Hip Check
Could Southwest Philly become the new "it" neighborhood?
Having good boundaries: The neighborhood has a lot of strengths-as community development shows.
Isolated by highways and rivers, and best known for oil refineries and crime, Southwest Philadelphia has long been considered a dead zone. But finally, after years of focused effort, Southwest--which takes in sections of West Philly and Grays Ferry, and the Schuylkill and I-95--may be on the verge of garnering long-overdue respect.
It hasn't come easy. So overlooked is this corner of the city that any history of the neighborhood--now home to 80,000 people--is elusive at best. Some neighborhood merchants believe Southwest is the land of the afterthought, with no noble history or clearly identifiable milestone moments.
"I grew up in a different part of the city and I never knew it existed," says Lewis Friedrich, who's owned an electronics shop on Woodland Avenue for 29 years. "You talk to a lot of different people and they still don't know where it is."
Given its location Southwest became a hub for the region's heavy industry, notably oil refineries--including one that notoriously erupted in fire in 1975, killing eight firefighters and injuring many others.
For years the pollution and smell from the refineries permeated the area, sending residents who could afford to leave scrambling for cleaner places.
Property values plummeted in the '60s, and blight and crime followed. The 12th Police District became known as one of the city's most violent.
In the early '90s, though, hope arrived with West African refugees and Asian and Hispanic immigrants, who began buying up inexpensive residential and commercial property. Families began to call the neighborhood home again, and ethnic stores, restaurants and retail businesses followed.
"Now there's a diversity of food and restaurants," says Paul Miller, a consultant hired to design economic development strategies for the neighborhood. "There are really high-quality restaurants."
Woodland Avenue, for example, is home to Samiches, a takeout deli that opened last year; Le Mandigue African Restaurant at 66th Street; Little Delicious, a Caribbean/American restaurant at 48th; and Rabbi's Rib House, a takeout at 52nd where the meat is smoked all day and sold at night.
Community advocates hope to showcase Southwest Philly by focusing on its prime location and its myriad public transportation options. It also boasts proximity to the airport, two major highways, three universities, a national wildlife refuge and Bartram's Gardens. And then there's the housing stock, at an average of less than $70,000.
Until recently, no one seemed ready or willing to publicize these assets.
But violent crime in the area has been reduced. According to police, murders are down by more than 50 percent from last year, and the violent crime rate fell 10 percent from 2006 to 2007, thanks to additional officers, foot patrols, monthly community crime meetings and a very successful juvenile-nuisance night-court.
In addition, tensions between African and African-American residents--primarily represented by schoolyard bullying and brawls--have lessened, thanks in part to the African Cultural Alliance of North America's (ACANA) efforts to bring both communities together for computer training, kids' summer and after-school programs, and social activities. Given the help of other community organizations, public workshops and targeted classroom curricula that attempt to highlight the connections between the cultures, there's guarded optimism.
"Things are at a changing point," says Seth Dorrell, economic development director for Southwest Community Development Corporation (CDC), citing examples of economic revitalization in the district.
A SEPTA restoration project is making Woodland Avenue between 60th and 68th streets transit-friendly, and the Southwest CDC has received $60,000 to brand the bustling corridor with festive banners.
A chef who previously worked at the Four Seasons has opened Philly Breakfast House, a homestyle restaurant that's open for three daily meals.
A private company is buying property to build a mixed residential/retail development that'll consist of 126 units of three- to four-bedroom homes, plus an outdoor community market, sit-down restaurant and convenience store.
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Letters to the Editor
1. Jim Proulx said... on Jul 30, 2008 at 04:25PM
“What ever happened to Dav's Place and Emilio?”
2. John Casey said... on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:11PM
“Tara, where did you get your facts for this article? Southwest Philly was a great neighborhood during the 60's, 70's, 80's and until the mid nineties. We never had a shooting like the one that just occured at 64th and Greenway Avenue. You can't walk around Woodland Avenue safely now. Good Shepherd, St Barnabas, St Clements, St Iraneus and Our Lady of Loretto parishes were strong and a great feeder area for West Catholic High School. There were many youth baseball leagues and parish football programs that featured intense rivalries. Go walk by McCreesh playground and see if this is still the case. The parish schools are closed and the churches are also a memory. . This is no longer a family area. I don't really know what your agenda was for writing the article, but you were nowhere close to the truth.”
