[xzmattzx]

Southwest Center City is a neighborhood located between South Street and Washignton Avenue, west of Broad Street. The neighborhood is also sometimes referred to as "Graduate Hospital" and "South of South". Southwest Center City was incorporated into the City of Philadeplhia in 1854, and was developed in the 1880s, when the SOuth Street Bridge opened up land on the west side of the Schuylkill River for development. The neighborhood was primarily Irish, although escaped slaves settled in the neighborhood as well due to the Black community also living here.

The Polyclinic College for Graduates in Medicine located to the neighborhood in 1889, and later merged with the University of Pennsylvania to form the Graduate Hospital. The Graduate Hospital operated until 2007, when it was repurposed.

Southwest Center City declined in the 1960s when an expressway was proposed to link I-76 with I-95, and properties along and near South Street were condemned to prepare for the highway. The expressway was never built, but the buildings in the neighborhood were vacated as residents moved to other neighborhoods in the city. The neighborhood continued to decline until the Graduate Hospital moved to South Street in the 1970s, which broght professionals into the neighborhood and help gentrify the area without pushing out current residents.



Union Baptist Church, on Fitzwater Street. The African-American congregation was founded in 1832, and the church was built in 1915. Marian Anderson began her opera career here in 1910.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9606/img2064p.jpg

Houses on 20th Street.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7374/img2065ps.jpg

Rowhouses on Christian Street.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5067/img2066p.jpg

St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, on 20th Street at Christian Street. The parish was founded in 1868.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4060/img2067p.jpg

The Philadelphia Electric Company's old Washington Substation, on Washington Avenue at 24th Street.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9941/img2061p.jpg

Warehouses on Washington Avenue.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2503/img5535p.jpg

Warehouses for the old Frankford Chocolate Company on 22nd Street at Washington Avenue. The factory opened in 1880.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3291/img2062p.jpg

Rowhouses on Catharine Street.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9302/img2063p.jpg

Rowhouses on Christian Street.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7541/img2059p.jpg

The William S. Peirce Middle School, on 24th Street at Christian Street.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3998/img2060p.jpg

Rowhouses on St. Albans Place, a pedestrian-only street.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/73/img2058p.jpg

Rowhouses on Grays Ferry Avenue.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3000/img2050pp.jpg

The Naval Square condominium building, on Grays Ferry Avenue. The building was Biddle Hall, built in 1833, and was originally the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8188/img2051p.jpg

The Naval Asylum was built to provide care for sick, disabled, and impoverished sailors, and was also used for the Philadelphia Naval School, a precursor to the U.S. Naval Academy. The site was renamed the Naval Home in 1889, and the Naval Home moved to Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1976.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2588/img2049p.jpg

The Governor's Residence at the old Philadelphia Naval Asylum. The house was built in 1833 for Naval officers. Townhouses are behind the Governor's Residence.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/301/img2052p.jpg

Rowhouses on Bainbridge Street. The small section of Southwest Center City that surrounds the old Naval Asylum and is west of Grays Ferry Avenue has historically been known as the "Devil's Pocket". The name came from a Catholic priest, who said that the Irish boys living in the neighborhood were so tough that they would steal a watch from the devil's pocket.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4254/img2053pz.jpg

Rowhouses on Bambrey Street.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6643/img2057p.jpg

The Trigen-Philadelphia Energy plant, on Christian Street along the Schuylkill River.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8553/img2041p.jpg

Station A-2 of the Trigen-Philadelphia Energy Corporation, on Christian Street.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9440/img2054p.jpg

The old John F. Kennedy Center for Vocational Education, on Schuylkill Avenue.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3307/img2056p.jpg

Houses on Christian Street.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3678/img2042p.jpg

Houses on Christian Street.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8792/img2043p.jpg

Rowhouses on Christian Street.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5495/img2044p.jpg

Rowhouses on Webster Street.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9411/img2045p.jpg

Houses on Catharine Street.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7797/img2046p.jpg

Rowhouses on Webster Street.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1451/img2047p.jpg

Rowhouses on Christian Street.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6076/img2048p.jpg

[Evergrey]

dayum!

[STLgasm]

Straight up steady pimpin'

[Austinlee]

Nice pics; I don't really like the feel of this place. I don't think i would choose this neighborhood.

[hammersklavier]

Perfectly got G-Ho's two-faced nature! Such nice residential buildings--but what to do about the industrial structures along Washington and the Schuylkill?

