newsworks.com
- This month’s featured piece in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia’s moniker series tracks down the derivation of the claim of being “the city of neighborhoods.” While admitting the amorphous nature of these specific designations throughout Philadelphia’s storied past, writer Linn Washington contends that the name remains “consistent with the fact that historically Philadelphia has a track record of defining itself through its residential character.”
- JFK Boulevard may be the economic spine of Center City nowadays, but it once constituted a physical and social dividing line: the notorious “Chinese Wall,” the Pennsylvania Railroad viaduct. Steven Ujifusa explains that beyond being aesthetically “by-and-large hideous,” the Wall may well have given rise to the idiom “the wrong side of the tracks.”
- Naked Philly reports that renovations on the residence at 2147 Ellsworth (the home of Keith Haring’s 1987 mural) is now complete—guaranteeing its structural integrity.
- Philly Shark reports that developer Robert Ambrosi has sold a lot that would have been included in his planned hotel/entertainment/ retail complex at the mouth of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The property will now be home to an 80 foot high multifamily and retail complex.
About the author
Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.
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