| Driving through South Philly you could be forgiven for | | | | enterprising residents began upgrading the properties. |
| thinking you were in a war zone, at least from the | | | | And now, Fitzwater and co is a good bet for people |
| perspective of this out-of-towner. But turn a corner | | | | forced out the New York property market by |
| onto Christian, Fitzwater Street, Kater, Greys Ferry, | | | | escalating prices. With easy access to freeways and |
| and suddenly homes are well-kempt, flags are flying | | | | trains, this area is a gem for commuters travelling to |
| and tree-lined streets reflect optimistic times ahead. | | | | the pricey Big Apple. |
| Naval Square, once the frontier of investment, is | | | | There is further evidence of gentrification in |
| now being surrounded by upgraded properties. | | | | Fitzwater. A few condos are going up, a sure sign |
| South of Christian, rubbish flutters around the streets | | | | that house property prices have risen. |
| like modern day tumbleweed. At times whole blocks | | | | Despite the media rumblings of a slowing property |
| seem to have been raised to the ground. A sad | | | | market, (and realtors are definitely upset at no longer |
| brown building catches the eye. It has a smashed | | | | being able to bid up prices between interested |
| window and piles of furniture are falling through the | | | | parties), the pace of change and improvements is still |
| hole, about to tumble onto the street. It makes you | | | | going strong in this part of Philadelphia. Contractors |
| wonder how long before some bored punk | | | | still re-model at a frenzied rate. Businesses are setting |
| accidentally empties lighter fluid over the remains and | | | | up shop too: Turkish and Mexican restaurants, |
| tries the flint for the last time before running across | | | | swanky bars, coffee shops. And residents do their bit |
| wasteland to safety. | | | | too, to make this part of town a great place to live. |
| The general air is depressed. This lack of care, lack | | | | They do not tolerate dirty sidewalks; bored |
| of hope, lack of pizzazz that is supposed to | | | | adolescents don't loiter with intent to do mischief for |
| differentiate Americans from boring Europeans, hangs | | | | grins; it is a nice neighborhood. |
| like a grey cloud over the neighborhood. Even these | | | | So, if you take note of an indepth study on property |
| optimistic eyes fail to see through the gloom, as | | | | prices for the coming couple of years, you will see |
| every street corner seems to sport overweight | | | | that Philadelphia is not included in the correction that |
| sloppily dressed males of all ethnicity, one leg bent | | | | will be seen in Florida and California and the rest of |
| back resting against the wall of a store, chatting lazily | | | | the upmarket North East. Philadelphia started at a |
| about the game and the latest gossip on the 'hood. | | | | heavy discount, so you could do worse than buy into |
| It is quite shocking to hear that just a few years | | | | an area where it can only get better in the next few |
| ago, prim and tidy Fitzwater was in about the same | | | | years. |
| condition. Local realtor, Ingrid Kernstock, explains that | | | | See past the occasional rehabs-in-waiting in the |
| for her, it was a no-brainer to move into the area 3 | | | | immediate vicinity, they will be dealt with as |
| years ago. The evidence of gentrification in full swing | | | | gentrification continues apace. The putrefaction of |
| was clear to be seen. 3 story wrecks, under-priced | | | | the South of the city is being pushed aside at a |
| for decades in comparison to uptown New York, | | | | great rate of knots. Cash in now on a house to call |
| were going for $100,000. The tone of the area was | | | | home for years to come, before they get too pricey! |
| improving by the month as developers and | | | | Satisfaction almost comes guaranteed! |