Assignment #3

2006-05-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

This map shows the building where I live as well as the surrounding roughly quarter of a mile that encircles my residence and can function as a simple navigation tool around my neighborhood. The map is not drawn to perfect scale, but drawn from my perception of the area. Some of the streets are longer than they should be when compared to properly drawn to scale maps and some of the streets curve more in the map than they actually do, but they are represented as I saw them in my mind at the time of composition. The buildings are represented with both rectangles and large squares designate apartments and businesses, using smaller squares for houses. Again, these are not drawn to scale, but how I wished to represent them.
The area where I live is not a community, but just a neighborhood that contains clusters of residencies, some of which are closer to the public high school and some of which are closer to an upscale outdoor shopping center. I live in the cluster that is closer to the commercial area, in which the majority of the stores are so upscale that I can hardly afford their sales. There is a high priced farmers market as well as the small (in size) supermarket chain, Trader Joe's. The block where I live has a combination of rented apartments, owned apartments, rented houses and owned townhouses. The juxtaposition on this block is that there are renters like myself, who live in an area that does not coincide with their income level. I live here because this is a nice neighborhood that has apartments that are somehow affordable for a lower income person like me. My apartment is sandwiched between the upscale outdoor shopping mall and blocks of family homes that sell for upwards of $500,000 (like the one pictured), way out of my price range.
I love to walk around both residential and commercial parts of my neighborhood, although I don't feel a part of either one, neither do I feel a part of a community on my own block. Let me explain. I know the name of one of my neighbors, only because he is an old, lonely man who sits at his window and talks to everyone that passes by. From my four and a half years of experience, the Main Line apartment dwellers pretty much keep to themselves; only offer an occasional "hi" in unavoidable circumstances. Even when I walk around the residential areas, I rarely see people, and when I do they tend to avoid eye contact. This is not exactly my idea of a community and is very different from growing up in West Mount Airy, a very community oriented neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia.
Aside from the lack of community feeling, it is a great place for me to live. I am within walking distance to the train, bus routes, three major supermarkets, multiple shopping areas, banks and most importantly - my parents (whose laundry facilities and computer I use, as well as their babysitting services for my son while I do school work). These are all necessities for someone without a car. I also have an array of choices if I decide to go for a walk. The residential areas are beautiful, with big old stone houses, many of which have lovely landscaping. I can grab a bite to eat at the farmers market, hang out at the fountain (a favorite past time of my son's) or stroll around the outdoor shopping mall. I can catch the train and go east or west. Like the map above, there is a lot of variation in my surroundings, and this neighborhood is compatible with my current lifestyle.

Community Map

Assignment #3