Philadelphia 2035 (York: disadvantage, neighborhoods, to buy)

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I might sound negative, but the update is horrendous looking... It looks like Broad and Washington 2.0 with an extra cut-out in the center.

Lets at least use some brick or masonry veneer panels, I am over these metal panel dumps...

I do agree with you but it will get rid of the complete miss use of that corner as the parking lot it was for decades. Right now it has been sectioned off by surrounding fencing. So who knows when any work will start? Interestingly " the Aldi" project, next to the Divine Lorraine, looks like it will be quite nice. There's semi-high rise attached.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I don't know how much power the city has in this matter, but I wish they would step in or set some sort of rule regarding the use of exterior materials.

I would take a parking lot over this crap. Philadelphia is in a position where if this developer walked away due to cost, another would step in quickly. That parking lot might have sat for another year or two until a better project came along, but now we are stuck with an ugly squat building for 50 years...

I don't disagree but I've been in Spring Garden for 25 years....it was parking lot back then(mid-90s) and probably for a lot longer than that. When I get some time there have got to be some very old pictures of what used to be there since I'm now curious to know.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I don't disagree but I've been in Spring Garden for 25 years....it was parking lot back then(mid-90s) and probably for a lot longer than that. When I get some time there have got to be some very old pictures of what used to be there since I'm now curious to know.

It's tough to tell what has been at 500 N Broad before. It seems the city is the only one who has owned it since 1942 when it was sold for $9. One of the original locations of the Central High School was where Ben Franklin High School sits now.

This blurry image is of the corner in 1913, you can see the school in the back: https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoA...?mediaId=19917

I am almost certain that it says Johnson and Co. printers on the sign which was a printing company that was bought by Curtis Publishing. Curtis still exists, but most people probably just know the name from the building at 6th and Walnut, the Curtis Center.

Across the street, on the northeast corner, was the Spring Garden Institute/spring garden college which was a technical school and the Lulu Temple: https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoA...?mediaId=19747
^That block was demolished in the 1970s.

If you look at really old maps of the city, you actually see that Spring Garden East of Broad street didn't actually align with Spring Garden West of Broad Street. They definitely straightened it out at some point but to this day if you drive across it you know you need to slightly bend to the right or left to go straight depending on the direction you are going: Philadelphia 1860

An aerial view from near the turn of the 20th century really gives you insight into how massive the industrial factories were in that area including Baldwin Locomotives (You can also see roman catholic high school on the right before the steeple came down): North Broad Street

[cpomp]

A general discussion point to break up the monotony and depression of Corona...

I spent Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, I had a meeting at Drexel, then a met a friend for dinner.

I walked around extensively for 4 hours throughout U City, Center City and adjacent neighborhoods.

I must say, I felt like I reconnected with Philadelphia, so many changes and improvements and energy, even during this mess. I also noticed a lot of young professional people and couples with kids, more so than I remember 5-10 years ago.
I have visited the city many times since I moved, but its either with a friend, or at night, or work meetings. This was the first time in years that I was on foot (alone) with my phone on airplane mode just walking and enjoying.

In summary, I think I will end up back in the city sooner than later, just depends on work.

[Muinteoir]

Originally Posted by cpomp

A general discussion point to break up the monotony and depression of Corona...

I spent Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, I had a meeting at Drexel, then a met a friend for dinner.

I walked around extensively for 4 hours throughout U City, Center City and adjacent neighborhoods.

I must say, I felt like I reconnected with Philadelphia, so many changes and improvements and energy, even during this mess. I also noticed a lot of young professional people and couples with kids, more so than I remember 5-10 years ago.
I have visited the city many times since I moved, but its either with a friend, or at night, or work meetings. This was the first time in years that I was on foot (alone) with my phone on airplane mode just walking and enjoying.

In summary, I think I will end up back in the city sooner than later, just depends on work.

That's great to hear. I was in Center City Friday night and Saturday morning, and it definitely seemed quieter than normal to me. If anything, it is likely even more vibrant under usual circumstances.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

A general discussion point to break up the monotony and depression of Corona...

