Councilwoman-elect Jamie Gauthier speaking at the “State of University City” event on Wednesday (Photo courtesy of University City District).
City Councilwoman-elect Jamie Gauthier told University City District supporters, staff and board during a speech at the organization’s annual “State of University City” event that she hopes the economic success in the area around the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital and Drexel University reaches into struggling neighborhoods as well.
“As more cranes go up in this area,” she said to the crowd of developers, donors and supporters of the University City District. “I hope our residents farther out can participate in that growth.”
The annual event, held Wednesday, is an opportunity for University City District staff and board members to talk about gains in areas like in employment, development and residential real estate prices in the 2.4-square-mile area defined as the Schuylkill River to 50th Street, south to Woodland Avenue and north to Market Street and, in the Powelton neighborhoods, north again to Spring Garden Street.
The event culminated with the release of the glossy “State of University Report,” showing data on everything from the number of jobs in the area (85,000) to the median rent ($1,720).
Here are some more numbers:
• An estimated 68 percent of residents walk, bicycle or ride public transit to work.
• The median home price is $382,000.
• 70 percent of storefront businesses are locally owned.
• There is 2.75 million square feet of development under construction.
“What we see is economic acceleration unlike any but a few places in the country,” said UCD President Matt Bergheiser.
But Gauthier, who spoke right after University City District officials (who thanked outgoing Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell with a bouquet of flowers), reminded the audience that Philadelphia is still the poorest big city in the nation. Her call for more affordable housing was met with applause.
“What if we were known as the most equitable community in the region,” she said.
December 8th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
If there is such a thing as University City, it certainly does not extend out even so far as Baltimore Avenue, let alone to Woodland and 50th. One need only walk the streets to see that the Pentrification agenda does not extend to our neighborhoods. Indeed, Penn admitted as much a decade ago when they talked to the Inquirer about how “people” (by which they meant their kind of people) used to be afraid to go west of 40th. UCD is an occupation regime, and you should not afford it legitimacy in your coverage.
December 9th, 2019 at 10:01 am
Here’s an idea: start acting like responsible people. You live in the ghetto and complain about it while doing nothing. Are you looking for Robin Hood to come in and lift you from your dereliction? Why don’t your and your neighbors actually get off your butts and fix your own community?
Oh, you want someone else to do it.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:51 am
Anyone who uses the words “equity” or “equitable” aims to deceive people. It’s a meaningless word used to manipulate. Thank about it: someone can propose any outlandish scheme and call it “equitable”, since the word can mean anything. Anyone who opposes it will now be accused of opposing “equity” and will be shouted down, no matter how correct they may be.
The reason Philadelphia is the poorest big city in the nation is because all the other comparable cities have such high housing costs that poor people can’t afford to live there. It’s a great bludgeon to use for political brainwashing but in the end it’s just an illustration that Philly is much more affordable than those other cities.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Why always comes to “affordable housing”…if you look, Philly has plenty of it. Population is 30% below the high set in the 60’s. Just move out a little and you’ll see plenty of boarded up places, empty lots…Talking to the UCD crowd about “affordable housing” is a missed opportunity. Get them into jobs/training/education and the housing will come. You can get a little fixer upper on income of 40-50grand/year. I did it, just a few blocks from the 52nd station. In less than 15 minutes I am in Center City, plenty of jobs there. Monthly comes to about 700/month. I am fixing a room at a time, and in my runs to Lowe’s or the RFH store I see so many places that could be perfect for what I am doing.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Hi I was wondering do you have any two bedroom apartments for me and my son he send he’s have autism if you do please leave me an email and let me know when I can come in apply at or call me at 267-401-7208 thank you my name is Alina Scott saint Alena
December 10th, 2019 at 10:53 pm
The Jury’s not in on Jamie Gauthier yet. She is saying *something* about development around these parts but it’s not exactly sure yet what the approach she promotes will look like. Her call for more affordable housing could be good, bad, or indifferent- it absolutely does depend on the particulars.
The Devil really is in the details here. Housing equity will require much, much more than the provision of a small number of lower cost units (keyed to 60% of Average Mean Income?) as each MEGA-development project is imposed upon our communities.
December 11th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
I was not there, but what is transcribed in the article earns a “meh” for Gauthier.
You keep focusing on developers…such and auch invested 90 and sold for 120…
Look at especulators too…look at what the very city of Philadelphia is doing
In my block, the worst kept lot, vacant, with overgrown weed and trash belongs to the city…
The crumbling building? To a LLC…
That is something that councilmembers could address: the city should either behave as a good neighbor or give those lots up.
And tighten the screws on speculators that hold property…due to our low real state taxes it costs next to nothing to hold a piece of property, while waiting for it to appreciate
December 11th, 2019 at 6:48 pm
I’m not personally convinced that putting every vacant lot on to the market is an inherent good.
The effects of a greater construction boom are likely to be hellish for renters generally and lower and middle income people in particular. Not to mention the quality of life issues related to the filling in all the empty space investors can profit from.
If Jamie Gauthier does intend to bite the hand that feeds and push back hard against her own patrons at Philadelphia 3.0, we will all know it. Right now, caution is justified.
See, for example:
https://www.phillypowerresearch.org/news/2019/4/4/venture-capitalist-josh-kopelman
December 13th, 2019 at 4:42 pm
“I’m not personally convinced”
LOL…no kidding.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Who runs Philly?:
https://www.phillypowerresearch.org/news/2019/5/29/who-runs-philly-part-14-how-independent-expenditure-pacs-like-phila-30-make-campaign-contribution-limits-irrelevant