Philadelphia May Establish "Land Bank"

The City of Philadelphia plans to consolidate its inventory of distressed real estate totaling an estimated 40,000 abandoned houses, lots and commercial buildings.  The properties will be grouped into "land banks" to make purchase more attractive to potential buyers.

If the City Council votes this fall, as expected, to establish the land bank, Philadelphia will join a number of other cities that have adopted plans like it to encourage buyers who are committed to making improvements, instead of speculators, to acquire tax-delinquent properties.  To keep property from speculators who might sit on it for years without improving it, the land bank would insist that buyers were current on taxes, had no history of code violations and had the resources to make promised changes.

Advocates for the land banks envision a variety of uses for the abandoned properties, including market-rate and affordable housing, commercial development, and open space.  Other uses could include community gardens or urban farms.  For the last 17 years, a project known as Greensgrow has been growing vegetables and making compost on the site of a former galvanizing factory in a low-income area of North Philadelphia.

If Philadelphia moves forward with this, it will serve as a good model for many American cites affected by urban blight and loss of industry.

Source: New York Times

Philly Bike Share

The City of Philadelphia is scheduled to roll out its new bike sharing program some time in late summer of 2014. The network will work similar to systems in cities from Washington, New York, toronto, London, and Paris.  It will comprise of 150 to 200 bike share stations.  The city will locate 1,500 to 2,000 bicycles available for short-term rental.  the rental system is structured in a way that allows for a bike to be picked up from one station and returned to any other station, given there is space.  The idea is that people will be able to use the bikes to commute, run an errand, tour the city or get some exercise.

According to PlanPhilly Mayor Nutter has already committed $3 million in capital budget funding toward bike share, and those leading the endeavor expect building the bike share network to cost $10 million to $15 million.  the remaining funding is expected to come from state and federal transportation grants as well as some private funds.  Once the system is up and running it is expected to be self sufficient and will not require any public operating subsidy.  Philadelphia's bike share is projected to generate nearly 2 million trips per year with residents, commuters, students and visitors taking part.  Thousands of users are expected each day.  The stations will be located throughout the city from the Delaware River west into West Philly and from The Navy Yard north beyond Temple University's main campus.

Lower Schuylkill Master Plan

The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation released a plan weeks ago to revive 3,700 acres of Philadelphia's Lower Schuylkill River, and industrial area that has long been home to oil refineries and scrap metal yards.  On May 21, the Philadelphia Planning Commission adopted the Lower Schuylkill Master Plan, which seeks to turn the area into a thriving manufacturing hub.

The plan calls for the creation of three campuses along the river.  An Innovation District, a Logistics Hub, and an Energy Corridor.  In addition, the PIDC envisions 46- acres of green space, including 5 miles of trails extending Schuylkill Banks park and Bartrams Gardens.

The Innovation District located in the northwest portion, will be reserved for education and research related businesses along with artisanal manufacturers.  The University of Pennsylvania's new South Bank Campus, occupying 23-acres of the new district, is already in sync with PIDC's mission for the area and is geared towards academic research and commercial endeavors.  The Logistics Hub, located south of the Innovation District and mostly on the West Banks, will provide space for distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing.  To the east, the Energy Corridor will sustain and build upon its current use as a site for oil refining by attracting additional investment.

Although the plan will develop gradually over time, the PIDC anticipates an economic impact of 463 billion and yield $860 million in private investment.  The University of Pennsylvania has  enlisted the help of local planning firm Wallace Roberts and Todd (WRT) to sketch out long and short-term objectives for the campus.  Richard King, senior associate at WRT, said that immediate planning will entail improving the street-scape to provide better connectivity between the South Bank campus and the Main campus as well as improving existing structures.

Check Out the Full Master Plan Here!

East Park Reservoir Land Gets Programming

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission recommended a bill Tuesday that would authorize the city to lease a 50 acre property surrounding the East Park West Basin in Strawberry Mansion to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development.  Under the terms of the bill, PAID would then sublease the property for the creation of the East Park LEadership and Conservation, a collaborative project of the National Audubon Society and Outward Bound Philadelphia.

The plan includes the construction of a 17,000 square foot building with classrooms and areas for viewing the more than 200 species of birds that visit the park.  The Center will also include paths and trails that will be publicly accessible Thursday through Sunday in the warm months and Friday through Sunday in the colder months.

More on other City Leased Land at PlanPhilly

Rucker Philly; Help rebuild Ralph Brooks Park

Urban Roots is a non profit organization that is dedicated to revitalizing Philadelphia's communities by enhancing specific urban redevelopment projects, through mentoring youth and fine art.  They have teamed up with the City of Philadelphia and a local Non-Profit (I.am.SP) to strengthen Philadelphia's Point Breeze neighborhood by rebuilding the local basketball court and playground to create a hub for community building and renewal.  Urban Roots has launched a crowd funding campaign with a goal to raise $315,000.

If you Love Philadelphia, show your support and Donate!! Donate Here

PHS Plans for Next Generation Civic Landscapes

The Philadelphia Horticulture Society is currently investigating seven potential sites  to serve as canvases to its next generation of civic landscapes initiative.  In recent decades PHS had developed landscape approaches to improve high-profile places like the Azalea Garden and Logan Square, as well as less show-stopping locations like the medians along Columbus Boulevard.

PlanPhilly reports that the organization also seeks to design impressive Welcome Gateways to the city at the International Airport and in the Northeast Corridor along the Amtrak/Septa rail line running through North Philadelphia. For the last year and a half, PHS worked with PennPraxis and more than 100 key stakeholders to zero in on which sites in Philadelphia are most worthy of their focused attention alongside community and civic partners.