3. snakemanjim said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 07:10AM
“I was raised in Southwest Philly lived there for sixty two years,but grew tired of having to lock up everthing in sight.Older neighbors were putting bars on windows and doors,a real change to sleeping with your door unlocked.Later in my life i had to visit Delaware County for dinning and shopping as business moved with old friends.I hope for the people still living there a change is comming.Tears run down my cheeks as I write this and wonder how some place with wonderful memories turned so ugly.”
4. SW BOYZ said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 07:17AM
“what a load of BS. These "neighborhoods" are worse now than ever. I am not sure where you get your information Tara. Time was you could actually walk from Island Avenue to 60th and Woodland Avenue without having to look over your shoulder or wonder what the pack of kids in front of you were up to. People that lived there in the 70's, 80's and even part of the 90's actually took care of their own properties along with their neighbors, so there was no need for a "Special Services District" or some b***sh** "Bridging the Gap" initiative or whatever other bull you throw at the pig these neighborhoods have become. Let stop talking about, get the residents to pick up their own s*** and stop relying on those services around them to make their "neighborhood" clean again. It was clean when you got there, you messed it up, you clean up the slop and stop complaining about others. Tara, you may want to get a grip on reality and pick up a broom, paint brush or lawn mower yourself.”
5. Nawls said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 07:30AM
“Tara; You should be fired from your job for writing a column with all of this bulls***. I am 42 years old & lived in SWP for 35 years. Where are you from ??? You could not be further from the truth with this entire column. Thanks for wasting my time with this article .”
6. Will C. said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 10:49AM
“It seems the article predicted the future, perceptions ARE hard to reverse. I was just up on Woodland Avenue, did some grocery shopping and stopped by a shoe store. Not once was a mugged or beaten up. In fact, the entire 3 years that I have lived in SW have I been robbed, beaten or shot at. I like it here. I hope someday the perceptions you see in some of these ignorant suburbanite comments will be reversed.”
7. SW BOYZ said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 11:57AM
“Will C. none of the people on this chain are suburbanites. Every last one of them grew up in SWP and have very fond memories of their old neighborhoods. As John points out there was plenty to do in every neighborhood. You would drive down the street and see kids playing in the streets or under the fire hydrant not sitting around on corners, drawing on other's property or stealing. Sure there was the odd bike or skate board that went missing but nothing like you see on the news (TV and in the paper). There are absolutely those that live in SWP now that take pride in their neighborhood however the majority make no effort to keep up their end of making it a neighborhood. As Nawls and Snakemanjim point out many lived there for over 30 plus years and are saddened by the thought of even driving past their old house let alone through the surrounding neighborhoods. You have been there for 3 years and I am glad you find it improving. You are one of the lucky ones, many have seen it deteriorate and become very unsafe through the last 10 - 15 years. I hope for your sake it continues to improve but until people take responsibility for their own actions and neighborhood (notice I said neighborhood not home) things will continue to move along. Asking others to come in and help like the Bridge the Gap Initiative gives no sense of responsibility to those living and using the area you live in. See what Snakemanjim and Nawls have lived through and your perception and feeling would change. Sure they live somewhere other than SWP now but it is because SWP is not an option with the current circumstances.”
8. norm said... on Jul 31, 2008 at 01:15PM
“TARA .....WHO PAID YOU YO RIGHT THIS MESS....”
9. Bushman said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 05:59AM
“I have to agree with most of the posters here, Tara, that you're WAY OFF with this article. First of all, people didn't leave Southwest because of the pollution and the smell from the refineries.....IT WAS THE CRIME that sent us packing! Sure, the crime rate is down NOW, only because the city was forced to flood the area with such a police presence, the rate had to go down. When this police presence is reduced, and it will be reduced eventually, you'll see that crime rate shoot right back up again. You want to know why? Because those new neighbors don't respect themsselves or their surroundings. The street I grew up on used to be one of the nicest streets in MY area of SW. Now, everytime I take a drive down that same street, I can do nothing but shake my head in disgust at what this once beautiful street has become; boarded up windows, overgrown lawns and trash being put out a week early so that all the pets that nobody wants rummage through that trash to eat, leaving everything else to blow around to other people's properties and heavy equipment being stored in someone's backyard. It's sad. Secondly, you mentioned only a FEW new businesses that have started up in that area. "The Ave", as it was so lovingly called, USED to be a SHOPPING MECCA for us residents. Instead of glorifying these new businesses as you have, why don't you write something about why the old businesses were run out of town? The last time I drove down 'The Ave', I still saw the same things that drove most of us away in the first place: crack smoking prostitutes, trash and CRIME. Next time, Tara, don't just take a drive down Woodland Ave., get out of your car and walk around the surrounding area. I'll guarantee you it won't be a long walk.”
