Philly’s Hot ‘Hoods

Old City is just one Philly neighborhood to have worn the uneasy crown of New Best Place to Live. Here, a brief, unofficial history of the other highs (and lows) of modern gentrification.

1964
I.M. Pei designs
Society Hill Towers, reinventing Society Hill as an enclave of the city’s well-to-do.

1978
Frank Rizzo & Co. spruce up the Manayunk canal; developers follow. In the ’80s, hilly -Manayunk becomes the coveted ’hood for young bar-goers. Parking still sucks.

1989
Jack’s Firehouse brings chic dining—and real estate sizzle—to Fairmount.

1997
Penn begins gobbling up parcels in West Philadelphia, resulting in a gradual (and controversial) rehab that comes to be known as “Penntrification.”

2003
Johnny Brenda’s opens, stamping working-class Fishtown as the buzzy new face of cool.

2004
After contemplating a strip mall for the site of the old Schmidt’s brewery in Northern Liberties, Bart Blatstein instead plans the Piazza at Schmidts, triggering the NoLibs gold rush.

2009
The Center City condo boom goes bust, exemplified by the fire-sale auction of luxury units at the Murano.

2010
Just over a year after opening chic JimmyStyle on East Passyunk, owner Jimmy Contreras closes his shop doors due to lack of business, making locals wonder if newly hip South Philly can sustain itself as the city’s hottest ’hood.