Here are the seven sites currently at the top of their list:

1. North Broad (Diamond St. to Spring Garden St.)
2. Central Broad (Spring Garden St. to South St)
3. South Broad (South St. to Passyunk Ave)
4. Vine street (Benjamin Franklin Bridge/ 5th St. to 20th St.)
5. Northeast Corridor (Amtrak/SEPTA rail corridor through North Philadelphia)
6. West Girard Avenue (29th St. to 41st St)
7. Airport (PHL/I-95)

Each project could include multiple projects at a variety of scales; may focus mor on making a positive impression ("image-makers"), fostering a sense of place ("place-makers"), or improving neighborhood connections and quality of life ("partner-makers").

PHS has several tools in mind to help improve these spaces, including signage, surface textures, land or aquatic forms, furniture, landscape screening techniques, vertical or horizontal plantings, lighting, and artistic installations.

Three Project Get Approval By Philly Art Commission

On Wednesday three projects along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers received final approval by the Philadelphia Art Commission.

The first project calls for improvement at the Flat Rock Dam at the Manayunk Canal.  This project is overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation and the Philadelphia Water Department.  The dam is in imminent danger of collapse  and could be triggered by any level of flooding from minor to severe.  The dam has also stopped the flow of water in the canal allowing algae byproducts to flourish affecting the taste and odor of drinking water.  Fixing the trail will also make it better suited for recreational uses along with the trail.

A second Manayunk Canal project involves the construction of a new bridge connecting Lock St. to Venice Island.  the art commissioned piece is a sculptural piece that serves as seating for a new children's spray ground and is made of natural boulders, sourced from California, where the artist, Masayuki Nagase, lives.

Along the Delaware a second of a series of planned connectors linking the street grid, as prescribed in the Master Plan for the Central Delaware.  Artist Donald Lipski designed a pice for the Columbia Ave. connector which references Lenape origin myths and the animals associated with its three clans, the wolf, turkey, and turtle.  The connector connects the I-95 underpass to Penn Treaty Park, the site where William Penn signed a treaty with the Lenape.  The project involves better lighting, access, streetscaping, as well as the construction of another smaller park.

Lipski's project takes the form of Cavawood light stanchions guiding the way to the river.  Two lamppost will flank the entranceway to the underpass, one with a fiberglass wolf sculpture on top, and the other with a turkey.  At the opposite end a series of light poles attached to the backs of cast bronze turtles will lead into the park.

Philadelphia," A World Class City" What Will It Take?

What will Philadelphia have to do to become a "World Class City"?  Last Monday the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia presented their plan to make our city a world class destination, for both talent and business.  This discussion prompted many questions to be raised like, What does it mean to be a world class city? Can Philadelphia achieve it while staying true to its roots and values?

A major part of obtaining that status is enhancing the overall quality of life, from education to infrastructure, lowering poverty and ensuring equal access to quality health services and fresh food, and embracing the creative revolution and serving as an incubator of creative thought as well as serving as a  platform to express those talents and ideas.  Philadelphia has a wealth of potential, it's finally time that those in power embrace the ideas and passion of the millennial generation.

Read more at Flying Kite

FastCompany's Infographic: Top 10 Happiest Cities

Bartram's Mile Trail

The Bartram's Mile project continues to push forward with beautiful new renderings released earlier this week by Parks and Recreation , Andropogon, John Bartram Association, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, and Penn Praxis.  The plans feature lush fields and trails suitable for various outdoor leisure and athletic activities, from biking, nature watching, fishing, running, and entertainment spaces.  The plans also show new connections to Grays Ferry Crescent and its continuation of the Schuylkill River Banks Trail project.  Best of all there are plenty of natural banks along the stretch, something quite rare along Philadelphia's rivers.

Phila2035 Central District Comprehensive Plan Draft

Philadelphia 2035 released today a draft of their plan for the Central District.  The Comprehensive plan calls for revitalizing civic spaces in Center City, encouraging more development along Ridge Avenue and North Broad Street in West Callowhill, and making more of a neighborhood around Franklin Square.

Many recommendations range from zoning changes to allow for higher density in several neighborhoods, bringing more life to public spaces including Reyburn Plaza across from City Hall and adding a TKTS kiosk in the City Hall courtyard.  Although the Penn Center court Yard is not city owned recommendations were made suggesting to make the space more lively with farmers markets, food trucks or even adding a restaurant or two on the ground level of the buildings.

Read more by downloading the plan Here.

Soak It Up! Philly Awards Finalists

PlanPhilly reports the success of Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! national design competition led by the Community Design Collaborative in partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nine finalists presented their entries to the public and jury of leaders in green storm-water infrastructure on March 7, 2013 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel university in Philadelphia.  Three winners, one for each competition site were recognized with $10,000 prizes.

The design challenge asked designers to develop green infrastructure retrofits for three Philadelphia sites, struggling to manage storm-water runoff.  All three chosen site represent consistently repeating situation across the city.  The three sites included; An industrial site– a large old warehouse, home to Edward J. Darby & Son Pennsylvania Wire Works; A commercial site – the Grays Ferry Shopping Center; and A neighborhood – Queen Village in South Philly.

Neighborhood– Greening the Grid

Industrial– Warehouse Watershed

Commercial– Retail Retrofit

The aim was to generate stormwater management ideas for three types of sites found throughout Philadelphia.  The idea is to replicate these practices and use the chosen projects as leverage to further the city's Green City, Clean Waters goals.  To learn more check out Eyes onThe Street.