Big cities going downhill

[abner13]

Newsflash!

The whole damn country is going downhill!

[JenniferG]

I worked for Septa for nearly 35 years and had to make my way through some of the worst neighborhoods to get to the tracks and broken down trains. It's been bad in those neighborhoods since I've been alive but now that has moved into center city and out to the suburbs. Have you been reading about the King of Prussia Mall? The smaller cities like Lancaster, Reading, York, Harrisburg and of course Chester have become crime centers. I agree with Jay I would wear body armor now if I were to go to Philadelphia you'd certainly be crazy not to especially if you have to go to neighborhoods I use to go to around Septa's North Broad Street Station or Amtrak's North Philadelphia Station I have no reason to go to Philly at this point.

[ScaredOnce]

Sadly, this is all true. The area around Liberty & Penn in Pgh is ridiculous… especially that little parklet down from 6th. Mellon Sq park too (I usual park my cars in the garage below it.. they’ve upped their security.)

Just upgraded my body armour game this week and created a slickster type setup: T.Rex AC-1 with Hesco M210s. Easy to hide under a coat/or hoody with my body type and far less overt than other setups.

[Emptymag]

Sadly, this is all true. The area around Liberty & Penn in Pgh is ridiculous* especially that little parklet down from 6th. Mellon Sq park too (I usual park my cars in the garage below it.. they*ve upped their security.)

Just upgraded my body armour game this week and created a slickster type setup: T.Rex AC-1 with Hesco M210s. Easy to hide under a coat/or hoody with my body type and far less overt than other setups.

In the mid to late 80s I went to school at the Art Institute on Penn ave down near 6th street.
I worked at that (long gone) Gulf gas station at 9th and Ft Duquesne blvd where the 9th street bridge crosses to the north side.
I worked there from 2pm til 10pm and walked across the bridge at night to my apartment on the north side.

I used to walk all over downtown at night after work - cut through alley ways - I must have been insane.
Different world then, but it was still risky. People used to get robbed on the bridge pretty regularly - one thug walking toward you and another behind you. I was like 19 at the time, so no guns. I carried a hickory hammer handle in a gym bag with the zipper open as I crossed the bridge.

We venture into downtown maybe once a year now for something at the convention center. Always armed.

[Delkal]

.....what is happening there?

Bethlehem's downtown is revitalized and full of restaurants, shops and younger people having fun every night. Businesses are coming back too. And the Musikfest draws millions. Sure on paper there is more crime than living in the country but the downtown areas are relatively safe as long as you don't get too close to the hood or be walking alone at 2 AM (as always anywhere).

Parts of Allentown are starting to come back too. Thirty years ago most of the downtown area was boarded up like in the Billy Joel song. Now well off educated people are living there.

As always everything is relative and if someone is scared to even go to a city then don't. But millions of people live there and love it. But again it is a choice......YMMV.

[Emptymag]

Ignorance is bliss.

The hipsters in the newly developed city who live one street away from slums think that there's a magical shield of invincibility that protects them if they simply stop eating meat, and march for Palestine.

[Delkal]

Ignorance is bliss.

The hipsters in the newly developed city who live one street away from slums think that there's a magical shield of invincibility that protects them if they simply stop eating meat, and march for Palestine.

I don't know......You would have done pretty good if you bought some property in the seedy Times square area in the 70's and 80's.

[JAKIII]

Bethlehem's downtown is revitalized and full of restaurants, shops and younger people having fun every night. Businesses are coming back too. And the Musikfest draws millions. Sure on paper there is more crime than living in the country but the downtown areas are relatively safe as long as you don't get too close to the hood or be walking alone at 2 AM (as always anywhere).

Parts of Allentown are starting to come back too. Thirty years ago most of the downtown area was boarded up like in the Billy Joel song. Now well off educated people are living there.

As always everything is relative and if someone is scared to even go to a city then don't. But millions of people live there and love it. But again it is a choice......YMMV.

Phoenixville is another industrial town that experienced a renaissance. Local government made smart choices to entice investors and draw back businesses. Now, it's the go-to place for young adults.

[esh21167]

These gentrification projects provide a stark contrast. Trendy and safe until you walk half a block in the wrong direction.

[Walleye Hunter]

Phoenixville is another industrial town that experienced a renaissance. Local government made smart choices to entice investors and draw back businesses. Now, it's the go-to place for young adults.

Phoneyville was my stomping grounds as a yute and it has gone full cycle. It was small town America in the '60s and I have the hand written receipt right along with the Charter Arms 44 SP that my father bought at McCardell's sporting goods on Bridge St. Today's Phoneyville isn't for me though and I hope those young dolts stay right there.