Future family-oriented neighborhoods in the city? (Oxford, Girard: 2013, crime, houses)

[PhilliesPhan2013]

Last week, I decided to take a walk from Fishtown to Center City. My leg was injured to the point where I couldn't run, so I decided to take a walk instead. When I walk through Fishtown, I'll usually take either Frankford or Girard Avenue, depending on where I'm trying to go; however, I decided to walk along Moyer and Thompson Streets that day.

Seeing all of the young families in the neighborhood was a beautiful sight! All around me were fellow young professionals with either baby strollers or babies in their arms. As I passed Penn Treaty, I began to imagine what the future will be like when I have kids and they're ready to start attending school since I plan to buy a house and raise them in the city. My girlfriend also loves the city and doesn't want to leave (assuming we'll last that long), so something like that isn't out of the realm of possibility.

This walk also compelled me to pose this question: which neighborhoods do you think will make the transition from neighborhoods that attract young professionals to more family-oriented neighborhoods?

I think that, if Spruce Hill, Queen Village, most CC neighborhoods, Manayunk, and Northern Liberties haven't already made the transition, they eventually will. I also feel like Fishtown, Francisville, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, East Passyunk Square, South Kensington, and Brewerytown will also make this transition, though it'll take a little longer. The wild cards are Germantown, East Mount Airy, Point Breeze, East Kensington, Walnut Hill, Cedar Park, and Cobbs Creek. The latter three will make the transition if Penn ends up backing another school (say, Lea?), as Penn has extended the boundaries of its employee homeownership assistance program as far west as 56th Street.

What do you all think?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

Last week, I decided to take a walk from Fishtown to Center City. My leg was injured to the point where I couldn't run, so I decided to take a walk instead. When I walk through Fishtown, I'll usually take either Frankford or Girard Avenue, depending on where I'm trying to go; however, I decided to walk along Moyer and Thompson Streets that day.

Seeing all of the young families in the neighborhood was a beautiful sight! All around me were fellow young professionals with either baby strollers or babies in their arms. As I passed Penn Treaty, I began to imagine what the future will be like when I have kids and they're ready to start attending school since I plan to buy a house and raise them in the city. My girlfriend also loves the city and doesn't want to leave (assuming we'll last that long), so something like that isn't out of the realm of possibility.

This walk also compelled me to pose this question: which neighborhoods do you think will make the transition from neighborhoods that attract young professionals to more family-oriented neighborhoods?

I think that, if Spruce Hill, Queen Village, most CC neighborhoods, Manayunk, and Northern Liberties haven't already made the transition, they eventually will. I also feel like Fishtown, Francisville, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, East Passyunk Square, South Kensington, and Brewerytown will also make this transition, though it'll take a little longer. The wild cards are Germantown, East Mount Airy, Point Breeze, East Kensington, Walnut Hill, Cedar Park, and Cobbs Creek. The latter three will make the transition if Penn ends up backing another school (say, Lea?), as Penn has extended the boundaries of its employee homeownership assistance program as far west as 56th Street.

What do you all think?

Fairmount/Spring Garden/parts of Francisville have already made the transition and are in full swing of it. Still lots of young people of all kinds. Still some old heads like me but less and less.

My mind is blown on daily basis with the number of babies/toddlers and children in general. I saw two pregnant women this morning.

Five years ago there were not this number of kids at all.

[MB1562]

There are a ton of families with little kids in Newbold where I live.

[kyb01]

Factor in playgrounds, etc while you are evaluating things.

In Spring Garden there's the Roberto Clemente playground with the adjacent basketball court and atheletic field. In Fairmount, there's the Von Colln playground which was recently re-done. There's also a beautiful new dog park in SG.

[FKD19124]

I wish parts of the Northeast would start to transition.

Frankford, Tacony, Summerdale, Lawncrest, etc.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by FKD19124

I wish parts of the Northeast would start to transition.

Frankford, Tacony, Summerdale, Lawncrest, etc.

I was in Oxford Circle and Rawnhurst yesterday. Nothing looks that visually wrong...houses look okay and so on. But there was little to no energy on Caster Ave for instance. There are some decent mom and pop places which is part of why I go to the NE in the first place. But compared to where I go on a day to day basis in CC, in W. Philly or S. Philly it's boring in those neighborhoods.

There has to a reason for "outside" people to actually go there.

[FKD19124]

well back when I lived in that area it was far from "boring". Alot of crime and drugs in those neighborhoods.

Originally Posted by kyb01

I was in Oxford Circle and Rawnhurst yesterday. Nothing looks that visually wrong...houses look okay and so on. But there was little to no energy on Caster Ave for instance. There are some decent mom and pop places which is part of why I go to the NE in the first place. But compared to where I go on a day to day basis in CC, in W. Philly or S. Philly it's boring in those neighborhoods.

There has to a reason for "outside" people to actually go there.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by FKD19124

well back when I lived in that area it was far from "boring". Alot of crime and drugs in those neighborhoods.

Yesterday I saw some young Orthodox Jewish couples, one couple had twin boys(toddlers) north of Glendale Ave. Don't think they would tolerate the level of crime you suggest.

Anyhow the majority of millennials, even the ones with children, don't think these neighborhoods are " cool". It's part of why too many of them skip over these neighborhood when they shouldn't.

A fantastic Brazilian restaurant, that I really like, is on Caster. How many Mills hanging out in Fishtown have a clue about it? Few probably.

[Pennsport]

Hey, don't forget about QV's southern neighbor, Pennsport. This area is starting to boom with families, as you get way more house for your money, the taxes are much lower and the parking is substantially easier as compared to QV. On a nice Saturday, you might see several dozen babies at Dickinson Sq. Park over the course of the day. Now because QV includes the Meredith catchment, I think residents there are in it for the long term. I'm not sure I see the young families in Pennsport staying in the neighborhood when their kids reach school age. Although to be honest, I have no idea of the quality of the schools in my neighborhood - they might be perfectly fine for all I know.

[FindingZen]

East Mount Airy has long been family-friendly; it just happens to be primarily Black families.