West Philadelphia : Development News

While the stagnant economy is hurting sales in many industries, it is likely contributing to a bonanza in multifamily building sales in the Philadelphia area this year. In fact, hopeful landlords seem to be gobbling up buildings to rent them as apartments or sell them as condominiums. This is evident both in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

According to Christine Espenshade, senior vice president for capital markets at Jones Lang LaSalle Realty, 2011 multifamily sales have already set a record in the Delaware Valley, with a couple of months left in the year. Espenshade reports that sales have already hit $410 million. Yet, with two months remaining in the year, she predicts sales will touch $500 million. Compared to these figures, the $150 million in multifamily sales in 2010 seems downright paltry.

There are a number of explanations for this explosion in multifamily sales. Espenshade cites a durable growth of rent in the Philadelphia-area, a glut of new supply of apartments and condos, and an educated buyer’s market. Additionally, “With the availability of financing to purchase assets through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, investors can borrow sufficient capital for good, long term investments,” says the senior vice president. Finally, one of the more sobering explanations is that more Philadelphians are renting because they can no longer afford to own a house.

Philadelphia’s recent uptick in population bodes well for multifamily sales in the city. Espenshade confirms that a growing number of people are looking to rent apartments or purchase condos in the city because of its retail scene, colleges and universities, and varied employment market. However, this exponential growth isn’t limited to the city. Interestingly, Jones Lang LaSalle says there have more multifamily purchases in the suburbs. A possible reason for this is the sheer size of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Camden and Wilmington.

The forecast for multifamily sales remains strong for 2012. Espenshade says rents will continue to rise next year, which should make multifamily investing more profitable. She also sees both private and institutional entities rushing to become involved in the multifamily market next year, which would be a repeat of this year. Most importantly, without any strong signs of economic improvement next year, more and more people likely won’t be able to afford to buy their own home.

Source: Christine Espenshade, Jones Lang LaSalle
Writer: Andy Sharpe

Toole Design and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission held two open houses earlier this month to present an exhausting list of bicycle and pedestrian improvements to West and Southwest Philadelphia. The Planning Commission is recommending that a myriad of different types of bicycle lanes and sidewalk enhancements be created in the west and southwest sections of the city.

Dan Goodman, a senior planner at Toole Design, envisions a West and Southwest Philadelphia where bicyclists and pedestrians are put on an even field with motorists. To achieve this, Goodman plotted buffered bike lanes, non-buffered bike lanes, and specially marked lanes to be shared by 2- and 4-wheeled modes of transportation. The audience at the University City open house was tantalized by Toole's vision for buffered bicycle lanes on Belmont Ave. and Lindbergh Blvd. "Belmont and Lindbergh might have enough room to put a bike lane and buffer," says Goodman.

Goodman says that Toole is also examining putting "sidepaths" on City and Island Aves. What's a "sidepath," you ask? He explains that a sidepath is a sidewalk for bicycles that is ideally constructed on a street so heavily traveled by autos that removing a lane is impractical. The design firm in also researching uphill bicycle lanes and downhill shared lanes on certain West and Southwest streets, such as 65th St. Finally, Goodman reassures bicyclists that West Philadelphia's Vine and Pine Street bike lanes will probably be moved away from the bus lane.

While bicyclists were a large part of Toole's study, the designers also drafted ways to make West and Southwest sidewalks more hospitable to pedestrians. Currently, "sidewalks are in such poor condition in some areas that they're deemed missing," concludes Goodman. Goodman said the Planning Commission is especially interested in fixing sidewalks around train stations and bus hubs.

It's important to note that there's no guarantee anywhere near all of the bicycle and pedestrian recommendations being made by Toole and the Planning Commission will be implemented. At the University City open house, the deputy transportation commissioner in the Streets Department, Steve Buckley, attended to give a realistic assessment of the plan's chances for success. Buckley made it clear that there was no certainty that every recommendation would actually happen. The deputy commissioner did divulge that money gleaned from red light cameras would go toward re-striping bike lanes.