PA Pride--I think G-Ho's next steps would be to redevelop (renovate preferably) that old JFK School for Vocational Education on Schuylkill Avenue and make Washington more business-friendly--it's the main artery through northern South Philly and has historically been exclusively industrial; the Pennsy once ran their RR line to the Delaware down the middle of it, and that's why it's so wide.

[c@taract_soulj@h]

Adrianne!!!

Great pics dude, almost raw and the weather sums it up nicely too. Reminds me of a)-last year when we trekked to Philly and walked along South St. in the crisp weather and b)-the scene of Rocky walking back to Adriannes place or his (I think) at night...

[William of Waco]

Great shots. I lived on Christian St. for three years and know these buildings quite well.

Nice pics; I don't really like the feel of this place. I don't think i would choose this neighborhood.

Christian St. is one of Philadelphia's most attractive streetscapes. It has preserved its character more than most other busy streets of the same size and contains block after block of uninterupted 19th century rowhouses.
South Philly does have the tendency to come across as a little seedy from time to time, but I can assure you that the area portrayed in the photographs is quite a pleasant place in which to live.

[Swinefeld]

Yup. That's G-Ho. An old and very lived-in neighborhood that's seeing a large influx of newcomers. 10 years ago this was a dangerous area ruled by drug dealers. There still there but with each passing year their numbers are dwindling.

[Thundertubs]

Cool tour!

[ColDayMan]

Well.

[Wheelingman04]

Very nice. Philly is a gem in the rough. I want this revitalization to spread throughout the city. The city isn't living up to the potential it could and I am sick of it being called a big ghetto with a nice Center City. I know it is more than just Center City but there are still big swaths that are unexceptable. I hope there is revitalization going on in those areas today?

[wanderer34]

PA Pride--I think G-Ho's next steps would be to redevelop (renovate preferably) that old JFK School for Vocational Education on Schuylkill Avenue and make Washington more business-friendly--it's the main artery through northern South Philly and has historically been exclusively industrial; the Pennsy once ran their RR line to the Delaware down the middle of it, and that's why it's so wide.

And it's still an industrial stretch from 11th to Grays Ferry, albeit it's more dedicated to light industry/warehouses than the heavy industry it once boasted. Besides, there's businesses on Washington Ave. What do you want it to look like, South St???:shrug:

[xzmattzx]

Nice pics; I don't really like the feel of this place. I don't think i would choose this neighborhood.

Neither would I; there aren't enough trees for me. This place is probably bleak even in the green of Summer.

[dr_gingivitis]

I'm one of those newcomers to the neighborhood, we've been on Christian Street for about 4 years now. The number of trees is definitely too low, but has improved dramatically in the last few years. Keep in mind that these pictures are apparently from last winter, so there are no leaves on the trees. My block has added six new trees and a public garden since we've lived there, which I think is pretty typical of most blocks, and the neighborhood association (www.southofsouth.org) has planted a few hundred in the last few years.


We actually just started a tree-bate program, where we'll pay half the cost of having a tree planted for any resident, and we're planting 29 trees at two public elementary schools this fall and next spring, so trees are in the works. We also sponsor a yearly Streetscape competition to encourage neighbors to plant in front of their homes. Here are last year's winners:

http://www.southofsouth.org/files/Image/FIRST%20PLACE%20-%202008.jpg

http://www.southofsouth.org/files/Image/SECOND%20PLACE%20-%202008.jpg

http://www.southofsouth.org/files/Image/THIRD%20PLACE%20-%202008.jpg

It's not the prettiest philly neighborhood YET, but we're getting there!

[Skintreesnail]

Nice pics; I don't really like the feel of this place. I don't think i would choose this neighborhood.

My wife and I are also newcomers to the neighborhood, having just bought a house there this summer on Saint Albans. We chose the neighborhood because we thought it was more attractive than similar up-and-coming neighborhoods, like Bella Vista, Northern Liberties or the Art Museum/Fairmount neighborhood (which are all very much lacking in greenery).

We also love how tight-knit the neighborhood seems. We’ve lived in Philly for 6 years, split between Rittenhouse and Washington Square West, and I’ve got to say that the people in Graduate Hospital are so friendly and sociable when compared to these other neighborhoods. Now people actually return our hellos and good mornings when walking down the street . There also seems to be a lot of community activism, which we hope to take part in once we get settled.

