Quote:
Originally Posted by gbayard
The waterfront will never gentrify if they build a slotbarn next to it. No one would buy a $1 million dollar condo over the gallery. The same holds that they won't buy a $1 million dollar condo next to a crappier FoxWoods.
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While I am not a proponent of gambling in Philadelphia (I just don't think the city needs it), I disagree with your statement that the waterfront will never gentrify, whether there is slots or not. As far as I am concerned, Delaware Ave. has already gentrified tremendously since the 80's. Yes, it is still rough around the edges, but the towers are coming, and in the next 25 years, you will not even be able to recognize it.
I can imagine hearing similar statements made from many toward Society Hill (Society Hill will never gentrify) in the 1950's before the urban pioneers began transforming it into what it is today. Such a renaissance takes time, but you are seeing it right in front of your eyes and can't see it. Look at the transformation taking place just blocks away in Northern Liberties. It is and will spread to the waterfront.