Is anyone thinking of leaving/moving out of the city? Why? (Philadelphia: renters, crime)

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by banjozac

What??? There is absolutely nothing urban about King of Prussia. You are absolutely not living in the city, so your experience is in fact not indicative of city life. You wouldn’t consider Westchester part of NYC, or Columbia MD part of Baltimore.

You can say you want to move away from the Philadelphia -area-, and that is fine, but you are misrepresenting both your experience and the city when you consider the suburbs “part of the city.”

You're right. King of Prussia is being so built up, that my parents are calling it city-lite. They don't like it at all and are starting to compare it to a city.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

You're right. King of Prussia is being so built up, that my parents are calling it city-lite. They don't like it at all and are starting to compare it to a city.

Most "edge cities" - King of Prussia is the second-biggest of these on the East Coast, after Tysons (Corner) outside Washington - are being reshaped with what I call "urbanity retrofits."

I once saw a map that placed the buildings in King of Prussia over those of Center City Philadelphia. The two are roughly comparable as employment centers (Center City holding about 10,000-20,000 more jobs). KofP looked like an archipelago spread across about three times the physical area of Center City.

That's a suburban development pattern. But it hasn't escaped the suburban planners' notice that even people who live in the 'burbs now like to be able to walk to places.

Thus you get what I call "Instant Urbanist" developments like the Village at Valley Forge, which consists of townhouses and a rapidly-growing collection of apartment buildings ringing a commercial center, with some offices and a Children's Hospital of Philadelphia satellite facility interspersed.

These come as a shock to the older suburbanites who live in the tract houses and garden apartments.

[jazzy jeff]

I will soon be moving out of the city (Washington West). I will miss it for sure, however my wife who is much younger then myself has decided she wanted to purchase real estate. We will be moving to a newly constructed town home on the river in Bensalem (Waterside). I currently work out of NYC 10 days a month so living in Bensalem will cut down somewhat on my commute. We did consider moving to and renting in Brooklyn, but I think the choice she made is for the best.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

That part of town is really nice, but the price reflects.

At the end of the day, I just want to be safe.

Also, why can't we consider the suburbs part of the city? I know suburbs can be part of the greater city areas.

Technically, no, none of the 'burbs counties are part of the city and, probably never will be. Philadelphia is its own county btw.
Even though, yes, MontCo, DelCo, Bucks and Chester are part of the Phila. metro area.

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Most "edge cities" - King of Prussia is the second-biggest of these on the East Coast, after Tysons (Corner) outside Washington - are being reshaped with what I call "urbanity retrofits."

I once saw a map that placed the buildings in King of Prussia over those of Center City Philadelphia. The two are roughly comparable as employment centers (Center City holding about 10,000-20,000 more jobs). KofP looked like an archipelago spread across about three times the physical area of Center City.

That's a suburban development pattern. But it hasn't escaped the suburban planners' notice that even people who live in the 'burbs now like to be able to walk to places.

Thus you get what I call "Instant Urbanist" developments like the Village at Valley Forge, which consists of townhouses and a rapidly-growing collection of apartment buildings ringing a commercial center, with some offices and a Children's Hospital of Philadelphia satellite facility interspersed.

These come as a shock to the older suburbanites who live in the tract houses and garden apartments.

I like it, even though it drives mom crazy. As someone who never will drive, I would like to live in a more urban suburb. Canada's suburbs have good transit and same with Europe, sometimes I wish the car mentality of a lot of Americans would disappear. Mom fears if we bring more transit, the crime will come. That seems untrue. Is it?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

I like it, even though it drives mom crazy. As someone who never will drive, I would like to live in a more urban suburb. Canada's suburbs have good transit and same with Europe, sometimes I wish the car mentality of a lot of Americans would disappear. Mom fears if we bring more transit, the crime will come. That seems untrue. Is it?

Far less true than the suburbanites who worry about it think.

Consider: You're going to break into a house. You're not going to haul your loot to a train station and wait for the next train back to where you came from.

Maybe someone who wants to go on a spree taking cash from mall rats might do that, but again, there's the wait for the vehicle - quite likely long enough for the cops to catch up with the waiting thief.

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Far less true than the suburbanites who worry about it think.

Consider: You're going to break into a house. You're not going to haul your loot to a train station and wait for the next train back to where you came from.

Maybe someone who wants to go on a spree taking cash from mall rats might do that, but again, there's the wait for the vehicle - quite likely long enough for the cops to catch up with the waiting thief.

That makes more sense.

For what it's worth, knock on wood, I've never experienced crime in the city. I visit each week usually and I've met nice people for the most part. I had my bad experience in West Chester and all I can say is, never get into trouble in West Chester...

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Far less true than the suburbanites who worry about it think.

Consider: You're going to break into a house. You're not going to haul your loot to a train station and wait for the next train back to where you came from.

Maybe someone who wants to go on a spree taking cash from mall rats might do that, but again, there's the wait for the vehicle - quite likely long enough for the cops to catch up with the waiting thief.

Not to mention, the entire mentality of a criminal is being able to get in and out safely/efficiently. People are rarely going to rely on public transportation in a far away place so they can rush to the train station post-crime to wait for the next train. And, many criminals aren't going to pay $5 - $13 to take a train to someplace they are unfamiliar with to cause problems...

This worry is proven to be false, and I think we can testify to its history given that train and bus service goes through so many existing nice/rich towns that have low crime and no issues with public transit.

[phillyLA]

I moved away from Philly about 5 years ago. I initially moved to NC (Raleigh-Durham) Area; while Raleigh is always at the top of "best of" list as far as quality of living, it just wasn't Urban enough for a big city Philly guy like myself. Its a great place to raise a family if you love a slower suburban lifestyle.

Fast Forward to today and I'm living in DC. While I love it here (most of the time); I do miss the blue collar fabric of Philadelphia. I miss not having to constantly feel like I'm being measured by where I went to school, what I do for a living, my GS grade, etc. Luckily I have family back in Philly so I visit often.

Philadelphia has changed drastically in the last 5 years. Center City is vibrant; University City feels like an extension of CC; the neighborhoods are beginning to clean up. I guess even with all the issues that Philly has with poverty and crime; its still an awesome place to live. That's If you value diversity, a little grit, progressiveness, and a Bustling Restaurant scene that is second to none IMO. Philly restaurants are some of the best in the nation.

I can also see why people with children would leave the city and head for the suburbs. Not everyone can get their child into Masterman, Central, Greenfield; or SLA. If you don't have money for private school it can be tough on some families.

[Redddog]

So where do you live in DC?