Homeless On Doorstep Of Posh Neighborhood

The City of Philadelphia plans to partner with a church to construct a shelter near the well-off Chestnut Hill neighborhood. Current residents aren't having it.

1 minute read

April 21, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By David Gest

"In a neighborhood physically set off from the rest of the city, both by a steep hill and a deep gorge, local leaders were busy gearing up for springtime. The annual garden festival was on the horizon, and the biggest gripe seemed to be the looming eyesore that Commerce Bank left when it all but demolished a building near the northern boundary of the Germantown Avenue business corridor."

"As part of its 10-year, $10 million plan to end homelessness, the city was looking to open a 150-bed shelter in neighboring Mt. Airy, less than half a mile from the entrance to the rambling mix of precious antique shops and chain retailers at the heart of a business revitalization effort, and one city block from the quiet, tree-lined streets fat with $750,000 homes.

In Chestnut Hill -- where scandal is always just a curb cut or a neon sign away -- all bets were off."

FULL STORY: Hill, No

Thursday, April 20, 2006 in Philadelphia City Paper

Housing Social / Demographics Pennsylvania

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