Methadone Clinic on 8th and Girard

[hjv]

Curious as to how the residents of Northern Liberties feel about having a Methadone Clinic on 8th and Girard?

Does it put a blemish on an otherwise great neighborhood?

If you had know that the clinic was there before you moved to NL, would you still have come?

Any personal experiences, positive or negative?

Considering writing an article on the clinic and its impact on the adjacent neighborhoods of Nl and Fishtown......looking to determine if there is in fact a story to be written.


Thanks,

Greg Pacana
gppacana@yahoo.com
Broad Street Media

[Diogenes]

Honestly, I don't really care. It's not like i've ever really noticed it. When I moved here 12 years ago, I was well aware that I was in the city and there is a need for these clinics. Where else would you put them? I really don't what happens at 8th & Girard has any more impact on me than what happens at 2nd and Venango.

[bernie]

8th and girard????

never even go to that part of town

that might as well be north jersey

[carpetbagger]

the only time i'm over there is to pick up an order at tiffin or go to the library. i've never felt uncomfortable or seen anything go down. it's not a big deal.

[Kent]

I'm guessing that contributes to the strange collection of folks hanging out in front of the laundromat and Fresh Donut on weekdays.

It's probably enough to keep me from eating at the Fresh Donut, but doesn't have any more impact than that. I live relatively close by, but I don't end up right over there very often. I do occasionally eat at Tiffin, buy beer at that beer store and pick up something in Fine Fare..... never had a problem with it or even been panhandled there. (The neighborhood panhandlers seem to basically be under the bridge at Callowhill/5th St and at Rite-Aid.) Doesn't keep me from hitting any of those businesses.

It is usually only weird during the day. If you walk over there to Tiffin at night, you won't even notice. If you work outside of the neighborhood, you should really stroll down Girard on a weekday sometime -- say from Frankford Ave down to 9th St. It's a whole different scene.

[jko]

I've lived in NLs for 20 and rarely venture to 8th and Girard. It's not NLs. Let the border war begin.

[boldikus]

^^^ lol took the words outta my mouth. 8th and girard might as well be guam.

[hknewbie]

I've been living here for near 10 years and I've never had any thoughts (positive or negative) about the clinic or its location.

They gotta go somewhere, why the heck not 8th and Girard, I suppose?

That said, I do recall reading in an issue of PW some months back where people protested a methadone clinic being built in their neighborhood. I find that incredibly selfish and small-minded.

[Pat]

I'm with newbie. Methadone clinics have to go somewhere. Maybe it was the PW article or somewhere else, I recall the Deputy Mayor Gillison stating that there is a need for clinics and there are available $. The problem is always local opposition.

[Dan]

Greg, I know you're just trying to do your job, but posts like this one and your NL residents one (http://www.northernliberties.net/msgboard/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3956&p=10037#p10037) make it feel like you're begging the question a bit...

[TheSomers]

Greg, I know you're just trying to do your job, but posts like this one and your NL residents one (http://www.northernliberties.net/msgboard/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3956&p=10037#p10037) make it feel like you're begging the question a bit...

Totally agree with Dan. By the way, did anyone see the article about "Northern Liberties renters" anywhere from that last solicitation ? I did not.

I think this type of journalism is irresponsible, collecting "content" from a message board on "controversial subjects" ? Or just lazy... If you really want to collect information, why not do the work, pound the pavement and interview No Libs and Fishtown residents in person?

And obviously 8th and Girard is neither No Libs or Fishtown...

[hjv]

Thank you to everyone who responded, for the most part your feedback was very helpful.

This forum is a very useful way in determining whether some of the opinions we hear in our telephone and in our "one on one" interviews are widely held throughout the neighborhood or if they are more of the exception.

For instance, in conducting our interviews for the "Northern Liberties Renaissance" article, some people expressed a great deal of distress over the proximity of the Methadone clinic at 8th and Girard. One person went so far as to say that she would never have moved to NL if she had known there was a methadone clinic just a few block away. Apparently, she had several upsetting encounters on or around Girard Avenue with some of those who make use of that clinic.

Of course, no one ever implied in any way that the clinic was located within the boundaries of Northern Liberties.

Some of those who post on this board seem to jump to conclusions about what our intention is with regard to an article or the idea for an article.

There seemed to be the belief that the last STAR post was an attempt to create some type of neighborhood war, when in fact it was simply an effective way of trying to separate the “exception” from the “rule”. This recent post was in no way an attempt to avoid doing any “leg-work” but once again an attempt to ascertain just how widespread the feelings of a few were in comparison to the many.

Our last post proved very helpful in shaping an article that we feel is an accurate representation of the climate and sprit of the neighborhood of Northern Liberties.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you with any degree of certainty when the N.L. article will run, since space is always an issue with such a small newspaper like the STAR. However, I can tell you that it is a very fair and overwhelmingly positive article about a neighborhood that has in many ways become a model neighborhood in the city of Philadelphia.

Thank you again to those of you who took the time to respond to the post. Your responses were very helpful in shaping a potential story.

Greg Pacana
Broad Street Media

[TheSomers]

Greg,

Thanks for the follow-up. Can you please post the article here about "NL renters" and the one about methadone clinic when and if they get published ? Appreciate your candor. Obviously some content and information can be obtained this way, I would just be hesitant to use it as most posters publish anonymously. And I am not sure if the real "pulse" of an area can be obtained in this fashion. But the flip side is you can certainly obtain some thoughts and get feedback.

I have advertised in "The Star" off and on for years and support the "The Star" as well as "The Spirit" for providing that hyper-local content and information. I try to read it each week but forget sometimes which is why I am asking for it to be posted here if I happen to miss picking up a publication one week. Thanks !

[hjv]

I will absolutely post the link when the article is published.

BTW the name Somers was mentioned by quite a few of the people we spoke to as being "great people/landlords"



Greg Pacana

[TheSomers]

I will absolutely post the link when the article is published.

BTW the name Somers was mentioned by quite a few of the people we spoke to as being "great people/landlords"



Greg Pacana

Greg - Great to know, so thanks for sharing that. I do take a lot of pride in providing quality housing to our personal tenants and being extremely attentive to whatever comes up. Makes for a "win-win" situation : ) .

And of course helping countless landlords (many of which are accidental landlords due to the real estate market) rent out their properties and helping countless potential tenants as well. Have met a lot of super folks.