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ADFC t1_jdvoevl wrote

Port Richmond will definitely be one of the "next dominos to fall" and I'm excited to see less and less vacant storefronts on Richmond, but I also think there are some limiting factors to deter its growth from ever reaching Fishtown's level.

1.) Majority of the buildings are 2 story rowhomes vs. 3 story + scattered warehouses; limits your renovation potential, such as adding a home office/study in addition to a nursery or adding lofts for example. 2.) Lack of access to the El. The Trolley will help but that'll still take 10-15 minutes to reach the Girard stop. 3.) More generational old-timers than Fishtown who have stronger opinions on "change" in their neighborhood (to say the least)

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A_Peke_Named_Goat t1_jdvt8k6 wrote

if it makes you feel any better, Fishtown was similarly opinionated regarding "change" back in 2007 when I first moved there.

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filladellfea t1_jdy5u3i wrote

I feel like a lot of people on this sub really don't know what fishtown was like before 2010 - it absolutely had the same vibe as port richmond in the 2000s (even into the early 2010s). every bar was a locals-only corner bar and if you weren't from fishtown originally, you got looked at like you had a third eye. it was a working class neighborhood for generations.

that said, port richmond not having easy access to the el is an issue. the trolley will help though.

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A_Peke_Named_Goat t1_jdzor9n wrote

Ha, well I guess we are talking about 15-20 years ago. Its hard to fault people for being young.

And I don't want to make it sound like it was terrible in the late aughts, either, there wasn't a ton to do compared to today but it was still a very nice place to live with el access, and it never took more than a conversation for people to warm up to you. As long as you weren't condescending you'd be fine. (Ok, I mean, it did help that I am white but I wouldn't call Fishtown unique in that way)

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internet_friends t1_jdvr07d wrote

3 is a huge factor. I have lived in both Port Richmond and Fishtown. The MAGA, Trumpy vibe from Port Richmond is not incredibly pleasant to be around. That and the lack of good public transit are the major factors in me leaving PR. Businesses like the Lunar Inn are amazing, but some of the local community hates them for dumb shit like flying a pride flag outside. Other businesses have great food/drinks but the cop-bar vibe is overwhelming (I'm looking at you, Gaul & Co). This is going to be a major deterrent until the area is gentrified more. The big appeal to Fishtown is access to public transport + good bars/restaurants + ~hipster vibes~ and right now Port Richmond is 0/3 on that front. The neighborhood certainly has potential and I agree it'll be one of the next that devs go after, but it certainly isn't going to be the next Fishtown for a long time, if ever.

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sheds_and_shelters t1_jdw2otr wrote

The local Proud Boys leader lived on Almond when the FBI came to take him away, I believe. Some of the things I’ve heard said over my fence are absolutely heinous. It’s less an “undercurrent” than it is something many in the neighborhood actively cultivate.

You mentioned the pro-cop businesses, and it’s hardly limited to Gaul. Look no further than Debbie’s, where I regularly see cop cars parked in the middle of the street with perfectly good spots to be had mere feet away to pick up their donuts or whatever mid-shift. Predictably gross. The same goes for plenty of other mainstays.

That being said, it is becoming more diverse and progressive and I love that places like the ones mentioned on Richmond are facilitating that transition (even if I don’t have any hopes that it’ll ever get rid of those vibes entirely).

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Umphreeze t1_jdwt70q wrote

Yeah, I mean, go check out the Port Richmond neighborhood Facebook groups. They're filled with legit lunatics

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sheds_and_shelters t1_jdwuh10 wrote

For sure. Unfortunately, it's hearing the "Facebook-esque" comments said in real life here in the neighborhood, loudly and proudly, that tend to freak me out more.

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quieromofongo t1_jdx0kkn wrote

I’ve had things said to my face. And behind my back. Moved to the bad side and I love it here.

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ADFC t1_jdvyaf3 wrote

100% to everything you said. It’ll never be a “Fishtown” (and that’s perfectly fine too btw), it’s too much a family oriented community with “deep roots” that aren’t going anywhere, given how affordable the area is.

Another thing is the lack of potential for adaptive reuse in the neighborhood. There’s very few warehouses mixed into the neighborhoods since all the industrial areas were on the river stemming from the train viaduct. You have to follow the viaduct north of Aramingo/the black bridge for the larger developmental opportunities, but at that point you’re a little too close to K&S/K&A for any true revitalization/reuse to occur at the present moment. Interesting to see how it unfolds in a decade or so…

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internet_friends t1_jdvzlcy wrote

A great point on the adaptive reuse.

Another thing I noticed is that the K&A spillover is much more prevalent in Port Richmond than in Fishtown or even East Kensington (which, by the way, IS the next "domino to fall" not Port Richmond). I lived pretty far away from the side of Port Richmond that borders Kensington and still thought it was bad. Nothing like a couple of dudes pushing around shopping carts full of scrap metal that says, "This neighborhood is a great place to buy a house!"

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ADFC t1_jdw1w1b wrote

I’d say the domino is falling down in East Kensington as we speak!

That is 100% true, the Sunoco/Wawa on Allegheny is insane. I wonder why the spillover is worse given East Kensington and Port Richmond have the same CP (Squilla).

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Jawny_Appleseed t1_jdwwclw wrote

Scrap yards and and vacant lots just off of Richmond Street make the area more appealing to the homeless element. It’s an easy 15 minute walk to K&A for your supplies and a safer place to crash without sleeping in an abandoned house off of Kensington Ave.

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CroatianSensation79 t1_jdytxfy wrote

You hit the nail on the head. This is so true. I live a few blocks from that wawa and Sunoco and to be honest, they’ve had that homeless element for about 15-20 years. It’s gotten worse the last few years though.

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Daisy_Steiner_ t1_jdyuuqt wrote

I don’t know. This is exactly what Memphis and Hazzard felt like in 2007 when I first moved there.

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internet_friends t1_jdzsksr wrote

Memphis and Hazzard is East Kensington and is still being gentrified. It's pretty close to Lehigh so I'm not shocked you felt that way back in 2007, it still isn't that nice now. Most of what's been gentrified in East Kensington is above Frankford closer to Fishtown.

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dentduv t1_jdvu5cc wrote

Agreed, I’m sure the trump flags and republican headquarters on Lehigh/Thompson scare away some much needed young couples and families. It’s mostly been fine, just get stared at quite a bit. It is slowly getting more diverse thankfully.

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Spiral_eyes_ t1_jdx39n1 wrote

it's as quick to just walk from Port Richmond to front and girard than to bother waiting for and takin the trolley

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baldude69 t1_je0o5di wrote

Agree on the cop bar tip. I want to enjoy so many of the local bars like Gaul & Co, Bonks, Byrnes, Debbies have so much potential, but there's just something just "off" about them

As far as El access, I'm not sure I agree there. Granted I live close to the Westmoreland terminal, but it typically takes me 10 mins to get from there to Frank and Girard, making access to CC really painless, other than when the El breaks down, which is pretty frequently. Also, easy access to 95 is pretty awesome

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