I spent Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, I had a meeting at Drexel, then a met a friend for dinner.

I walked around extensively for 4 hours throughout U City, Center City and adjacent neighborhoods.

I must say, I felt like I reconnected with Philadelphia, so many changes and improvements and energy, even during this mess. I also noticed a lot of young professional people and couples with kids, more so than I remember 5-10 years ago.
I have visited the city many times since I moved, but its either with a friend, or at night, or work meetings. This was the first time in years that I was on foot (alone) with my phone on airplane mode just walking and enjoying.

In summary, I think I will end up back in the city sooner than later, just depends on work.

It's not just where you went. I swear there's a baby boom going on in Fairmount.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Cheky

Too bad most of the parents whose kids who can't get into a non-public school are going to bounce once their kids reach school age.

High school, probably; grade school, maybe not anymore.

I keep hearing tales of middle-class or affluent parents with kids enrolled in "bad" grade schools who say (often to me) that their kids are doing well in them.

And my landlord (who I knew as a friend before I moved into one of his apartments), who is a big backer of charter schools and school choice who blames a lot of the stuff that went down in the late Sixties and Seventies for the state of our big-city public schools, told me recently that Philadelphia School Superintendent William Hite - who, you may note, has held that position longer than any of his predecessors, and the new city-controlled school board has made no move to relieve him of the post - is actually taking the grade schools in the right direction.

The numbers are the numbers, but the numbers don't tell the whole story any more.

[Muinteoir]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

High school, probably; grade school, maybe not anymore.

I keep hearing tales of middle-class or affluent parents with kids enrolled in "bad" grade schools who say (often to me) that their kids are doing well in them.

And my landlord (who I knew as a friend before I moved into one of his apartments), who is a big backer of charter schools and school choice who blames a lot of the stuff that went down in the late Sixties and Seventies for the state of our big-city public schools, told me recently that Philadelphia School Superintendent William Hite - who, you may note, has held that position longer than any of his predecessors, and the new city-controlled school board has made no move to relieve him of the post - is actually taking the grade schools in the right direction.

The numbers are the numbers, but the numbers don't tell the whole story any more.

That's great to hear. I am an elementary teacher here in Philadelphia and would definitely take my kid to my school. On any Philadelphia 2035 agenda needs to be a plan to desegregate schools in our area.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

High school, probably; grade school, maybe not anymore.

I keep hearing tales of middle-class or affluent parents with kids enrolled in "bad" grade schools who say (often to me) that their kids are doing well in them.

And my landlord (who I knew as a friend before I moved into one of his apartments), who is a big backer of charter schools and school choice who blames a lot of the stuff that went down in the late Sixties and Seventies for the state of our big-city public schools, told me recently that Philadelphia School Superintendent William Hite - who, you may note, has held that position longer than any of his predecessors, and the new city-controlled school board has made no move to relieve him of the post - is actually taking the grade schools in the right direction.

The numbers are the numbers, but the numbers don't tell the whole story any more.

Fwiw, "problems" with city public school started before the 60s. It's the primary reason why my parents moved to the 'burbs.

[thedirtypirate]

Figured I would share some additional reading.

Philly Mayor Jim Kenney warns coronavirus could mean ‘painful’ cuts to city budget and services

City Councilmember Allan Domb said the COVID-19 crisis could cause the city to lose all of its reserves “and could put us into the negative next year by a couple hundred million dollars, unless we adjust our budget going forward."

Domb said budget adjustments will be needed, and long-term recovery will require the city to expand its economy.

“This isn’t going to be something that we’re going to be able to tax ourselves out of,” he said.


The city’s finances are especially vulnerable in economic downturns due to a reliance on its wage tax, which accounts for more than one-third of general fund revenue. Philadelphia collected $1.7 billion in wage tax revenue in the last fiscal year.

Philadelphia’s economy was on an upswing. Then the coronavirus hit.

Will coronavirus pandemic reverse Philly’s progress?

Congrats to all the people who hate Philadelphia. Seems the city is getting what you wished.