The University City District (UCD), SCI/West and Friends of 40th Street invite public participation in a facilitated conversation to shape common planning principles and urban design ideals for consideration in development activities along the 40th Street corridor. With guidance provided by PennPraxis and the Project for Civic Engagement, the conveners aim to encourage local stakeholder involvement in the identification of characteristics that may influence the success of a mixed-use retail and residential corridor in this community.The University City District has recently started an initiative to improve the transit portals along the 40th Street Corridor. These design and development conversations about 40th Street will help to inform that transit project. Likewise, SCI West is currently in the midst of developing its strategic plan for the next three years and the 40th Street corridor serves as a key component of this strategic plan. Additionally, this conversation about the design and character of development along 40th Street will help to inform the neighborhood planning component of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s Philadelphia 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
Agenda - June 27, 2011
6:00-6:30: Sign In
6:30-7:00: Introductions Presentation
7:00-8:15: Small Group Work
8:15-8:30: Final Thoughts
40th Street Planning Principles
Creating unity while maintaining diversity
40th Street: The following is a summary of the principles developed during a month-long community engagement process in the winter of 2004, with suggested revisions from the summer of 2006. As a set, these principles represent a coherent image for the evolution of 40th Street in West Philadelphia between Lancaster and Baltimore Avenues. The Friends of 40th Street grew out of the community forum process and has assumed the responsibility for advocating for these principles in the ongoing evolution of the 40th Street corridor.
The many faces of 40th Street
Enhance the urban character of 40th Street by promoting and sustaining a rich urban blend of culture, class, age, race, and gender along 40th Street with shops, services, arts, and culture that reflect a vibrant sense of place. Aim for a mix of uses, such as residential living above small-scale retail that will enhance the innate character of this very public and urban thoroughfare.
Here, there, everywhere
Celebrate the rich diversity found on 40th Street. 40th Street is a living, social and cultural corridor. It is a place where many traditions merge and blend, a place where differences are respected and a place for people to feel welcome along its entire length.
To market, to market
Encourage development by balancing a strong sense of social responsibility towards existing and new local businesses and jobs with free market economics. It must reflect daily local needs, as well as the larger social and cultural identities of University City.
It’s our house
Make 40th Street clean, safe, attractive, and accessible. Create and sustain the highest quality public street life on 40th Street from Lancaster Avenue to Baltimore Avenue. Design the street so that street life reflects the vibrancy and values of the community.
Destination 40th Street
Build on the diversity of uses and customers on 40th Street that change throughout the day, week, and year. Think of 40th Street as both a local street and a unique destination where community meets campus with a rich offering of commerce and culture reflecting the surrounding neighborhoods.
Building community
Keep the dialogue going. Citizens of University City want to enlarge the public conversation about 40th Street and create a community-based process that will ensure continued consultation, communication, dialogue, and promotion among the stakeholder groups aimed at sustaining a viable vision for the future.
40th Street Green
Think globally, act locally. Make 40th Street a leader in demonstrating how urban neighborhoods can promote environmental sustainability practices. Promote and increase the use of the existing public transportation infrastructure. Encourage green building practices and recycling. Reduce energy consumption, stormwater runoff, and waste streams. Make 40th Street a more responsible and better place for everyone.
PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future