Plan Philly: Engaging in Urban Dialogue

GRID Philly, April 2010

GRID magazine is a new Philadelphia-based magazine for sustainability. Covering topics such as energy, food, shelter, transportation, ecology and culture.

DVRPC Focus Newsletter, March 2010

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission presents Focus, news and events for local governments within the DVPRC region.

Green Jobs Philly News #17, March 2010

GreenJobsPhilly.org makes it easy for Philadelphians to offer and request GREEN JOBS, green GRANTS and green LOANS.  Our job is to help you connect with the people, money, raw materials and know-how you’ll need.

Councilman Darrell Clarke, 5th District Update, March 2010

This is Councilman Clarke's "5th District Update" which was created to keep you posted on ongoing events and happenings in our district. Click on the link above and feel free to forward to friends or other organizations of the 5th Councilmanic District. If there is anyone who would like to be on the list to receive the "5th District Update" please reply to darrell.clarke@phila.gov with the subject line "5th District Update Email List."

Preservation Alliance e-news, March 2010

The mission of the Preservation Alliance is to actively promote the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes.

Next Great City Newsletter, 8 March 2010

The Next Great City coalition is made up of diverse groups all working towards a common goal: making Philadelphia the Next Great City. The initiative is dedicated to creating a positive future for Philadelphia by advocating for common sense, cost effective policies that enhance environmental quality, strengthen neighborhoods and increase our economic competitiveness.

Federal Transit Administration, Transit Research and Industry News Update (January - February 2010)
The Federal Transit Administration's Transit Research and Industry News Update, a report that provides a variety of information about transportation-related research and technology.

University City Community Enews, March 3, 2010

Click here to read the community newsletter from the University City District, which includes updates on free events and workshops across the neighborhood.

PA Chapter of the American Planning Association Newsletter

The February 2010 Issue of The Vantage Point is now available.  In this issue: PA Land Choices Teaches the Importance of Land Use Planning; Integrating Transportation and Land Use into Comprehensive Plans; Call for Presentations for the 2010 Annual Conference; Required Training Initative; PA Chapter Annual Awards - Applications Now Available

777 South Broad Street

At Broad and Fitzwater, you will find one of the few large-scale development projects in Philly that is nearing completion.  It's 777, the latest in urban boutique living brought to you by Dranoff Properties.  The development, which is slated top open in March of 2010 promises loft living at a smaller scale than Dranoff's nearby Symphony House, and will be outfitted with the latest in green design technology.  It will also include the usual Dranoff amenities, such as a fitness center, clubroom, and roof deck. 

Weekly Press: South Street West celebrated 09 but looks ahead to 10

‘Twas the season to be jolly (and still is). With that in mind, members of the South Street West Business Association (SSWBA) celebrated their annual Christmas Party recently December 21st.

And they celebrated the SSWBA in proper style: by hosting it at one of the businesses that belongs to the association, the Fiso Lounge, at 1439 South Street. So, of course, the party’s buffet style fare was provided by local eateries such as Govinda’s Gourmet Vegetarian, as well as the soon-to-open Sweet Freedom Bakery, among others.

In the midst of celebrating the year’s end, members like President Jessie Frisby, of Jessie’s Herbal Essence; Vice President Jack Prince of Bob and Barbara’s; Jim Campbell, of Campbell Thomas & Co, Architects; Jamaican Jerk Hut owner, Lisa Wilson; Haryasva Dasa, owner of Govinda’s Café; as well as 30th Ward Leader Marcia Wilcoff and active SSWBA member Eve Lewis, looked forward to positive developments along the corridor. They also took note of improvements the business corridor still needs to make.

Among the accomplishments the SSWBA looks forward to are the opening of at least three new businesses in 2010: the Jet Wine Bar along the 1500 block, a Walgreen’s at the 1900 block, and the Vegan Bakery along the 1400 block.

The Vegan Bakery, which will be run Alison Lubert and Heather Esposito, will serve sweets that are not only free of gluten, eggs and corn syrup, but are also made with soy and unrefined sugar.

"It will be a nice resource for people with a sweet tooth but who can’t eat traditional sweets due to food allergies," explained Lubert.

Both Lubert and Esposito suffer from said food allergies. Both, having earned Masters degrees in Counseling, have a history of wanting to help those in need. Esposito also has certification in nutrition.

"We’re determined to make products as good as the regular stuff, if not better," Lubert added.

Augmenting the corridor’s retail life remains a constant goal for SSWBA.

"For the new year we are all looking forward to the return of a better economy," said Jim Campbell, in the hope that this will help revive business. And then there’s "the reopening of the South Street Bridge next fall," Campbell added.

"People don’t even realize how much the bridge has impacted business along South Street," interjected Eve Lewis. According to Lewis, at least three businesses have closed as a result of the bridge closure. They include: The cleaners on 17th Street, the Haberdasher Shop also on the 1700 block, as well as Perry’s on the 2100 block.

"There needs to be more development between the 1900 and 2100 block to make the corridor more cohesive," Lewis continued, in reference to the fact that she thinks the western end of South Street West and its eastern frontier (which doesn’t extend below 13th St.) aren’t adequately connected in their goals and overall objectives.

SSWBA needs to allocate the funds, "to hire a corridor manager," continued Lewis, noting the success Passyunk Avenue has enjoyed since hiring one.

But Lewis hopes that the opening of Walgreen’s on the 1900 block will help provide the corridor with an anchor between its two bustling ends.

For more information on South Street West, www.sswba.org or 215-735-0458.

