moving to philly; looking for safe urban neighborhood

[frankgn87]

how Im coming up cheaper is that my wife and I saved almost $750 a month between city wage and elevated car insurance for 3 cars as compared to what we now pay in Jersey. That MORE then paid for the high prop taxes in NJ. The whole city is going in the toilet,. Take it from a 47 year resident. ya see, I am old enough to see how nice it ONCE was. Are you even old enough to remember what a grand city it once was? If not you have no reason to even comment cause you have nothing to compare it too. and don't have rose colored glasses on now and can see what happening to the city. Its sad.

Originally Posted by niceguy19125

Philly in general is going to the toilet, or certain parts of it? Or just because you left? Conventional thinking has Philadelphia on the upswing the past few years. At least that's what a vast majority of the outside world thinks when they visit for the first time in awhile.

Also, if you continue to work in Philadelphia, while living in the suburbs, your high car insurance rates don't magically go away. The city wage tax still applies if you continue to work in Philadelphia as well. New Jersey's property taxes are also much higher than Philadelphia's.

So where are you coming up with cheaper?

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

how Im coming up cheaper is that my wife and I saved almost $750 a month between city wage and elevated car insurance for 3 cars as compared to what we now pay in Jersey. That MORE then paid for the high prop taxes in NJ. The whole city is going in the toilet,. Take it from a 47 year resident. ya see, I am old enough to see how nice it ONCE was. Are you even old enough to remember what a grand city it once was? If not you have no reason to even comment cause you have nothing to compare it too. and don't have rose colored glasses on now and can see what happening to the city. Its sad.

So obviously you're renters versus homeowners..??

[frankgn87]

no. what makes you say that? we own a home in jersey.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

The whole city is going in the toilet,. Take it from a 47 year resident. ya see, I am old enough to see how nice it ONCE was. Are you even old enough to remember what a grand city it once was? If not you have no reason to even comment cause you have nothing to compare it too. and don't have rose colored glasses on now and can see what happening to the city. Its sad.

Overall I would agree with you that Philadephia has seen better days but cities as old as Philly are in a constant state of flux. There seems to be a fair amount of inversion taking place. 50-60 years ago Center City,University City,Manayunk,Spring Garden,Fairmount even Soceity Hill were all considered slums. Today they have made remarkable turnarounds, Center City/University City has seen upwards of $15 B dollars worth of investment in the past few years.Fishtown/Northen Liberties are on the upswing, Packer park around the stadiums has seen thousands of brand new housing units. Conversely other areas of the city start serious decline as the poor get shuffled around which causes civic earthquakes and middle class flight to the suburbs.


This city from talking to older well informed people has been turned upside down in the past few decades. The outreaching neighborhoods like Olney,Ogontz,West Oak Lane,Overbrook which used to be the heart + soul of the city are getting older+poorer.The former troubled areas like Center City/University are being gentrified but not really amicable to the middle class which is a huge problem in itself.

Following along your lines of the city going downhill. The middle class erosion in Philadlephia is causing major problems to the point where the city cant even balance its books. The thousands of well heeled newcomers to Center City are being offset by the tens of thousands of middle class residents who are running from decline in other parts of the city.