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Suburban rent grew 2x more than in Philly during the pandemic
Average rent rose 6% in Philly over the past two years, but rents in the suburbs grew much faster, per new data from CoStar.
- In the Pa. collar counties, rent has risen between 12% and 15% since 2020. In New Jersey, the three counties bordering Philadelphia have seen rents jump 14% to 20%.
Monthly rent in Philadelphia is still relatively high, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch reports. It averages $1,624, more than all but two of the surrounding counties, Montgomery and Chester.
Dock Street Brewing closing in West Philly after 15 years
Dock Street Brewing Co. is leaving its West Philadelphia brewpub after 15 years in a historic firehouse on Baltimore Avenue.
- When it opened in 1985, Dock Street was Philly’s first “microbrewery,” and cofounder Rosemarie Certo was a woman-in-beer pioneer.
May 31 will be the last day for Dock Street West, Ian Mikrut reports, but the Point Breeze location is staying open — and a new brewery is promised to take over operations in West.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- If abortion is made illegal in nearby states like Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia, there’d be a 1,200% increase in people whose nearest abortion provider is in Pa., per the Guttmacher Institute. [Axios]
- About 80% of Center City storefronts are occupied and pedestrian traffic is at 86% of pre-COVID levels, per the Center City District, which says a full recovery depends on more workers coming back to offices. [CCD/WHYY]
- Last year more than 36 million people visited the Philly region, a 21% increase from 2021. Tourism could bounce back to pre-pandemic levels next year, per the head of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. [Tribune$]
- Drexel University has formally acquired the collection of the Philadelphia History Museum at Atwater Kent. It’s one of the largest transfers of city-owned property to a private organization in Philly history. [WHYY/Inquirer$]
- A new collab between the Water Department and a nonprofit aims to boost oyster shell recycling at restaurants to improve the Delaware watershed. [Philly Mag]
- Our new guide to Philly’s Latino nightlife and dancing has where to find salsa, bachata, merengue, samba, rumba, cumbia, perreo and more. You can read in Spanish, too. [Billy Penn]
- When you’re serious about sending a message to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, you register “IH8PPA” as your license plate. [@brimil]
MAYOR WATCH
No public events scheduled for Mayor Kenney today. His Twitter account didn’t post anything yesterday at all, which is uncharacteristic — maybe his staff is buried in budget negotiations.
ON THE CALENDAR
?️ Today! Ahead of the primary election, reporter Jordan Levy will be taking over our Instagram to answer questions about the first ballot question: Should the board that helps enforce Philly’s fair housing laws be made permanent? Submit your Qs here. (12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 6)
? Billy Penn Philly Quizzo: Our monthly trivia event about all things Philly lands at the home of Fishtown Iced Teas. Hosts Danya and Sakeenah are kicking it at the new outdoor patio at Interstate Drafthouse, so start assembling a team. Registration is free. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18).
? Don your fancy hat and sip mint juleps at the annual Kentucky Derby fundraiser for Woodford Mansion in Fairmount Park. Tickets start at $35. (4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7)
? Jillian Pirtle of the Marian Anderson Museum hosts a Mother’s Day tea at Penn Museum to showcase the work, music, and fashion of the opera singer and civil rights icon. Tickets are $20. (1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7)
? The Satanic Temple of Philadelphia hosts a “Dance with the Devil” party at the Ruba Club, and proceeds benefit the sex worker support nonprofit HIPS. (9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, May 7)