I don’t think that xzmattzx’s photos really did the neighborhood justice. I think Grey’s Ferry, along navel square, looks beautiful and the named streets (Bainbridge, Fitzwater, Catherine, Christian, etc.) are all tree-lined and very nice, though the numbered streets need some work. Also, there are a few pedestrian- only blocks that that have gardens running down their centers (Saint Albans, between 23rd and 24th; Madison Square, between 22nd and 24th). The community also is developing a park at 22nd, between Montrose and Carpenter, and another at 22nd and Catherine. It would be great if the Union Baptist church would open their little park to the public. There’s also the Marian Anderson park, which needs a little TLC, but is a great asset. The Schuylkill River trail is also going to be expanded into our neighborhood.

The proximity to CC is great too; it takes me 4 minutes to walk to Fitler Square and 10 minutes to Rittenhouse square. It also takes me 15 minutes to get to my desk at work in the morning, which is fantastic.

There’s a lot of development going on in Graduate Hospital, which is very exciting. A lot of it is sustainable design, like some of the stuff going on in Northern Liberties. While there is still a lot to do, I’m amazed at how far the neighborhood came in the last few years and I hope it continues. For now though, I’m thrilled to be living here.

[dr_gingivitis]

So I shared this thread over on Philadelphiaspeaks.com, and some neighbors commented that

"Did the original poster go out of their way to take photos of the ugliest parts of our hood? "Here's the abandoned factory...(skips the park)...here's a boarded up house..."

So here are some highlights:

Trees and Greenary:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/218746572_feb8346982.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/173495389_d68890fce3.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/165160097_ef4aac0ca0.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2518577888_94b62283d6.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2517758847_7aede9866f.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/125982958_638f601e79.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/1484630980_424593f180.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/616930601_b312ff7d57.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/179266421_b8592343f2.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/179266390_ad916e20dc.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/179266336_36cce8377d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/179266290_9018f6a5f0.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/179275216_fd2ddbd523.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/179275096_802441021f.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/130555714_bf20d9ad8a.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/131418526_9c27f76c3d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/133833773_65ac617606.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/165159838_0beec5c92d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/160220328_c65b12b2a1.jpg

Public Art:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2411447860_0ce05738ee.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2410621145_957e17843f.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/896057470_1389cb36c9.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/1271290384_de50453012.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/158949785_4ed703bd46.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/133847524_8271bf8508.jpg

Historic:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/133833523_9058108332.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/126749703_6359bd980e.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/176614718_4737852b52.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3110564946_c6da7ca8d3.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/160286394_bf7bf84fcf.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/130555785_c1bae0a6f4.jpg

Architechtural:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/2932697078_48b39ec575.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3110549626_76aa0b390f.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/1399312052_fa3c8cce41.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2279327975_7842074c08.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/161573106_a6c86f152e.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/345322766_7885452b39.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/130555622_d84a33b956.jpg


Importaint note: I completely forgot to credit the photographer! These aren't my photos, but a friend and neighbor who wanted to post them herself but wasn't yet approved as a memeber, so all credit goes to LBPhilly. Sorry for that horrible gaff, I feel like Joe Biden asking a man in a wheelchair to stand up and be recognized, or President Bush asking a blind man to take off his sun glasses.

[peanut gallery]

^ I don't think it's good form to hijack someone else's photo thread with a bunch of your own. But those are very beautiful. Perhaps you can make your own thread.

Matt - cool shots. Are there plans for the old JFK Vocational Center? It seems to be ripe (and maybe even prepped) for redevelopment.

[Jayfar]

^ I don't think it's good form to hijack someone else's photo thread with a bunch of your own. But those are very beautiful. Perhaps you can make your own thread.

I don't see how that could be considered hijacking, considering that the additional photo sequences are of the same neighborhoods. Isn't that the purpose of a thread, to carry forward a theme from the first post?

Matt - cool shots. Are there plans for the old JFK Vocational Center? It seems to be ripe (and maybe even prepped) for redevelopment.
Last I heard, the plans are on ice. A developer removed windows and started gutting the building for an ambitious condo development with Robert Venturi's firm as architect, then announced it would be apartments instead, then silence.

Built in 1941, the massive, 760,000 sq. ft., six-story building, which had been known as the JFK Vocational Center and was formerly owned by the School District of Philadelphia, will be converted into an amenity-rich community that will retain the building's 1940s era industrial look and feel, while introducing a new concept in urban living to the South of South neighborhood.

