Curbed Philly - The 2017 Curbed Cup tournament is underway!Love where you live2018-01-02T12:00:04-05:00http://philly.curbed.com/rss/stream/165260532018-01-02T12:00:04-05:002018-01-02T12:00:04-05:00Germantown is the 2017 Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year
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<figcaption>Germantown is the 2017 Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year! | Photo by Steve Weinik for Mural Arts</figcaption>
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<p>Congrats, Germantown, 2017 was your year!</p> <p id="gToE5l">Philly, we have a winner: Germantown is Philadelphia's Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year!</p>
<p id="KCqcCe">After winning multiple rounds of the Curbed Cup tournament and ultimately defeating its closest Northwest Philly neighborhood, Mt. Airy, the No. 13 ranked Germantown is officially the Best Neighborhood of 2017. </p>
<p id="wWWa7l">Germantown started off the tournament facing stiff competition with No. 3-ranked University City. But it <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/12/16762080/philadelphia-university-city-germantown-best-neighborhood">handily defeated</a> the West Philly neighborhood, <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/19/16790616/philadelphia-northern-liberties-germantown-best-neighborhood">moving onto booming Northern Liberties</a> in the Elite 8 round. After soaring past its fifth-ranked competitor, Germantown then made a huge upset <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/27/16809996/philadelphia-fishtown-germantown-best-neighborhood">when it defeated Fishtown</a>, the reigning Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year, in the Final Four. </p>
<p id="974DnC">Then, in perhaps one of the most unexpected twists of Curbed Cup Philly, Germantown and Mt. Airy—both Northwest Philly neighborhoods—<a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/29/16826532/philadelphia-best-neighborhood-germantown-mt-airy">ended up in the championship</a>. The two neighborhoods battled each other back and forth, vote after vote, until finally, Germantown squeaked out 50.59 percent of votes, surpassing Mt. Airy by just 47 votes. </p>
<p id="SLcjss">There you have it: The underdog Germantown has been crowned by Curbed readers the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Congratulations, Germantown: 2017 was your year. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2018!</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nWCtL9sQ9mLleG5kZjpEGkSZcAs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9962195/Philly_curbed_curbedcup_2017_final.jpg">
<cite>Illustration by Kevin Whipple</cite>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2018/1/2/16840768/philadelphia-germantown-neighborhood-of-the-year-curbed-cupMelissa Romero2017-12-29T11:00:02-05:002017-12-29T11:00:02-05:00Curbed Cup 2017 Championship: (11) Mt. Airy vs. (13) Germantown
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<p>It’s the final countdown!</p> <p id="AalqwU">And then there were two. It’s the final countdown of the 2017 Curbed Cup, our annual tournament to crown the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Two neighborhoods out of the original 16 remain, and boy, this matchup is a doozy: Neighbors Mt. Airy and Germantown are in the championship!</p>
<p id="im7xjq">The two neighborhoods fought tooth and nail over the past couple of weeks to make it to the final round of Curbed Cup. Underdog Germantown made upset after upset, finally knocking 2016 champion and No. 1 ranked Fishtown out in the Final Four by <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/27/16809996/philadelphia-fishtown-germantown-best-neighborhood">garnering 75 percent of votes</a>! </p>
<p id="CdS4lI">Mt. Airy, meanwhile, easily soared past its competitors each round, until the Final Four. Mt. Airy and Tacony went head to head, but ultimately the former inched past the latter, <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/28/16822182/philadelphia-tacony-mt-airy-best-neighborhood">with 54 percent of votes</a>. Hats off to No. 15 Tacony, who put up a great fight all throughout the tournament. </p>
<p id="UKH0iJ">So there you have it: The final battle is between Mt. Airy and Germantown. This time, polls are open until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. </p>
<p id="KjcDaf">Good luck! </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a-Aw8hBzZkJmMk_9sV8DJKVF2KM=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9944717/21752991_1624782220896860_2799224823309107563_o.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/GoMtAiry/photos/a.1624776567564092.1073741849.345028598872235/1624782220896860/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Go Mt. Airy</a></cite>
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<h3 id="pSjrRZ">Mt. Airy</h3>
<p id="dBn8NV">As one Mt. Airy resident put it, like many Philly neighborhoods, this leafy neighborhood has a strong sense of community. “Parents and neighbors participate in kids' local schools, we know our neighbors' names, and we are welcoming to all backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles.” Indeed, Mt. Airy pitches itself as an inclusive, historically integrated neighborhood—<a href="http://www.mtairyvillage.com/in-oprah-magazine">with Oprah’s seal of approval</a>—that has the benefit of having the Wissahickon in its backyard.</p>
