Open Space

New day for the Delaware

mgolas — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:10:20 -0500

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Nov. 14

By Alan Jaffe
For PlanPhilly

A new vision for the Central Delaware waterfront, forged over 13 months in more than 200 collaborative, occasionally contentious civic meetings, was formally introduced last night with dramatic flare and some compromise on the most disputed elements.

Inquirer coverage
Metro coverage
Daily Pennsylvanian

The proposal to bury a section of I-95 was softened by less drastic options. The dense riverfront street grid was proposed with a nod toward developers’ concerns. And the casinos, the hottest issue, were plotted on the plan – and then dissolved on an alternative map.

The audience of about 1,200 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center cheered the proposals and offered a standing ovation to the concluding video fly-over, a time-warp that transformed the current waterfront into an active, thriving scene of green spaces and well-balanced development and communities.

Public reaction

Approval for the plan, which was coordinated by PennPraxis, the clinical arm of the design department at the University of Pennsylvania, came from nearly every front. Mayor Street lauded the process for engaging the river ward communities and taking on a challenge that has eluded the city for decades. Michael DiBerardinis, secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, called the Civic Vision “meaningful and important.” Riverfront developer Bart Blatstein said the plan is “a great start.”

Dissenting voices in the audience condemned any allowance for casinos, intermittently disrupting the presentation by PennPraxis executive director Harris Steinberg, who has guided the Civic Vision through several combative meetings. Outside the Convention Center, a six-foot skunk urged people to wear clothespins to show their displeasure with the Foxwoods and SugarHouse sites.

A panel of government, business and community leaders were invited to respond to the presentation, and they lent their support to most aspects of the plan. But there was a clash over the issue of funding a major I-95 reconfiguration. Rina Cutler, deputy secretary at PennDot, warned that an estimated $10 billion needed to depress the interstate at Penn’s Landing would be hard, if not impossible, to raise. Mayor Street disagreed. Initial response to large projects is always negative, Street said, but “there is plenty of money” if the public says “this is the priority.”

Overall, the evening was upbeat, congratulatory, and very hopeful.

Councilman Frank DiCicco, whose constituents’ fears of waterfront gaming sparked his suggestion that the city create a master plan for the Central Delaware, said the unveiling last night was “the highlight of my political career.” He thanked the William Penn Foundation for providing more than $1.6 million for this first phase of the waterfront process. He also credited Street for signing the executive order in October 2006 that charged PennPraxis with leading the effort.

The mayor noted that “plan after plan failed” to make the best use of the 13-acre parcel on the Center City riverfront. “The thing that should distinguish this report from other studies is you,” he told the audience last night. “We never had this kind of community engagement” in the process before, and “what will deter it from sitting on a shelf is you not letting it happen.”

With just over 50 days left in his term, he urged that the plan more forward with the formation of an organization that will take up the banner and “ensure that this work has not been done in vain.”

Steinberg then took the podium to present the culmination of his team’s year-long labor in an eloquent, 30-minute sales pitch. With archival, contemporary and conceptual images of the waterfront beamed on two screens flanking him, and on screens in an adjoining hall for the overflow crowd, Steinberg emphasized the historical and regional context of the Central Delaware -- from William Penn’s arrival, through the riverfront’s industrial dominance, through the traffic-jammed state of things today. The initial question was, “how do we create a framework for growth?” he said.

PennPraxis conferred with elected officials and every civic group with a stake in the waterfront so that the “pinheads from Penn,” as he heard one resident describe his team, “would not impose their image on the waterfront.”

The planners relied on the values expressed by residents in that series of meetings, and on the best practices for riverfront redevelopment accomplished in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee and Hoboken. “Man, if we can’t beat Hoboken,” Steinberg laughed.

What the Philadelphia team came up with was three frameworks based on movement, open space, and development.

Movement refers to connections across and beneath I-95 to the river, a street grid that replicates the feeling of Center City life on the waterfront, and a north-south urban boulevard.

A reborn Delaware Boulevard, the “spine” of the riverfront, would mean keeping a six-lane avenue for now, but eventually “skinnying up” the current road to allow for a light-rail or other mass transit line down the center.

The street grid would recall the 17th-century template designed by William Penn “which has guided our identity,” Steinberg said. “We need to think about extending that to the river,” not only to disperse traffic, but also as “the connective tissue” that links land parcels.

The audience applauded the Civic Plan’s suggestion that Septa and Patco lines be linked on a reinvented waterfront. Water ferries and water taxis are also part of the plan, as opposed to a Camden-Philadelphia tram that links the two cities.

Turning to the high-profile proposal of burying I-95 to reclaim the Penn’s Landing area, Steinberg offered a conciliatory tone. “Is there a way to sink it? I don’t know. There is lots more study to be done. It is something that the plan doesn’t live or die on.