"Exhilarating," is how Sam Switzenbaum, CEO of Switzenbaum and Associates, the property's developer, described the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates on the creation of South Bridge. "Robert Venturi
and Denise Scott Brown are two of the most original talents in architecture," says Switzenbaum. "Their unique world view, coupled with their deep understanding of Philadelphia, makes them a perfect choice for designing a building that will be vital to today's residents and relevant for generations to come."

The building promises to serve as a residential anchor to the community, attracting workers and graduate students from nearby colleges, universities and hospitals, as well as Center City workers searching for the next up-and-coming Philadelphia neighborhood.

"South Bridge will make a wonderful addition to Philadelphia," according to Philadelphia Mayor John Street. "By recycling the JFK building, South Bridge will serve as an important residential property in the dynamic, flourishing South of South neighborhood while realizing the potential of a vibrant riverfront corridor."

For Venturi, South Bridge offers the opportunity to meld his iconoclastic style with one of Philadelphia's vibrant, emerging neighborhoods. "This is a rare building in both size and presence that provides the opportunity to create an exciting new living identity on this side of the river, for residents and for the City," says the 80-year-old Venturi, who still works 60 hour weeks and travels freely throughout the world.

South Bridge will offer 32 rooftop duplex town home condominiums, surrounded by private gardens. This provides a challenge Venturi has long hoped to undertake: updating the classic Philadelphia town home in a contemporary new setting.

When complete in summer 2007, South Bridge Condominiums will serve as a residential pillar in the Schuylkill River Corridor, an $800 million revitalization project along 200 acres of Schuylkill River waterfront starting at the Art Museum and running south along both banks of the river. The Corridor will transform a neglected area of the City into a mixed-use community of residential living, upscale retail, two office towers, riverside dining and cafes and new pedestrian bridges that will link Center City with a resurgent West Philadelphia.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Venturi,+Scott+Brown+and+Associates+Chosen+to+Transform+Former+...-a0138447671

[peanut gallery]

I don't see how that could be considered hijacking, considering that the additional photo sequences are of the same neighborhoods. Isn't that the purpose of a thread, to carry forward a theme from the first post?

Last I heard, the plans are on ice. A developer removed windows and started gutting the building for an ambitious condo development with Robert Venturi's firm as architect, then announced it would be apartments instead, then silence.

I think photo threads are different in that they are an individual's presentation of their work. Especially in this case where it was presented as a critique of his photos. But it's Matt's thread, and he might not mind.

It's a shame that project is stalled. It looks like a great space for lofts. Hopefully, when the market for condos improves and the lending purse strings loosen, it can get going again. Thanks for the info.

[lbphilly]

I like the photos dr_gingivitis posted. They provide another perspective on our neighborhood.

I happen to have taken them, but won't post any more. You're welcome to view all 140 in that Flickr set if you're interested.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/sets/72157611423343356/

And there are more of the neighborhood over time here -- although my sense of my "neighborhood" boundaries is pretty fluid and embraces all the places that don't feel alien to me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/collections/72157600001184182/

[lbphilly]

I think photo threads are different in that they are an individual's presentation of their work. Especially in this case where it was presented as a critique of his photos. But it's Matt's thread, and he might not mind.


Actually, I think the posting of those photos was a direct response to his comment that the neighborhood was lacking in trees and would probably be very bleak even in the greenest parts of summer. Dr. G. has spearheaded an ambitious tree-planting effort in our neighborhood -- not all the fruits of this effort will be obvious immediately, but we like seeing those hopeful little trees.

EDIT: And, not to brag or anything, but in the churchyard across the street from my house is one of the very few surviving old American Elms from before the Dutch Elm Disease was imported!

[flar]

Great urban neighbourhood :tup: Trees make a huge difference, and it looks like there is a good effort to green up the area. Some of the houses are just too close to the road to plant trees though, so some streets will continue to have that solid brick and pavement feel.

[dr_gingivitis]

Actually, I think the posting of those photos was a direct response to his comment that the neighborhood was lacking in trees and would probably be very bleak even in the greenest parts of summer. Dr. G. has spearheaded an ambitious tree-planting effort in our neighborhood -- not all the fruits of this effort will be obvious immediately, but we like seeing those hopeful little trees.

EDIT: And, not to brag or anything, but in the churchyard across the street from my house is one of the very few surviving old American Elms from before the Dutch Elm Disease was imported!

