An Ode To Wastelands No More

It must have been 2004, but maybe it was 2003.

This detail is important since the difference between West Philadelphia 2003 and West Philadelphia 2004 was already noticeable. The once-lawless wastelands were showing opening signs of their death throes by 04. An anarchist community urban garden here, an artisanal donut shop there. But in 03 there was nothing. Not past 35th Street. So it must have been 2003. At the time there was an area called “The 12 Blocks.” It wasn’t too far from where we rented a massive, crumbling, mouse-infested Victorian for 900 dollars. The place had 5 bedrooms. We had a fucking art gallery on the first floor that fit probably a hundred people. It’s insane to even think about now. But there were drawbacks. One of them was that we were near The 12 Blocks. The Philly PD didn’t even patrol The 12 Blocks. If they did, they would be fired upon. And we’re not talking pot shots from building rooftops or teens behind parked cars with their first .22s. We’re talking org…