Streetscape Serenade

[volguus zildrohar]

They wonder why I play...

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Till next time.
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[summersm343]

Dude... VZ... I'm speechless. Another amazing photo thread. Thank you

[JivecitySTL]

What the fuck are you trying to do to me, because you're doing it.

Philadelphia is an urban outlaw.

[STLgasm]

What Jive said! Phucking Phillytastic!

[arkitekte]

Very well done.

[Nineties Flava]

Incredible set on Philly. I can tell you know the city well.

[plinko]

That can photos well.

I feel like this guy is about to break out a bullwhip and start singing 'YMCA'.

[ColDayMan]

I do find these photos appealing. Great stuff.

[destroycreate]

This is one city that I think could really benefit from some major gentrification. I loved the photos, but it's heartbreaking to see how much of the city has fallen into disrepair. Philly has so much potential, I wish the people there weren't so negligent to their city.

[Kingofthehill]

It's like a mix of the hoodness of Baltimore and urbanity of Brooklyn. WTF happened here, though?! Is there a law in Philly stating that GHO constructions have ugly, faux bay windows, and renovations in Point Breeze have bizarre window layouts and stucco jobs? I also love that shot of the raw, gritty Loft District/"Chinatown north" fabric. As always, an exemplar job on your behalf, Mr. Ives.

And, yes, I hope Philly can...I don't even think gentrify is the right word. In so many parts. the urban fabric is so broken and decimated/disjointed, that you are better off starting from scratch. There is classic gentrification going on, too: Francisville, Point Breeze, Powelton Village, East Passyunk/classic "South Philly", Cedar Hill, East Kensington, North Broad, the areas on both sides of Spring Garden (Loft District and West Polar - I think?) are all gentrifying. Additionally, Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Bella Vista/Queen Village, Old City, and the areas of West Philly closest to the universities (Spruce Hill, for one) all gentrified sometime during the last decade.

[volguus zildrohar]

This isn't any kind of mystery or news - Philadelphia has spent the last few decades getting beat up. Industry fled the city (and the country), short-sighted public policy and lackluster elected officials contributed to an accelerated decline and residents with means often fled leaving a city tipped too far off the scales towards people who can't/wont contribute as much. The turnaround really is only just beginning its second decade so...Seattle or Houston...you wont find here right now.

KOTH, that particular row is in Mill Creek where a lot of tumbled down properties are being rehabbed or replaced. The inexorable spread of University City's reach is behind a lot of the rehab there despite the area being beyond what has traditionally been 'the line' for even the most adventurous students.

destroycreate, I wish more people gave a damn too but sad conditions are all the life a lot of people know. That's not a Philadelphia issue - that's America.

One thing I maintain: Philadelphia is an acquired taste. Natto isn't for everybody and neither is my lovely city, at least not now. It is what it is.

Thanks for viewing all!

[giovanni sasso]

honest to god, i think frank rizzo embodies everything that's wrong in philadelphia. he was racist, homophobic, effectively endorsed police brutality, ruled when tens of thousands fled the city, oversaw a ton of demolition, fucked up the bicentennial, and was wildly popular. and he's the one with the larger than life statue outside of the municipal services building. it's kinda perfect.

great show as always, vz. nice to see the conrail coal dumper getting some air time. the next-to-last one is my favorite in this set.

also, what the hell is that sculpture at 38th & powelton all about? i presume that's new.

[diskojoe]

Really a great set. Good mix. One of your best.

[Danny]

I´ve enjoyed watching your pictures, volguus! Thanks for showing us Philadelphia. That picture with that plane crashed against the floor is really amazing! I had never seen something similiar. I suppose it will be a monument, won´t it?

I like those neighbourhoods, in spite of some of them are a little depressed. Very nice and varied tour.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain!

[The Jerk]

1% Cat

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by giovanni sasso

honest to god, i think frank rizzo embodies everything that's wrong in philadelphia. he was racist, homophobic, effectively endorsed police brutality, ruled when tens of thousands fled the city, oversaw a ton of demolition, fucked up the bicentennial, and was wildly popular. and he's the one with the larger than life statue outside of the municipal services building. it's kinda perfect.

Frank Rizzo is the Ronald Reagan of Philadelphia. Maybe Ed Rendell is its Bill Clinton.

[Centropolis]

A few of these photos are in an etheral, twilighty spot that reminds me of the first time I saw Philadelphia. The scratched pores of the city were open with it's old american heftness in summer. Maybe its the benadryl cloud but I feel like I m right there staring into the setting sun.

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by STLgasm

What Jive said! Phucking Phillytastic!

Are St . Louis and Philly long lost cousins? You guys seem to go bananas for pictures of this town. Actually, whenever I see St. Louis posts, it reminds me of a hybrid Chicago-Philadelphia. There are (were?) alot of older neighborhoods in St. Louis that look similar to some of the 19th century neighborhoods here.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Cro Burnham

Are St . Louis and Philly long lost cousins?

My understanding is that Philly/Baltimore and St. Louis had historical ties ...railroads, banking, etc., while NY/Boston were more tied to the Great Lakes cities of Cleveland and Chicago. You can kind of see that echoed in the architecture and even building materials in a way. When I'm in Philly and Baltimore I always feel a vague familarity, even down to things like the weather, but I didn't see this until I actually went to those cities.

[fern]

Top class again