I have received a few private post with questions about my comments. I am posting a general response to the list. As Glenn and Liz mentioned, I am also a long term resident of West Philly. I moved back to West Philly about 15 years ago. I was born and raised here in the 60's. Some of the questions centered around..as they put it..why am I against the name "University City". And NO.I am not the one putting up stickers! After all these years, I now realize this area probably is better served being recognized for ALL it has to offer and not just being known as a university dominated region. What I was referring to in my earlier post was looking back, we may be selling ourselves short by using the universities as our "trophy" brand. I believe what we really should be selling out here is "Diversity" not just "University". Most neighborhoods in the city have embraced neighborhood names..Fitler Square, Fairmount, Bella Vista, Strawberry Mansion, Society Hill..etc. ..so ..why not sell Spruce Hill, Walnut Hill, Cedar Park, Squirrel Hill, Garden Court? Something like the "Hill District" rings better to me. I just think we may be on the wrong track, particularly when you look at the success of other neighborhoods. S -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of S. Sharrieff Ali Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 7:40 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [UC] New Marketing Campaign Regarding the West Philadelphia thing. Yes..we live in West Philadelphia. However.. West Philadelphia is a VERY
large geography from 30th Street to 63rd - - Woodland (maybe even further south) north to City Avenue. Spruce Hill, Overbrook, Mantua, Powelton, Cobbs Creek, Mill Creek, etc.ALL West Philadelphia. My opinion is the "University City" thing has not really worked. My reason for saying this? .it has been 50 years and the average person in Philadelphia STILL can't tell you where it is or what it represents! I would say that anyone associated with the marketing effort would have to agree the campaign really didn't hit the marks set. I believe it was expected to sell through in 20 years. There is so much more to what the vision was for the area named "University City" and what has been realized so far. Not all good things! The institutions and city officials who changed the signage and random names of buildings and programs were successful in confusing the newscasters who report the area who then confuse everyone else! They never seem to be able to make up their minds where they are broadcasting from.University City or West Philly. The unwritten rule...if there is a murder.they are broadcasting from West Philly and if there is a new business or school to promote, it is University City. Blah..Blah..Blah. I don't think they made the right choices by using the name "University City" for this area knowing everything I know today. I believe it has proven to be less collective or representative and doesn't allow us to fully embrace the great history here whether it was the turn of the century architecture or the 30's, 40's and 50's when many of the great families and minds across the cultures lived here and set remarkable tones for diversity. There are many wonderful stories of West Philadelphia and few of University City beyond the institutions and overt marketing efforts of today. S.
