Empty lot on Calumet

**Hypebeast** · 09-18-2012, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

There's a tire swing, a rope ladder, and a sliding board there, arrayed in a row. Real threatening stuff, the kind of stuff that puts chills down your spine.

Let's be real, there is a beautiful playground at the end of the street. No need for kids to use the lot on calumet as a playground, and those items youve mentioned make that area look like a dumping ground at quick glance. Certainly not pleasing to the eye.

**billy ross** · 09-18-2012, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mike D

Regardless of whether things arranged nicely, the fact is we are now talking about gunshots!

Sounds, you mean. A sound, actually. I was setting off fireworks earlier and people were on this board terrified about 'gunshots' and wishing they had a fallout shelter, until I told them the terrifying noises were bottle rockets and the police stopped by my party.

Originally Posted by edit215

And the idyllic playground scene painted by Billy is currently a smashed up pile of plastic parts that once was a slide.

Who smashed it up?

Like I said, there's a curfew issue. There's also an issue of what that land in question will become. Those are the two things that need to be addressed. There's no need for people to be terrified and engage their overactive imaginations. This is the kind of mob thinking that led to witch burnings and lynchings. "Quick - something might have been something. We need to take action immediately for vengeance and to protect ourselves from these marauders!"

Originally Posted by Hypebeast

Let's be real, there is a beautiful playground at the end of the street. No need for kids to use the lot on calumet as a playground, and those items youve mentioned make that area look like a dumping ground at quick glance. Certainly not pleasing to the eye.

I agree that it's an inappropriate location for a playground. What should it be, then? Keep in mind that it belongs to PHA, also.

Originally Posted by alex

It isn't unreasonable for Dalvah to feel uncomfortable with being yelled at when she's on her way home late at night and the neighbors are asleep. She isn't being a "panic button pounder."

I said panic button pounders plural. Please note how a suspicious noise has already morphed into "we are now talking about gunshots!". They're now out in force. A young woman is concerned because when she comes home at night the 'corner boys' catcall her. I understand her concern - it used to happen to my wife at Stanton and Frederick and I put an end to them hanging out there. I am not saying that she is one of the panic button pounders. She comes on here asking for advice on how to deal with it, and instead people ratchet up her level of concern by saying the most asinine stuff like "We need to seal that opening off to keep THEM out" and "you need to move to get away from THEM". Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I told her to do the logical thing, which is to inform the private company that manages the site (Penrose) that there is an issue there, and watch how fast it gets solved. I really did try to hold my tongue until I felt it had gone on too long.

People who know nothing about this neighborhood come onto this site, read this stuff, and they think that they'd be moving into Afghanistan from what gets posted here. The Olympic gold medal worthy leaping to conclusions drives me batty. Calumet's a nice street, much nicer than it was in the bad old days, and I loved it in the bad old days too. I have had some fun nights on Calumet Street, and noone has ever bothered me. On Saturday at midnight I walked home up Calumet drunk as a lord after the Dance on the Falls Bridge, right past the lot in question, and I didn't give it a moment's thought.

**edit215** · 09-18-2012, 08:08 PM

A much needed parking area. As it has been for years. And per the original plans for the PHA site and as promised by then-Councilman Nutter to the Calumet St. residents.

**justinc848** · 09-18-2012, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Probably about 500. Keep in mind that the market rate stuff is getting built out and occupied. It's about 30 acres, and I think it was set up for somewhere around 300 units.

I invite people to walk or bike through the pass-through, as I do. There's a tire swing, a rope ladder, and a sliding board there, arrayed in a row. Real threatening stuff, the kind of stuff that puts chills down your spine. Plus there's less trash than when it was a parking area; I used it as a pass-through before the present 'improvements' were effected. I applaud the kids for their initiative, although it seems that there is a problem with people not keeping the curfew. There is management on-site, and it would seem that if they were informed that the curfew-breakers are making people uncomfortable I am sure that they would put an end to it. I also think that whatever park/sitting area these kids feel they need would probably be better if it were located inside of the development, since the panic button pounders in the neighborhood are clearly uncomfortable with having a play area contiguous with the neighborhood.

I walk through daily and would venture to say that the children playing certainly are not the problem. I believe the OP blurred the issue by mentioning the playground. The issue in my eye is the increased amount of loitering on the steps by 20-25 yos that has occurred since the steps were built. I disagree that there is less trash than when it was used as a parking lot and there certainly were not blunt wrappers in the area prior to the steps being built.

I do not wish to come off as alarmist. However, I'd prefer not to be confronted by a group of young adult males while coming and going. I'm not casting aspersions here, but I've lived in the city my whole life; as such, my spidey senses tingle a bit whenever I approach of group of males that I don't know.

**edit215** · 09-18-2012, 08:39 PM

I didn't see anyone say they want to seal anyone out. But there is an unfriendly element that people THAT LIVE ON THE STREET do not care for. And apparently there was a noise last night...possible a gun shot...that was heard all the way by the train station. You own property on this street. Do you really want the people that rent from you to have nowhere to park? Or for your renters to feel unsafe at night? The original poster has a very valid gripe. And it is obnoxious for you to poo-poo it. Come down off the hill at night with the kids and play there if you as so for it.

**Dalvah219** · 09-18-2012, 09:21 PM

The playground doesn't really bother me. The kids always show me tricks they've learned on their scooter when I walk by. It's actually really cute. It's the late night crowd I hold my issue with. Teenagers an young adults past 10pm screaming yelling fighting and now apparently firing guns. I can't imagine there would be 4-5 police cars circling the block for petty vandalism

**edit215** · 09-18-2012, 09:35 PM

It's not the play area that is a problem. It is the PHA having the area blocked off for months, the lack of parking on the street due to this, and the resulting nuisance issues on the street (ie: harassment to residents and alleged criminal conduct).

