Beautiful Streets: How do you define streetscape beauty?

Beautiful Streets: How do you define streetscape beauty?

Beautiful Streets is a new project aiming to collect data about why certain blocks are more attractive than others, and 200 Philly blocks are the test cases.

Frankford Central United Methodist Church demolition imminent

Frankford Central United Methodist Church demolition imminent

The Frankford Central United Methodist Church’s days are numbered as the city plans for its demolition.

Grappling with preservation in Overbrook Farms

Grappling with preservation in Overbrook Farms

The Historical Commission has twice postponed designating the Overbrook Farms Historic District. How do the arguments against designation hold up?

Philadelphians hop on board, set Soul Train dance line record

Philadelphians hop on board, set Soul Train dance line record

Hundreds of Philadelphians turned out for a giant Soul Train dance line on Monday to honor the memory of the show’s host and creator Don Cornelius. It looks like we set a record.

UPDATED: The Imperative Divine Lorraine

UPDATED: The Imperative Divine Lorraine

The revitalization on North Broad Street is being held back by the Divine Lorraine’s blighting dead weight. But Mayor Nutter announced the city’s renewed commitment to “transform” the historic, but neglected, apartment/hotel at the intersection of Broad and Fairmount. UPDATE: An unnamed local developer has an option on the Divine Lorraine, and a deal could be reached within weeks.


Recent Articles

Reading Terminal Market celebrates its 120th year with major renovations

Reading Terminal Market celebrates its 120th year with major renovations

Today is Reading Terminal Market’s 120th anniversary and, far from ossifying into old age, the market has a major renovation project underway.

read more

Planning Commission supports YWCA redevelopment, hears about Blue Horizon and sign controls; Umbria Village’s new name; Grubb & Ellis bankrupt; area home sales up

Planning Commission supports YWCA redevelopment, hears about Blue Horizon and sign controls; Umbria Village’s new name; Grubb & Ellis bankrupt; area home sales up
  • Chestnut Street YWCA Annex redevelopment supported by PCPC despite concerns about design
  • Blue Horizon could become Hotel Blue on Broad
  • Draft sign controls presented to Planning Commission
  • Proposed development in Roxborough goes from Umbria Village to The Station at Manayunk. Deceptive?
  • Grubb & Ellis files for bankruptcy
  • Philly-area home sales up, but sales prices down from last year
  • read more

    Chestnut Square groundbreaking Tuesday at Drexel

    Chestnut Square groundbreaking Tuesday at Drexel

    Tuesday evening, Drexel University will officially break ground on a $97.6 million mixed-use development on Chestnut Street that will house 869 students and 11 retail tenants.

    read more

    Biogas-to-energy facility for PWD plant in Bridesburg

    Biogas-to-energy facility for PWD plant in Bridesburg

    The Water Department awarded $47.5 million to a Massachusetts firm to develop a facility at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant in Bridesburg to help heat and power the plant by using methane produced on site.

    read more

    Beautiful Streets: How do you define streetscape beauty?

    Beautiful Streets: How do you define streetscape beauty?

    Beautiful Streets is a new project aiming to collect data about why certain blocks are more attractive than others, and 200 Philly blocks are the test cases.

    read more

    Regulating signs in the city, land bank gaining traction, sewage treatment plant as bird habitat, fuel costs and refinery closures

    Regulating signs in the city, land bank gaining traction, sewage treatment plant as bird habitat, fuel costs and refinery closures
  • Draft sign controls to be presented to Planning Commission today
  • In favor of a municipal land bank
  • Sewage treatment plant winter habitat for swallows
  • Idled refineries contributing to rising gas-prices?
  • read more

    February 20-24: Kahn in Rome, Thaddeus Squire at Visibly Invisible, Scott Gabriel Knowles on risk and disaster, Paula Scher on design, Grid Alive, reimagining urban highways

    February 20-24: Kahn in Rome, Thaddeus Squire at Visibly Invisible, Scott Gabriel Knowles on risk and disaster, Paula Scher on design, Grid Alive, reimagining urban highways
  • Monday: Kahn in Rome @ Architectural Archives
  • Tuesday: Visibly Invisible with Thaddeus Squire @ UArts
  • Wednesday: Scott Gabriel Knowles: “The Disaster Experts, Mastering Risk in Modern America” @ Penn Book Store
  • Thursday: Paula Scher @ PennDesign
  • Thursday: Re-imagining Urban Highways @ Academy of Natural Sciences
  • read more

    Happy President’s Day 2012: Divination of Washington, ownership of Philly’s transit infrastructure, city’s hotel demand, Independence Hall clock tower rings again, debating PGW sale

    Happy President’s Day 2012: Divination of Washington, ownership of Philly’s transit infrastructure, city’s hotel demand, Independence Hall clock tower rings again, debating PGW sale
  • Swag and Apotheosis of George Washington
  • Who should own the Broad Street Line?
  • How much hotel space is enough?
  • Independence Hall tower restored, relit, ringing
  • Selling PGW is complicated: possible revenue for city vs. consumer risk
  • read more

    Frankford Central United Methodist Church demolition imminent

    Frankford Central United Methodist Church demolition imminent

    The Frankford Central United Methodist Church’s days are numbered as the city plans for its demolition.

    read more

    February 17-20: ‘Force of Nature,’ Independence Hall tower ceremony, Freedom Bound, President’s Day Celebration

    February 17-20: ‘Force of Nature,’ Independence Hall tower ceremony, Freedom Bound, President’s Day Celebration
  • Friday: Force of Nature @ Woodmere
  • Saturday: Independence Hall Tower Ribbon Cutting @ Independence Square
  • Saturday: Freedom Bound: African American Women in 18th Century Philadelphia @ Stenton
  • Saturday-Monday: President’s Day Celebration @ Constitution Center
  • read more