The residents we spoke to about the neighborhood mentioned assets like "community" and "safety." The neighborhood hosts a wonderful public school, beautiful houses and clean streets. However, it's hard to ignore the process of gentrification going on, and it begs the question: who's being served by these changes?
The maps (below) show a great population shift of African Americans out of the Penn Alexander catchment zone between 2000 and 2013, as well as a decrease in the percentage of youth ages 18 and younger living in poverty. This could be a reflection of the rising housing prices identified within the zone. We could see the evolution of the neighborhood that was described in our interviews while we walked around, with construction crews upgrading houses on almost every block (pictured left top). This change, and the residents' various responses to it, were apparent in the discussion of an abandoned lot adjacent to Clark Park (pictured left). A group of developers from NYC has been approved to convert the lot into a luxury apartment complex. This decision came after opposition from some members of the surrounding community who were worried the building would disrupt the aesthetic of the neighboring blocks. Despite some residents' resistance, the real estate company obtained the zoning permit needed to proceed with planning and construction. Their plans include a mixture of rental properties aimed at young professionals and condos for sale. |
The company's vision for the abandoned lot, from their Facebook page.
A Changing Population
From 2000 to 2013, the African American population decreased significantly throughout the catchment zone. The higher population of white residents characteristic of the area immediately adjacent to UPenn's campus in 2000 extended farther west by 2013. In 2000, the area to the west of the catchment zone had an African American population of almost 100%, and by 2013 that population had dropped significantly.
Between 2000 and 2013, there was a noticeable drop in the number of school-aged children living in poverty within the Penn Alexander catchment zone. However, there was an increase in the number of children living in poverty to the west of the catchment zone. A possible explanation for this could be the relocation of low-income families from the catchment zone into the surrounding areas.