From a suburbanites point of view, would this be a rough area? (Philadelphia: houses, neighborhoods)

[monicapies]

I am wondering about the safety of the area around Rising Sun Plaza where Rising Sun meets Adams in North Philly. Is this shopping center and the immediate vicinity seen as more dangerous than the big Walmart/Home Depot shopping center where Adams meets Roosevelt Boulevard? There are a few businesses scattered around this corner of the city that look seedy in and of themselves too. Among them would be the Jomar clothing store next to the Sears Automotive on Adams, the Asian supermarket on Whitaker (which was a Pathmark long ago), and the so-called Philly Supermarket on Adams, which really is just a tiny corner store but not on a corner. That whole strip center looks awful. I believe a Rite Aid was once there which was an improvement over its current state, but that is not saying much. A Wine & Spirits store is there which is really creepy, and a McDonalds is in the parking lot.

Also, is the Save-A-Lot/Wine & Spirits/CVS/Dunkin Donuts/Baskin-Robbins/Korean bank shopping center in Cheltenham (at Cheltenham Ave and Front St) known to be rough? What about the old Acme/Dollarland (currently abandoned I think) on Township Line Ave (or is it Cottman?), also known as Route 73, in Cheltenham? Or the Rite Aid at 5th and Olney?

I have observed all these establishments on various trips into the city over the years, but I am a suburbanite, so I really am not able to judge. I know my thread title might be confusing, but I really have two different questions here: would this by most standards be a rough area? But also, would this only be a rough area in the minds of ignorant, sheltered suburbanites (perhaps from Chester County, which I just mention due to it being relatively far away) who are not city people?

[cpomp]

To address part of this, as a former and current suburbanite, I still shake my head at many things I see in Philly, so I would think it is rather dumpy, just from looking at it on google maps.

And I would say almost anyone from Chester county would consider that dumpy and dangerous. Chester county is very suburban and upscale, so many people from there would find the selection of stores and some of the clientele "eclectic"

Theres also your fair share of people in Delaware Bucks and Montgomery counties who would feel the same way.
I would say Chester, Bucks, then Delaware counties feature the most sheltered suburbanites.

[pred66]

It depends on which direction from that intersection you are looking,
On the SE corner are projects, Not a good place,
Heading East is not a good neighborhood, Following Adams west you run into a couple Apt complexes which are also not real good,
BUT if you look just north on rising sun ave you will find smaller community neighborhoods which are just fine.
Peter

[frankgn87]

Yes, rough areas... Make sure your doors are locked driving thru

[LHM]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I would say Chester, Bucks, then Delaware counties feature the most sheltered suburbanites.

Any data to back up this claim?

[asiandudeyo]

From a Miami transplant (Aventura - North Miami Beach ) area, I consider the area is dumpy. IN fact, to be honest, I feel that most Philadelphia areas have dumpy look in it. Some areas that don't look dumpy is Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and some part of Northern Liberty.

I think it is due to two things.
The first being the age of the buildings, which are clearly not well-maintained. And I don't blame them; it costs alot of money to clean buildings when they are being hit with 4 season weathers ranging from extra cold to super hot.
I also found the same in the burbs. There are parts of burbs that look so dumpy. Some part of Lansdale is so unbearable. But there is also some parts of burbs, in which the house owners really take care of their houses like on Roberts Ave of Glenside and King of Prussia.

The second being the amount of lights received. Some buildings could look so unattractive during winter but when Spring comes, they look more vibrant. (It is that or I actually got S A D during winter time that actually cloud my judgement).

[asiandudeyo]

OK if you are talking about dumpy being dangerous - that's another topic LOL.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by LHM

Any data to back up this claim?

It is common sense. I grew up living first in Aston, then Middletown, then Newtown Square. I know many people from that area as well as Malvern, Glen Mills, Thornbury, etc. Many people have a chip on their shoulder and would most definately consider that area dumpy, whether it really is or isnt. Its upscale suburban mentality, which is becoming overwhelming in much of Chester, Bucks, and Delaware counties. Not as much in Montgomery outside of Lower Merion and surrounding.

Originally Posted by asiandudeyo

From a Miami transplant (Aventura - North Miami Beach ) area, I consider the area is dumpy. IN fact, to be honest, I feel that most Philadelphia areas have dumpy look in it. Some areas that don't look dumpy is Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and some part of Northern Liberty.

I think it is due to two things.
The first being the age of the buildings, which are clearly not well-maintained. And I don't blame them; it costs alot of money to clean buildings when they are being hit with 4 season weathers ranging from extra cold to super hot.
I also found the same in the burbs. There are parts of burbs that look so dumpy. Some part of Lansdale is so unbearable. But there is also some parts of burbs, in which the house owners really take care of their houses like on Roberts Ave of Glenside and King of Prussia.

The second being the amount of lights received. Some buildings could look so unattractive during winter but when Spring comes, they look more vibrant. (It is that or I actually got S A D during winter time that actually cloud my judgement).

I agree a lot of areas of Philadelphia dont look that great, but I would not consider categorize it as "most"

And certainly not in the suburbs. I have been to pretty much every town and borough in the 4 counties surrounding philly and New Castle County and MOST of the suburbs I think are very beautiful and well kept whether they are mansions of small cape cods. There are only a select few that are bad or eh. I would think you coming from Miami would find the northern suburbs to be much more established classical, and classier. There area a lot of areas in Miami and surroundingthat are very tacky and run down.

[cattusbabe]

From a suburbanites point of view, would this be a rough area?

Short answer: Yes.

[LHM]

Originally Posted by cpomp

It is common sense. I grew up living first in Aston, then Middletown, then Newtown Square. I know many people from that area as well as Malvern, Glen Mills, Thornbury, etc. Many people have a chip on their shoulder and would most definately consider that area dumpy, whether it really is or isnt. Its upscale suburban mentality, which is becoming overwhelming in much of Chester, Bucks, and Delaware counties. Not as much in Montgomery outside of Lower Merion and surrounding.

You said "Chester, Bucks, then Delaware counties feature the most sheltered suburbanites". But you failed to back that up with any data, just saying that you know some people in a few areas doesn't really count.

But how about this new claim... any data to back this one up?

Originally Posted by cpomp

Its upscale suburban mentality, which is becoming overwhelming in much of Chester, Bucks, and Delaware counties. Not as much in Montgomery outside of Lower Merion and surrounding.