Toole Design and the city are studying West and Southwest Philadelphia as part of the second phase of their Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The first phase represents most of the city's population, and covers Center City, South, Northwest, and most of North Philadelphia. The rest of the second phase is comprised of Northeast Philadelphia, communities around the Delaware River, Olney, and East and West Oak Lane. Two additional open houses will be held this week, with one in Juniata and the other in the far Northeast.

Source: Dan Goodman, Toole Design
Writer: Andy Sharpe

If you’re going to be around the 63rd St. El stop this-coming Friday evening, you might witness a Carrotmob. However, you have nothing to worry about, even if you don’t like carrots.

This Carrotmob will be drawing attention to a struggling independent produce store by raising money through a mass purchase of its items. West Phillie Produce, which has struggled to find business since its opening in mid-2009 despite being located in a food desert at 62nd and Ludlow Sts., will be the beneficiary of the Carrotmob.

Former City Council candidate Andy Toy, who is now the director of the Retail Resource Network at West Philadelphia’s Enterprise Center, is one of the biggest promoters of West Phillie Produce. Toy heaps praise on the owner of West Phillie Produce, Arnett Woodall, who is really trying to make a difference in the neighborhood’s diet. Regrettably, Woodall has only had varying success in doing this. "Arnett continues to encourage neighbors to improve their nutrition habits, but old habits die hard," says Toy. "Some neighbors have still not visited (in) over 2 years."

To address West Phillie’s lack of business, various groups, led by the Enterprise Center, decided to team up and unleash a Carrotmob in the store. According to Toy, a Carrotmob is a "buycott" where a bunch of people shop at a given time from a particular business that has a sustainable, local, or socially conscious mission. The proceeds from a Carrotmob go toward the business, or toward some project that the business is embarking on.

In the case of West Phillie Produce, Toy says money raised from the Carrotmob will help finance new equipment and allow the store to continue giving away fresh fruit salads to local almsgivers. In addition, the Carrotmob will enable like-minded people a chance to network with each other and discuss how to encourage local, independent businesses and neighborhood nutrition.

The Enterprise Center has no qualms about aiding a local produce store against the threat posed by distant supermarkets. Toy points out that West Phillie Produce hires from the immediate neighborhood, is easy to access without a car, and is owned by someone who resides in the area. It also opened on what used to be an unsightly abandoned lot. The store doesn’t just sell produce either, as it offers nutritional smoothies, water ice, and juices.

This is the first Carrotmob to inundate Philadelphia, although an attempt was made in the past. The Carrotmob concept began in California, and has spread across the world. In addition to the Enterprise Center, participating organizations include the Food Trust, the Merchants Fund, and Sayre Health Clinic.

Toy is happy to assist the Carrotmob effort in Philadelphia. "We like the Carrotmob concept because it results in a real tangible outcome that benefits a worthy business," he proclaims. "We hope to replicate this effort in other neighborhoods across the City." As for the Carrotmob at West Phillie Produce, it’s scheduled to run from 4-7 PM this Friday.

Source: Andy Toy, the Enterprise Center
Writer: Andy Sharpe

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) opened a new door for residents of Mantua last week with the opening of the Mantua Square public housing complex at 35th and Fairmount. Mantua Square is a much more modern, sustainable, and neighborhood-appropriate successor to the previous 18-story public housing tower that stood at the site. It didn’t take long for the Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (PAHRA) to take notice, as they gave the PHA a “best practices” award for the development.

Michael Johns, the general manager of community design and development for PHA, describes why PAHRA appreciated Mantua Square so much. They liked that the “new facility fits into the overall character of the neighborhood,” says Johns. Johns adds that the award also reflects how the housing enhances the aesthetic of the area. The Authority is not surprised at these blandishments, as one of their main goals was to build public housing that jives well with the surrounding community. According to Johns, designers analyzed the existing brick pattern in Mantua, and drew up plans for the Square with that in mind.

