WEST PHILADELPHIA

'West Philadelphia' is a section of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Though there is no set official definition on the boundaries of the region, West Philly can be described as being from the western shore of the Schuylkill River to City Line Avenue in the Northwest, Cobbs Creek in the Southwest, and with the SEPTA R3 Media-Elwyn line being used as a reference for the southern border. Occasionally West Philadelphia is described as being the area west of the Schuylkill River; this definition would also include Southwest Philadelphia and its neighborhoods.

Contents

Topography

History

Housing

Transportation

Elevated Rail

Light Rail

Regional Rail

Schools

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Destinations

West Philadelphia in the media

External links

Topography

The topography of West Philadelphia is composed of rolling hills rising slowly from the Schuylkill River toward Cobbs Creek in the West and toward Belmont Plateau in the Northwest. Because of this gradual elevation, the skyline of Center City can be seen from almost any point in West Philadelphia; but most strikingly from the "Plateau" or "Plat" in what is now Fairmount Park in the Wynnefield neighborhood of West Phialdelphia. Because of these majestic views the Western portions of Fairmount Park are the areas most often chosen for photographers and organizers of civic events.
West Philadelphia's streets are laid out in a modified "grid" pattern. Market Street is the central main thoroughfare running East and West, with "tree" streets above and below, also running East to West. The North-South streets are numbered consecutively starting with 30th street at the Schuylkill River through to 68th street on the far Western edge near Cobbs Creek.

East-West Tree Streets	Lanes	Direction
Aspen Street	1 lane	alternates
Poplar Street	1 lane	alternates
Chestnut Street	3 lanes	Eastbound
Walnut Street	3 lanes	Westbound
Locust Street	2 lanes	Two-way
Spruce Street	2 lanes	Two-way
Pine Street	2 lanes	Two-way
Osage Avenue	1 lane	One-way/alternates
Larchwood Street	1 or 2 lanes	alternates
Hazel Avenue	2 lanes	Two-way
Cedar Avenue	2 lanes	Two-way

Chestnut and Walnut streets are wide three-lane thoroughfares that form PA state Route 3. These two streets constitute one of the major commuter routes into and out of Philadelphia from surrounding Delaware and Chester Counties. Thousands of cars, trucks and buses travel Chestnut and Walnut street daily. In the sixties and seventies these roads even boasted illuminated signs announcing the optimal speed to travel the 4.3 miles trip into Center City without stopping for a red light. Once lined with actual American Chestnut and Walnut trees that touched across the five lanes of roadway, due to Chestnut blight many of these trees were removed and replaced with a mix of Sycamore and Poplar trees. City officials found these species much more tolerant of the urban environment and disease resistant, although a handful of Chestnut trees remain near Cobbs Creek.
Another notable street is Lancaster Avenue which begins at 34th street near Drexel University and runs through to the city line at City Avenue, and continues on as Pennsylvania Route 30 to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and the West Virginia border. Lancaster Avenue is also one of the major retail strips in West Philadelphia. Shops and restaurants line the entirety of Lancaster Avenue through to 64th street in the Wynnefield neighborhood. In addition, one of Philadelphia's six remaining streetcar lines, the Route 10 Green Line, transports commuters and students daily along Lancaster Avenue from 35th and Ludlow streets to 63rd and Malvern Avenue in Wynnefield.

History

West Philadelphia's population expanded significantly in the late 1800s and early 1900s and the area was home to a large segment of Philadelphia's middle-class population commuting into the Central Business District a few miles to the East. The Western portion of the neighborhood was once home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country, but over the last 50 years has declined in prominence. This is due to increasing crime rates, which led much of the city's middle and upper classes to migrate to the suburbs and other sections of the city. Striking Victorian architecture remains, recalling the area's past.
The most noteworthy historical event in West Philadelphia in the past 50 years has been the clash between Philadelphia "officers of the peace" and an organization known as MOVE in 1978 and again in 1985 that led to the bombing of the group's headquarters and a fire that destroyed an entire block of Osage Avenue and Pine Street.
In recent years, parts of West Philadelphia have undergone "Penntrification," a term that reflects the University of Pennsylvania's role in gentrification of the neighborhood; including a marketing campaign to rename the area "University City". The area has experienced a resurgence in popularity with young professionals and families.

Housing

The vast majority of the houses in West Philadelphia are rowhouses with areas of semidetached and detached houses. Largely commissioned by speculative developers, designed by some of the city's most prolific architects of the times, and occupied by a rising class of industrial managers and other professionals these houses represented the first movement of upper and middle class from the more crowded city center. The earliest developments began in 1850 and the final period of significant construction ended in 1930. The development pattern established in the district closely paralleled transportation developments which enabled the residents to live in the outer reaches of Philadelphia which were made accessible by the horsecar and later
trolley lines and the Market Street Line. The growing middle class which included a rising class of industrial managers flocked to the new housing stock. Developers found by catering to this emerging group, and by shrinking the lot sizes, building more compact less ornate houses, significantly greater earnings could be attained.