**Mike D** · 09-19-2012, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Sounds, you mean. A sound, actually. I was setting off fireworks earlier and people were on this board terrified about 'gunshots' and wishing they had a fallout shelter, until I told them the terrifying noises were bottle rockets and the police stopped by my party.

Yes, nobody can confirm with there eyes that a gun was fired but it is a serious enough matter to be concerned about. With the number of homicides in the city as a whole, and people within your defined EF boundaries being shot this year, it should not be downplayed even as a 'sound'. Painting a scene of tranquility is doing that.

At the end of the day, we all have to be realistic.

**Sue P** · 09-19-2012, 12:29 PM

[QUOTE=billy ross;532944]Sounds, you mean. A sound, actually. I was setting off fireworks earlier and people were on this board terrified about 'gunshots' and wishing they had a fallout shelter, until I told them the terrifying noises were bottle rockets and the police stopped by my party.

So why don't you set off the fireworks at the house where you live, not on my street?! Bottle rockets at 00:15 is just plain rude, no matter where you live. I find your arrogant response to be repulsive.

**JasonMcElroy** · 09-19-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Sue P

So why don't you set off the fireworks at the house where you live, not on my street?! Bottle rockets at 00:15 is just plain rude, no matter where you live. I find your arrogant response to be repulsive.

Awe, come on! He's just fighting off the creep of soulless suburban blight. Keeping it real. Engaging in a little local flavor. Keeping the culture alive.

Negadelphian!

jason

**Sue P** · 09-19-2012, 01:03 PM

I've lived on Calumet for 36 years and there are wonderful people who live here and scum who live here. The proportions change from time to time but there are always problems and always good points about the neighborhood. The transient renters and their slum lords are the biggest problems. The cavalier attitude that prompts comments like "panic button pounders" shows the level of Bill's disrespect for the homeowners who have tried to keep this neighborhood together for decades.

Falls Ridge is part of East Falls and walking access to Calumet has always been there. I'm sure the ratio of nice people and scum are about the same in Falls Ridge as it is on Calumet. The ramp and steps serve people who are buying their homes in Falls Ridge too. They have a right to be able to access the train station, library, restaurants, shops and other things located above the tracks.

Dalvah, be strong and alert when you get home late. If it helps, it took years to take my corner back from the bad neighborhood element. And it will probably be a fight with ignorant people to keep the corner until we leave. Unlike someone's suggestion that you move, I suggest trying to make this place a neighborhood for all of us.

**Sue P** · 09-19-2012, 01:59 PM

Where do you live Jason? I'll send the local flavor to your street! Keeping it real does NOT involve loud noise when people are trying to sleep. I would prefer a culture of civility and common courtesy. You can keep whatever your definition of culture is.

Negadelphian, that's about as creative as Philthadelphian. I wish people who thought those concepts are acceptable would just leave my fair city.

**JasonMcElroy** · 09-19-2012, 02:25 PM

Sue,

I was being sarcastic.

Jason

**billy ross** · 09-19-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sue P

So why don't you set off the fireworks at the house where you live, not on my street?! Bottle rockets at 00:15 is just plain rude, no matter where you live. I find your arrogant response to be repulsive.

I wasn't setting off fireworks after midnight. It may have been 9:30 pm, but I forget the exact time. I was lighting them off in my yard. You're conflating three different events, I think - in any case it wasn't me who made the suspicious noise in question. I wouldn't light off fireworks on the street five blocks from my home at 12:15am. I think you got upset because you misinterpreted my meaning; I pretty much agree with your sentiments that you expressed above in your last two paragraphs that to maintain the neighborhood it takes vigilance and working together rather than a defeatist attitude, that Falls Ridge is a part of the neighborhood and it shouldn't be sealed off, and there are good people and bad people on both sides of that fence.

**Sue P** · 09-19-2012, 04:40 PM

Jason,

Your sarcasm was lost on me which is very weird because I am very sarcastic. Your comments clearly reflected the kind of attitude that too many people have in my neighborhood. Next time put a wink or something at the end please.

Sue

**Sue P** · 09-19-2012, 04:55 PM

Bill you conflated yourself with the noise, bottle rockets and gunshots. "I was setting off fireworks earlier and people were on this board terrified about 'gunshots' and wishing they had a fallout shelter, until I told them the terrifying noises were bottle rockets and the police stopped by my party." By linking the events, you made it look like you were responsible for the noise. I read what you wrote several times to make sure I understood what you were saying. I guess I didn't get it. Good word btw! I had to look it up.

**thoth** · 09-19-2012, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Sue P

Jason,

Your sarcasm was lost on me which is very weird because I am very sarcastic. Your comments clearly reflected the kind of attitude that too many people have in my neighborhood. Next time put a wink or something at the end please.

Sue

you sound like a barrel of laughs

**Dalvah219** · 09-20-2012, 12:08 PM

Their "playground" is smashed to pieces and now there's a bunch of dudes smoking weed in the walkway as I type this.

**The Count** · 09-20-2012, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dalvah219

Their "playground" is smashed to pieces and now there's a bunch of dudes smoking weed in the walkway as I type this.

Those little rascals...

**edit215** · 09-21-2012, 09:24 PM

When I drove by this afternoon it looked like it is the place to smoke em if you got em. And not ciggies. Apparently PHA cannot meet with the neighbors about this before mid October.