10. Jerry O'Neill said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 07:01AM
“This has got to be the funniest thing I ever saw. What are you smoking Tara? Which crack house you hanging at? Crime, Drugs and Filth you name it you got it in the new Southwest Philly. A neighborhood is about caring and looking out for each other not destroying and killing each other. Tara, you should seek Mental Health Services up at 61st and Woodland unless of course you are a comedian.”
11. fatsam said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 08:01AM
“Mr. O'Neill, I take umbrage with your last post. Isn't it true that YOU once owned a crack house on Elmwood Ave ? I was one of the poor slobs that had to help clean out that disaster of a rental property you owned. And when I stepped inside that place, I thought I was standing in Fred Sanford's junkyard. The only thing missing was Grady ! And now you have the temerity to attack this fine journalist Tara person ? Well sir, let me just say that you have the boorish manners of a Yalie !”
12. T.M. said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 09:18AM
“Perhaps a more accurate depiciton from a a local SWP blogger: http://brendancalling.com/2008/06/27/shooting-last-night/ and http://brendancalling.com/2007/08/02/and-another/ and http://brendancalling.com/2007/04/20/leon-blackwell/”
13. Bushman said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 10:29AM
“Well, it seems that NOBODY has cleaned up ANYTHING in the 12 years since I left. When are YOU going to do something about THAT?”
14. Boo said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 12:08PM
“Bon still cleans out there, don't forget he is the great protector.”
15. Hearsh said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 12:50PM
“Anybody have Rob Grundy's number?”
16. Scotty A said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 12:52PM
“Can I borrow some money for bail?”
17. jimandmarty said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 01:22PM
“i just picked myself up off the floor from laughing so hard. father gouche, it's actually spelled (gausch), you are completely f-ed up. i love it.”
18. jimandmarty said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 01:25PM
“chill should stop playin and meet me on the wall or bullsh*t blvd. with a fatty”
19. jmlmlkjlakjd said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 01:49PM
“This is all lies! There is no crime in SWP. It is a beautiful part of the new Philadelphia.”
20. Tommy N. Moore said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 02:09PM
“You people in Southwest don't know how good you got it. Did you actually READ this article? You're close to three Universities! You have great public transportation! On 54th St., they're stabilizing deteriorating buildings! You have a very successful juvenile-nuisance night-court! You're getting a museum made out of a crack house! As soon as they "brand the bustling corridor with festive banners," it will look like Versailles! Yet you show no appreciation.”
21. Rob O. Scharillo said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 02:35PM
“Scott, I'll be up the bleachers when you get out.”
22. El Conchistador said... on Aug 1, 2008 at 05:59PM
“Well, it would seem that most people here answered the question posed in the title of the article with a resounding "no". I'm personally taking a "wait and see" approach, but I agree with the general premise of the previous posters: there's quite a bit of work to be done before this becomes an "it" neighborhood. Whenever you talk about improvement, whether personal or in a neighborhood, you've got to start somewhere, and there are some positive signs (at least on the commercial side of things). Unfortunately right now those positives are being overshadowed by the preponderance of negatives.”
