University City Science Center

UCSC has come a long way since it was first built. While rumors of racial discrimation by Penn have long persisted, one thing’s for sure: Penn wiped out a neighborhood to build this complex. Then they let it languish, empty, for years while the funds to build it came through.
Parts of it are definitely a success. Millions in research grants flow to the complex every year, and it has attracted a lot of workers to the area. However, walk west along Market and you’ll see the problems: It’s far from done. Standing at the corner of Market and 38^th — two major boulevards — there’s barely anything there. Two corners are nothing but parking lots.
But Penn’s making up for lost time. The new buildings coming in are a sign of reinvestment, and hopefully that energy — and money — will spread westward.