<p id="zAzxsC">Meanwhile, its stretch of Germantown Avenue is lined with locally-owned retail and restaurants, including Weavers Way, the oldest co-op market in the region. Even older buildings are seeing new life: The Lovett Library <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/1/16723376/free-library-philadelphia-renovations-photos">just underwent a top-to-bottom renovation</a>, bringing its dated look into the 21st century, complete with a park in the heart of the community.</p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYBtkZAgYS/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mural Arts Philadelphia (@muralarts)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-04T14:35:03+00:00">Aug 4, 2017 at 7:35am PDT</time></p>
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<h3 id="xIODxq">Germantown</h3>
<p id="A3ziRn">The historic neighborhood of Germantown has come a long way in its long history. It’s one of Philly’s oldest neighborhoods, and its <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/american-revolutionary-war-sites-philly">historically significant sites</a> dating back to the American Revolutionary War are neighbors to Germantown’s mom and pop shops and newer retailers and restaurants. </p>
<p id="ud7yuq">The historic neighborhood in Northwest Philly has also seen an interest in revitalization, with programs like <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/2/7/14527076/jumpstart-ken-weinstein-expansion-barra-grant">JumpStart Germantown</a> launching to help first-time developers work on smaller rehab projects throughout the area, while the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/9/16446820/national-trust-historic-preservation-main-streets-germantown-philadelphia">community recently rallied to win grant money</a> to restore its African American landmarks located along the Germantown Avenue corridor. <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/wayne-junction-development-projects-phillyofficeretail-mosaic">Even bigger changes are afoot</a> with the redevelopment of nearly a dozen properties around the Wayne Junction station.</p>
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<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/9907006.js"></script><noscript><a href="https://polldaddy.com/poll/9907006/">Which Philly neighborhood should be Curbed Cup champion?</a></noscript>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/29/16826532/philadelphia-best-neighborhood-germantown-mt-airyMelissa Romero2017-12-28T09:00:03-05:002017-12-28T09:00:03-05:00Curbed Cup Final Four: (11) Mt. Airy vs. (15) Tacony
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ooX6ONw7-PfjDrgZ8j375kumROU=/67x0:1134x800/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58117975/21752991_1624782220896860_2799224823309107563_o.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mt. Airy and Tacony are competing to advance to the Curbed Cup championship! | Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoMtAiry/photos/a.1624776567564092.1073741849.345028598872235/1624782220896860/?type=3&theater">Go Mt. Airy</a></figcaption>
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<p>Will Mt. Airy or Tacony advance to the championship?</p> <p id="9xJYXe"><em>The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, has entered the Final Four! Four Philly neighborhoods are still in the running to be crowned the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Let the eliminations commence!</em></p>
<h3 id="LAJGO9">Mt. Airy</h3>
<p id="dBn8NV">As one Mt. Airy resident put it, like many Philly neighborhoods, this leafy neighborhood has a strong sense of community. “Parents and neighbors participate in kids' local schools, we know our neighbors' names, and we are welcoming to all backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles.” Indeed, Mt. Airy pitches itself as an inclusive, historically integrated neighborhood—<a href="http://www.mtairyvillage.com/in-oprah-magazine">with Oprah’s seal of approval</a>—that has the benefit of having the Wissahickon in its backyard.</p>
<p id="Eexi8F">Meanwhile, its stretch of Germantown Avenue is lined with locally-owned retail and restaurants, including Weavers Way, the oldest co-op market in the region. Even older buildings are seeing new life: The Lovett Library <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/1/16723376/free-library-philadelphia-renovations-photos">just underwent a top-to-bottom renovation</a>, bringing its dated look into the 21st century, complete with a park in the heart of the community.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XrxfHgn_zFUYgmHIGZoKCfLkS8U=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9868675/2016_044_Parklet_Final_2.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mural Arts for Tacony Lab</cite>
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<h3 id="9NLGj8">Tacony</h3>
