Philadelphia Wins EPA Grant To Plan for the Reuse of Brownfield Properties Along Frankford Creek

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Philadelphia as one of 20 communities to receive a grant to conduct a planning study to guide the cleanup and reactivation of brownfield land.  A $200,000 grant to Philadelphia will fund a study for a four- square- mile- area of the Frankford Creek, including sections of the Bridesburg, Frankford, Port Richmond and Juniata Park neighborhoods.  The Philadelphia City Planning Commission applied for the grant, which was announced April 25th, and will manage the planning process.

The grant is the first step  toward reusing formerly industrial properties along Frankford Creek in new and exciting ways, says Gary Jastrzab, Executive Director of the City Planning Commission.  the revitalization of the area was the focus of the recently adopted Philadelphia 2035: Lower Northeast District plan.

The former Coke and Rohm and Haas site, totaling 126 riverfront acres in the Bridesburg neighborhood, present economic development opportunities for waterfront redevelopment and community revitalization.  Similarly, the former site of Edgewater Dyeing and Finishing presents a unique opportunity for creek-side redevelopment in Frankford.  The rehabilitation of brownfield sites will also enable the development of the Frankford Creek Greenway, a greenway that would connect Tacony Creek Park to the North Delaware Riverfront.

Lower Northeast Master Plan

As the Lower Northeast District Master Plan takes shape for public comment next month on August 7, some information about the plans development has been released by Plan Philly.

The Lower Northeast District-level Plan, which covers Frankford, Northwood, Oxford circle, Summerdale and Lawncrest, will be part of the new city-wide comprehensive plan, Philadelphia 2035.  The population of the Lower Northeast has increased by 10 percent over the past 20 years.  By 2035, the Lower Northeast is expected to grow by another 5 percent, to about 106,000 people.  About half of the growth between 1990 and 2010 happened near Castor Avenue, and the Castor Avenue commercial corridor is one of three areas the plan will focus on, says project manager Ian Litwin.  The objective is to increase density in a growing neighborhood.

The plan will also pay special attention to the lower, eastern part of Frankford, which the plan calls the Frankford Gateway.  This includes Frankford Creek and part of Frankford Avenue, and a number of former industrial buildings that have been rehabbed.  The third focus area is around SEPTA's Frankford Transportation Center, at Bridge Street and Frankford Avenue.  Staff research showed that 750,000 people can can get to the transportation center on public transportation on a one-seat trip.  "We want to improve the public space, and create a neighborhood center around it," Litwin said.  The majority of public opinion of local residents favors focusing commercial growth in neighborhood commercial corridors instead of strip malls.  More residents thought transit expansion would do more to improve mobility on The Boulevard than roadway improvements would.  Transit is expensive, so the plan will recommend a phased-in approach.

The plan will also recommend phasing in the proposed Frankford Creek Greenway.  Residents support both creating the Greenway and focusing investment on existing recreation centers.  But due to limited resources, more expressed a desire to improve the existing recreation centers, saying that effort would also address other concerns, such as making the community safer.  The plan will suggest grant funding for the Greenway.

Lander's Point

Lander's Point in Tacony gets upgraded to Park Status along with a face-lift that will accommodate hundreds of users daily from surrounding neighborhoods.  Groundbreaking took place Monday on the new 4.5-acre park that will replace the current paved surface with greenery, wetlands, benches, picnic tables, solar lighting and composting restroom facility.

Plans are to have most of the river's edge restored to a natural state, which will yield wildlife habitat.  The work will include demolition and removal of concrete ramp structures and concrete and asphalt paving throughout the site.  A river overlook and fishing pier at the river's edge will be part of the new park along with, riparian edge restoration, the creation of tidal wetlands, and the restoration of a riverbank forest area for picnicking and passive recreational activities.

The park will be a gateway and trailhead for the Delaware River Heritage Trail and will be a link in the East Coast Greenway that runs from Main to Florida.  This trailhead will include a drinking fountain, walking trails, park and trail furniture and the necessary infrastructure to support these amenities.

Plans for the park were developed by Baltimore's Biohabitats, the same landscape architecture firm that designed Washington Avenue Green in South Philadelphia.  Construction of the project is expected to cost $1.5 million.  All of the money has been raised with about half coming from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  Other funding sources include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Wildlife Fund.

Tacony Waterfront May Get a New Science Charter School

The industrial and vacant parcels along the Tacony waterfront may soon welcome a new science based K-12 Charter School as their new neighbor.  Tacony Academy Charter is one step closer to its planned 130,000- square foot school for 1,075 students designed by KCBA Architects, at this weeks Philadelphia City Planning Comission Meeting, reported by PlannPhilly.com.  There, commissioners approved an amendment to the master plan for the 12.7 acre Waterfront Redevelopment District at Princeton, Milner and Delaware Avenue, allowing a school to be built within it.  The site however not on the waterfront, backs up on the boat and fish commission boat launch.  The amendment still needs approval of city council, which is on summer recess.

In addition to classrooms, the proposed school would have science labs, a gym, a cafeteria and library.  There would be athletic fields and green space on the outside.  There would be parking fmor 175 cars, and separate bus and car drop-off areas.  A portion of the building will showcase a green roof.  The school would serve children from the densely populated Tacony community.  Sponsors say the location close to the water allows all kinds of exploration opportunities for the students.  The green space would provide an excellent place to play for students from a congested neighborhood. Some commissioners feel that the school will pair well with the riverfront trail constructed by the Delaware River Corporation and others also feel that the school might trigger residential development near by.