Quote:
Originally Posted by Cro Burnham
It's just that many of our suburbs structurally figuratively kind of sick: increasingly lower income populations with weakening economic prospects, declining tax bases, weakening school districts, nondescript/obsolete building stock, poor/non-existent urban planning, weak public transit . . . in short, little that will draw in needed newcomers that will uplift these places.
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I don't understand this stupid war of the city vs. suburbs lol. It's so ridiculous. Why does everyone care so much? So many people in this area spend parts of their lives living in both the suburbs and the city. Both have ups, and both have downs just like anything else. So coming from someone who spends a lot of time in both resi and commercial RE markets of both greater and central philadelphia. Just a few things listed below.
1.) What does "structurally figuratively" mean?
2.) Increasingly lower income populations - false
3.) Weakening economic prospects - false
4.) Declining tax bases - lol BIG false
5.) Weakening school districts - another big FALSE
6.) Obsolete building stock - Maybe in some parts, but there is massive construction of MF, Office, and even some light industrial throughout Conshohockon, exton, Valley Forge, King of Prussia, etc. Also resi has been slow going but there is still considerable construction throughout particular enclaves i/e flourtown, etc. (so, false)
7.)Non-existent urban planning - umm, it's the suburbs?
8.) Weak public transit - umm, it's the suburbs. People want the freedom that comes with driving. Most can afford it as well.
9.) While there has been an population shift of millenials to urban areas, it is still waaaay too early in the trend to announce a victory. Where are these millienials coming from? Well they are the suburban children of greater philadelphias baby boomers (link below for your reference). Additionally, there are many large fundamental issues in (especially philadelphia's) foundation, and bike share isn't one of them. The 42% funded pension which takes 15-20% out of annual operating revenues that's around $800,000,000 from potential city services evaporating annually, the ongoing disrepair of non-private/charter public schools throughout the city, and the anemic white collar office job growth that's taking place in center city when compared to urban centers of likeness. Yes these things can, and should, be corrected. Unfortunately I have yet to see a response out of a single mayoral candidate addressing one of these issues. Just Levy out of the Center City District with a tax proposal that would do wonders if passed...unfortunately that's big IF.
http://billypenn.com/2015/03/05/the-grea...-from-and-where-they-go-when-they-leave/
-Per US Census Data (All of Philadelphia - not just Center City)
As you’ll notice by the map, most Philly movers are clustered around Philadelphia. The great majority of our new residents are former suburbanites from Montgomery (5,265), Delaware (5,332), Chester (1,496), Bucks (3,749), Camden (1,850) and Burlington Counties (1,148). Not surprisingly, Philadelphia is still comprised largely of Pennsylvanians and people hailing from nearby.
-Schools, jobs and crime are all reasons why Philadelphia leaders are worrying whether the boom will last. And sure enough, more people are still moving from Philadelphia to the suburbs than from the suburbs into Philadelphia, with an annual average net loss of -8,077 from 2008-2012.
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