1244 Ridge Avenue

residential development at 1244 Ridge avenue promises to be a great edition to a soon to be changing neighborhood, just block from the Divine Lorraine on Broad Street.  Developers plan to restore the structure to its original height of 4 stories, but will not attempt to continue the architectural details of its Bay windows.  on the fourth floor the top of the bays will serve as balconies.

Xavi Investments purchased the property a little over a year ago, and has approvals for sixteen residential units in what will ultimately be a nearly 20K sqft building designed by Architects Harman Deutsch.  The units will be rentals, and will include twelve 2 bed, 2 bath units, and four 1 bed, 1 bath units.

Philly's Fishtown and Kensington Neighborhoods still hold on to prime realestate

Many young suburbanites and college graduates find the off grid village like streets of Fishtown and East Kensignton to be a desirable, and easily accessible place to live.  Serviced by two Market-Frankford stations and multiple bus routes connecting to Temple University, Center city and nearby Northern Liberties, the neighborhoods are a sure bet young adults and new families on the go.  These family based communities which haven't had the best historical reputation, with lots of racial tension, seems to have been overlooked by newcomers who simply care about great prices, unique pads, and easy access to schools and jobs.

Developers from G8-Life to Onion Flats have taken advantage of the cheap land prices which are steadily increasing.  Development is seen in the form of rehabilitation of abandoned structures, new single family constructions, and pop up small businesses from boutiques to cafés. The neighborhood associations, like their neighbors in Northern Liberties are not opposed to structure over 60 feet, which is very appealing to developers.  Time will tell what this neighborhood ultimately evolves into.  It can only be a positive change for Philadelphia, with Bart Blatstein jumping on the North Broad Street ban wagon with purchases of the Philadelphia Inquirer and another former city owned tower blocks away.  I wouldn't be surprised if he dips his hands into the Divine Lorraine.

Divine Lorraine Back On the Drawing Board

Philadelphia's beloved Divine Lorraine is once again back of the drawing boards, and this time it's one of the top development projects on Mayor Nutter's list for his new term.  Mayor Michael Nutter, in partnership with City Council President Darrell Clarke are making it their goal to secure planned use for the architectural icon by mid summer.

Mayor Nutter spoke of the diversity of North Broad Street in people, interest, and possibilities, and plans to explore opportunities where government can spur growth and development in North Philadelphia and other struggling districts like it.  He also sounded rather adamant about securing a new future for the structure.

The Divine Lorraine has been vacant since 2000 and its owners have shown no initiative to revive the property.  Unfortunately historic designation did not save most of its priceless interiors from being sold off. A deal to redevelop fell through last year despite promises of state tax credits and Community Development Block Grant funding from the city.  Once more there seems to be hope for old lady Lorraine.

2011 Ed Bacon Winner; Intersect

University of Toronto students Clara Romero and René Biberstein won $5,000 for their entry to the 2011 Ed Bacon Competition "INTERSECT", which asked student teams to re-imagine the I-95 corridor.  What happens when transportation corridors and cities collide?

The winning entry titled "Float your Boat" proposed a beautiful grand front door entry from the river to the city of Philadelphia.  The team proposed a grand stair and a vista stretching all the way to City hall.  This proposed iconic view could rival the Benjamin Franklin Parkway vista arguably so, although hard to beat.  Step out of your boat and stroll up to a new boulevard built on top of interstate 95.  The new waterfront will be alive with shops and cafés, and two contiguous pedestrian routes: one along the new 'Delaware Boulevard' and the other along the river itself.

While previous decks were piecemeal and acted like cul-de-sacs, the complete decking of the highway as it passes through Center City will allow Philadelphia's fabric to extend organically to the waterfront, including buildings of a similar scale to those found in Old City.

A linear park along Walnut street would connect the water to existing city parks, including Independence Mall.  Meanwhile, an extended Market Street tram line would emerge from underground at the boulevard, providing badly needed transit service to southeastern Philadelphia.

View The Winning Entry Here

SEPTA Harnesses Energy From Brake Power

SEPTA received approval for a $1.8 million project to capture and store energy from train car braking along the Market-Frankford El.  The new technology is anticipated to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% and is part of an ambitious plan by the authority to capture energy for storage and possible sale to the electric grid generating millions of dollars a year.  A federal grant is covering $1.4 million of the projects cost.

A massive batter installed at one of the authority's substations will store electricity generated by the braking systems on trains ( as the train slows down the wheels drive generators).  The battery will help trains accelerate, cutting power consumption, and will also provide extra power that can be sold back into the regional grid.  The pilot project, which involves one of 38 substations in the transit system, is expected to bring in $500,000 a year.  This figure would multiply id the batteries are installed at other stations.

The project shows how transit agencies who operate major electric rail systems can find a new source of income by tapping into the smart grid.  it also highlights one way the smart grid could save energy, avoid blackouts, and incorporate more renewable power.  The project is set to be complete by next summer.

The board also gave the go-ahead to a $144,000 study that will look at the vulnerability of SEPTA's regional rail system to climate change and extreme weather events associated with it.  track areas around Jenkintown and along the Manayunk/Norristown Line have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to flooding.

Drexel Smart House

A beautiful but vacant 1872 stone clad mansion that sits on the Drexel University campus has sat vacant for almost 15 years since its last use as the former Pi Lambda Phi fraternity house.  The home will now have new life in the 21st Century, thanks to a student-run organization backed by faculty members who plan to transform the three-story, 5,000-square-foot building into a hub for testing sustainable design and construction methods.

The "Drexel Smart House" would also serve as a dorm that could accommodate 10 residents.  In December the university pledged $1.1 million toward the $2.5 million project, giving it a much needed financial boost.

Construction is set to begin in May, with plans to renovate the historic building and construct a 4,600-square-foot addition.  A number of green features have been incorporated such as energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a graywater capture-and-reuse system.  Because the house is the same style as many others in the community, the technology tested in the house can be transmitted throughout the community.

Philadelphia Region Forecast to Expect Healthy Population Growth

The Delaware Valley regional Planning Commission is forecasting the region's population will grow more than 11 percent by 2040.  Figures were released at Thursdays board meeting.  The greatest percentage growth is expected from Gloucester County, predicted to see an increase of 30.5 percent.  in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Chester Country is projected to see the greatest growth, percentage wise with an increase of 39.8 percent, bringing its population to about 647,000.

Growth in Philadelphia is forecast at 6.9 percent, with a population of more than 1.6 million.  Total regional population is forecast at about 6.3 million in 2040.

In response to these figures, Ronald Bailey, executive director of the Chester County Planning Commission, told the board that "we've got to change the level of investment" in regional infrastructure to adequately handle this population growth.