9th St. Business Improvement District Study needs your feedback
UPDATE: This post has been updated to include a new date for the meeting.
The Italian Market has been a Philadelphia staple with rich culture and shopping attractions for more than a hundred years now.
Because of the popularity of the Italian Market, the area is being studied as part of the Business Improvement District, or BID.
BID is a designated area where the property owners work to improve the business environment and shopper experience.
In this case, the area being studied is from 8th to 10th and from Federal to Fitzwater. The study also includes an extended look at Washington Ave., which seems to be slated for a new beginning with various projects being planned for the street.
Right now, they are looking for feedback from neighbors on the conditions of the areas being studied. This survey will help the Business Improvement Steering Committee to conduct an assessment of what is needed in this area.
In addition to helping improve the Italian Market, if you fill out the survey, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift certificate. Not a bad deal, eh?
A meeting about the 9th St. BID is being held March 12, at Palumbo Recreation Center at 10th and Fitzwater at 7 p.m. More info on the meeting can be found here.
Like most of Philadelphia, there needs to be a lot more trash cans in the city. They should have at least 1 Big Belly Trash can on every block of 9th from Federal to Fitzwater.
Public Restrooms in a couple locations on 9th street, especially by Pat’s and Geno’s
9th street from Federal to Fitzwater should be pedestrian only from 8-5pm everyday
Move the Bus route over a couple blocks so it doesn’t go down 9th street.
There are plenty of parking lots and public transit nearby, so PPA should ticket everyone who double parks or blocks the median on Washington avenue.
Agree on all of those.
I do think that maybe the avenue could start out with pedestrian only on weekends to start.
Agree but would extend the pedestrian-only idea down to where East Passyunk crosses 9th.
Agreed. Great suggestions. Wish the entire street was open to pedestrians on Saturdays without fear of bus or car traffic.
Pedestrian only everyday with delivery trafic only at night could make this a true open air market.
Car only are a bid detractor on this street. It could be so much more.
Ha! This area is on a downturn and its almost too late. It should not be called the Italian market anymore. Any fool who walks up 9th street can see that the 50 Mexican restaurants and tiendas selling garbage from Tijuana has destoyed this stretch. All the owners of the buildings should be ashamed.
The part of the market (mostly south of Washington) that is occupied by the majority of Mexican restaurants and stores was completely abandoned and derelict when I first moved to this neighborhood. Now, it is busy and (mostly) thriving.
” I’d rather drive to Pathmark.”
lol, so you bemoan the lack of small shops within walking distance on 9th, and then say you’d rather drive to a chain. Genius!
Jim, what’s it like to be super racist?
Super!!! Thanks for asking you judgemental fuk, Im black and my wife is mexican. Sounds like you are full of hate. Go back to Delco
Whoa. Time to chill out, people. This is supposed to be a place for at least relatively insightful commentary. Keep it clean
Prov,
Just leave town already and move to the suburbs, loser.
I lived in South Philly for 5 years, and have since rented my house out. Where does this urban elitist attitude stem from? Sorry to say, but you will be in the suburbs someday my friend. We all say ‘never’, but the frustrations/cost of city living will wear on you the older you get. But, I hope you stay forever and keep contributing that great attitude to the image of Philly.
I agree with Ian. The stretch south of washington is now active where it once was deserted. I’m curious whether you pessimistic souls live in the ‘burbs. Those taco joints are pretty delicious and full of happy people. But if you have something to say, fill out the survey.
Yes! Those stores would be empty if not for the businesses that primarily serve the new immigrants who have helped grow the city. Some of the best Mexican food in the city can be found along this stretch. And the rest of the stores provide a place for people from all the various cultures that now occupy South Philly to interact. Take a stroll… try the food and talk to some of the store owners. It’s an exciting, vibrant place. All it needs is more residential above all the storefronts to keep it active and lighted throughout the evening.
Love to… they dont speak enlish or want to. Ive gone in there, and felt very unwelcome. Also, I’m sure you sport all the cholo clothing in those stores as I dont see anyone besides the immigrants rocking that garbage.
Do you speak enlish, either? Crawl back into your geno’s cheesesteak.
Jesus. Go back to S Jersey. ” I dont see anyone besides the immigrants” – I guess your parents were Native American, huh?
I see from the map that a part of 12th between Washington and Ellsworth is included. Yes. That stretch needs a LOT of help, if only to enforce against short dumping along the abandoned Nardello Fuels property.
Wish there was a way to bring in new Italian merchants.
What does this even mean? Italians? Italian-Americans? People selling Italian goods?
All of the above.
I love the walking only idea, for the weekends.
I think the Mexican shops are a big improvement from how it was just a few years ago (empty!)
I remember when there was only tex-mex in philly. Those were bleak times.
I think South Philly’s diversity is a great thing. Mexico, Vietnam, Italy, even Lebanon all within a few blocks of each other. Where else could you find all this?
I love the markets scrappiness, let’s just get rid of that filthy bird/butcher place. It ruins the south end of the market.
Just a few observations. The area has a distinct odor from the buildings and the debris in the streets during the warm weather months. The “overhangs” on the buildings couldn’t possibly pass L&I. The lighting is non-existent at night and the hours of operation of the businesses do not add value to the amazing neighborhood in which they reside. If people felt as safe in the market 24/7 as they do grabbing a cheesesteak, the economic impact to the area would be incredible. Thanks for including residents in the process.
The link to the survey doesn’t work.
Hmmm, not sure why it’s not working for you. Here’s the link again: https://docs.google.com/a/temple.edu/forms/d/1uJ00Rl1jORH0trfV0zJS-qrur1asixa_KWRKAasPP9M/viewform
It’s asking me to login. I don’t have a google account nor do I want one. Can you make the survey openly available?
Link does not work so can’t take the survey.
Here’s the link:
https://docs.google.com/a/temple.edu/forms/d/1uJ00Rl1jORH0trfV0zJS-qrur1asixa_KWRKAasPP9M/viewform
I think the problem is that people might not want to log in to Google to take the survey.
9th Street is filthy dirty, and needs to be regularly cleaned and swept by both the City of Philadelphia and a private BID. Who in their right mind would shop in such unsanitary conditions? That’s why the Italian Market is dying – too many ignorant slobs.
Wow, a Philly.com comment session just broke out here. People who complain about it being “dirty” and “full of Mexicans” are all holed up in South Jersey basements and are irrelevant to this conversation. I will say that the live chicken/rabbit market is pretty disgusting by any standard and needs to go though.
wasn’t there a “plan” for this area before. stop planning and start doing something.