23. CN said... on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:55PM
“Other articles by this author include: "Kensington, Jewel of the River Wards" "Logan - Gateway to Olney" And "Nicetown - not so ironic anymore"”
24. alonzo said... on Aug 2, 2008 at 03:54PM
“Give it a break”
25. joegum said... on Aug 3, 2008 at 12:51PM
“How do you get a job. Clearly, your journalism and research skills are askew, let alone your views are delusional. You claim you are not from southwest and that is evident in all your commentary. Southwest cdc, does this stand for, Center for Disease Control. Murals along Woodland Ave, what ?,who can do the best graffitti. Please, you need to do more research before you write anything else. I drive through this, my old neighborhood, every night coming home from work. It is a shambles, reminding me of some of the worst neighborhoods in the city. you can only hang your head with disgust at what has happened to a once proud and CLEAN area of the city. The Gaza Strip has nothing on SWP now. By the way, if you knew anything at all, most of the areas you refer to in your article are not even considered southwest Philly, at least not by the standards of anyone who lived there. 48th street, 52nd st, NOT SW, but West Philly. If you really wanted to test the area, set yourself up for a walk when the area, anywhere from say, oh 60th st to Island Ave, Island to Kingsessing Ave's, at just after dark. And oh, by the way, walk alone and see for yourself how safe you can feel. As a kid or teenager back twenty to twenty five years ago, you could do this. Today, not in an armored vehicle. You, Ms. Nurin, are the problem with today's journalist, and indeed, society. A failure to recognize and print the Truth. what a waste of ink and webspace you have just used. You are a Joke.”
26. jimandmarty said... on Aug 4, 2008 at 06:11AM
“also, the refinery fire mentioned was indeed south philly. when we lived in southwest the "borderline" was the passyunk ave bridge. jerrys corner and the salvage yards ended southwest.”
27. jimandmarty said... on Aug 4, 2008 at 08:54AM
“how come the fr. gausch comment got removed? that was a fond memory of underwear and snickers bars.snickers in exchange for silence. a deal is a deal i kept my mouth shut!!”
28. Mike Farrell said... on Aug 5, 2008 at 08:24AM
“Tara is saying the glass 1/8 full, while the posters point out that it's 7/8 empty. In the very first paragraph she admits that SW is dangerous dump of a neighborhood. But lots of dangerous dirty slums have turned into "it" neighborhoods. It's not impossible that it could happen to SW. Look at what's happening to Cedar Park. High gas prices make transit access, walkability and a central location more of an asset than it used to be. However, the evidence of improvement in SW so far is pretty slim. An influx of immigrants is a positive, but a few numbers would be nice - exactly how many immigrants are we talking about? Are there any white hipsters at all? A stray artist perhaps? Last time I rode my bike down Woodland it didn't look like the type of neighborhood where I'd want to linger. Tara has done SW property owners a favor just by reminding us that SW exists, but I'm not sold yet.”
29. Jordan said... on Aug 6, 2008 at 12:06PM
“I like alternative weeklies...sometimes they pick up on trends before the MSM has a chance. Sometimes, as in this case, they get written on tight deadline and lack the intensive research that should go into a 1000+-word piece. I think what we have here is a piece written on an extremely tight deadline. Camden has a better chance at revitalization. The real estate boom swelled what we call Center City. From Girard south to Washington, everything jumped $100,000. Where do you think all the folks who can't afford CC went? To rent in SWP. It's not race. It's renting, and SWP is ground zero for all the people displaced by that boom. Good luck trying to get out. Property values are dropping so fast there are 3 homes for sale on my block, each listed for $15K less than their appraised value. No takers.”
30. chi chi said... on Aug 6, 2008 at 01:27PM
“i live in the suburbs and sleep with my doors unlocked. i go to bed feeling safe, and not worrying about getting mugged and looking over my shoulder. its a nice feeling. but hey if your willing to die to be in the 'it' neighborhood then hey go for it.”
31. Goggle Eyes Paisano said... on Aug 7, 2008 at 02:53AM
“I live in the suburbs as well. But hey, that's just me. Also, I lock my doors at night. But hey, that's because I've been robbed despite no longer living in SW Philly. But hey, whatta ya gonna do ? Somtimes stuff happens . But hey, I'm not knocking suburban living. Hey, I figure its gotta be much safer than living in the disaster that SW Philly has become. But hey ! But hey ! But hey !”
