Gentrification

The purpose of this report is to interpret gentrification in and around the Italian Market neighborhood of Philadelphia. This field study map begins at Passyunk Ave and Montrose Street, north on South 7th Street, west on Fitzwater Street, north on North 9th Street, west on Bainbridge Street, south on South 10th Street, west on Fitzwater Street, south on South 11th Street, east on Washington Avenue, north on South 10th Street, east on Christian Street, and south on Passyunk Avenue.

Gentrification in the Italian Market neighborhood of Philadelphia is beginning to take hold. There are a large number of modern townhouses and condos that have been, are in the process of being, or will be erected in a small number of blocks. Through my field studies I have noticed more than five out of place new structures, such as the one pictured below on South Darien Street between Catherine Street and Christian Street. Gentrification is typically used to bring life back to a deteriorating neighborhood by attracting new business and higher income residents. It also attempts to clean the landscape by rebuilding or cleaning up existing properties. The entire neighborhood surrounding the market is fairly well maintained. Most of the homeowners take pride in their properties and there is little need for the new homes that are sprouting up in the area.



Murals in Philadelphia are also a way in which gentrification enters an area. The murals that are contributed from the Mural Arts Program signify a public / private venture to brighten an area. There are a number of murals, both through the Mural Arts Program and by private property owners. There is strong artistic influence in the area, due to inexpensive rents and moderate home prices. There are a handful of coffee shops, dive bars, and businesses targeted toward artists. Just this past Sunday of April 30th, I saw a large group of people using a home as a medium for a broken ceramics and mirror artistic piece on my block. There are also flags in the area denoting “Bella Vista,” which shows public interaction with the area.





The businesses in the area speak differently for gentrification. The restaurants and stores are maintained by individual owners. The market itself is kept clean by those individual owners. There is little help from the city in maintenance, except for trash removal, which is standard in all areas of the city. There is a stark divide between what we expect in center city with sidewalk sweepers, constant maintenance, and police patrol. The Italian Market area of the city seems to have been forgotten by Philadelphia. There is little by the way of advertising to attract tourists to the area although the history contained in this small area is significant.



Gentrification has not been able to actually enter the market itself and with such a strong community involvement in the area, I highly doubt it ever will.