Response to Lancaster walk

I've always liked Lancaster Ave. and the surrounding neighborhoods, and from this walk which took us further than I had previously been on foot, I saw so many examples of the unfulfilled potential the street has. The wonderful and varying architectural styles bring so much character to the area, but nearly none of them are well kempt. The vacant upstairs spaces and ugly storefronts really take away from the overall appeal of the street. With a little work and money the buildings could drastically improve. The challenge is to revitalize the neighborhood without taking away it's existant character and in a way the current residents agree with. Obviously gentrification isn't in the interest of the residents, but if it became a place where more students went to eat or spend money then it would benefit the neighborhood and the people who live there.