We are doing just fine down here on South St. There are over 500 businesses operating in the District so of course they aren’t all fantastic. The district is working with landlords to get a little more realistic with rents etc especially in the current economic climate. Meanwhile, new retails districts are being built (Passyunk, NoLib, Midtown, N. Broad) as much retail moves online something has got to give right? The pie is only so big. Easy with the negative comments toward South Mr. Starr afterall didn’t you start down here with some kind of Comedy club??

How about taking a stab at the delaware waterfront. If Starr is willing to go to N. Broad and Fishtown, Delaware ave should not be a problem.

Count down to devolution to philly.com boards: 3…2…1!

The Flash Mob hysteria would be hysterical if not for all of the negative publicity it gets. Let’s see about 10 white people get hurt including a white woman! Gasp! Of course, about 10 people get hurt much more seriously a day riding bikes and getting hit by the same fat amd fearful suburbanites who make these comments. They drive like maniacs fleeing sodom and gomorrah each night (“there are gay people too!”), but that isn’t gonna make the front page.

Anyway, with that rant over -

Gonna go out on a limb and bet that Tony James is not from ’round here. I live at 12th and pine and my South Street is splendiferous! I have a Whole Foods and Superfresh forming the nexus of my supermarket universe, a good BBQ joint (Percy St.), an awesome brunch spot (Supper), and a not half bad Brauhaus. I have never felt unsafe traveling to any of these destinations.

I think the fear factor is to the east of sixth. Although that too is almost entirely overblown.

Here’s the solution: Do what they do in Austin close off South Street between front and sixth to car traffic on Friday and Saturday nights and make it a night market. That would kill the cruisers, improve business and allow the cops to opperate in a controlled environment. It makes so much sense that it’ll never happen….

I love South St and also frequent te places taht Dan mentions, but it’s a place that should be generally avoided on summer weekend evenings. Those nights, I usually head the other direction towards Rittenhouse. Healthier decision.

DKH, you are wrong. While there are some good businesses on South St., there is a lot of crap and vacancy. The stretch between say Front and 8th needs work, and does not reflect the surrounding areas at all. The bordering neighborhood associations (Queen Village, Bella Vista, Society Hill) should be putting pressure on the city to clean this mess up. Its nothing to do with flash mobs, just South Street should be more reflective of the surrounding area and residents, who would appreciate more interesting and maybe “upscale” options close to home.

Also, it might be a great idea to close South Street from Broad to Front to all traffic on weekends except buses/bicycles. This would end the stupid cruise that goes on on weekend evenings. That can be moved to a different part of the city that would actually benefit (maybe Spring Garden, Girard, etc). The businesses that service that cruising clientele can move as well.

Tom Collins:

so if we assume these cruisers are a negative element (implied by you wanting to move them), why should Spring Garden or Girard put up with them?

I’m really not sure what bucolic wonderful south street Starr and others are waxing nostalgic about? I agree that it could be improved (making it a pedestrian area would be a start, like Austin or like Times Square), but every city needs a corridor that sells to tourists, caters to a young crowd, and yes, even a majority black one (the horror!). Philly’s is South Street, and it’s actually somewhat admirable that right on or near that entertainment district are places like southwark, bistrot la minette, percy street, supper, etc. to make the area much more mixed-income in use.

While South Street can and should be improved, it’s not the highest need target commercial area for city intervention. Girard’s promise, to take one of your examples, is high. In/near gentrifying hoods, access to both subway lines, a trolley going up and down it, and it’s seen no major changes. It’s got the original paesano’s, johnny brenda’s, modo mio all ready to be anchor institutions and nothing’s really moving forward on that street.

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