Philadelphia Safety Map

[PortPennFerry]

So I know that this map got a lot of traction on some of the other Philly forums, but I thought I'd see what people thought about the boundaries in the NEast- it's the legendary "Philadelphia Safety Map" that my homegirl dorydorado started. I think the boundaries are pretty accurate, when you consider that the map is in relation to the entire city, and not between individual parts of the NEast; I think it's clear that Tacony or Wissinoming might be a wee bit more shady than, say, Somerton, but theyre still some of the city's best working class neighborhoods. What do youz think?

Philadelphia County Safety Map - Google Maps

[NEastPhilly]

Curious about the colors. Am I missing the key...what do the colors denote specifically?

I'm assuming green=safe?

Also, what is the small yellow Torresdale block? It's not the Torresdale neighborhood, but I can't quite get close enough to see where it is.

[PortPennFerry]

That yellow patch appears to be everything between Bridge and Cheltenham, Torresdale to Bustleton.

[PortPennFerry]

And the key, from the South Philly forum, appears to be that green is safe for anyone, from 5year old to elderly man, yellow is a place that's fine during the day for everyone but can be a bit sketchy at night, orange is a place where you want to have your guard up during both the day and night,and red is a no-go zone.

[Hospitalitygirl]

That yellow patch appears to be everything between Bridge and Cheltenham, Torresdale to Bustleton.

Levick seems to be a real dividing line.

ETA: And fairly consistent with what we see and read.

[MA4]

The reason the map has no real legend is because it represents many things besides safety.

1)undesireable housing stock areas
2)in-accessability to highways areas
3)high population density areas
4)low income areas
5)poor school areas
6)no jobs or industry areas

[MA4]

You're basically "redlining" like they did back in the 1930's, where instead of denying morgtages, you're denying the neighborhood new residents or visitors by telling the good people to "keep out, it's dangerous" which will only make things worse. Am I the only one who paid attention in social studies?

Redlining - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[MA4]

yellow is a place that's fine during the day for everyone but can be a bit sketchy at night, orange is a place where you want to have your guard up during both the day and night,and red is a no-go zone.

All of fairmount park should be orange or yellow then? add that to the map. We want to keep people from visiting the park right?

[PortPennFerry]

In response to MA4, I don't think dorydorado was redlining in order to keep anyone out of anywhere. She's merely suggesting good places to live in Philadelphia- Unlike the FHA that backed up the redlining policies, she's not subsidizing loans nor enforcing covenants. As a matter of fact, if you read the hysteria about neighborhood decline throughout the NEast forum, you'll realize that a lot of the neighborhoods that dorydorado marked green would be considered yellow or orange by some people who freak out over, say, one loud house part, when in comparison to other parts of the city they merit their status as solid middle-class neighborhoods. She's essentially doing the neighborhoods a favor by encouraging a new generation of homeowners.

[MA4]

Publicizing such a map is merely suggesting bad places to live in Philadelphia.

This can only do more harm than good and is a disservice to the "red" communities that could use some good new residents. And it's all speculation!

Why don't you just paint the entire city red and put up 'enter at your own risk' signs in place of the "welcome to philadelphia" ones?

And what really is the difference between "the safety map" and this one:

http://www.philaplanning.org/data/pctblack2000.gif

[PortPennFerry]

Many middle-class black communities are excluded from that map- notably Cedarbrook, East Mt. Airy, Wynnefield, parts of Overbrook, East Oak Lane. Even in more working-class black communities, there are differences- look at the many gradations of inner west philly. Other than that, it is sad to say that many of the completely black neighborhoods are, in fact, dangerous places to live for people of any color. I do not argue it is the residents fault, there is a well-documented history of resource exclusion from these neighborhoods. Yes, I would love them to see those resources in the form of well-intentioned newcomers, but simultaneously, I would not want to put a newcomer in a neighborhood that sees him or her as a target. I would simply suggest they go to places hospitable to newcomers. Many areas on the map that are gentrifying, and still have many poorer black or Hispanic residents, are green or yellow, because the latter have adjusted to the presence of the newcomers. On one hand, you could see that as encouraging the displacement of residents. On the other, think of the resources that the newcomers bring, the most important of which is goodwill and a sense of social justice. If you think of some of Philly's most notable non-profits, they are run by people who are unarguably gentrifying their neighborhoods, but undoubtedly they are at least trying to contribute to the quality of life of their neighbors- think of Neighborhood Bike Works, Mighty Writers, the Community Print Shop in West Philly, Spiral Q etc. Think of the committees these new neighbors form that clean up blocks and benefit the quality of life of all the residents.
You seem to argue a double-edged sword- moving newcomers to where theyre more welcome deprives poorer neighborhoods of improvement, but when people do move in, it gentrifies the poor people out. In reality, both occur, and in reality, there is a silver lining to each.