“But if we don’t start thinking about it,” he said, “Philadelphia will miss the boat to capitalize on that potential.”

The open space framework in the Civic Vision foresees “a great lawn” at Penn’s Landing, “a great democratizing element of the city.”

Frankford Avenue and Spring Garden Streets were presented in artist’s drawings transformed into pedestrian-friendly green streets of trees, blooming medians, and bike lanes. The string of parks and open spaces along the Delaware would “do work,” Steinberg said, filtering stormwater and pollutants, and creating wetlands, wildlife habitats, tidal gardens, and a healthier city and river.

Land development along the water, and specifically how casinos fit into the plan, has been “the most contentious part of this project,” Steinberg said,

“Not an option!” an audience member shouted.

“Yes it is!” responded another.

“Bull----!” answered the first.

Acknowledging the debate, PennPraxis provided two options for those sites on the waterfront plan, with and without the casinos. But Steinberg said the issue is “not about what is there. It’s about how the buildings relate to each other” and surrounding streets, and whether they allow access to the waterfront.

Other development issues should be addressed through zoning code reforms, according to the Civic Vision. The street grid plan must be codified and buildings must “meet the street line,” with retail, commercial and “life-affirming” uses, Steinberg said. Tall buildings should be staggered along the landscape to ensure “everyone has light and air and views of the river,” he also said.

There is a place on the river for big-box development, too, so long as it is “done more gracefully,” Steinberg said.

The presentation ended with the video, reminiscent of the 1964 World’s Fair ride that looked ahead to the city of the future. The audience was remarkably silent as it was given a glimpse of what Philadelphia could become 50 years from now. When it ended, they rose and applauded the vision.

In an official response to the plan, DCNR secretary DiBerardinis, a 30-year resident of Fishtown, said the unveiling of the plan was an “important event for Philadelphia.”

A century ago, he said, Pennsylvania stood at a similar crossroads, with its forests decimated and streams polluted by the Industrial Revolution. But some leaders had a vision for the commonwealth that helped save its ecosystems. “We are in a similar moment in this time,” he said. Conservation and sustainable communities will become policy imperatives, and “cities that imagine a waterfront like this are the ones that will succeed,” DiBerardinis said.

“The plan is right. The economy of the future will be built around efficiency and sustainability,” he said.

To make it happen, the city must build on the collaboration of the community, DiBerardinis continued. There must be consistent city leadership to shepherd the plan forward, and it must move from a vision to a detailed planning process. Strategic investment must be made and leveraged through the local, state and federal governments, he said. And “early victories” should be implemented “so people can see the reality.”

Inquirer columnist Chris Satullo moderated the panel discussion that ended the evening, posing his own questions and those from the audience.

Blatstein, of Tower Investments, said “planning is not the enemy. The enemy is lack of planning.” He said the Civic Vision has been a “marriage of planners, developers and communities.”

Blatstein also said there should be no gated communities along the waterfront and there should be open and free access to the river.

Cutler, of PennDot, who was among the supervisors on Boston’s Big Dig project, said Philadelphia should not become too focused on a large I-95 reconstruction. “If we spend years debating if it is possible to bury 95, we will miss the opportunity to rethink what else exists there.”

A better choice, she said, might be improved public transit on the waterfront. Because of funding limitations, “we may have to make those choices,” she said.

Mayor Street said an ambitious 95 redo can happen. “It will not happen unless we say this is the kind of investment we want from the local and federal government,” he said. That will require the support of surrounding counties, who must also see that a revived city waterfront will benefit their residents. “The biggest deterrent is perceived regional differences,” he said.

Steinberg said the next steps in the process will be “early action projects,” such as the blazing of a bike trail from the Pier 70 neighborhood to Penn’s Landing, the restoration of riverfront wetlands, and the release of an implementation guide in the spring.

“This is the very beginning,” he said.

Alan Jaffe is a former Philadelphia Inquirer editor. He can be contacted at alanjaffe@mac.com

Home Page Summary

PennPraxis and Central Delaware Advisory Group present <a href="/vision" target="_blank">Civic Vision</a> for Philadelphia's waterfront. Public <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUxB6quu7wU" target="_blank">reaction</a>.

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AlanJ

Publish Date

November 14, 2007

Abstract

Citizens Assembly on Park Reform

andrewg — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:41:15 -0400

Start: 10/20/2008 - 6:00pm

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Cost: Free
Organized by Philadelphia Parks Alliance
www.philaparks.org
friends@philaparks.org
215-879-8159

Citizens Assembly on Park Reform with Mayor Michael Nutter

Friends Select School
1651 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Speakers will include Mayor Michael Nutter; Peter Harnik, Director of The Center for City Park Excellence, Trust for Public Land; and Pete Hoskins, President of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance.

