Is business starting to pick up in SWCC?

[sockii]

I talked to another retailer on my street just this week who echoed my impressions: certain kinds of commercial traffic are way up (bars, coffeehouses, restaurants); others are majorly hurting from the traffic patterns and neighborhood work and residential changes, between the South Street bridge construction, the changes at Graduate Hospital, etc.

So what's been good for some, not necessarily good at all for others. It's certainly a situation in transition.

[Skintreesnail]

My wife and I just bought a house in Graduate Hospital and are very excited to be moving to the neighborhood. It seems like there has been so much done in the neighborhood since I moved to the city and I hope it continues to move forward. It’s a shame that the construction on the south street bridge is impacting business negatively.

I feel that what the neighborhood needs is another major corridor for business. Right now there is South street along the East/West axis, but it needs to have a North/South axis to draw foot traffic into the neighborhood. It seems like 22nd street or Gray’s Ferry might work, based on the existing storefront infrastructure and as a continuation of restaurants and shops in Rittenhouse and Fitler square. Or maybe 19th, because it's central...

[emc]

Congrats and welcome to the neighborhood!

It seems like there's at least been more activity in the neighborhood, if not all business; some houses here on the western half that were for sale or vacant and boarded up for a long time are being sold and fixed up (or, at least, unboarded). Now if we could just get some more trees.....

[lbphilly]

My wife and I just bought a house in Graduate Hospital and are very excited to be moving to the neighborhood. It seems like there has been so much done in the neighborhood since I moved to the city and I hope it continues to move forward. It’s a shame that the construction on the south street bridge is impacting business negatively.

I feel that what the neighborhood needs is another major corridor for business. Right now there is South street along the East/West axis, but it needs to have a North/South axis to draw foot traffic into the neighborhood. It seems like 22nd street or Gray’s Ferry might work, based on the existing storefront infrastructure and as a continuation of restaurants and shops in Rittenhouse and Fitler square. Or maybe 19th, because it's central...

Yes -- welcome!

I'd like to see 19th or 20th Street become the North/South corridor, mostly because the 17 bus runs up and down those streets every 3-5 minutes during the day and fairly frequently in the evenings as well.

[cdiddy]

Yes -- welcome!

I'd like to see 19th or 20th Street become the North/South corridor, mostly because the 17 bus runs up and down those streets every 3-5 minutes during the day and fairly frequently in the evenings as well.

i'm not sure that can happen-- you need commercial and high-density residential development in order to make something a destination type of corridor. Our neighborhood already has 2 north-south corridors-- Broad and Grey's Ferry-- but unfortunately they're on opposite ends.

[lbphilly]

i'm not sure that can happen-- you need commercial and high-density residential development in order to make something a destination type of corridor. Our neighborhood already has 2 north-south corridors-- Broad and Grey's Ferry-- but unfortunately they're on opposite ends.

I fear that you're right. On the other hand, the corridors make us an inside-out neighborhood -- our "center" is on the margins. I would hope that we could do something in the way of a north-south corridor closer to the center of the neighborhood -- not necessarily a corridor in the classic sense you describe, but a place with some neighborhood bars, restaurants, small-scale groceries, etc. Much as I'd love to see it happen on 20th Street because it's closer to me, it may be that 19th Street, which already has a deli and a dry-cleaner's, may be the better bet.

(Oh, you didn't know about Woodard's Dry Cleaning on 19th between Montrose and Carpenter? They're great people!)

[Børn]

This idea always seems to be so logical, yet has it ever been mentioned in City Hall? properties deemed to be derelict/abandoned should face stiff taxes--encouraging them to either sell or build--it's a win-win for the city, more $$, encouraged development which leads to even more $$. plus eliminating these ugly properties en masse will only increase the value of the surrounding neighborhood--which leads to even more $$...

Like the eyesores on the corners of Grays Ferry (a major north-south corridor into the city) and Christian Street. If my math is correct, the abandoned properties 2009 taxes were $1,089.62 to the city. The properties are all owned by the same folks who live in Nevada. They have turned into parking lots for construction trucks filled with debris that spill out onto the street and storage spots for equipment. A very pretty site indeed.