<p id="Hl36H8">You won’t find major mixed-use developments and big-name retailers in Tacony. Here’s what you will discover: A thriving retail corridor with local businesses setting up shop. A beautiful <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/1/16723376/free-library-philadelphia-renovations-photos">historic library made for the 21st century</a>. A riverfront packed with potential, including <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/delaware-river-waterfront-projects-development-philadelphia/mast-ii-community-charter-school-tacony-campus">a new charter school</a>. The long-time residential neighborhood has seen small, but significant changes thanks to efforts by the Tacony Development Community Corporation, which has played a role in attracting new businesses, artists, and more to its streets. It may be described as one of those <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/inga_saffron/Tacony-Middle-Neighborhoods-gentrification-inga-saffron.html">“middle neighborhoods”</a> that’s somewhere between success and distress, but Tacony is arguably on the up and up.</p>
<p id="2vuu9K">Which neighborhood should advance: Lovely Mt. Airy or thriving Tacony? Polls are open for 24 hours!</p>
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<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/9906410.js"></script><noscript><a href="https://polldaddy.com/poll/9906410/">Which Philly neighborhood should advance?</a></noscript>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/28/16822182/philadelphia-tacony-mt-airy-best-neighborhoodMelissa Romero2017-12-27T09:00:02-05:002017-12-27T09:00:02-05:00Curbed Cup Final Four: (1) Fishtown vs. (13) Germantown
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<figcaption>Photo by Conrad Benner, Streets Dept</figcaption>
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<p>Polls are open for 24 hours!</p> <p id="9xJYXe"><em>The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, has entered the Final Four! Four Philly neighborhoods are still in the running to be crowned the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Let the eliminations commence!</em></p>
<h3 id="2JEMp3">Fishtown </h3>
<p id="FshGoS">After winning the 2016 Curbed Cup as Best Neighborhood of the Year, Fishtown showed no signs of slowing down in 2017. The foodies have stuck around thanks to the plethora of restaurant openings, like the <a href="https://philly.eater.com/2017/11/27/16705722/suraya-middle-eastern-restaurant-market-fishtown-philadelphia-menu">Lebanese Market Suraya</a>, while distillery-turned-eatery Wm. Mulherin’s Sons opened its <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/3/30/15100832/wm-mulherins-sons-hotel-fishtown-opening">picture-perfect boutique hotel</a> to rave reviews. Seemingly everyone wants to put down roots in this River Wards neighborhood, even as home prices creep up and up. It’s no wonder<em> Conde Nast Traveler</em> <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-to-do-in-fishtown-philadelphia-hottest-neighborhood">named it Philly’s hottest neighborhood</a>.</p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYBtkZAgYS/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:33.33333333333333% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYBtkZAgYS/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mural Arts Philadelphia (@muralarts)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-04T14:35:03+00:00">Aug 4, 2017 at 7:35am PDT</time></p>
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<h3 id="AalqwU">Germantown</h3>
<p id="jeBBNU">The historic neighborhood of Germantown has come a long way in its long history. It’s one of Philly’s oldest neighborhoods, and its <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/american-revolutionary-war-sites-philly">historically significant sites</a> dating back to the American Revolutionary War are neighbors to Germantown’s mom and pop shops and newer retailers and restaurants. The historic neighborhood in Northwest Philly has also seen an interest in revitalization, with programs like <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/2/7/14527076/jumpstart-ken-weinstein-expansion-barra-grant">JumpStart Germantown</a> launching to help first-time developers work on smaller rehab projects throughout the area, while the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/9/16446820/national-trust-historic-preservation-main-streets-germantown-philadelphia">community recently rallied to win grant money</a> to restore its African American landmarks located along the Germantown Avenue corridor. <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/wayne-junction-development-projects-phillyofficeretail-mosaic">Even bigger changes are afoot</a> with the redevelopment of nearly a dozen properties around the Wayne Junction station.</p>
<p id="NFmRLo">Will it be Fishtown or Germantown to advance to the championship? Voting is open for 24 hours! </p>
<div id="af3M1S">
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/9905789.js"></script><noscript><a href="https://polldaddy.com/poll/9905789/">Which Philly neighborhood should advance?</a></noscript>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/27/16809996/philadelphia-fishtown-germantown-best-neighborhoodMelissa Romero2017-12-22T11:13:14-05:002017-12-22T11:13:14-05:00Curbed Cup Elite 8 recap: Germantown defeats Northern Liberties!