Inital development was divided into block lots and sold in 1852 with the condition that "substantial stone or brick buildings" be erected. The houses in this grouping are primarily three-story Italianate buildings, that together reflect a unified composition that links the houses by material, decorative detail, and form. Located approximately about Chester Avenue, an additional sixteen Italianate, brownstone, semi-detached houses, similar in form to the inital houses, though notably smaller in lot size, scale and detail. The setback of these houses was 25' which allowed for generous front yards.
Aother development on Locust Street was comprised of three-story, two-bay, brick, restrained Queen Anne rowhouses. The street was unified by front yards, and enclosed by decorative iron fences. The success of this development was largely attained by the melding of the suburban principles of front porches and greenspace with the urban rowhouse form, thus achieving profitable, yet desirable, middle class suburban housing. Other similar developments followed which successfully introduced urban density and architectural uniformity; the Queen Anne style with their columned porches with decorative spindlework, decorative brickwork and corbelling, steeply pitched gables with fishscale slate shingles, turrets, balconies, and windows with a single pane surrounded by small panes. These houses are typical of the early twentieth century developments in West Philadelphia, and are unified by rhythmic patterning of porch and gable features. The second story, projecting, semi-hexagonal bay is incorporated into this design, an element which defines the later rowhouses.
The western reaches of West Philadelphia were built of endless rows of two-story rowhouses with bay windows above classical columned front porches. What resulted was a collection of Colonial Revival houses with Arts and Crafts influences, which reflect the sophisticated tastes of post-World War I Philadelphians. For the first time in West Philadelphia, garages were incorporated into the housing. Later Tudor and Spanish Revival houses, and the Art Deco influenced apartment houses also filled in available lot spaces between developments and made it possible for even greater numbers of middle class Philadelphians to migrate to the area.

Transportation

Elevated Rail

One of West Philadelphia's most prominent features is the "El", or SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line or Blue Line. This elevated subway line completed in 1907 linked West Philadelphia, Millbourne and Upper Darby to Center City and then later to Frankford. Running above and for a portion, under Market Street , this transportation link is one of Philadelphia's two major transit lines transporting hundreds of thousands of students and workers daily into and around the city. The El, despite its age and at times disrepair, once powered the economic engine of West Philadelphia.
Retail districts lined every street where there was a station as well as along Market Street. Most recently many of these retail districts with the exception of 52nd Street have been converted to largely residential areas. One of the aggravating factors in this change has been the recent reconstruction of the EL which due to detours of the "number streets" or numbered North-South thoroughfares and closure of large portions of Market Street, have led to many remaining businesses failing.

Light Rail

Another major tranit link in West Philadlphia are the five Subway Surface Line, or Green Lines. The Green Lines are composed of five of Philadelphia's remaining six trolley or light rail lines. Combined, these trolley routes convey more than 150,000 passengers daily, and operate 24 hour schedules, even in blizzard conditions. Initially two other trolley lines, the route 38 trolley which ran from Wynnefield to Center City via Belmont Avenue and Mantua, and the route 31 trolley, which ran from the city line in
Overbrook Park via Haverford Avenue and Market Street into Center City we to be diverted into the transit tunnel at Ludlow Street. However, a recent takeover of the then Philadelphia Transit Company by the National City Lines led to scrapping those plans and converting those routes to diesel buses as well as extending the Rt.38 into newly developed neighborhoods in Bala Cynwood, and diverting the Rt.31 into a circuitous route through West Philadelphia and Mantua.
The route 10 trolley runs along Lancaster Avenue from 63rd and Malvern Avenue through to 35th and Ludlow Streets where a portal allows access to the subway tunnel into Center City. The route 34 trolley runas along Baltimore Avenue from Cobbs Creek at 61st Street to the transit tunnel at 40th Street in University City. The route 13 trolley runs along Chester Avenue fron the transit tunnel at 40th Street and Baltimmore Avenue to 67th Street where it turns off of Chester Avenue and continues along PA Route 13 into Yeadon, Township on to its terminus at Green Lane. The route 11 trolley runs long Woodland Avenue from the transit tunnel at 40th street through to the city line at Cobbs Creek and continues into Darby Borough. The final Green Line is the route 36 trolley which is the longest and furthest South. The 36 trolley leaves the transit tunnel, runs along Woodland Aveue to 49th street, and turns South to continue along Lindbergh Boulevard until 55th Street when it splits off with Elmwood Avenue. It continues westbound on Elmwood until it turns south on Island Avenue west of 73rd Street, and continues South until its terminus in Penrose Plaza in Southwest Philadelphia, near the Philadelphia International Airport.

