PlanPhilly weekly news recap 12-20-2007

12-20-2007
Dear PlanPhilly member,

In another busy week, PlanPhilly brings you the following stories in design and planning in Philadelphia:

1. Army Corps Weighs Demolition and Redevelopment of Riverfront Pier

The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers is posting an application by Pier 25 North Associates and Hong Kong and Shanghai Investment Company to partially demolish and reconstruct Pier 25 (now the site of Cavanaugh’s Riverdeck restaurant and bar)  in order to construct 24 stacked townhouses on the pier as well as a 38-story building containing 182 condominiums/apartments, parking for 303 vehicles and a small fishing pier.

Click here to view the Army Corp application: http://www.planphilly.com/files/pn2007-0122.pdf.  Public comment is due December 30, and can be sent to David.J.Caplan@usace.army.mil.

Full story by Matt Blanchard will be posted later today: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2451.

2. SugarHouse Site Redcoat Connection?

Kellie Patrick Gates continued reporting on the archaeological dig at the SugarHouse Casino site. Historians are concerned that a significant British fort manned by loyalists during the American Revolution sat squarely on the property. Click here to read the full story: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2453.

3. Regional Transit Funding Challenges

Seth Budick produced the third in a series of PlanPhilly stories examining infrastructure projects that would accompany a re-visioning of the Central Delaware waterfront, and how they will meet their biggest challenge: funding. Click here for the full report: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2277.

4. City Council Challenges Commerce Department Decision

Kellie Patrick Gates reported that Philadelphia City Council has asked the State Supreme Court to reconsider its decision that granted SugarHouse Casino the zoning it needs to build. “City council is filing an application for re-argument,” said Brian Abernathy, spokesman for Councilman Frank DiCicco.  Click here for the full report: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2352.

Check out these three links for related documents on SugarHouse and Foxwoods Casnios:

http://www.planphilly.com/files/HSP%20-%20application%20for%20reargument%20(12-17-07).pdf

http://www.planphilly.com/files/HSP%20-%20application%20for%20reargument%20-%20exhibit%20(12-17-07).pdf

http://www.planphilly.com/files/Foxwoods%20-%20opposition%20to%20reargument%20(12-12-07).pdf

5. Inclusionary Housing Code Passed by Council

Matt Blanchard covered the City Council hearing where that body passed an inclusionary housing bill that amends the city’s housing code to require that residential developers of more than 20 units set aside at least 10 percent for below-market renters: Half for families making 0% to 80% of the area’s median income, and half for family’s making below 125% of the area’s median income. Click here for the full story: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2397.

6. City Planning Civic Engagement Continues

Alan Jaffe covered the fourth in a series of Imagine Philadelphia sessions, a public engagement process being coordinated by the City Planning Commission that looked at some of the city’s most serious ills, but also came up with some very upbeat remedies. Click here for the report: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2406.

Upcoming Events

Jan. 3: Design Advocacy Group monthly meeting — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2395
Jan. 9: ZCC Informational Session: Presentation by Water Department — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2292
Jan. 9: Logan Square/Parkway Neighborhood Plan Kickoff — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2407

Best until next week,
Matt Golas, Managing Editor

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