Big cities going downhill

**wanneroo** · November 4th, 2023, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Delkal

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.

I've gone down there for a concert at the casino and also at the steelworks. Pretty impressive how they cleaned all that up. The downtown in Bethlehem looked pretty good.

**1st8th83** · November 17th, 2023, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

I don't know, Kensington is stay nice to visit.

**Walleye Hunter** · November 17th, 2023, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by 1st8th83

I don't know, Kensington is stay nice to visit.

The houses there are worth $500,000

**McSull** · November 17th, 2023, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Walleye Hunter

The houses there are worth $500,000

And the cheesesteaks. Don't forget the cheesesteaks.

**oldengineer** · November 18th, 2023, 07:08 AM

A not much played R&R song from my youth, High School USA. They made several local versions, including Philly, and Kensington High was mentioned twice. From back when America was great.

**JenniferG** · November 18th, 2023, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by JAKIII

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.

Where do all the Alphabet people go? Phoenixville, Phoenixville. Best do a Dundee check before going home with any er... um... girls from the town.