
Tensions peaked in 1997 when Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan threatened to join marchers to protest racial violence, but spoke at a church rally in a compromise negotiated by Mayor Ed Rendell. There have been riots and beatings and, sometimes, killings.

The Irish Catholics living in the neighborhood's modest row homes clashed with African Americans living in the demolished Tasker Homes and newly built Greater Grays Ferry Estates. Over the years, the neighborhood has seen numerous instances of racial violence. The reasons most often cited are memories of the problems with Tasker Homes. The new townhomes have increased tensions between working-class residents and occupants of Section 8 housing within the neighborhood. In 2004, the Tasker Homes were demolished and replaced with the Greater Grays Ferry Estates. ĭuring Mayor John Street's administration, the Philadelphia Housing Authority declared certain higher density housing as blighted, demolishing it and replacing with lower density, townhome-style public housing. Originally, the housing project had 1,100 units and followed the city's general model of high-density, low-income housing. The Tasker Homes (also known as the Tasker Housing Project) were located at 29th and Morris Streets and visible from the Schuylkill Expressway. Tasker Homes and Greater Grays Ferry Estates Currently the neighborhood, which represents less than 1% of the city’s population, houses more than 10% of the city’s Section 8 residents.More than 30% of the residents are under 18.Audenried Junior High School, Grays Road Recreation Center, James McCann Foundation, University Avenue Bridge, and Anthony Wayne School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This neighborhood was once the site of the Schuylkill Arsenal. Moyamensing was chartered by the Dutch governor Alexander d'Hinoyossa, and in 1684, William Penn confirmed the title. īefore the Act of Consolidation, 1854, this neighborhood was part of Moyamensing Township.

The river is now spanned by the Gray's Ferry Bridge and several rail bridges. By 1747 George Gray had taken over the ferry, and established the nearby Gray's Inn and Gray's Garden, which were popular in the 1790s.

The neighborhood's namesake ferry originally belonged to a Benjamin Chambers in the 17th century. In the 18th century, Gray's Ferry was the southernmost of three ferries that crossed the Schuylkill River to Philadelphia. The area developed near an important crossing of the Schuylkill River. This was the primary entrance to the city for travelers from the south until it was replaced by a permanent bridge in 1838. The Floating Bridge across the Schuylkill River at Gray's Ferry was originally built by the British during their 1777-78 occupation of Philadelphia.
