know if I would ever move back to Philly what areas are or are becoming nice places to live and no, the suburbs and the upscale areas of Center City do not appeal to me ( My husband and I are burger and a beer-in-the-corner bar folk).

Fishtown has remained nice. Basically, the area east of the El and south of the railroad tracks have done very well. It's the areas just west of the El that are now getting the attention. Around Girard Ave. you start to get into NoLibs. The block you mentioned in Fishtown is still stable, although its missing a few of the houses that we're there, it's definitely moving in the right direction. There are numerous new houses and rehabs going on in the area.