We decided to drive through the neighborhood on Sunday in order to get some inspiration for the final project. Focusing upon the housing situation in Allegheny, Tioga and Nicetown, we wanted to get a sense of what the actual homes in the neighborhoods were like. What we found was a mix of many different homes in varying states of repair.
While the majority of row-homes appeared to be in decent shape, there were a surprising number of decrepit houses. Shattered windows, boarded doors, trash strewn about in yards – all were common sights throughout the area. Several doors were missing from the frames, providing a partial view of the insides of the dwellings. Of course, the situation within was no better than the outside – mattresses, broken furniture and trash crowded the living rooms. We opted not to go inside any of these areas for two reasons – besides the fact the properties were often condemned or restricted, they just looked too dangerous to explore.
The multitude of abandoned properties throughout the area made me wonder about the problems of housing and homeless, both common issues in poorer neighborhoods. Could these houses be renovated or replaced in order to bring about more housing that could be made available to those in need? Would the city government be willing to partake in such a plan? Does the city even have the money in the ever-so-strained budget to accomplish such a task?
Clearly, in the current economic situation there is little money to be spent, though one should also consider the additional benefits of such a project. With new construction efforts in the area, more jobs would become available. In addition, the general appearance of the neighborhoods would improve, making it a more desirable area to live in. Perhaps , even in a tough economy, it is something worth considering.
Team 10 Allegheny/Tioga/Nicetown - Laura Yacoe, Brian Myszkowski, Lauren Pappas
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