[Skintreesnail]

I think eventually, as the years progress, there will be more business moving into the neighborhood, instead of remaining on the borders. There area already a few pioneers (Beauty Shop Café and the Sidecar). I think if there was some designated commercial corridor though, it would help move that along, since business act like they feed off each other. I have noticed quite a few storefronts around, but I’m not sure if there’s a centralized location or if they’re scattered everywhere.

[Skintreesnail]

Like the eyesores on the corners of Grays Ferry (a major north-south corridor into the city) and Christian Street. If my math is correct, the abandoned properties 2009 taxes were $1,089.62 to the city. The properties are all owned by the same folks who live in Nevada. They have turned into parking lots for construction trucks filled with debris that spill out onto the street and storage spots for equipment. A very pretty site indeed.

I think properties that are derelict for an extended period of time with no plans in motion for development (plans that do not simply convert the property into a parking lot) should be confiscated by the city and sold to someone who will develop. The city needs to be held to selling these properties as quickly as possible.

The owners of these properties need to be “encouraged” in some way to take some sort of responsibility of their ownership. There needs to be some sort of standards set. Maybe imposing fines and forcing the owner to sell or develop would also work. As long as there are some rules around the development. Some cities impose rules around how many parking spaces are allowed in neighborhoods, which help ensure that property owners do not simply turn their properties into surface lots.

[sockii]

I think eventually, as the years progress, there will be more business moving into the neighborhood, instead of remaining on the borders. There area already a few pioneers (Beauty Shop Café and the Sidecar). I think if there was some designated commercial corridor though, it would help move that along, since business act like they feed off each other. I have noticed quite a few storefronts around, but I’m not sure if there’s a centralized location or if they’re scattered everywhere.

Part of the problem in the area is too many of the previous commercial 1st floor spaces have been rezoned as residential/turned into private parking garages in the past So you end up with corner business spaces and not a lot going on in between them, instead of a good solid block of commercial spaces. At least on some blocks. Others aren't as bad. But it makes it difficult for certain kinds of businesses to do well in the area.

[Skintreesnail]

Yeah, that's definitely a problem. A good block or two of commercial space would be stronger than random corners. I guess that leaves me torn between my love for the quaint neighborhood feeling and my desire for a strong central commercial corridor that would create a kind of destination. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

[lee]

I think the numbered streets, for the most part, never had solid strips of commercial. Not a whole lot has changed on 22nd as far as I can tell, for instance, except for the demolition of the small gas station at 22nd and Bainbridge. The area was always just corner stores (the one at 22nd and Catharine apparently was a produce store in the '20s).

[lbphilly]

Yeah, that's definitely a problem. A good block or two of commercial space would be stronger than random corners. I guess that leaves me torn between my love for the quaint neighborhood feeling and my desire for a strong central commercial corridor that would create a kind of destination. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

The 2200 block of South Street and the 23/Kater/GraysFerry/Bainbridge area look to me like the places with the best potential for being a neighborhood center, the more so because they can pull in some Rit/Fit folks as part of their market. (The late great Anne d'Harnoncourt could occasionally be seen pushing a cart around the South Square.)

I think a north-south corridor more to the middle of the neighborhood would be a good thing, too, but it would have to be different -- a corridor of corners -- offering eating establishments and convenience stores. Or so it seems to me.

[lbphilly]

I think the numbered streets, for the most part, never had solid strips of commercial. Not a whole lot has changed on 22nd as far as I can tell, for instance, except for the demolition of the small gas station at 22nd and Bainbridge. The area was always just corner stores (the one at 22nd and Catharine apparently was a produce store in the '20s).

A very *very* long time ago, the 2000 block of Christian had more commercial. The building at 2017 (or perhaps it's 2019, I forget) was a print shop back around the turn of the 20th century. You can see the residue of a couple of storefronts still.

[Skintreesnail]

Congrats and welcome to the neighborhood!

It seems like there's at least been more activity in the neighborhood, if not all business; some houses here on the western half that were for sale or vacant and boarded up for a long time are being sold and fixed up (or, at least, unboarded). Now if we could just get some more trees.....

More trees are a must! Trees make everything look better. Can you contact the park service to request trees for an entire block, or is it just for the sidewalk in front of your house? I've noticed there are a lot of cuts in the sidewalk around town that are missing their trees. Can anyone just plant a tree in them, or do you need some sort of permission? Once we move, we're probably going to need to find a home for a pine tree...