Regional Rail

West Philadelphia is also serviced by five of SEPTA's eight Regional Rail Lines. The R1 services University City at University City Station in the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the southern-most portion of Soutwest Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International Airport. The R3 Media-Elwyn line also services Univerity City and portions of Soutwest Philadelphia before continuing to Media and points beyond. The R5 line services Overbrook and Wynnefield before continuing to the "Main Line" communities and Paoli. Another line, the R6 Cynwyd line is an express line from Center City to the Bala Cynwyd neighborhood of Lower Merion Township.

Combined, these lines transport thousands of commuters daily into an out of Center City and University City, as well as providing a quick and inexpensive link to the Airport. The majority of these passenger trips originate outside of the city limits, however due to SEPTA's recent intitives to increase ridership system-wide, increasing numbers of West Philadelphia residents make use of the Regional Rail lines as a high-speed link to Center City by using the multi-ride "Transpass". The transpass allows unlimited rides on SEPTA vehicles within the city limits, including Regional Rail. Recently, community groups have called on SEPTA to reopen previously closed stations along its Regional Rail lines to offer increased access to communites furthes away from the Market-Frankfort Line and the Broad Street Subway.

Schools

Primary and secondary schools

West Philadelphia has some of the oldest and newest schools in the city.

Public schools

Area public schools are operated by the School District of Philadelphia.
West Philadelphia High School built in 1911, was one of the biggest and most diverse schools in state when it was opened. The students of "West" were the children of middle class blacks; as well as Irish, Jewish, Polish and other immigrant groups.
Other notable high schools in West Philadelphia are West Philadelphia University City High School, William L. Sayre High School formerly Sayre Middle School, Robert E. Lamberton High School, and Overbrook High School.

Private schools

Blocks away from "West" were the West Philadelphia Catholic High Schools for Girls at 46th Street and Boys at 48th Street, now consolidated into West Philadelphia Catholic High School in the building at 46th Street. St. Thomas Moore High School for Boys at 47th and Wyalusing Avenue was closed in 1975 and now houses the Sr Clara Muhammad School.

Colleges and universities

West Philadelphia is the home to several universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph's University, Drexel University, and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Destinations

West Philadelphia boasts more attractions and destinations than many small cities. There are over 200 restaurants within its borders. Caribbean, Mexican, Soul Food, Halal, Indian, all manner of Asian cuisine, as well as traditional American fare can be had with blocks of oneanother. There are also many cheesesteaks and hoagies to be had prepared in every style and flavor. Quite a few of ''Philadelphia Magazine'''s 10 Best food dishes are to be found in West Philadelphia. Among these are Balal's Halal fish-cheesesteaks and fish-hoagies, Fu-Wah's vegetarian hoagies, Zocalo's marinaded Carne Bandera, among many, many others.

There are approximately 75 blue Historic markers throughout West Philadelphia of the 196 total in Philadelphia. These Markers note the birth places, homes, business and important places in American and Philadelpia history with a short caption. Many guided tours use these markers for themed tours and activities for visitors.
The nations oldest zoological garden, the Philadelphia Zoo is a perenial destination for area school students and families with its world class exhibitions and eductional programs. Nestled in the approximate center of Fairmount Park near ample parking and down from Memorial Hall, Kelly Pool, The Carousel House, and the new Microsoft partner high school the "School of the Future".
There are also quite a few cultural venues. The Mann Music Center of the Performing Arts perched atop George's Hill is a covered ampitheater that also boasts a grand open air lawn that has served as a major venue for everyone from the Boston Pops to Luther Vandross. Frequently during the spring and summer, fireworks are to be seen at the close of concerts to the delight of audiences and neighbors alike. There is also the Bushfire Theater of the Performing Arts on 52nd street. The Bushfire Theater has been a longtime center for African American playwrights and choreographers to showcase their avante garde and culturally introspective works.

West Philadelphia in the media

To people outside of Philadelphia, West Philadelphia is widely known from being mentioned in the theme song to the NBC sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' in which Will Smith sings the lyric "In West Philadelphia, born and raised," reflecting his origins in the Wynnefield neighborhood.
West Philadelphia is also the neighborhood of the Pryor family in the NBC drama ''American Dreams'', which is set in the mid-1960s.

West Philadelphia was also the home of American Bandstand. The popular dance show and career starter for host Dick Clark was produced at television station WFIL-TV (Channel 6, now WPVI-TV) in "Studio 'B'", which was located in their just-completed addition 4548 Market Street. The show distinguished itself by featuring local high school students in its show and turning them into teen idols. The former television station is now home to the West Phialdelphia Enterprise Center, although the large satellite dish on the roof still remains.

External links

★ University City Historical District - history of the area now known as West Philadelphia

★ City of Philadelphia neighborhoods - West Philadelphia - official city website's neighborhood web page with related links

★ West Philadelphia Data and Information Resources - University of Pennsylvania

★ West Philadelphia On The Web - a collection of 200 links to community resources

★ The building of West Philadelphia