The Panel will be moderated by Chris Satullo, who writes The Philadelphia Inquirer's Center Square column; and is founder and Director of Citizen Voices.

The focus is on how and why the upcoming referendum to reform park governance and management will help improve Philadelphia's parks and recreation system.

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NYC lends hand in Philly water trail lesson

mgolas — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:12:25 -0400

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View from the canoe along the Bronx River

September 15, 2008

By Andrew Goodman and Bridget Keegan
For PlanPhilly

A van full of Philadelphia planners headed up to the Big Apple early Thursday morning to learn more about how to develop a trail.

Not a trail we typically think of – such as the riverfront path on the Schuylkill – but a water trail, as in a series of landmarks and landings for people who want to experience Philadelphia’s 37 miles of shoreline by boat.

The best practices session was organized by the Southeastern Chapter of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) as part of its development of the Philadelphia Water Trail. To be unveiled at Saturday’s Coast Day at Penn’s Landing, the Water Trail will incorporate such interesting elements as ecology, history, culture, and recreational activities along the Delaware, Schuylkill, and area creeks.

PEC sees the water trail as an incredible opportunity to get people to the river in new and interesting ways. In an opening presentation, PEC Senior Vice President Patrick Starr explained that riverfront development requires constituencies who value the river, and that the water trail can help build that constituency in an important way.

Many urban dwellers do not know they can see the riverfront from the river itself, and can become a “paddler,” or someone who traverses the rivers using non-motorized boats like canoes or kayaks.

Like Philadelphia’s, New York City’s rivers have been stigmatized for decades because of perceived pollution and debris due to industry. However, the rivers are cleaner than they have been in over a century and can be navigated by experienced paddlers or with the help of a guide.

Led by Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, New York has seized this opportunity over the last year, completing a map and website showing 30 sites around the five boroughs that can be accessed by boat.

Groups that collaborated on this trail development include the Hudson River Park Trust, Bronx River Alliance, Hudson River Trail Association, Commodore Sebago Canoe Club, and the National Parks Service.

“I’m an urban planner, so I’m used to being in a losing business,” said Linda Cox, Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance. “But the rivers have taught me that regional planning can actually work.”

Rob Buchannan of NY Harbor Beaches emphasized to PEC that it is imperative to involve boaters in the riverfront design process, because leaving that work solely to planners and landscape architects often neglects the opportunities from the river side.

Cox told the story of how what began as community-led tours of the Bronx River by canoe has expanded to a program with a $1.6 million budget. John Wright of the Commodore Sebago Canoe Club explained that this partnership with the Parks Department has helped the club acquire funding for maintenance and physical improvements that keep the club as a public amenity.

A dock at the 79th Street Boat Basin that is used as a kayak launch.

The Philadelphia visitors were also shown a public boat launch at Riverside Park on the Hudson River at about 79th Street. Some also stayed on Friday to view more of Hudson River Park and to canoe the Bronx River.

Concrete Plan Park was an abandoned concrete plant that has recently been transformed into a waterfront park on the Bronx River. The park was developed through a partnership between community organizations and NYC Parks.

Hunts Point Riverside Park was once an abandoned road end. However, community residents adopted the site, cleaned it up, and beautified the site. NYC Parks has adopted the site as park land. Today, the park features a launch for kayaks and canoes, a pier for fishing, and a variety of gathering areas.

The Downtown Boathouse is located at Pier 96 along the Hudson River. The boathouse is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing access to the Hudson River. The boathouse sponsors free walk-up public kayaking, kayak trips on the harbor, and various classes. (www.downtownboathouse.org)

Links
1. New York City Water Trail

2. Hudson River Trail Association

3. Hudson River Park Trust

4. Bronx River Alliance

Home Page Summary

Session was organized by the Southeastern Chapter of the <a href="http://www.pecpa.org/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Environmental Council</a> as part of its development of the Philadelphia Water Trail.

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September 15, 2008

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Energy Conservation Town Hall Meeting: Philadelphia

andrewg — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:34:33 -0400

Start: 09/10/2008 - 11:30am

End: 09/10/2008 - 10:00pm

Start: 09/10/2008 - 11:30am

End: 09/10/2008 - 10:00pm

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Energy Conservation Town Hall Meeting: Philadelphia

Learn how energy conservation will provide Pennsylvania families and businesses with important relief from high electricity costs.

With presentations by representatives from local energy efficiency companies, organizations, and elected officials, including:

John Rowe, Utility Emergency Services Fund;
Laura Blau, Delaware Valley Green Building Council;
Jan Jarrett, president and CEO, PennFuture;
and others to be announced.
An important bill before the State Senate, the Energy Savings Bill (House Bill 2200) would give families and businesses the tools and information they need to cut costs and their energy bills, fight global warming, and create Great Green Jobs in Pennsylvania.

