PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

Strawberry Mansion, named after the historic mansion, is a neighborhood in Lower North Philadelphia. The area is bounded by 33rd Street to the west, 29th Street to the east, Lehigh Avenue to the north, and Oxford Street to the south. The “Strawberry Mansion” from which the neighborhood gets its name, is a giant estate located adjacent to the neighborhood. It was once home to Judge William Lewis circa 1789. For many years the area was referred to as “Summerville”, but it later adopted the name of the famous mansion that shares its borders. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, Strawberry Mansion was a popular area for affluent, well-off Philadelphians. At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the neighborhood began to tear apart at the seams. More and more factories and businesses became derelict as a result of an economic decline and urban decay. Today the neighborhood has begun to recover. Its community organizations fight to ensure that the area is safe and protected. The area's close proximity to Center City has also proved to be advantageous, as artists and other urban professionals flock to the area’s inexpensive apartment complexes.