Six words about Philadelphia neighborhoods
It's not hard to get Philadelphians to talk about where they live. We asked people to describe their neighborhood in six words or less. Here's a look at the result.
About 100 people gathered at WHYY studios for the first in a series of public Speak Easy forums. The topic this time, "Philadelphia Neighborhoods in Flux." (Ifanyi Bell/for NewsWorks)
It’s no great challenge to get Philadelphians to start talking about where they live. We can always say more. Saying less can be harder but just as interesting. We asked people to describe their neighborhood in six words or less. Here’s a look at the result.
It’s no great challenge to get Philadelphians to start talking about Philadelphia. At a public forum hosted by NewsWorks about the city’s changing neighborhoods, we heard from dozens of people who love this city and who have some real emotional investment in where they live. The discussion moved from taxes to race and class issues, from city services to drugs and crime, from the fears of long-time residents to the needs and hopes of immigrant communities.
We can always say more. Saying less can be harder but just as interesting. We asked participants to describe their neighborhood in six words or less. Some didn’t even need six words; others needed far more. The results present a snapshot of several communities across the city. In the age of Twitter, we’re all getting pretty good at pithy brevity.
Here’s a look at what people said:
East Passyunk
Getting kinda pricey to eat out
Kensington
Fast-paced, extremely vulnerable, ever-changing
Pennsport
Old, established, families, tough, warm
Rittenhouse
Classic, diverse, green, friendly, children, dogs!
West Philly
Diverse, LGBT-friendly, young, healthy, white
Walnut Hill
Home, diverse, changing, locals, newcomers, happy
Walnut Hill
A very diverse and beautiful community
Spring Garden
The place to be in Philly
Mantua
Plan or be planned 4
Germantown
Gritty
Point Breeze, aka Newbold
Needs love
Fitler Square
Beautiful, but where are the people?
Queen Village
The best place ever to live!!!
Passyunk Square
Gravy, banh mi, cheesesteaks, and tacos
East Kensington
Growing, diverse, industry, jobs, transit
East Kensington
Diverse, families, history, vacancies, changes, what’s next?
Logan Square
Museums, fountains, developing high-rises
Society Hill
Historic, friendly, beautiful, convenient
Tioga
Large twin homes, large yards, but economically depressed
Northern Liberties
Great neighborhood being destroyed by uncontrolled developers
Passyunk
Old, new, entrepreneurial, family, leafy, provincial
Brewerytown
Access, history, community, a ways to go
Logan
Abandoned and criminally neglected by plutocrats
Roxborough
Mountains, valleys, pizza and pubs, trees
East Germantown
Highly integrated. Diverse in age. Can be upwardly mobile too. Ratchet sometimes, but authentic.
—
The “six words” exercise is partially inspired by SMITH Magazine’s six-word memoirs.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by Speak Easy
Speak Easy
Thoughtful essays, commentaries, and opinions on current events, ideas, and life in the Philadelphia region.
Part of the series
Speak Easy Forums
Speak Easy is convening a series of public discussions on equitable neighborhood development, fair use of city streets, LGBT rights, and community policing.
Portraits through door frames, a changing Philadelphia
Knocking on doors to ask if people planned to vote in the upcoming election, I thought I could identify the pulse of the city. Turns out there are as many pulses as people.
9 years ago
Philly neighborhoods forum asks: How can we achieve a fair future?
When you bring 100 Philadelphians together to discuss how to improve communities for long-term residents and new neighbors alike, you get hundreds of more questions.
9 years ago
Trying to be part of the solution in Philadelphia’s Fishtown
I believe that a plurality of opinions and experiences makes the neighborhood strong. I don't have any interest in living on a block where every person is some version of me.
9 years ago
