February 12: Blumenfeld’s riverfront dreams | Sheriff’s Office unreachable | Fishtown Rec’s rink rehabbed | PPA retiring prepaid cards | Moyer & Stairs

Happy Wednesday Streeters. In addition to the Nor’easter heading our way, here’s what’s making news this morning:

Developer Eric Blumenfeld dreams of building an urban village on land owned by the Sheet Metal Workers along the Delaware River. Blumenfeld has been talking about plans for the 20-acre property at Columbus Boulevard just below Washington Avenue for years, but does not have project financing secure and has yet to share plans with the Planning Commission. On his blog Joe DiStefano says Blumenfeld’s dream could include 1000 apartments, 600,000 square feet of office space, waterfront restaurants, stores, and the waterfront trail. “”We’ll start over the next couple of years. It could take seven or 10 years to build it all out,” Blumenfeld said. The underlying zoning is CMX-3, which would permit diverse uses. Worth noting: DiStefano states that the zoning would permit 200-foot tall buildings – it won’t given the Central Delaware Zoning Overlay’s height limit of 100 feet. Height bonuses up to 244 feet can be negotiated in exchange for public amenities.

Why doesn’t the Real Estate Department at the Sheriff’s Office answer the phone? Ronnie Polaneczky writes that it rang and rang and rang even as she stood outside the door calling, watching people working in the office. The problem is, it seems, worse in the crucial days just prior to a sheriff’s sale, when a property owner may be trying to stop the sale.

At Fishtown Rec’s Rink, it’s smooth skating again. The Daily News reports that $40,000 from Council President Darrell Clarke, Parks & Rec, and a grant from the Snider Foundation funded the restoration of the aging rink. With a waterproof roof, fresh concrete floor, and new boards, the rink is poised to become a ‘roller hockey mecca’ again.

This year the Parking Authority will retire its prepaid Smart Card system. The Inquirer reports that the decade-old system was losing money, and sales of the Smart Cards will end in May and must be used by the end of December. 

Phillies pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater today, here’s the best news we’ve got to share about the 2014 Phils: Jamie Moyer will be in the broadcast booth. Matt Stairs too.

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