[ebBPxIai]

Philadelphia's population decline has levelled off for the same reason that the Bronx's has: everybody with a reason to get out has gotten out. Remaining are the hard core low lifes and otherwise desperately poor and the yuppies in their townhouses and luxury condos.

When you hit bottom, you can't go down further. But you can keep on tearing down unprofitable buildings, particularly if the tax structure gives you relief for such vandalism.