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I1p8Jn9pdtLSQMdyiVgY3TSPSB0=/148x0:2815x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58084131/curbed_cup_logo_horizontal.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Fishtown, Mt. Airy, Germantown, and Tacony are in the Final Four! | Illustration by Kevin Whipple</figcaption>
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<p>Presenting: The Final Four!</p> <p id="L4fkdg">The Elite 8 round of Curbed Cup is now complete, and as predicted the tournament has really taken an interesting turn! While the first round was rife with upsets, the second round experienced a mix of both expected wins and underdogs. Here’s how all four neighborhood battles ended: </p>
<p id="xlb5Cq">No. 1 Fishtown <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/18/16780520/philadelphia-fishtown-east-passyunk-best-neighborhood">soared past</a> No. 9 East Passyunk with 62 percent of votes. Meanwhile, Mt. Airy <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/20/16796026/philadelphia-mt-airy-manayunk-best-neighborhood">took the lead</a> over Manayunk, garnering 61 percent of votes. </p>
<p id="JU4dM3">Underdog Germantown <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/19/16790616/philadelphia-northern-liberties-germantown-best-neighborhood">was easily handed a win</a> over fifth-ranked Northern Liberties, taking 80 percent of votes. Tacony <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/21/16802012/philadelphia-brewerytown-tacony-best-neighborhood">also soared past</a> Brewerytown, entering the Final Four as No. 15, the lowest ranked neighborhood to make it to this round. </p>
<p id="IVxojx">With that recap, we now present the updated bracket with the Final Four! Next week, there will be two battles ahead: Fishtown vs. Germantown and Mt. Airy vs. Tacony. Like the past two rounds, those two polls will be open for 24 hours. </p>
<p id="7heYVG">The two winning neighborhoods will then go after the Curbed Cup starting on Friday, and polls will be open until January 2, 2018. </p>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/22/16805388/philadelphia-best-neighborhood-final-four-bracketMelissa Romero2017-12-21T09:00:04-05:002017-12-21T09:00:04-05:00Curbed Cup Elite 8: (7) Brewerytown vs. (15) Tacony
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fwJrTHaKAskgAXVY332xdJr4Yik=/216x0:3672x2592/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58067247/IMG_7844.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Will booming Brewerytown or thriving Tacony advance to the Final Four? | Photo by Melissa Romero</figcaption>
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<p>Which neighborhood should advance to the Final Four? </p> <p id="9xJYXe"><em>The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, has entered the second round of the Elite 8! Eight Philly neighborhoods are still in the running to be crowned the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Let the eliminations commence!</em></p>
<h3 id="kwjqbH">Brewerytown</h3>
<p id="C2Mqcd">Big changes continue to brew in Brewerytown, the neighborhood with Fairmount Park in its backyard. For one, the neighborhood’s historical reputation of being the No. 1 place for breweries has been revived, with smaller spots like Rybrew and Crime and Punishment along Girard Avenue living in tandem with the massive Flying Fish Crafthouse a short walk away. <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/4/10/15219404/brewerytown-philadelphia-neighborhood-guide-marco-baker">As one resident will tell you</a>, though, the most common sight you’ll see here is active new construction, as the neighborhood grapples with gentrification.</p>
<p id="fw3zCu">Though this residential neighborhood doesn’t draw in massive townhouse developments or high-rises, its older homes are getting rehabbed left and right, and buildings that were once beacons of blight like the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/6/5/15739576/pyramid-building-brewerytown-restored-facade-photos">Pyramid building</a> have found new life, too.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XrxfHgn_zFUYgmHIGZoKCfLkS8U=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9868675/2016_044_Parklet_Final_2.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mural Arts for Tacony Lab</cite>
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<h3 id="56dsOm">Tacony</h3>