32. George Glass said... on Aug 7, 2008 at 11:25AM
“hey thanks for the linkage TM. Yeah, I live out there in southwest. It's not that bad, and my neighbors are wonderful people struggling to keep the neighborhood clean and peaceful. But we had three murders on our block last year Tara. Three people shot dead in the street. And while the Kingsessing Rec center is getting better, it is still littered with crack baggies, broken glass, and syringes. Not the kind of place I want MY kid playing. To write that SW is the hip new "it" place to live is laughable, at best. "get dinner at 52 and Woodland"? are you out of your f-ing mind?!? "festive banners"": they have those all over the city, and they don't make a shitty neighborhood any less shitty. In short, I mock your article.”
33. brendancalling said... on Aug 7, 2008 at 12:25PM
“hey thanks for the linkage TM. Yeah, I live out there in southwest. It's not that bad, and my neighbors are wonderful people struggling to keep the neighborhood clean and peaceful. But we had three murders on our block last year Tara. Three people shot dead in the street. And while the Kingsessing Rec center is getting better, it is still littered with crack baggies, broken glass, and syringes. Not the kind of place I want MY kid playing. To write that SW is the hip new "it" place to live is laughable, at best. "get dinner at 52 and Woodland"? are you out of your f-ing mind?!? "festive banners"": they have those all over the city, and they don't make a shitty neighborhood any less shitty. In short, I mock your article.”
34. yeadonboy said... on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:42AM
“Not much to add but the folks who called Tara on this b.s. article are right. I lived in Yeadon and my friend's dad had a store on Woodland Ave. Anyone remember Jeff's Place? This was the 80s and it wasn't a great neighborhood but it was still relatively ok. Once crack hit big things really started to change. Now I look my doors anytime I have to drive through South West. By the way, can you still get beer at Fallone's no matter how old you are?”
35. Mbuck said... on Aug 12, 2008 at 10:58AM
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? REJUVENATED??? SWP is a "hole" that used to be a descent place to live, but that all changed by the early '90's. SWP has got to be the "section-8" capitol of the world! I spent most of my life in the Irenaeus area, and what a shame its become. I am sooooo glad to live in Folsom (Ridley TWP)! I can't believe I know anyone at all who might still live in that sh*%hole. There was an exodus starting in the early 90's, and I am glad that I was a part of it! The current residents have destroyed the entire area. R.I.P. SWP!”
36. TH said... on Sep 12, 2008 at 02:19PM
“This is an absolute disgrace! I have had four generations of my family live in Southwest until we were forced out by Section 8 & Welfare. It was always a great neighborhood until it was ruined and now it is the new "IT" neighborhood. What a joke!!! We had to sell our home for peanuts because of how the neighborhood went down the tubes. There were many churches in my area, St. Mary's, Our Lady of Loretta, Saint Barnabas, Good Sheppard, St. Clements, St. Irenaeus.. Now they are all gone because of how the neighborhood changed!!! Good, Hard working people forced to move because of the influx of poor non working welfare abusers.... ”
37. SWPhillyNative said... on Oct 8, 2008 at 06:30AM
“Tara, I was born and raised in SW Philly and disagree with your comment about how "property values plummeted in the ’60s, and blight and crime followed". During the 60's, 70's, & 80's SW was the premier neighborhood. Crime and crack houses were nonexistent. Woodland Avenue was a shopping mecca, there were corner stores on every street, schools were overcrowded, parks were utilized, and GE was the largest employer. ”
38. Bill Coons said... on Oct 8, 2008 at 11:08AM
“1. Tara you are a Moron. When all the Trash from West Philly started to move in in the 90's, because there was nothing left to destroy in their neighborhood,is when SWP became a dangerous place to live. For all of those welfare and section 8 cases it must have seemed great in the beginning. Then they took over because of one reason only, the White Flight. Now if you are one of those ignorant Africans or Asians pissing in a toilet must be great now. So living in that Shithole(SWP) seems like Mecca for you since 10 years ago you were sleeping in a Savannah or rice patty somewhere. Another problem is all of these new SWP residents have no self-respect. They live like animals. They should put walls up around SWP and not let anyone out. I can not believe that anybody would actually think that that hood actually has a future. I would rather live in Tecrete Iraq.”
39. George Glass said... on Oct 20, 2008 at 01:15PM
“Wow - you really need to change your profession.”
40. LOL said... on Jan 8, 2010 at 10:48AM
“This is a great piece of fiction.
