Callowhill Neighbors appeal Assumption demo | New waterfront zoning in 2013 | 245 hybrid buses replacing diesel | Market West smut duo closes

Good morning, Streeters. Happy Thursday. Today’s City Council agenda [pdf] includes votes on the city’s Complete Streets legislation and residential parking minimums for developments around Temple. Here’s this morning’s buzz:

The Callowhill Neighborhood Association appealed the demolition permit issued for the historic Church of the Assumption and is filing an appeal in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court of the latest court decision that allowed demolition to go forward, reports Hidden City Daily. Callowhill Neighborhood Association is also considering pursuing an injunction to stay demolition, which could begin as early as December 11, while these appeals are heard.

A new Central Delaware Waterfront Zoning Overlay, which will create zoning to support and give shape to the principles of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware, won’t be introduced in City Council until next year, reports PlanPhilly’s Kellie Patrick Gates. For now, Councilman Mark Squilla is working with members of the Planning Commission, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Central Delaware Advocacy Group, and Development Workshop to hammer out the overlay’s final details. Among the unresolved issues: river access streets and incentive zoning. Councilman Squilla “wouldn’t provide PlanPhilly with a copy of the draft language, but said he might make the document public before he introduces it to council.”

Starting next year SEPTA will begin replacing 245 old diesel buses with new hybrids, making more than half of SEPTA’s fleet hybrid, reports PlanPhilly’s Christine Fisher. SEPTA has funding through Federal Transit Authority grants to convert 160 diesel buses to hybrids over the next two years, but needs to find money to convert the last 85 that will be delivered in the subsequent two years.

The Delaware River Basin Commission approved the $6.4 billion Philadelphia International Airport expansion plan, reports the Inquirer. The airport expansion will include dredging part of the river, filling nearly 130 acres of water and wetlands to add new roads, runways, and buildings.

Market West’s smut duo, Les Gals and The Forum, have both closed, making NakedPhilly wonder if Market West is getting Giuliani’d or if something happened to owner Anthony Trombetta.

 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.

 

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