Why is Philly so often overlooked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Philadelphia suburbs have great housing stock at a lower cost than the DC area, fantastic public schools, and the regional rail system. There's a tech presence in the 202 corridor (King of Prussia, Chesterbrook, etc), pharmaceutical companies, and some finance (Vanguard), but not as much as you'd find in NYC/DC.

Love Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy neighborhoods in city limits and of course Center City/Rittenhouse Square/Society Hill. DC is great, but there’s a vibe about Philly that I prefer over DC. It could be due to the skyline and the restaurant scene. There are some great suburbs too that have those gorgeous older stone homes & great schools, all at a lower cost of living. Within the city, Central used to be a wonderful high school that was a realistic admissions option for many and Masterman was even better (but a tough admission). No clue how easy they are to get into these days or if kids depend on a lottery system. Philly has great private school options, if parents can afford it.

For people referring to Philly as “Killadelphia,” things might have changed but a quick google search showed DC placed at a higher murder rate as recent as ‘19. Philly could have surpassed DC, but my guess (and larger point) is that the two cities are similar in that category & DC has no room to make fun of any other city’s crime stats. How arrogant and clueless! 🙄

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/pictures/murder-map-deadliest-u-s-cities/

[Anonymous]

I lived there for awhile, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. I’d notice if I went too far west on a walk, I’d see daycares with crowbars over the windows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Philadelphia suburbs have great housing stock at a lower cost than the DC area, fantastic public schools, and the regional rail system. There's a tech presence in the 202 corridor (King of Prussia, Chesterbrook, etc), pharmaceutical companies, and some finance (Vanguard), but not as much as you'd find in NYC/DC.

Love Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy neighborhoods in city limits and of course Center City/Rittenhouse Square/Society Hill. DC is great, but there’s a vibe about Philly that I prefer over DC. It could be due to the skyline and the restaurant scene. There are some great suburbs too that have those gorgeous older stone homes & great schools, all at a lower cost of living. Within the city, Central used to be a wonderful high school that was a realistic admissions option for many and Masterman was even better (but a tough admission). No clue how easy they are to get into these days or if kids depend on a lottery system. Philly has great private school options, if parents can afford it.

For people referring to Philly as “Killadelphia,” things might have changed but a quick google search showed DC placed at a higher murder rate as recent as ‘19. Philly could have surpassed DC, but my guess (and larger point) is that the two cities are similar in that category & DC has no room to make fun of any other city’s crime stats. How arrogant and clueless! 🙄

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/pictures/murder-map-deadliest-u-s-cities/

Masterman is unfortunately switching to a lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for awhile, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. I’d notice if I went too far west on a walk, I’d see daycares with crowbars over the windows.

*Meant security bars

[Anonymous]

I was there over the holidays to see the Barnes and on the way to NYC. Overall I was pleasantly surprised. Compared to DC, it is much more vibrant and energetic, more young people hanging out. I liked that it’s compact and walkable. I didn’t feel unsafe where I stayed. Sidewalks were poorly maintained though.
I would visit again to see the Philadelphia art museum and see more of the historic sights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for awhile, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. I’d notice if I went too far west on a walk, I’d see daycares with crowbars over the windows.

Is that not the case if you walk far enough in any big city? Again, the arrogance and ignorance…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for awhile, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. I’d notice if I went too far west on a walk, I’d see daycares with crowbars over the windows.

Is that not the case if you walk far enough in any big city? Again, the arrogance and ignorance…

It’s not something we should accept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Violet crime. Filthy-Delphia.

Agree. The streets are a mess- we visit friends there every year or so and the same streets have had the same cracks and potholes for at least seven or eight years now.

It is also extremely insular. People hang out with their families or their friends from high school and have very little interest in incorporating new people into their friend groups. If you didn’t get out of the area when you went to college (and, no, going to Penn State Main Campus doesn’t count. Because half the students there are from Philadelphia.), you will never break away.

So many people who live there never lived anywhere else. About as far as they will go is New York City, but they tend to come running back to Philly after five or ten years or so. I just can’t imagine living that way.

I grew up in Philly. PP is right in that it’s very insular. Anyone with huge ambition left the city, because there’s a sort of ceiling there. People don’t like change and don’t want to change. Also, the mafia/gov corruption side of things is much more present there— it’s why streets remain torn up for decades. If you lived in a city like Chicago, you’ll know what I mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for awhile, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. I’d notice if I went too far west on a walk, I’d see daycares with crowbars over the windows.

Is that not the case if you walk far enough in any big city? Again, the arrogance and ignorance…

It’s not something we should accept.

No one said to accept it, but don’t single out Philly about this issue when it’s a reality everywhere. You were busted for making a dumb point about “what’s wrong with Philly” and unsurprisingly you try to gaslight me, pretending like this wasn’t your intent. Yet again displaying arrogance and ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was there over Christmas. I found it beautiful and it had an energy I really connected to. I kept thinking I could live there, easily. My son is considering Drexel, and this thread has me wondering a bit.

Your son will be fine at Drexel. Temple, on the other hand…

I’m in Philadelphia for the first time right now. We came for the weekend to visit Drexel and are staying in an AirBnB in Center City. I’ve really enjoyed our trip. It’s a little gritty but aren’t most cities? Even if my child doesn’t end up here, I’m sure we will be back to visit again.

[Anonymous]

Center city is fine. Temple is located way north of there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Philadelphia suburbs have great housing stock at a lower cost than the DC area, fantastic public schools, and the regional rail system. There's a tech presence in the 202 corridor (King of Prussia, Chesterbrook, etc), pharmaceutical companies, and some finance (Vanguard), but not as much as you'd find in NYC/DC.

I was in Bryn Mawr and Haverford yesterday. They are not what they once were.

I live in Old Town Alexandria and feel the same way about it. The nuisance crimes are out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s a hellhole full of Eagles fans.

Jealous, loser commander fans checking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was there over Christmas. I found it beautiful and it had an energy I really connected to. I kept thinking I could live there, easily. My son is considering Drexel, and this thread has me wondering a bit.

Your son will be fine at Drexel. Temple, on the other hand…

I’m in Philadelphia for the first time right now. We came for the weekend to visit Drexel and are staying in an AirBnB in Center City. I’ve really enjoyed our trip. It’s a little gritty but aren’t most cities? Even if my child doesn’t end up here, I’m sure we will be back to visit again.

We’re going up to visit Drexel next weekend. We are staying with friends who live there and have sent their kids to college in Philly. They are excited to go to dinner with us in Center City and show DC around West Philly. They are good friends who would be honest and warn us off if they thought that it would be a bad experience for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like when you think of East Coast Cities, it's Boston - NY - DC.

Philly is lots of fun but somehow seems to fall beneath the radar, despite being a pretty large and vibrant place. How come?

Ask Jason Kelce.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-fHDgvwFYp8