Inquirer: 2 Center City bike lanes may become permanent

Two Center City bike lanes have proven so successful that they should become permanent and new ones should be considered, according to a top city official.

Mayor Nutter is likely to approve a recommendation to continue the revised traffic configurations on Pine and Spruce Streets, said Rina Cutler, deputy mayor for transportation and utilities.

"He's obviously been a fan of the notion that everybody needs to share the roadways," said Cutler, who announced her intentions to a packed meeting at a University of the Arts auditorium last night.

Most of the 250 or so attendees were pleased, said Sarah Clark Stuart, campaign director for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

Dedicated lanes make riding safer and easier, while making sidewalks safer for pedestrians, she said.

In September, Pine and Spruce Streets lost a lane for cars and gained a six-foot-wide lane for bikes between 22d Street and Front Streets - creating the first east-west bike routes in Center City.

"It's night and day compared to a lane that you share with cars, because there's more distance between you and moving vehicles," Stuart said. "You know you're not going to get passed by inches."

As a result, two-wheeled traffic nearly doubled on those streets - it went up to 103 bikes an hour at one Spruce Street intersection - while declining by more than 40 percent on adjacent sidewalks, according to a coalition count, Stuart said.

The city's data showed that car traffic was not significantly hampered, Cutler said.

Adding more Center City routes - including at least one going north-south - is likely, the deputy mayor said.

"Our goal is to figure out locations where it is possible for that to happen," she said. "I expect that these will not be the last ones."

Encouraging bicycling can benefit the city in many ways, from restraining car traffic and pollution to improving health and fitness, Cutler said.

That's why her department has been supporting all sorts of bike-friendly measures. New rack keep being installed, and the city now has 4,000 "bicycle parking spaces," she said.

On blocks where the Parking Authority was installing payments kiosks, the city asked that meter poles be left, so they could be capped and used for locking bicycles.

The city is also exploring bike sharing programs, which would let would-be riders borrow a bike in one area and drop off for the next guy somewhere else.

As for recent City Council proposals to institute a bike-registration program and hike fines, Cutler said the administration will work with council to make sure the first priority is safety.

The coalition favors education and enforcement.

"The legislation is unproductive as it's written," Stuart said.

The Sidney Hillman Medical Center and the Church of the Assumption were among the most endangered historic resources in the state in 2009, according to Preservation Pennsylvania.

The non-profit historic preservation group announced its annual “Pennsylvania At Risk” list on Dec. 1. Endangerment is defined as threat of demolition, significant deterioration, vandalism, or loss of its historic setting.

The Hillman Medical Center, 2116 Chestnut St., is considered by preservationists a significant mid-century design and important element of Philadelphia’s social heritage. The John Buck Company, of Chicago, plans to replace the Modernist building with a 33-story apartment, office and retail complex. The Philadelphia Historical Commission has approved the demolition. An application for HUD funding is awaiting review.

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1123-33 Spring Garden St., is a Gothic Revival structure designed by prolific church designer Patrick Charles Kelly in 1848. It is considered a vital neighborhood landmark by surrounding communities. The property is owned by Siloam, a social service organization for people with HIV/AIDS that has sought demolition of the church in order to construct new buildings and parking space. The demolition permit was denied and the church was elected to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in May. But Siloam has filed an appeal based on financial hardship with the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

The Pennsylvania At Risk list also names La Ronda, the 1929 Bryn Mawr estate  demolished in October after a months-long battle to preserve it failed; and the Fricks Lock Historic District in East Coventry Township, Chester County, where the vacant buildings associated with the Girard Reach of the Schuylkill Canal are in a nuclear power plant exclusion zone and are threatened with demolition.

To see the full list of endangered sites, go to www.preservationpa.org.

Contact the reporter at alanjaffe@mac.com

(November 23, 2009) –   Festive times are fast-approaching and for Thanksgiving, at the beginning of the holiday season, the Center City District (CCD), Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and downtown building owners are lighting Center City in festive colors to mark the occasion.
 
On November 27, the nine buildings on the Avenue of the Arts lit by the CCD with permanent light-emitting diode (LED) façade lighting will celebrate with a red, orange and gold kinetic light show, repeating every 15 minutes, up and down South Broad Street. Also joining in the festivities will be the Cira Center, Symphony House, One & Two Liberty Place and DRPA, who will light the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in shades of yellow and brown for the holiday. The Crown Lights atop the PECO headquarters will be emblazoned with a holiday message featuring an animated turkey.
 
“There’s plenty to be thankful for in Philadelphia this year,” said CCD President Paul R. Levy. “Not the least of which is the spirit of cooperation between those public and private sector organizations that bring more visibility and memorable experiences to Center City through lighting."
 
Many of the participating buildings use color-changing LED lighting, due to its energy efficiency, long life, its effectiveness in highlighting distinctive architectural details and its ability to provide fanciful, brilliant light shows for holidays and city-wide celebrations at a much lower cost.
 
Participating building managers/property owners include: Delaware River Port Authority, Brandywine Realty Trust, Hyatt, Cushman & Wakefield, PECO, Dranoff Properties, ACP Mid-Atlantic and the Center City District, along with property owners on the Avenue of the Arts.
 
The Center City District, a private-sector sponsored business improvement district dedicated to making Center City Philadelphia clean, safe and attractive, is committed to maintaining Center City’s competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and a premier regional destination for dining, shopping and cultural attractions.
 
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RJ White
Manager of Media Relations and Interactive Marketing
Center City District
P: 215.440.5550
f: 267.440.4450
rwhite@centercityphila.org
http://www.centercityphila.org