<p id="Hl36H8">You won’t find major mixed-use developments and big-name retailers in Tacony. Here’s what you will discover: A thriving retail corridor with local businesses setting up shop. A beautiful <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/1/16723376/free-library-philadelphia-renovations-photos">historic library made for the 21st century</a>. A riverfront packed with potential, including <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/delaware-river-waterfront-projects-development-philadelphia/mast-ii-community-charter-school-tacony-campus">a new charter school</a>. </p>
<p id="QiFCh5">The long-time residential neighborhood has seen small, but significant changes thanks to efforts by the Tacony Development Community Corporation, which has played a role in attracting new businesses, artists, and more to its streets. It may be described as one of those <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/inga_saffron/Tacony-Middle-Neighborhoods-gentrification-inga-saffron.html">“middle neighborhoods”</a> that’s somewhere between success and distress, but Tacony is arguably on the up and up.</p>
<p id="ObpxWL">Which neighborhood should advance: Booming Brewerytown or thriving Tacony? Polls are open for 24 hours!</p>
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<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/9902875.js"></script><noscript><a href="https://polldaddy.com/poll/9902875/">Which Philly neighborhood should advance?</a></noscript>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/21/16802012/philadelphia-brewerytown-tacony-best-neighborhoodMelissa Romero2017-12-20T09:00:02-05:002017-12-20T09:00:02-05:00Curbed Cup Elite 8: Mt. Airy (11) vs. Manayunk (14)
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NvG7g6w62CiVf_A4IpBAia1rl34=/67x0:1134x800/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58039219/21752991_1624782220896860_2799224823309107563_o.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Will Mt. Airy or Manayunk advance? | Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoMtAiry/photos/a.1624776567564092.1073741849.345028598872235/1624782220896860/?type=3&theater">Go Mt. Airy</a></figcaption>
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<p>Which neighborhood will advance to the Final Four?</p> <p id="9xJYXe"><em>The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, has entered the second round of the Elite 8! Eight Philly neighborhoods are still in the running to be crowned the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Let the eliminations commence!</em></p>
<h3 id="LAJGO9">Mt. Airy</h3>
<p id="dBn8NV">As one Mt. Airy resident put it, like many Philly neighborhoods, this leafy neighborhood has a strong sense of community. “Parents and neighbors participate in kids' local schools, we know our neighbors' names, and we are welcoming to all backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles.” Indeed, Mt. Airy pitches itself as an inclusive, historically integrated neighborhood—<a href="http://www.mtairyvillage.com/in-oprah-magazine">with Oprah’s seal of approval</a>—that has the benefit of having the Wissahickon in its backyard.</p>
<p id="vj7aBY">Meanwhile, its stretch of Germantown Avenue is lined with locally-owned retail and restaurants, including Weavers Way, the oldest co-op market in the region. Even older buildings are seeing new life: The Lovett Library <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/1/16723376/free-library-philadelphia-renovations-photos">just underwent a top-to-bottom renovation</a>, bringing its dated look into the 21st century, complete with a park in the heart of the community.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ukslhb31eemNLTjOHra7yppry4E=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9897401/shutterstock_680758429.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of Julia Kho/Shutterstock.com</cite>
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<h3 id="sRRdvF">Manayunk</h3>
<p id="3gpVhx">To understand Manayunk’s current state of affairs, all one has to do is spend some time while stuck on the Schuylkill and look toward the hill-top neighborhood. That view, which once just featured old mills and lines of charming rowhomes, now showcases hundreds of new apartment buildings along the river and throughout Manayunk’s streets—and <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/residential/With-thousands-of-new-apartments-in-the-works-Manayunk-hopes-for-second-rebirth.html">thousands more are on the way</a>.</p>
