People Who HAve Moved Back to the Phila Area After Years Away (Philadelphia: homes, neighborhood)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

It's all about demand. The Philly economy could no longer sustain the mansions, hence the LLs took over and sub-divided. If Philly were in Southern California, the money from the tech boom would have resulted in a different outcome.

Developers go where the money is. In RE, if you build it, they will come - does not work.

Regarding 5,000 sq ft homes, I think this is obscene. I would rather they build affordable homes.

You're not familiar with the area I'm talking about in West Philadelphia more than likely. There are huge, mansion-sized, houses in Overbrook Farms,
which is virtually next to this one,neglected, street I was referring to. I've gone on walking tours in Overbrook Farms. Multiple bedrooms in some. One had 6 bedrooms. All of these places, as far as one can tell, have never suffered any downside. Completely indicative of the local wealth which is still very evident today further out in 'burbs.

There are also big, never ruined, houses in parts of East Falls and, of course, Chestnut Hill. Overbrook(there are actually three city neighborhoods containing the name "Overbrook")and the others are all within the city's limits.

Well, actually sometimes "if you build it, they will come" does work because that is exactly what developer Carl Dranoff ( with the old Historic Landmarks for Living company) did about 30 years ago when they started rehabbing old factories in Old City into living spaces. They created "demand".

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I've been by some once-fabulous row houses, years ago, that were near the Schuylkill, on the west side of the river. They were run down but had good bones. I'd love to see some of the elaborate rows fixed up.

You may mean Mantua which absolutely has houses like that. Some are on Poplar St, near 40th St, Parkside Ave and Memorial Hall.

I had a friend who lived in one of them. Front porch, large parlor, living room, full dining room and a full sit in kitchen all on the first floor. And, yep, it was a row house.

[2e1m5a]

I lived in New York for 4 years while in school (off campus apartments), and moved back to Philly soon after I graduated. Although I had always planned to return after school, it was bittersweet leaving NYC since I knew I would not move back anytime soon-but I wanted to be back in Philly and to own property.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Leps12

To be fair, NEPA is pretty much worlds apart from Philly Metro. Same goes for Central PA when you get out to Lancaster, Harrisburg, etc.

So many worlds away it's almost a different country. I grew up in Wilkes-Barre.

One year when we were traveling over the river and through the woods to visit family for Thanksgiving, my husband responded to a DJ's question. "Where are going this weekend?" The guy was laughing so much he lost about 3 minutes of air time.

Philly is one of my favorite cities--and I don't like many. When I was a kid, we went to New York. If you wanted to see a show, visit a museum, shop, eat something interesting, it was always NY.

When the neighbor's daughter got a really good job after graduating from college, she had to move to Philly. Her mom and dad were terrified. Better to be sent to Siberia it seemed.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

You may mean Mantua which absolutely has houses like that. Some are on Poplar St, near 40th St, Parkside Ave and Memorial Hall.

I had a friend who lived in one of them. Front porch, large parlor, living room, full dining room and a full sit in kitchen all on the first floor. And, yep, it was a row house.

Not sure. I was with the boyfriend of that time. He was trying to find his way from Memorial Hall to someplace or another & I kept telling him to stay on main roads. We might have been on Parkside. The rows had once been gorgeous. They all had front porches coated with gingerbread.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Not sure. I was with the boyfriend of that time. He was trying to find his way from Memorial Hall to someplace or another & I kept telling him to stay on main roads. We might have been on Parkside. The rows had once been gorgeous. They all had front porches coated with gingerbread.

Parkside Ave, from 52nd to 40th, is fine looking now. Habitat for Humanity redid a set of row houses near 52nd. There are the huge beer baron mansions that were fixed up about 15 years ago. There's the memorial park and mural for the Phila. Stars Negro League baseball team. Wildly a section of Girard Ave, which runs parallel to Parkside, does not look so great. But definitely has houses with good bones. The rt 15 trolley does help Girard a little. It starts to look better once you get closer to the Zoo.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Parkside Ave, from 52nd to 40th, is fine looking now. Habitat for Humanity redid a set of row houses near 52nd. There are the huge beer baron mansions that were fixed up about 15 years ago. There's the memorial park and mural for the Phila. Stars Negro League baseball team. Wildly a section of Girard Ave, which runs parallel to Parkside, does not look so great. But definitely has houses with good bones. The rt 15 trolley does help Girard a little. It starts to look better once you get closer to the Zoo.

Thanks. Never made it back to see if they were better or worse, mainly because I wasn't sure of where it was. I just remember wishing that l had the money to fix them up for whoever lived there.

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by Gerania

So many worlds away it's almost a different country. I grew up in Wilkes-Barre.

One year when we were traveling over the river and through the woods to visit family for Thanksgiving, my husband responded to a DJ's question. "Where are going this weekend?" The guy was laughing so much he lost about 3 minutes of air time.

Philly is one of my favorite cities--and I don't like many. When I was a kid, we went to New York. If you wanted to see a show, visit a museum, shop, eat something interesting, it was always NY.

When the neighbor's daughter got a really good job after graduating from college, she had to move to Philly. Her mom and dad were terrified. Better to be sent to Siberia it seemed.

Where'd he tell the DJ he was going? Philly? Also what town was the show being broadcast from? Lastly., how did your friend's daughter make out? Was her job move recently or years ago? Just curious.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Lenses & Lights.

Where'd he tell the DJ he was going? Philly? Also what town was the show being broadcast from? Lastly., how did your friend's daughter make out? Was her job move recently or years ago? Just curious.

I don't remember what the station was, but we were just outside of Philly (on 76) and traveling to Wilkes-Barre. That was in the '90s, I think. Sorry I wasn't clear.

The neighbor's daughter moved there in the '60s. Federal job. She was there for at least a few years, and didn't move back to NEPA for a long time.

[MurrayMoe10]

Originally Posted by Gerania

I don't remember what the station was, but we were just outside of Philly (on 76) and traveling to Wilkes-Barre. That was in the '90s, I think. Sorry I wasn't clear.

The neighbor's daughter moved there in the '60s. Federal job. She was there for at least a few years, and didn't move back to NEPA for a long time.

I get the same thing. When I tell people I'm originally from NEPA they say "I'm sorry" or they mention The Office. They also feel bad for me because NEPA has more Sheetz than Wawas.