I'm unclear on the photo thread etiquette, seems silly to me to have a thread that can't have a life of its own so long as it's still on topic, but I guess it really is a photography thread, not a neighborhood thread, so if the OP wants them out, I'll take them out (with the exception of a few to counter the "lack of trees" comment)

On a larger etiquette gaff, I neglected to note that these are not my photos, and credit the works to neighbor/friend/neighborhood documentarian LBPhilly, sorry for omitting that at the start.

As for the JFK Vocational Center, I heard a rumor that Children's Hospital was or had purchased it for additional office space, but I've seen nothing to confirm this.

[dr_gingivitis]

Great urban neighbourhood :tup: Trees make a huge difference, and it looks like there is a good effort to green up the area. Some of the houses are just too close to the road to plant trees though, so some streets will continue to have that solid brick and pavement feel.

That's true, there we do have some small streets where tree planting is not recommended and violates ADA standards. In some sections of the city people have just planted on this type of street anyway, but you can't get approval to do it anymore, so more creative measures are needed.

On LB's rear block there is no room for street trees, but there is a school across the street, so we got permission to plant on the school property along the street to keep them out of the sidewalk, but still provide some green.

On other blocks I'm going to start pushing for a program to green with container plantings. You can grow a decent sized evergreen in a pot right up against the facade of a house, as evidenced with my house (since powerwashed, repointed, and repainted).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/dr_gingivitis/weepy.jpg

[lbphilly]

Since the original poster also talked about the history of the neighborhood, I thought I'd add a few things.

There was a small settlement in the vicinity of Christian Street and Grays Ferry Avenue as far back as the colonial era. This was the main approach to the city from the south, via (naturally) Grays Ferry across the Schuylkill. The Schuylkill Arsenal (on the banks of the Schuylkill in the vicinity of Grays Ferry and Washington Ave) was built in 1799/1800 to equip military forces. (Lewis & Clark shopped there when outfitting their expedition.) The small settlement helped to supply travelers to Philadelphia and workers at the Arsenal. Just north of that intersection was "The Plantation," one of the country residences of the Pemberton family, which was purchased for use as a naval hospital in the early 19th century.

The area was home to some craftspeople, tradespeople, and teamsters prior to the Civil War -- a review of the searchable portion of the 1860 City Directory available at http://www.philageohistory.org/ provides a sense of the settlement patterns prior to the Civil War. Portions of the neighborhood were developed just after the Civil War. My own block, which contains two handsome 19th century churches, was developed in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Philageohistory.org contains a good set of atlases showing the development patterns.

Finally, if you'd like to see some historical views of the Naval Asylum, including aerial photos, go here:

http://archives.pacscl.org/shows/navalhome/index.html

This is pretty far off the topic of skyscrapers, I realize. The closest thing to a skyscraper in our neighborhood is a mid-rise senior citizen apartment. But we can see some fine skyscrapers from our third floor windows and roof-decks.

[Lolly]

I joined this site today just so I could post a comment on this thread. My sentiments basically echo my new neighbor's here...

love how tight-knit the neighborhood seems.

because it is :yes:

the people in Graduate Hospital are so friendly and sociable when compared to ... other neighborhoods. ...people actually return our hellos and good mornings when walking down the street. There also [is] a lot of community activism
...
I don’t think that xzmattzx’s photos really did the neighborhood justice. I think Grey’s Ferry, along navel square, looks beautiful and the named streets (Bainbridge, Fitzwater, Catherine, Christian, etc.) are all tree-lined and very nice, though the numbered streets need some work. Also, there are a few pedestrian- only blocks that that have gardens running down their centers (Saint Albans, between 23rd and 24th; Madison Square, between 22nd and 24th). The community also is developing a park at 22nd, between Montrose and Carpenter, and another at 22nd and Catherine. It would be great if the Union Baptist church would open their little park to the public. There’s also the Marian Anderson park, which needs a little TLC, but is a great asset.
...
The proximity to CC is great too; it takes me ... 10 minutes to [walk to] Rittenhouse square.
...
There’s a lot of development going on in Graduate Hospital, which is very exciting. ... While there is still a lot to do, I’m amazed at how far the neighborhood came in the last few years and I hope it continues. For now though, I’m thrilled to be living here.



