Central Northeast neighborhoods discuss demographics, employment

Nearly 80,000 people live in what the Philadelphia City Planning Commission calls the Central Northeast District, and who they are and what they do was the focus of a recent meeting to begin the process of incorporating those neighborhoods into the city’s developing master plan, Philadelphia2035.

The first in a series of public meetings was held at Knowlton Masion in Fox Chase — one of the neighborhoods part of the district. It also includes Burholme, Rhawnhurst, Lexington Park, Bells Corner and the northern edges of Lawndale and Castor Gardens. The rest of Lawndale and Castor Gardens are included in the Lower Northeast District.

A bit about the district:

  • Census data indicate the population has grown 8 percent since 1980, though certain portions of the district have seen population changes of more than 15 percent between 2000 and 2010.
  • The median age is 38.7, down from 43.6 in 1980.
  • Nearly 22 percent of the population is foreign-born, and residents come from places like the West Indies, China, Brazil and Russia.
  • With the exception of Pennypack Park, the most common land use is residential.
  • There are 17,468 jobs, and 28 percent of those are with healthcare institutions.
  • The commercial vacancy rate is 14 percent as of 2003.

Stakeholders in these neighborhoods spent the meeting reviewing maps to identify their district’s strengths and weaknesses. The next meeting is Sept. 24 at the Northeast Regional Library. Those who wish to receive notices of upcoming meetings can email michael.thompson [at] phila.gov or call 215-683-4632

The full presentation from the first meeting is available here.

 

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