I've got to say though, I'm impressed with how many new trees there seem to be in G-Ho. Some other places we were looking (Bella Vista and Northern Liberties) have a desert wasteland feeling because of their lack of trees. I think more parks or community gardens would be nice too.

[Lolly]

More trees are a must! Trees make everything look better. Can you contact the park service to request trees for an entire block, or is it just for the sidewalk in front of your house? I've noticed there are a lot of cuts in the sidewalk around town that are missing their trees. Can anyone just plant a tree in them, or do you need some sort of permission? Once we move, we're probably going to need to find a home for a pine tree...

I've got to say though, I'm impressed with how many new trees there seem to be in G-Ho. Some other places we were looking (Bella Vista and Northern Liberties) have a desert wasteland feeling because of their lack of trees. I think more parks or community gardens would be nice too.

First, let me say I'm no tree expert, and I'm sure there are others who can add to this who are. But here's the basic run-down that I've gleaned so far over time about street trees in Philly...

• There are a couple/few different available ways to get trees, and there's nothing stopping you from *requesting* them for your entire block I suppose, but before a tree will be approved to be planted for you there is a requirement that the homeowner of each adjacent property must sign saying they are accepting responsibility for caring for the tree.
  
  
• Before you do get approved to receive a free tree (let's say from Fairmount Park, as one example) there are a couple of other hoops you need to jump through. Variables that need to be checked include whether the tree will be placed somewhere that does not interfere with underground utilities, or block access to your home by fire/rescue services. I think the sidewalk would also need to be a minimum width too, to give the proper amount of clearance for handicapped accessibility.
  
  
• If you meet all of the above requirements, a tree suitable to your particular location will be selected and planted for you. And I think if there is more than one recommended tree type available, you may have some choice. After that, you just need to take care of it. (Which is of course much easier said than done.)

That said, there is nothing that I know of that stops anyone from planting any tree in any pit on their own. Hopefully if you do that you will care for the tree(s) for however long it takes to get them established.

Good luck!!

ETA:

http://www.fairmountpark.org/FAQs.asp

http://www.southofsouth.org/?q=TreeProgram

http://www.treevitalize.net/InYourArea.aspx

PS FYI I also recently received this forwarded message from a neighbor:

Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Subject: Got any Shovel Ready projects?

The Tree Tenders team is gathering information from Tree Tenders groups on potential sites for large tree plantings. Some of you have already applied for TreeVitalize trees, this is in addition to that opportunity. For those of you who have never applied for Trees through us here is your chance to consider a potenial planting.

What are we looking for....

Imagine a site that doesn't need permits (school property, park) or concrete removal (that's the shovel ready part) that could use 10-50 trees and that your group could commit to caring for...If you have a place in mind...let us know! Having this kind of list will enable us to meet opportunities efficiently!

Please let us know what you have at your earliest convenience.

Mindy Maslin
Project Manager Tree Tenders
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20th St.
Phila. PA 19103
215-988-8844 phone
215-988-8810 fax
mmaslin<AT>pennhort<DOT>org

Anyone have any ideas?

[Lolly]

Just realized I've contributed to some major thread drift by getting carried away here about trees. So now I'm thinking... Maybe LB could pull out these tree-related posts into their own "Trees in SWCC" (or similarly-named) thread??

[lbphilly]

Just realized I've contributed to some major thread drift by getting carried away here about trees. So now I'm thinking... Maybe LB could pull out these tree-related posts into their own "Trees in SWCC" (or similarly-named) thread??

I see your fiendish plot! You are trying to divert me from reading the health care bill.

[macdaire]

Talkiing of trees....
my tree which i about 3 I think is not well. It seems that half of it has died but the other half has green leaves. Any suggestions.
Sadly I think my "neighbor" is killing it somehow. Howev er I might be paranoid! Our first tree was mysteriously sawed down and the corpse removed. She has makes comments about how "nasty" it is.

[Lolly]

Talkiing of trees....
my tree which i about 3 I think is not well. It seems that half of it has died but the other half has green leaves. Any suggestions.
Sadly I think my "neighbor" is killing it somehow. Howev er I might be paranoid! Our first tree was mysteriously sawed down and the corpse removed. She has makes comments about how "nasty" it is.

Maybe you should get a survelliance camera and stake her out. Seriously, I would prosecute. Tree killers beware!

I see your fiendish plot! You are trying to divert me from reading the health care bill.

Mwahahahahahaha...