West Philadelphia: Who Belongs?
David Fernandez, Javion Joyner, Miles Taylor
1) Overview
Although we did have an idea of what we wanted to do for our route, with a general trajectory west on Spruce and east on Market or Chestnut, our path ended up changing based on what caught our eye. Ultimately, where we went was based on boundaries that we found: we were seeking them in order to get a more diverse trip. When we were on Spruce, the boundary of the Penn bubble was abrupt, immediately and noticeably changing at 47th Street. Coming back on Market, however, the changes were more gradual.
Along our walk, we took note of the architecture and condition of the buildings and streets, the amount of trees and natural life in the neighborhoods, and the demographics of the people walking around us. It felt like we were taking a normal stroll down the street around Penn, whereas further west, we sometimes felt out of place. We were outsiders peering into this world, and its residents took notice of that. In this analysis, we will look at how institutional boundaries, demographics, and neighborhood identities contribute to differing feelings of belonging.
At a glance, this mural on 52nd Street just past Chestnut Street shows a clear demarcation between Center City and neighborhoods further west. Could this be a sign of neighborhood identity?
2) Single Site Observation
Our single site observation took place at the corner of Market and 52nd Streets, right under the 52nd Street station. We had all heard of the 52nd Street business district, but it was not until we walked through the intersection that we realized it would be a perfect observation site. We saw a community engaging with its space and with each other.
The view of the station from the southwest corner of the intersection. There was constant movement of people moving between the station, the bus stop at the other side of the intersection, and the businesses just to the south. Notable interactions include being approached by two panhandlers and seeing two nervous-looking white young women passing by.
The residents looked like they were comfortable in this space. Several men were having a conversation across the street from us the entire time we were there. People rode by with their bikes, some transporting groceries and others riding around aimlessly. Parents with their children, friends, and other groups of people walked by constantly, many of them sporting their Eagles gear for that evening’s game. Several people drove by blaring music from their cars. While these factors might have been the norm for some, they might have contributed to the discomfort of two college-aged Caucasian girls who passed by at one point.
Cultural symbols included murals painted on the pillars of the El train tracks. On the far end of the intersection, there were portraits of Teddy Pendergrass and Patti LaBelle, two famous Philadelphia-born singers. Another pillar featured African-American children’s faces and the text “Future 52nd Street Business Owners.” This iconography represents the strong sense of pride felt for the historic nature of this neighborhood. It’s a pride that generates a sense of belonging.
Each corner of the 52nd and Market Street intersection featured murals promoting African-American entrepreneurship and culture.
3) Neighborhood Observation
While traveling down Spruce and Locust Street, as we got further west and saw fewer Penn bumper stickers and students, we saw boundaries separating Penn from West Philly that illustrated changing levels of belonging for different people. An increase in the number of abandoned or run-down properties, black people, and discarded litter contributed to the sense that we were passing from one social space to another. During our trip back down Market Street, immediately after crossing 43rd Street we saw a Penn Police car, clearly demarcating an entrance back into University City and an increase in our feelings of safety. These evident separations began to explain the brisk and tense walking of young students further west and the discomfort of West Philadelphians passing through Penn’s campus—a feeling of unwelcome.
Here we are at 48th and Spruce Street looking east. Observe the sharp boundary after 47th street caused by the sudden lack of tree coverage. The area instantly felt less welcoming and safe without the trees.
Interspersed among older or dilapidated buildings are also pockets of coming gentrification. Telltale signs of a new set of occupants including businesses and new developments that cater to upscale clients make us predict a future rising cost of living and neighborhood culture changes. One example of these coming changes was an apartment community near 45th and Market with locked gates “for the safety of our families.” Just a block away was a recently opened Aldi in a prime location to begin the familiar displacement of the rooted mom-and-pop establishments nearby. Our observations corroborate Freeman’s discussion of gentrification in There Goes the Hood about Harlem, with multiple residents appreciating the benefit of the new amenities like improved grocery stores, but also lamenting the closure of locally owned businesses (Freeman, 61). Businesses targeted toward a group of people unrepresentative of the predominantly black neighborhood they are in could create a feeling of, as Freeman put it, “white infiltration” (Freeman, 83) that can only be expected to continue spreading West. An opposing central theme discussed in our site visit was the emphasis of community economic development, present through murals and small business vendors down 52nd Street. These efforts appear to be pushing against gentrification, but it is unclear which force will prevail.
