Schuylkill

Schuylkill is a neighborhood of many names, sometimes referred to as Southwest Center City, Graduate Hospital and Devil’s Pocket. It’s a small neighborhood of row homes on the banks of the Schuylkill River with a not so pleasant view of factories. It’s separated from the rest of the southwest portion of the city by Naval Square, the former Naval hospital which has been converted into gated condominiums

This area of South Philly has a reputation of being a hotbed of murders and drug dealing. Many of the houses have been abandoned or neglected though recently there have been some attempts of rehabilitating the area. New, smaller businesses are starting to pop up in the area as well as low-income housing in an attempt to improve the area and bring in new residents.

Even despite the attempt to gentrify Schuylkill there are still a large number of homes that are empty and uninhabitable. And of course, walking alone at night is advised against as crime is still top concern in this neighborhood.

Schuylkill has long been a predominantly Irish-American community and the past abandonment and now gentrification of the neighborhood has made it more diversified. It still however maintains its strong Irish-American background.