Italian Markets: Real Estate and Ethnic Community in Toronto and Philadelphia, 1940–1990

JORDAN STANGER-ROSS

IN ITS 1965 HEARINGS on racial discrimination in the housing market, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations permitted Noel Smorto, a South Philadelphia realtor, to dwell at length on the "unique" situation in the area where he lived and worked: There is a certain group of people, particularly the Italian people, who want to live in this area. They take a great deal of pride in their homes, and they are very jealous as to who moves into these areas. They build friendships, relationships. They have their families close by . . . [they] have put all their life's savings, their money, and worked hard to improve a house, and they expect to remain there in their remaining years in comfort and in close proximity to their friends and relatives.1