Point Breeze, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Point Breeze is a neighborhood
in the South Philadelphia
section of Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is generally bound by 25th Street to the west, Washington Avenue to the north, Broad Street
to the east, and Mifflin Street to the south, although the sections between 18th Street and Broad Street are coming into their own neighborhood as Newbold
. Southwest Center City
lies to its north, and Passyunk Square
lies to its east. Point Breeze is divided from Grays Ferry
to the west by a CSX railway viaduct over 25th Street.
. Point Breeze Avenue then became the road that cut southwest to provide access to the spot from what was at the time Philadelphia proper. The avenue cuts diagonally through the neighborhood's rectilinear street grid.
, this area is bound to become a great community for Philadelphia residents.
.
operates the Point Breeze Post Office at 2500 Snyder Avenue.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
in the South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
section of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is generally bound by 25th Street to the west, Washington Avenue to the north, Broad Street
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
to the east, and Mifflin Street to the south, although the sections between 18th Street and Broad Street are coming into their own neighborhood as Newbold
Newbold, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Newbold is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia. Its boundaries are Washington Ave to W. Passyunk Ave, S Broad Street to S 18th Street....
. Southwest Center City
Southwest Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Southwest Center City is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia bordering Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood is bordered on the north by South Street, on the south by Washington Avenue, on the west by the Schuylkill River, and by Broad Street on the east...
lies to its north, and Passyunk Square
Passyunk Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Passyunk Square is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia bounded by Broad Street to the west, 6th Street to the east, Tasker Street to the south and Washington Avenue to the north. Passyunk Square is bordered by the Bella Vista, Hawthorne, Central South Philadelphia, Wharton and Point Breeze...
lies to its east. Point Breeze is divided from Grays Ferry
Grays Ferry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Grays Ferry, also known as Gray's Ferry, is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia bounded by 25th Street on the east, the Schuylkill River on the west, Vare Avenue on the south, and Grays Ferry Avenue on the north. The section of this neighborhood west of 34th Street is also known as The Forgotten...
to the west by a CSX railway viaduct over 25th Street.
Name origin
'Point Breeze' was originally the name given to a spot on the west side of the Schuylkill RiverSchuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. Point Breeze Avenue then became the road that cut southwest to provide access to the spot from what was at the time Philadelphia proper. The avenue cuts diagonally through the neighborhood's rectilinear street grid.
Social issues
The Point Breeze neighborhood suffered from abandonment and population decline throughout the mid 20th century. Today it is a neighborhood under revitalization from efforts steered by South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S. Inc. and the Point Breeze Community Development Coalition Inc., in addition to such organizations as Neighbors in Action, Universal Companies, Point Breeze Business Association, Point Breeze Pioneers greening group and other prominent Philadelphia organizations. The families, business owners and friends of Point Breeze are gradually working toward a safer, greener community. With the assets of Point Breeze Ave., Chew Playground and Wharton Park, combined with the location nearly 1.5 mi south of Rittenhouse SquareRittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park cuts off 19th Street at Walnut Street and also at a half block above Manning Street. Its boundaries are...
, this area is bound to become a great community for Philadelphia residents.
Cityscape
Point Breeze is south of Grays Ferry Avenue, north of Passyunk Avenue, and east of the Schuylkill RiverSchuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
.
Infrastructure and government
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Point Breeze Post Office at 2500 Snyder Avenue.
See also
- Francis M. Drexel SchoolFrancis M. Drexel SchoolThe Francis M. Drexel School was a historic school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along Sixteenth Street, the school was designed by Joseph Anschutz and built under the direction of Charles O'Neill, Jr...
, formerly located in Point Breeze
External links
- Point Breeze Pioneers
- South Philadelphia Review
- Point Breeze Performing Arts Center
- Philadelphia City Paper - City Paper article on violence in the area
- http://citypaper.net/articles/2009/10/22/point-breeze-pioneers - City Paper article on greening efforts in the area
- Point Breeze Revitalization Project
- Philly Skyline photos of Point Breeze
- Historic Photographs of Point Breeze, PhillyHistory.org