Philly Burgh Balances Tradition with Revitalization

Jason Laughlin reports: "For the first time in years, Bridgeport, which occupies less than a square mile along the Schuylkill, is aiming to be a regional destination. A $130 million project to bring hundreds of residences to a barren waterfront appears to be moving forward as officials tinker with regulations to make the community a better place to live and do business."

"The population is already getting younger, with the median age dropping by three years between 2000 and 2010, according to census data. The challenge facing the town is how to capture the kind of spark that made Conshohocken a business and residential hub while remaining true to itself."

Laughlin notes many of the challenges faced by Bridgeport specifically, as compared to some of the towns nearby that have already attracted the type of investments now on the table in Bridgeport. For instance, home values and income levels are below the county median in Bridgeport, while the crime rate is above it.