July 13: An “unfortunate casualty” | 30 Philly walks | North Broad Renaissance

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s outgoing first president Tom Corcoran discusses the organization’s major accomplishments and challenges with NewsWorks Tonight’s Dave Heller. Corcoran speaks about the successes: Spruce Street Harbor Park, RiverRink Winterfest/Summerfest, and the addition of bike trails. On DRWC’s greatest challenge, Corcoran explains that previous attempts to “correct the original sin” that separated Penn’s Landing from the rest of the city were “too ambitious, cost too much, and as a result, never happened.”

Little Pete’s closure is an “unfortunate casualty” of the city’s downtown evolution to cater to humans instead of the automobile, argues Inga Saffron. While the public laments losing the beloved diner, Saffron explains that a generic standalone garage adjacent to a bustling retail district makes “no economic sense,” given rising land values and the return to city living. Saffron explores the new Hyatt Centric hotel’s urbanist sensibilities and job creation potential.

North Broad Renaissance’s Shalimar Thomas discusses the economic development pillar of the organization’s five-year, four-goal plan to revitalize North Broad Street’s commercial corridor with Generocity’s Albert Hong. Thomas emphasizes the Special Service District’s community-driven approach, explaining that economic development and community betterment are intricately intertwined in the rapidly changing corridor. 

Fancy a walk in Philly this weekend? Queen Village author Natalie Pompilio discusses her compilation of thirty walking tours highlighting art, architecture, history, and ‘little known gems’ on NewsWorks Tonight. Each walking tour, which Pompilio meticulously walked and researched, is rated by distance, difficulty, parking, and public transit.

Hidden City Philadelphia’s Marked Potential author Shila Scarlet Griffith envisions transforming the former Film Exchange Building on 13th Street into a gluten-free co-cooking center. Recognizing the rise of co-working culture and spaces in the city, Griffith’s proposal opens up the Art Moderne building’s existing floor plan to accommodate multiple commercial kitchens without “compromising the integrity of the exterior.”