PS I also wonder how many folks looking at the photos on this thread realize a lot of what you see here was the backdrop for the movie The Sixth Sense. I'm also kinda proud of that little factoid. Just another one of my neighborhood's many claims to fame.
:cheers:

[lbphilly]

PS I also wonder how many folks looking at the photos on this thread realize a lot of what you see here was the backdrop for the movie The Sixth Sense. I'm also kinda proud of that little factoid. Just another one of my neighborhood's many claims to fame.
:cheers:

Heh. Funny you should mention that. They filmed a scene right in front of my house, and I have the pictures to prove it:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/251222152_4ca44a310c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/251222152/in/set-72157594297357922/)

[Swinefeld]

I joined this site today just so I could post a comment on this thread. My sentiments basically echo my new neighbor's here...

because it is :yes:

And then you have sentiments from neighbors like this,


Reasons why I can't wait to move out of here [SWCC]...

Seriously...

I pay good money to be featured in an artists' studio tour this weekend.

I hang up balloons outside my studio, given to me by the sponsors of the studio tours. Within five minutes, I've entered my bathroom area to wash out my paint brushes, and someone has to go and pop/destroy my balloons, just because they are there, I guess.

I am sitting, working in the front of my studio space when one of my neighbors deposits a shopping bag full of paper trash RIGHT ON MY DOORSTEP. I wait a few minutes (since I have to wash the paint off my hands) before going to collect it and decide if I have to stick it in my own recyclables for the week or if I can cram it in the street trash since it is NOT MINE. Then said neighbor speaks up from down the block where they are hanging out to say (a half hour, at least, after leaving it there) "Oh, that's mine, I'll pick that up later" when I have to deal with everyone dropping their trash on my corner on a daily basis. And then said neighbor wants to give me a guilt trip and attitude when I say, "No, you are going to take your trash NOW and deal with it properly instead of leaving it to me to pay your trash fines".

And one of my old sales assistants comes in to say how she is likely to get fired/at least fined for a shoplifting at 16&Bainbridge by one of the regulars who used to hit up my shop all the time, from the description.

Someone give me a reason for not wanting to get out of this area as soon as possible. For I am running out of any remotely reasonable excuses. I'm so tired of the trash, the shoplifters, and the habitual liars.

So all is not well in "paradise".

[lbphilly]

And then you have sentiments from neighbors like this,



So all is not well in "paradise".

No one said it was paradise, Swiney, and we all know some folks who've had problems (not to mention some folks who *are* problems). All that folks like Dr_G, Lolly and I are saying is that there's a fair bit of charm to balance out the grit. Not everyone has an experience like sockii's.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Nice tour Matt, I've heard of the area before, but that was years ago. Looks like an up & comer. I agree more trees would help, but Dr. g's pics really liven the place quite a bit. Thanks for the tour.

[William of Waco]

Originally Posted by sockii
Reasons why I can't wait to move out of here [SWCC]...

I hang up balloons outside my studio, given to me by the sponsors of the studio tours. Within five minutes, I've entered my bathroom area to wash out my paint brushes, and someone has to go and pop/destroy my balloons, just because they are there, I guess.

I am sitting, working in the front of my studio space when one of my neighbors deposits a shopping bag full of paper trash RIGHT ON MY DOORSTEP. I wait a few minutes (since I have to wash the paint off my hands) before going to collect it and decide if I have to stick it in my own recyclables for the week or if I can cram it in the street trash since it is NOT MINE. Then said neighbor speaks up from down the block where they are hanging out to say (a half hour, at least, after leaving it there) "Oh, that's mine, I'll pick that up later" when I have to deal with everyone dropping their trash on my corner on a daily basis. And then said neighbor wants to give me a guilt trip and attitude when I say, "No, you are going to take your trash NOW and deal with it properly instead of leaving it to me to pay your trash fines".

And one of my old sales assistants comes in to say how she is likely to get fired/at least fined for a shoplifting at 16&Bainbridge by one of the regulars who used to hit up my shop all the time, from the description.

A few popped balloons, one trash bag, and one shoplifter? That isn't exactly a description of hell on earth. But you are right, those things would annoy me as well.
But this is a sad fact of city life, and unless you are wealthy enough to live in a safer, hassle-free neighborhood like Rittenhouse Square then you had better be prepared to take the smooth with the rough.
The neighborhoods around G-Ho have improved greatly since I lived there. I returned recently for a visit with some old friends and was amazed at how much it has changed for the better, particularly along Christian steet.

[Jayfar]

But this is a sad fact of city life, and unless you are wealthy enough to live in a safer, hassle-free neighborhood like Rittenhouse Square then you had better be prepared to take the smooth with the rough.