The Aldi represents a transition point in West Philadelphia.
Juxtaposed with changing neighborhood institutions, buildings, and demographics was a cohesive and interactive neighborhood environment, similar to the Brooklyn neighborhood in Do the Right Thing and Jane Jacobs’s idealization in The Life and Death of Great American Cities. Along the sides of the street, we were surprised at the number of groups of neighbors casually conversing with each other. Most of these conversations originated outside of local businesses or at open parks such as Malcolm X, intertwined within the residential urban fabric. The consistent activity, especially on 52nd Street, certainly ensured that the area was effective at “handling strangers” (Jacobs, 45), and it was clear that we were being watched by interested porch onlookers throughout our journey, just as Jacobs describes. Additionally, individuals knew each other: after noticing multiple nods of acknowledgment in passing, we recognized that the frequent yet organic public contact could play a large role in building the neighborhood together, as opposed to “formal public organizations” (Jacobs, 75), one of Jacobs’s key arguments. We are uncertain whether such “togetherness” or unconscious “natural proprietorship” exists during the night hours, but the shared public sidewalks create a connected environment in the light.
The beginning of the 52nd Street commercial corridor next to Malcolm X Park. The minibus to the left was in a disheveled state. Street traffic would get much busier further north.
4) Historical Questions and Data
A vacant lot along Market Street. A streetlight has been placed in the middle of it, lighting up nothing in particular.
1) [Subtopic: comfort] We noticed many vacant lots and dilapidated buildings next to the above-ground portion of the Market-Frankford Line from 52nd to 46th Streets. How does proximity to the L affect housing along this corridor?
-The Market-Frankford Line as we know it today, including its elevated and underground sections, was completed in 1955. Looking at census data for the percentage of vacant housing units in 1940 and 2017 allows us to see the impact that the project’s completion had on nearby housing when we focus on the census tract just south of Market Street between 45th and 50th streets.
2) [Subtopic: gentrification] How did West Philadelphia housing prices change as Penn pushed further westward?
Historical census data of housing prices before and after urban renewal in the 1960s allow us to understand the economic impact that Penn’s expansion had on nearby residences. In our case, we look at the raw number of housing units above a certain price threshold (adjusting for inflation).
On Pine Street between 49th and 50th Streets, we observed the contrast between relatively well-maintained and completely abandoned rowhomes. Property values are highly dependent on the values of nearby lots, so the presence of poorly-maintained properties can have a large impact on median home values and the overall willingness of people to move into the neighborhood.
3) [Subtopic: gentrification] How have the demographics of West Philadelphia changed overtime, particularly moving west from Penn’s present-day campus?
Historical census data for the percentage of population that is African American allows us to see the comparison between the years 1940 and 2017 as well as the transition as you move away from Penn’s campus.
A "love letter" mural along Market Street, painted by a white person, seems to engulf a black resident walking by. Could this be indicative of the reach of gentrification?
5) Concluding Remarks
The route we chose through West Philadelphia led us through many neighborhoods with different demographics and income levels. When making the walk, we tried to find patterns in the development of the area and what makes some parts more desirable than others. For this paper we chose to focus on the aspect of people and belonging, but we just as easily could have focused on the physical environment—aspects such as building quality, infrastructure, and natural landscape are all worthy of their own analyses.
Regardless of the aspect considered, it is clear that they all are inherently correlated, with the physical environment fundamentally shaping the social environment and neighborhood connectedness. Despite parts of West Philadelphia exhibiting a strong community “togetherness” for which Jacobs and other idealists advocate, many boundaries persist that can prevent outsiders like us from feeling welcomed in public spaces—constantly acknowledging our own positionality and lack of fit. As the tendrils of gentrification continue pushing outwards, it is unclear whether the strong community environment will strengthen or deteriorate, but will either way alter how residents and visitors feel in West Philadelphia.
These metal plaques lined the sidewalks of the 52nd Street Business District where it is referred to as "West Philly's Main Street". Unfortunately, 52nd Street is no longer seen today as the cultural and entertainment hub that it was in the mid-1900's.
