Mantua Philadelphia

Mantua is a neighborhood in West Philadelphia north of Spring Garden Street and east of 40th street. The neighborhood is simply described as working-class and African American. The southern border of Mantua called Powelton Village has experienced some gentrification from an increased amount of Drexel University students. Before the 1940’s, Mantua was mainly a white Lutheran neighborhood. But over time African Americans families moved into the area. The early to mid 1960’s, the residents began to see the start of gang warfare. Herman Wrice and Andrew Jenkins, community activists, got together and formed the Young Great Society and the Mantua Community Planners. The constant crime and violence didn’t stop them from trying to protect and change their community. These programs held functions on a daily basis like arts and crafts, bands, day trips and tutoring. The Police Commissioner, Frank Rizzo, gave community leaders access to local police stations. When the local kids would get arrested due to gang related charges, the community leaders could post bail and take the residents home. The community leaders would then in return help police by trying to stop these kids from taking part in street life. Mantua was the most crime ridden neighborhoods in Philadelphia, regardless of the efforts of the committees. Between 1960 and 1969, Mantua recorded about 10 percent of total city gang killings. The Philadelphia Police Department often assigned patrols in Mantua simply as punishments to officers. Over a decade, six major gangs called the 10.5 block their territory. In the 70’s, Andrew Jenkins began working with the Mantua Community Planners to build a recreation center in Mantua. Gang violence delayed their efforts. The first rec center was opened on 34th Street and Haverford Avenue. It had playgrounds, a free library, and ball courts. Wrice’s Young Great Society and Jenkins’s Mantua Community Planners collaborated to have urban renewal programs. They included planting tress and building housing units. During the 1980’s there was a ride of drug-related crimes. It’s seen in many industrialized cities during that time period. Many residents started to flee after crack-cocaine and the existing heroin hit the area. Wrice led community marches against drugs and went after drug dealers by putting up Wanted Posters. Andrew Jenkins was Deputy Mayor for eight years and Herman Wrice even started Mantua Against Drugs or MAD in 1988. Jenkins said that the lowest point of Mantua was in the 80’s when the leaders were jealous and created tension causing unsuccessful results. Rumors and stigmas placed on active leaders destroyed the neighborhoods efforts. The drug was not as strong in the 1990’s but community was still suffering from the effects of years of drugs and violence. The number of residents went from 19,000 in the 1960’s to around 6,000 by the 90’s. There were several hundred vacant lots all along the streets. The stores that were in Mantua during the 1950’s like galleries and movie theaters were replaced by grab-and-go beer stores and delis. In the late 90’s, buildings and abandoned lots were bought and renovated by college students from Drexel University. Its estimated that 500 to 1000 college-aged students are living in Mantua. The Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania students have brought a renewed interest to the community. In 2002, the Mantua Community Improvement Committee (MCIC) has goals with the residents, neighbors to Mantua and the City of Philadelphia. The MCIC has initiatives in place, like the Mantua Neighborhood Special Services District. It’s meant to attract commercial investors and new homebuyers.