Actually, when Jamie Fox was staying at the AKA, 18th & Walnut, several months ago while filming Law Abiding Citizen, he had to fight off a deranged homeless man who had made it all the way to the door of his suite there.

[dr_gingivitis]

A few popped balloons, one trash bag, and one shoplifter? That isn't exactly a description of hell on earth. But you are right, those things would annoy me as well.
But this is a sad fact of city life, and unless you are wealthy enough to live in a safer, hassle-free neighborhood like Rittenhouse Square then you had better be prepared to take the smooth with the rough.
The neighborhoods around G-Ho have improved greatly since I lived there. I returned recently for a visit with some old friends and was amazed at how much it has changed for the better, particularly along Christian steet.

Christian Street has been amazing, I was driving it today and remembered that when we moved here 4 years ago it felt like the edge of the world, with the promiss of a ton of construction going on. The construction has slowed but is still moving along, but the blocks from around 23rd down to 18th look fantastic now compaired to a few years ago, and the number of trees and plantings has skyrocketed.

Granted, my block still has about 9 empty properties on it (although three of them are a community garden, and another one is gardened by the neighbor), not because they wouldn't sell, but because the owners won't sell. Stupid low land tax!

[lbphilly]

The next block down from Dr. G. looked like this when I moved into the neighborhood, back in 1996:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/154913803_92fe362f11_o.jpg

And now it looks like this. Still lacking in trees, but there *is* a great huge sycamore just out of the frame to the left. EDIT: I also believe that last snaggle tooth on the block is about to be rehabbed. The gaps have all been filled since I took this.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/405012079_9b920f8ea1_b.jpg

There's also a school across the street, and guess what Dr_G has arranged for on the sidewalk around the school!

[philadelphiathrives]

I lived in one of the buildings on 20th Street in the second picture. The building on the corner with the gates in front has been renovated with a couple of new retail spaces.

I agree this thread doesn't do the neighborhood justice. And those "city life" things like popped balloons and shoplifting aren't any more likely there than the suburbs. People act like the suburbs are some utopia and "city life" is so challenging, but anyone who lives in the suburbs knows that vandalism and shoplifting happen there plenty of times.

[lbphilly]

I lived in one of the buildings on 20th Street in the second picture. The building on the corner with the gates in front has been renovated with a couple of new retail spaces.

I agree this thread doesn't do the neighborhood justice. And those "city life" things like popped balloons and shoplifting aren't any more likely there than the suburbs. People act like the suburbs are some utopia and "city life" is so challenging, but anyone who lives in the suburbs knows that vandalism and shoplifting happen there plenty of times.

The block of 20th Street you refer to was a ravaged pest-hole when I moved to the neighborhood. Here are a few shots from the other end of the block, ca. 2001:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2961651858_91617ce599_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/2961651858/in/set-72057594124711420/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/2960811219_cf60753d08_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/2960811219/in/set-72057594124711420)

Here's what that stretch of the block looks like now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2960460856_069bd0806e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/2960460856/in/set-72157607735182067)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2959620233_a09f140b6b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/2959620233/sizes/o/in/set-72157607735182067/)

Here's the kind of trash we pulled out of the alleys during cleanups:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2960816443_c35ec2be00_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/2960816443/in/set-72057594124711420)

I was involved in this end of the block because I was helping to create this garden:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/139972028_83027c083c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/139972028/in/set-72057594124711420)

...out of this lot:

http://www.southphillyblocks.org/christianstreet/michelle_cutner/2000_05.jpg

Finally, and this speaks to the comments about trees and greenery in our neighborhood, here are a few photos I took on my way back from the supermarket on my bike this afternoon. I started at the block on which the OP seems to have stopped -- 24th and Christian. Begin here and move forward in my photostream.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/4048952032/

[William of Waco]

:previous:
Those are beautiful photographs you have taken lbphilly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/4048952032/
The work you have done for your area is admirable. I remember what it used to be like.
Keep up the good work! (Keep us posted as well)16

[lbphilly]

:previous:
Those are beautiful photographs you have taken lbphilly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/4048952032/
The work you have done for your area is admirable. I remember what it used to be like.
Keep up the good work! (Keep us posted as well)16

Thanks. I've "retired" from active community work -- I was all about turning lots into gardens and now they've all turned into houses. But I still enjoy taking pictures and producing the occasional "then and now" commentary.