Articles
You are viewing 194 articles by the author JoAnn Greco
In Praise of Civic Horticulture
As University of Pennsylvania professor David Brownlee set the stage for last Friday's Civic Horticulture Conference, jointly presented by The Cultural Landscape Foundation and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, audience members couldn't…
In Conversation With: Greg Heller on Ed Bacon and his legacy
On the eve of the official launch of Ed Bacon: Planning, Politics, and the Building of Modern Phiadelphia (University of Penn Press), author Greg Heller chatted with PlanPhilly's JoAnn Greco about…
Historic Commission Okays Redevelopment of Corn Exchange Building
The Philadelphia Historical Commission reviewed two Old City projects today and considered yet another difficult renovation proposed for a house in the Girard Estates Historic District. Following recommendations by the Commission's…
Gathering to Showcase Civic Horticulture
In Sept. of 2011, Charles Birnbaum, founder and president of The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), penned a love letter — via his Huffington Post column, City Shaping — to Philadelphia's past…
Art Commission approves Zoo project
In a short meeting on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Art Commission reviewed just one application — and granted it unanimous final approval. The project, the creation of a new facade for the…
Driving home lessons from rails-to-parks conversions
There's a "growing collection of urban linear parks" in America, Beth White, the Chicago region's director for the Trust for Public Land (TPL) said Monday night in introducing the panelists for…
Crowd-funding a historic facade restoration
For the last few years, Tim Patton has been giving away his home-brewed Saint Benjamin beer at street festivals and during Philly Beer Week. Slowly, he's built a fan base of…
Amid sound and fury, Historical Commission approves Feibush Cafe
A surprise — and quite dramatic — appearance by the City's Chief Integrity Officer, Joan Markman, capped the Historical Commission meeting on Friday morning. Ms. Markman was the last to testify…
Tourism outfit promotes key neighborhoods in initiative
With a new initiative — Philadelphia Neighborhoods — debuting today, Greater Philadelphia Tourism & Marketing Corp.(GPTMC) is raising the stakes when it comes to its impact on the city. And, in…
Art Commission considers Manayunk, Delaware River projects
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Art Commission enjoyed a morning of transitions — of bridges and crossings and dams. Three projects received final approval, while a fourth, the most complex was given…
P&R announces next green playground
Bracketed by recordings of John Fogerty's "Centerfield" and Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town" (one can only hope…), representatives from the Phillies, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and The Trust…
Challenges for Viaduct Project: Ownership, community and cultural implications, a large and diverse space, and civic ramifications.
A thoughtfully-conceived panel at the Center for Architecture on Wednesday night offered what amounted to the most complete look yet at plans for the Reading Viaduct. Presented by AIA Philadelphia and…
Historical Commission approves Drexel Project
The March meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission sped by in less than an hour on Friday morning. It was made expeditious by the fact that a much-anticipated discussion of proposed…
Art Commission approves LightPlay, Linc Infill
The Philadelphia Art Commission granted its final approval on Wednesday morning to two significant Broad Street projects situated just a few miles from each other. Architects from Gensler, who first appeared…
Parks and Recreation Commission hears testimony on reservoir project
As it did during its previous meeting, the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commission devoted the bulk of this Wednesday's meeting to a project that triggers a review to make sure it…
Philly's great at "The Planning Game"
Great city plans require great men, with strong wills and sturdy stomachs for politics, Alexander Garvin believes. And he should know. This planner, author, and long-time instructor at Yale University briefly…
Philadelphia Historical Commission Reviews PFSF, Curtis, other projects
Applications that would alter two prominent public spaces were on the agenda of Friday's Historical Commission meeting, but it was a convoluted, albeit fascinating and layered, case in the Girard Estates…
In Profile: Mark Focht merges concrete and verdant jungles
Mark Focht long ago figured out how he got to where he is today: first deputy commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation for Philadelphia, and president-elect of the American Society of…
The plan for our greatest civic space: More Park, Less Way
Yoga stretches on the grass. Food trucks on Eakins Oval. And, why not, an ice sculpture from Andy Goldsworthy, the English artist famed for his work using materials he finds in…
Park & Recreation Commission hears Temple Boathouse testimony
The Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commission hosted a packed house Wednesday evening at Lloyd Hall, turning over its bimonthly meeting to the hearing of testimony regarding a proposed boathouse to be…
