Speculation at Broad and Washington, profiles in Occupy, safety at greened lots, parking in bike lanes, unified Chelten Avenue, Nutter nod

What’s the deal with the huge empty lot at the northeast corner of Broad and Washington? Hidden City reports a rumor about Wal-Mart exploring the possibility of a city store there as part of a mixed-use development. But Naked Philly hears that Dranoff Properties is negotiating for the property hot and heavy, with a supermarket as the possible anchor tenant.

The Inquirer profiles the many faces of Occupy Philly, and the many reasons that draw them to Occupy day in and day out.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has been greening vacant lots throughout Philadelphia for a decade, and University of Pennsylvania researchers finds that incidents of gun violence and vandalism dropped around greened lots, The Atlantic Cities reports that by reclaiming the lots the study suggests crime was deterred by a perception that neighbors were watching over the greened spaces, but also that greened lots do not provide a dumping ground or hiding place for handguns.

StreetsDept finds Society Hill ‘s bike lanes frequently blocked by parked cars on the weekend. Have you noticed this problem too? Is the Parking Authority looking the other way?

How can Chelten Avenue unify Germantown, by becoming a commercial corridor that better serves all Germantown residents? That’s what the Planning Commission’s Northwest community planner Matt Wysong is asking Germantowners weigh in on as he works on a new Chelten Avenue Corridor Plan. Amy Z. Quinn reports for NewsWorks/PlanPhilly.

Mayor Nutter was named one of Esquire’s Americans of the Year, largely for his tough stance on violent teen mobs articulated best in his speech at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in August.

 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.

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