Nathaniel Hawthorne School 12th and Fitzwater 1909
Hawthorne is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located between Broad Street and 11th Street, and extends from South Street to Washington Avenue. The most prominent landmark in the neighborhood was Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, a public housing high rise complex at 13th and Fitzwater Street, originally called Hawthorne Square. The four MLK towers were imploded on October 17, 1999, and have been slowly replaced with a mix of low-rise public housing, based on New Urbanism ideas, thanks to the HOPE VI program.
Hawthorne is in transition, one of the few neighborhoods contiguous to Center City, Philadelphia that had been left relatively untouched by major upscale development. It is also sandwiched between gentrifying neighborhoods: Southwest Center City is to its west and Bella Vista is to its east.
Much of Hawthorne is currently being renovated. Old homes are being renovated with only the exterior remaining. Other properties that we commercial are being (or have been) demolished and new town homes have replaced them.
Approximately 10 new homes a year for the past 2 years, the current tax abatement and home with parking are what are attracting new residents.
These new homes as exclusive and at the upper range of the Philadelphia real-estate market, costing about 700,000 dollars; the new residents are in a much higher income bracket the unrenovated existing community.
The Nathaniel Hawthorne elementary school is being converted in condominiums’ which will be complete in 2009.
The Public Housing is being replaced by middle income families.
The High School for the Creative and Performing Arts is also located in Hawthorne, in the former Ridgway Library. The ornate building dates to 1878 and is modeled after the Parthenon.
—Wikipedia.org
Boundaries: Broad to 11th streets, South Street to Washington Avenue
Population: 24,200 (combined with Bella Vista and surrounding neighborhoods in the 2000 Census)
Zip Code: 19147
Demographics: White, 67 percent; black, 12 percent; Asian, 15 percent; Latino, 6 percent
Origin of name: Residents are unsure of the name’s significance, but say the city designated the area as Hawthorne.
Brief history: The area’s most famous building is the former Ridgway Library. Modeled after the Parthenon, the historic structure, which now houses the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, 901 S. Broad St., dates to 1878.
The school has turned out to be a more practical use for the building. The former library’s vast size made it difficult to maintain a constant temperature, and volumes of books were damaged as a result. In 1997, the building was restored and CAPA moved in.
Famous residents: R&B group Boyz II Men graduated from CAPA when it was located in the Palumbo Elementary building at 11th and Catharine streets.
Major landmarks: Hawthorne Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 12th and Carpenter streets; CAPA; the former MLK high-rises
Architecture: While brick homes are scattered throughout the neighborhood, the area consists mostly of townhouses.
Median home sale price: $150,000
State Senate district: First, Vincent Fumo (D)–Not current
State House district: 182nd, Babette Josephs (D)
City Council district: First, Frank DiCicco (D)
Ward: Second
Police district: Third
Civic groups and townwatches: Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition, Hawthorne Community Development Corporation
Schools: Andrew Jackson Elementary, 12th and Federal; Frank Palumbo Elementary, 11th and Catharine; CAPA, 901 S. Broad St.
Rec centers: Hawthorne Cultural Arts and Recreation Center
Highlights of living there: Hawthorne is close to Center City and the Avenue of the Arts corridor; the cultural arts center, established in response to neighborhood diversity, is reaching out with myriad programs and activities.
Reputation: Once marred by the crime at MLK, but now a mixed community with new housing
Major concerns/issues: Lack of citizen participation in community affairs; questionable benefits from funds spent on the revitalization of Martin Luther King Plaza.
–by Fred Durso Jr of South Philadelphia Review.
Alice Lipscomb
Alice Lipscomb was a renowned South Philadelphia housing activist. Alice was directly and passionately involved in the community revolt against the Crosstown Freeway—a federally funded highway slated to be built through South Philadelphia creating a barrier between South Philadelphia and Center City. Many believed the physical barrier of the expressway would also create social and racial barriers between an affluent downtown and struggling neighboring communities. Because of Alice and many others, the freeway was not built in the middle of South Philadelphia’s precious neighborhoods, and many families were not displaced or separated from Center City.
Alice contributed to many organizations in Hawthorne, Philadelphia including Hawthorne CDC and the Hawthorne Community Council. A huge part of her legacy is that low income South Philadelphia citizens have proper, affordable housing. Alice Lipscomb was remarkable at her craft and many Hawthrone residents are grateful for all her accomplishments as a community leader in Hawthorne.
http://inquirer.philly.com/rss/News/pills/Day%206%20-%20cover%20.pdf
http://www.vsba.com/pdfs/PhiladelphiaCrosstownCommunity01.pdf
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/folklore/events/camitta.html
http://www.phillyroads.com/roads/crosstown/
Valuable Links for more research in regards to the Hawthorne neighborhood:
- Wikipedia–Hawthorne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Implosion of the MLK Towers
- City of Philadelphia: Neighborhood Transformation Initiative: South Philadelphia Plan: Avenue of the Arts
- South Philadelphia Review
- Philadelphia Housing Authority
- City of Philadelphia
- City Data–Hawthorne
- Philadelphia City of Records–Hawthorne Photos-Philly History
- Martin Luther King Homes