[desolate]

Only reason Mt Airy, etc aren't ghetto is the housing type an density.

Poor, really poor can't afford to move in there.

Where they can afford to move into Cheltenham and Olney, and drag down those areas.

A lot, a lot of gentrification depends on proximity to the core, housing stock and ethnic breakdown of curent residents.

YOu can't gentrify Chinatown, they won't let you.

You'd have a lot of fight to gentrify 5th Street from the local hispanic pols.

and larger, less dense housing tends to create places like mixed ehtnic but not really mixed income Mt Airy, Wynnefield.

[insolito]

What data is this map based on?... actual crime statistics?

[mixiboi]

That and opinion, lots and lots of opinion..lol

[desolate]

What data is this map based on?... actual crime statistics?

THis one is.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

[PortPennFerry]

Of course the map is based on opinion, as ideas about safety usually are. Safety is a somewhat intangible thing; one has to think how much you stand out, if you're seen as an easy target, what are the residents' preconceptions of you. That being said, I think the safety map corresponds pretty well with the murder map- and I'm sure it would even more so if you factor in lesser crimes, property crimes, etc.
Couple things about the Northeast that impress me- I've noticed myself that the westernmost parts of Lawndale by Tookany Creek have a much nicer housing stock, and generally much more well-kept property. I like that strip shows on the map. On top of that, I don't know why people complain about Wissinoming so much on this forum- the area around Chink's Steaks and Moss Playground seems absolutely fine to me, and actually looks a lot better than the rest of the Northeast. I'm glad a good chunk of Wiss shows up as green on here.

[insolito]

Of course the map is based on opinion, as ideas about safety usually are. Safety is a somewhat intangible thing; one has to think how much you stand out, if you're seen as an easy target, what are the residents' preconceptions of you.

So I think you should try renaming the map something like...

The upper middle class white woman's guide of places to avoid while taking the Cannondale out for a spin to Whole Foods

That being said, I think the safety map corresponds pretty well with the murder map- and I'm sure it would even more so if you factor in lesser crimes, property crimes, etc.

It's only a crime if you get caught- that is the problem with crime maps. When you see maps of criminal statistics, take that information with a grain of salt.... lots of crimes happen that are never reported... or they are reported but then the defendant ends up pleading out or whatever and the offense get dropped/thrown out/reduced to something else.

This map is horse****. It is one person's opinion of where she feels safe. I'd be stripped of my Geography degree if I produced something so clearly biased.

[mixiboi]

I wouldn't go as horse****, but it clearly needs a little more input and data before it gets federal funding.


Seriously, it just needs more opinions before I go take a tour of these areas.

[PortPennFerry]

So I think you should try renaming the map something like...

The upper middle class white woman's guide of places to avoid while taking the Cannondale out for a spin to Whole Foods



It's only a crime if you get caught- that is the problem with crime maps. When you see maps of criminal statistics, take that information with a grain of salt.... lots of crimes happen that are never reported... or they are reported but then the defendant ends up pleading out or whatever and the offense get dropped/thrown out/reduced to something else.

This map is horse****. It is one person's opinion of where she feels safe. I'd be stripped of my Geography degree if I produced something so clearly biased.

I think the girl admits on her original post that she is making the map from the perspective of a relatively recent female transplant who rides her bike places, much as you say. Still, I give her credit for undertaking such a monumental project, and doing research- she PMd me asking for info on the NEast and the Port Richmond/Kensington/Fishtown areas, and Im sure shes not the only one. Sure, her map might give one block too much credit and another too little, but I'd say that it matches the perspectives that people have of their own neighborhoods atleast to 80% accuracy.

[phillysw]

Funny, I live in an "orange zone" and just one block from a "red zone" where I walk/catch the bus frequently. Yet my chances of getting mugged go up about 150% if I walk into a "green zone" part of University City, further south and east. When I lived in that "green zone," my car was stolen, broken into multiple times, and the apartment below me was robbed in broad daylight.

Other than my sh***y nextdoor neighbors, I actually really like my neighborhood and feel safe here. I don't know why anyone would try to make a map like this of one neighborhood, let alone a whole city. It's too complex to (literally) paint in such broad stripes.