Delaware River Waterfront Corp. replaces Penn's Landing Corp. Mandate is to meet objectives of Action Plan for the Central Delaware.
Jan. 30, 2009
By Kellie Patrick Gates
For PlanPhilly
There's a new group of people charged with the long-standing goals of revitalizing, maintaining and managing Philadelphia's riverfront.
At the direction of Mayor Michael Nutter - the frequently criticized Penn's Landing Corporation board voted to dissolve itself Friday morning. Noting the late start of the meeting, Nutter quipped, "Since the board has not had a meeting in more than two years, what's another 10 or 15 minutes?"
After the Penn's Landing Corporation ceased to exist, those relieved of their duties literally walked away from the table, making room for the newly appointed Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.
While the goals of the old and new agencies are similar, Nutter pledged that little else would be. "Instead of a large organization with 26 directors, the new one will have 16 members. Instead of (decisions happening) behind closed doors, they will happen in the light of day with open meetings.
"Instead of a waterfront seemingly separate from the city, we want our waterfront to be completely embraced by the city and the region," Nutter said.
Financial reports will be published and by the meeting's end, a website would be up and running, Nutter said. Meetings will be held at least quarterly, he said, and every one of them will have a public comment period.
Among the goals of the DRWC are the planning, design, development and management of the Central Delaware Waterfront. The non-profit organization will strive to drive investment and improvements that Nutter said would transform the waterfront into "one of the most spectacular waterfronts anywhere in America" and an enjoyable asset for the city's and region's residents and tourists.
Nutter then called his new appointees to the table, giving each of them a letter of nomination and a handshake. Several of the city's top planning and development officials are among them. As are architects, bankers and developers, a restaurateur, the chair of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, experts in the law, finance and communications, an environmental consultant, and the dean of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Design. Commerce Director/Deputy Mayor for Planning Andy Altman was named chair.
Penn School of Design Dean Marilyn Jordan Taylor said she's looking forward to serving on the board. She said there's so much talk about infrastructure these days - something she's worked with all her life. "Just look out there at that fantastic view of our natural infrastructure, the river," she said.
Taylor is interested in reducing car traffic on the riverfront, and bringing more people there via public transportation or their feet. The key thing is to give more people a reason to come to the riverfront, she said. "I think it has the potential to be an extraordinary asset."
Because of the consensus that no elected official should serve on the new organization's board, Nutter said William Wilson, Principal-in-Charge of Synterra Ltd., would take his place at the table.
Nutter said that both the DRWC's principles and goals are based on the Action Plan for the Central Delaware, a document put together by the Central Delaware Advocacy Group and Penn Praxis after more than a year of community meetings around the city that gleaned what the public wants from the waterfront.
Nutter said the process that resulted in the Action Plan was one of the greatest examples of civic engagement that the city has seen in a long time. "CDAG has demonstrated civic engagement at a whole new level," he said. "The City cannot thank the advocacy group enough. And let me assure you that your work's not done. The new waterfront board will seek and need your input."
But no member of CDAG was among Nutter's appointments.
When asked why, Nutter said that there were no designated seats for any groups. A lot of people were interested in serving on the new board, he said, and every one of them was considered for their individual strengths. "It was my responsibility to make sure there was a good mix of people with different areas of expertise," he said.
"My expectation is that CDAG will be a resource and an asset. I deeply appreciate the great work they have done."
CDAG's newly appointed chairman, Steven Weixler, said that he was at first "concerned" that no one from his organization would have a seat at the table - particularly since CDAG represents so many civic groups.
"I felt the new Delaware River Waterfront Corporation would benefit from our experience," he said.
But he felt better about it after hearing the mayor speak. "I'm very encouraged by the declaration of openness and transparency," he said.
Weixler said CDAG members will attend every DRWC meeting, and they will "strongly advocate" to those who were appointed to keep the Action Plan's goals central to their work.
While Nutter did not have much good to say about the work of the former board, he praised Penn’s Landing staffers for keeping things going without much guidance.
Acting Corporation President Joe Brooks will stay on with the new organization. He gave the new board members a financial snapshot of the organization they will be guiding.
The Corporation has an $8 million annual operating budget. In the last quarter of 2008, it brought it $3.8 million in revenue and had $3.6 million in expenses, for about $183,000 in income. But, Brooks said after the meeting, the economy will have its impact this year. Operating losses are projected at $500,000, he said. But the shortfall will be covered with cash reserves.
Altman - who spoke fondly of watching the ships on the river when he was a boy growing up in Philadelphia - said he knows money is a hard to come by in this economy, but that won't keep the board from digging into its mission. They can devise a planning framework for the waterfront and work on public spaces, he said. And the federal economic stimulus package may yield some money for other projects.
Brooks gave his new bosses a thick binder to help them get acquainted with the work the new organization will do. This includes maintaining piers, a heliport, and some roadway median landscaping, operating an ice skating rink, and hosting more than 100 events annually, such as fireworks and free concerts. The Corporation is also landlord for some residential properties and restaurants, the Independence Seaport Museum and The Hyatt. It oversees three miles of waterfront - 70 acres of developable land and 30 acres of green space.
The riverfront goals laid out on Friday sounded good to Gail Solomon and Regina and Charles Bartler - three residents of The Dockside Condominiums, just south of the Seaport Museum.
"We are hoping that at long last, this will spearhead something to get development up and moving," Charles Bartler said. "I'm anxious for the Philadelphia waterfront to come into its own as other cities waterfronts have," his wife Regina Bartler added.
Solomon looked forward to more accessibility to the water, and hoped for more green space and bike trails.
The three agreed that one simple amenity would be a huge sign of progress. "You can't even get a cup of coffee and a newspaper down here," Charles Bartler said.
Board members
Ex-officio Directors
Andrew Altman (Chair) – Commerce Director and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Alan Greenberger – Executive Director, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Bill Wilson – Principal-in-Charge, Synterra Ltd.
Mayoral Appointees
Rina Cutler – Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Public Utilities
Diane Dalto Woosnam – Chairman, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Avi Eden – Consultant with a background in finance and law
Terry Gillen – Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority & Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Economic Development
Jay Goldstein – President and CEO, Valley Green Bank
Bill Hankowsky - Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Property Trust
Michael Hauptman, AIA - Partner, Brawer & Hauptman Architects
Alan Hoffman – President, Vitetta Architects/Engineers
William R. Miller, IV – CEO, Ross Associates, Inc.
Donn Scott – Sales Director, Wachovia Bank
Marilyn Jordan Taylor – Dean, PennDesign
Ellen Yin - Co-Owner, Fork Restaurant and Bar, Fork:etc
Mario Zacharjasz, AIA - Co-founder and principal, PZS Architects, LLC; President of Puente Construction Enterprises, Inc.
Contact the reporter at kelliespatrick@gmail.com
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