Come to this town hall meeting to find out how you can be part of the solution! If you haven't done so already, urge your state senator to sign the Pledge to the Families and Businesses of Pennsylvania.

Lunch is provided. RSVP is required for this event; please contact Christine Knapp by e-mail or at 215-545-9692.

Philadelphia Center for Architecture

1218 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

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A City That Works

mgolas — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:08:51 -0400

Start: 05/29/2008 - 6:00pm

End: 05/29/2008 - 8:00pm

Start: 05/29/2008 - 6:00pm

End: 05/29/2008 - 8:00pm

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A City That Works
An interactive forum on the relationship between our city's budget and the commitments of the new administration
The $4 billion budget is approved, but it will take more than money to set our city straight. Where does the money go and when can we expect to see results?

FACILITATED BY:
* Steve Agostini, Philadelphia's new Budget Director
* Chris Satullo, former editoral page editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer & founder of the paper's Citizen Voices program
* Claire Robertson-Kraft, YIP Board Member & Civic Education Committee chair

WHEN: This Thursday, May 29th at 6PM
WHERE: Philadelphia Inquirer Office, 400 N. Broad St.
WHO: Free and open to the public, email YIPCivicEd@gmail.com to learn more

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Kimmel Center Civic Feedback Session

andrewg — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:31:51 -0400

Start: 04/14/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 04/14/2008 - 9:30pm

Start: 04/14/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 04/14/2008 - 9:30pm

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DUE TO OVERWHELMING ADVANCE RESPONSE, REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CLOSED. COPIES OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND FEEDBACK FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AFTER THE EVENT. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

This marks the next round of public input in the Kimmel Center Public Space Project, organized by PennPraxis and the Penn Project for Civic Engagement and sponsored by the Kimmel Center to develop ideas on how to further enliven the building's public spaces.

The Civic Feedback Session will give citizens the opportunity to view initial design concepts developed for the Kimmel public spaces and provide feedback in response to the ideas that will help enrich strengthen the work.

Design students from University of the Arts and University of Pennsylvania will present their ideas, all of which grew from the Design Principles developed out of the public forums held in January. The Principles will serve as the basis for the public dialogue.

6:00 -- registration

7:00 -- presentation in the Perelman Theater

8:00 -- discussion in Commonwealth Plaza

9:10 -- design panel in Perelman Theater

9:30 -- end

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Kimmel Center public forum (click below to watch video from first forum)

andrewg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:57:48 -0500

Start: 01/27/2008 - 2:00pm

End: 01/27/2008 - 5:00pm

Start: 01/27/2008 - 2:00pm

End: 01/27/2008 - 5:00pm

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This series of public forums kicks off a civic engagement and design process organized by PennPraxis and the Penn Project on Civic Engagement. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has hired Praxis to lead a citizen-driven design process on ways to energize and activate public spaces in and around the Kimmel.

1:00pm - registration and refreshments

1:30pm - Kimmel walking tour

2:00pm - overview presentation

2:15pm - group discussion

4:00pm - end

NOTE: As this was far and away our most popular forum date, we are now at full capacity for January 27. Click here to return to the main Kimmel page and select another forum to attend. We will have other opportunities to provide input as well, in the form of online surveys and in the newspaper. Thanks again for your interest in this project.

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Kimmel Center public forum (click below to watch video from first forum)

andrewg — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:18:07 -0500

Start: 01/28/2008 - 1:00pm

End: 01/28/2008 - 4:00pm

Start: 01/28/2008 - 1:00pm

End: 01/28/2008 - 4:00pm

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12:00pm - registration and refreshments

12:30pm - Kimmel walking tour

1:00pm - overview presentation

1:15pm - group discussion

3:00pm - end

NOTE: We are now at full capacity for January 28. Click here to return to the main Kimmel page and select another forum to attend. We will have other opportunities to provide input as well, in the form of online surveys and in the newspaper. Thanks again for your interest in this project.

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PennPraxis

Kimmel Center public forum

andrewg — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:14:33 -0500

Start: 01/30/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 01/30/2008 - 10:00pm

Start: 01/30/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 01/30/2008 - 10:00pm

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6:00pm - registration and refreshments

6:30pm - Kimmel walking tour

7:00pm - overview presentation

7:15pm - group discussion

9:00pm - end

Register for this event by completing the form at the bottom of this page. Registration is capped at 50 people per forum, so sign up early!

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Kimmel Center public forum

andrewg — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:14:19 -0500

Start: 01/23/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 01/23/2008 - 10:00pm

Start: 01/23/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 01/23/2008 - 10:00pm

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6:00pm - registration and refreshments

6:30pm - Kimmel walking tour

7:00pm - overview presentation

7:15pm - group discussion

9:00pm - end

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PennPraxis and the Penn Project on Civic Engagement