Location

The location I've decided to use as a case study is in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia. I would like to focus on the area within the boundaries of 6th to Front streets between Girard (to the north) and Spring Garden (to the south). This map is from the program Google Earth. I just moved to Northern Liberties after living with my sister for a year in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I personally do not know very much about the city of Philadelphia or Northern Liberties. I think this project will be a good opportunity to get acquainted with my new neighborhood and the city. I realize that this neighborhood is becoming gentrified, and although I did not previously live here, I do have experience living in another urban neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio that was experiencing gentrification during my period of residence. There are some parallels, but also many differences between these two locations. While studying Northern Liberties, I hope to draw on some of the insights that I gained while living in Over-the-Rhine.

There does seem to be a nationwide trend of movement back into the city, and especially for people moving back into the urban core. Both of my parents went to college, and they both moved back to their rural roots. Now, I think that not only are more kids going to college, but less are moving back home. None of my close friends from high school have moved permanently back home. Most of them are living in Pittsburgh, where many of them went to school. Some people (including me) moved back for a short stint while figuring out other plans, but almost always, lived in our parents' homes. The same trend is true for my younger sister and her friends.

In this area there are more dwelling units than I could estimate, multiple restaurants and places of worship, neighborhood community centers, murals, play grounds, parking lots, banks, a funeral home, grocery stores, warehouses, flower shops, etc. There are homes for sale and apartments for rent. Some parts are dilapidated, while others are newly built, and others are still under construction. My friend just moved out of the neighborhood after a five years at her apartment because she couldn't afford the rent. Old brownstones and rowhouses are selling for upwards of $300,000.

A healthscape is one of the main themes of this class. I would like in my search to study the history of the neighborhood, especially access to food, shelter, water, medicine and culture. At this point I would like to focus specifically on food sources and their historical and current presence in Northern Liberties, specifically including grocery stores, urban farms and farmers markets, and community gardens. Also included in this theme are greenspaces, and vacant lots.

All Photos by Bri Crowley. Map courtesy of Google Earth.