Fitler Square

Fitler Square is the name given over to the neighborhood that surrounds the park of the same name in Philadelphia. The area has a number of lovingly tended green spaces. Included in the real estate of this district are tree lined streets filled with luxury homes. Inhabitants also include many students who appreciate how living here puts them in close proximity to educational facilities and downtown. There are also numerous shops, restaurants, and retail outlets.

Fitler Square is bounded on the east side by 23rd Street. On the west side, the boundary is 24th Street. The northern edge is Panama Street. The southern edge is Pine Street. The zone lies southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It is named after Edwin Henry Fitler who was mayor of Philadelphia in the late 19th Century.

The surrounding neighborhood has more extensive boundaries. It edges eastward to 21st St. The western border is the Schuykill River. Locust Street is the western boundary. South Street is the southern boundary. The Rittenhouse Square district is to the east. University City is to the west. This gives residents here easy access to Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. Center City lies to the south. The region is sometimes called Rit Fit after the two squares which are close by and provide pretty lawn areas and places for children to play and for people to meet.

Fitler Square had become a blighted zone by the 1950’s. The Center City Resident’s Association petitioned Mayor Clark to reverse the neighborhood’s decline. The current condition of the real estate here is proof of their success. Luxury homes here are now in high demand. Together, the mayor and the association managed to secure mortgage funds that were funneled into construction of new homes and to rehabilitation of existing buildings.

At the time, the neighborhood was also threatened by construction of a proposed Crosstown Expressway. It would have demolished an extensive chunk of the district. This helped reduce property values and accelerated blight. By changing these plans and starting community improvements, the association and mayor managed to reverse the blight and bring the area back to life.