Violent crime fell 10 %, after it reached a record high in 2006. It was once safe to walk the streets, but not any more. Funny how one can manipulate facts and present such a false perception of reality.
In the early 90s, hope arrived? LOL. I guess the new definition of hope is drugs, killings, murders, assaults, robbery, etc. Heck, the Tastykake man can't even deliver food, without those thugs robbing him. You can have your hope.”
41. Maureen Theodosiades said... on Mar 7, 2011 at 01:29AM
“I don't know where u got ur information, but ur so off & it is reckless journalism. Southwest Philadelphia is full of history & milestones. First of all the neighborhood was built around GE. It was a great place to grow up. The 12th district always had a bad name, nicknamed the "Keystone Cops." In the 60s' , 70s' & 80s'. It was a proud neighborhood. It was a great place 2 grow-up. It was like the "suburbs of the city." People began moving after the breakdown of GE & people took jobs outside the neighborhood. Their was school pride, the CYO, Sports programs. It was clean & safe b/c the people made it so. The downfall of Southwest Philadelphia began when the crime rose, drugs flooded the neighborhood, section 8 came in & renting became more common than owning. Housing values dropped. Schools closed down because the people who left were no longer there & the people who moved in couldn't afford the tuition. The median income became lower. You can't re-write history, We were there!”
42. Lit said... on Mar 7, 2011 at 10:35PM
“i agree with all these people that lived there back when respect and pride were the norm. allright we were plagued with dysfunction, but we took care of our families and our business. we had a great deal of fun hanging out and even getting a little wild sometime,but rarely were we out for blood . we looked out for the old and the weak not victimized them . when i go back through i feel desperate to escape. what a shame and a waste. put a fork in it, its been cooked for years and never coming back.”
43. Anonymous said... on May 29, 2011 at 03:30AM
“Tara, put away the crack pipe, are you kidding me? Woodland Avenue IS a disgrace. When we lived there, the shops sold everything from upscale clothing, there were real banks, not those every other block "check-cashing joints" We had (Swanky shop, Joy Shop, Jay's Army and Navy, there were two different hat shops. Buster Brown shoes, a photographer who did our Communion pictures, seafood store, a few wedding dress shops, candy stores, a few pharmacies, many family restaurants, a dance studio, 2 movie theaters). I was down there in December on a Saturday night around 7pm, and was stuck behind a trolley with no where to go. I panicked as a creep gave me the finger and prompted me to roll down my window., Why? I was in the "wrong" neighborhood?? All I saw were check cashing places, nail salons and hair braiding stores on every corner. It was dirty, full of crime, and nothing like we, the above posters remember from back in the day. Get your facts straight!”
44. Mary J said... on May 29, 2011 at 11:25AM
“I loved SW Phila. growing up, I went back a few yrs ago and it looked like a war zone, the house I was raised in (in the middle of the black was torn down) 1829 S Allison St. - the magnificent house I had on 55th st. off of Woodland ave. was so beautiful that I still dream of it. Now it is a dump (sec.8) supposedly redid it, what happened to the treasures that that house held ie. stained glass windows, spiral staircase in kitchen,tile fireplaces. Thank God I was able to move out in 1970 before my children were killed and tortured going to school.”
45. mac said... on May 31, 2011 at 06:23AM
“Not gonna waste my time !! We all know the nieghborhood went to hell !!! Thats all I got ... (sooo Sad !)”
46. Anonymous said... on Jun 4, 2011 at 03:20PM
“Nonsense. The city killed off a big chunk of SWP when it decided to "redevelop" Eastwick. In the 60s it was a lovely place to be. Sure, if the wind blew the wrong way, you could get a whiff of refinery, but it wasn't that bad. We had bigger lots than most people anywhere in Philly, open fields, trees. And integration. Then the city forced everyone out. On the other end, Kingsessing, the city started "placing" welfare families into blocks full of working class folks who had always maintained their homes and kept their kids in school. As for people being squeezed out of Center City, guess what? It's a cycle, and it's been going on for centuries. My grandparents lived in Fairmount, then Kingsessing; my parents, in SW Philly then Yeadon; I lived in Lansdowne, then Swarthmore; my daughter lived in Bella Vista and Fairmount. It's called economics.”