<p id="y8aJL0">It’s being called the neighborhood’s second rebirth, after its initial one in the 1980s, as young adults continue to live and rent here and baby boomers and empty nesters start eyeing life on the Schuylkill River Trail and the bustling Main Street corridor. Manayunk may be nine miles outside of Center City, but that hasn’t stopped its growth in the slightest.</p>
<p id="9cuapf">Should Mt. Airy or Manayunk move forward? Vote now—polls are open for 24 hours! </p>
<div id="MLdFjv">
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/9902063.js"></script><noscript><a href="https://polldaddy.com/poll/9902063/">Which Philly neighborhood should advance?</a></noscript>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/20/16796026/philadelphia-mt-airy-manayunk-best-neighborhoodMelissa Romero2017-12-19T09:00:06-05:002017-12-19T09:00:06-05:00Curbed Cup Elite 8: (5) Northern Liberties vs. (13) Germantown
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
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<p>Which neighborhood should advance to the Final Four? </p> <p id="9xJYXe"><em>The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, has entered the second round of the Elite 8! Eight Philly neighborhoods are still in the running to be crowned the Best Neighborhood of the Year. Let the eliminations commence!</em></p>
<h3 id="8B3Igt">Northern Liberties </h3>
<p id="wHrtms">Longtime residents of Northern Liberties will often say that their neighborhood is unrecognizable today. It’s blossomed from a place of blight into <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/4/28/11510262/northern-liberties-top-boom-town-us">a mini-boom town</a>, continuing to draw in new construction, retail, and restaurants to its streets day by day. But it’d be wrong to say that Northern Liberties’s 15 minutes of fame is over: WeWork has a new spot here, as does <a href="https://philly.eater.com/2017/10/19/16504400/yards-brewing-company-brewery-taproom-philadelphia-menu-hours">Yards Brewery</a>, which just set up shop in a 70,000-square-foot space designed by Digsau. Another boutique <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/4/3/15161076/target-store-northern-liberties-alliance-hsp-deal">Target is on its way</a>, and if one can believe it, <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/5/9/15592138/northern-liberties-townhomes-liberty-square-prdc-properties">developers continue to break ground</a> on new homes on every remaining lot available. And yet, the residents continue to take action to make sure their neighborhood isn’t just known for its building boom: They recently teamed up to preserve the neighborhood’s ‘last wilderness’ with the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/4/25/15410260/orkney-park-transformation-northern-liberties">establishment of Orkney Park</a>.</p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYBtkZAgYS/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mural Arts Philadelphia (@muralarts)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-04T14:35:03+00:00">Aug 4, 2017 at 7:35am PDT</time></p>
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<h3 id="rw6yhs">Germantown</h3>
<p id="I05ibe">The historic neighborhood of Germantown has come a long way in its long history. It’s one of Philly’s oldest neighborhoods, and its <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/american-revolutionary-war-sites-philly">historically significant sites</a> dating back to the American Revolutionary War are neighbors to Germantown’s mom and pop shops and newer retailers and restaurants. The historic neighborhood in Northwest Philly has also seen an interest in revitalization, with programs like <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/2/7/14527076/jumpstart-ken-weinstein-expansion-barra-grant">JumpStart Germantown</a> launching to help first-time developers work on smaller rehab projects throughout the area, while the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/9/16446820/national-trust-historic-preservation-main-streets-germantown-philadelphia">community recently rallied to win grant money</a> to restore its African American landmarks located along the Germantown Avenue corridor. <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/maps/wayne-junction-development-projects-phillyofficeretail-mosaic">Even bigger changes are afoot</a> with the redevelopment of nearly a dozen properties around the Wayne Junction station.</p>
<p id="WCLzh9">Should red hot Northern Liberties or historic Germantown advance to the next round? Polls are open for 24 hours, so vote now!</p>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/19/16790616/philadelphia-northern-liberties-germantown-best-neighborhoodMelissa Romero