Mantua Square also features some cutting edge sustainability features that are not seen in many other Philadelphia public housing developments. One of the most intriguing features is that the building has the capability to return unused electricity back into the grid. Photovoltaic solar panels capable of producing 200 megawatts of power annually are mounted on the roof. Finally, Johns says that environmentally sensitive stormwater management practices are being used.

Residents of Mantua Square can also exhale, as the Housing Authority has taken steps to make the complex safer. Johns describes the PHA’s strategy as “crime prevention through environmental design.” Some examples of this include where the PHA placed the doors on the units, more radiant lighting, and the large courtyard in the middle of the complex. Also, he points out that windows are placed on the sides, which enables self-policing for residents. This stands in stark contrast to the old high-rise public housing that sometimes proved a breeding ground for crime.

The PHA is hoping that they can learn some things about conserving energy from this new development. They are also collaborating with Drexel in an effort to examine how they can save money on electricity. Among the practices they’re considering implementing in other complexes is using solar energy. The Authority is hoping Mantua Square and their work with Drexel will serve as a guide for future solar energy collection.

Michael Johns and many others at the Philadelphia Housing Authority are hoping they can set a new precedent in neighborhood relations with Mantua Square. “We are showing the communities of Belmont and Mantua that government and the Philadelphia Housing Authority care,” says Johns. The statewide association of housing authorities has already recognized this. Now, all we need is for the residents of Mantua Square to take pride in this.  

Source: Michael Johns, Philadelphia Housing Authority
Writer: Andy Sharpe

If you’re strolling along Lancaster Avenue between 35th and 40th Sts., you probably notice something looks different. In fact, you’re right, as Drexel University, the University City District, and other community groups have partnered on a two-month art exhibition running through Nov. 30 called LOOK!.

There are three main components to LOOK!, which are art displays in the windows of unused buildings, group art events in galleries or public spaces, and performances open to anyone. The most omnipresent of these components is the art that now adorns the fronts of vacant buildings. According to University City District’s Mark Christman, there are thirteen such displays. These displays speak to the corridor’s history as well as the resiliency of the community, and include audio and visual artwork.

Additionally, the opening night of LOOK! Featured some fascinating performances. This included a dance exhibition that wound its way down Lancaster Ave. called Dances for Imaginary Places Barely There. The troupe made sure to modify its dance routine depending on the unique culture of every block. The opening night also saw some theatrical shows, which examined American culture, mental illness, and burlesque.

The University City District believes the success in organizing LOOK! is a great sign for the Lancaster Avenue corridor.

"The fact that community members, landlords, neighborhood institutions, and artists were able to successfully collaborate on a project of this scale is clearly a strong sign of the broader commitment to continue to transform the Avenue," says Christman. "Lancaster Avenue is clearly a great ‘main street’ in the making."

Christman builds on the "main street" theme by lauding the neighborhood farmers’ market, nascent galleries, cafes and dining establishments, and fencing academy. He says it only made sense to run a community arts show given how much is already going on with the avenue. While Christman is unsure as to whether LOOK! will ever be done again, he did say that community groups will make sure to analyze how art can beautify public space.

When the involved organizations announced they were seeking artists to participate in mid-July, they received an overwhelming response. Despite giving artists just three weeks to submit proposals, they received about 200 requests. Christman acknowledges how creative many of the proposals were, but says "we ultimately put together a panel that included representatives from neighborhood institutions, community members, and even two Pew Fellows."

Source: Mark Christman, University City District
Writer: Andy Sharpe

Philadelphia’s Zoning Code Commission unveiled a new timeline that they hope will lead to a modernized zoning code during a six-hour public hearing in front of City Council. The public certainly got to weigh in, as 40 different people signed up to testify, split into thirteen panels of three or more people at a time.

The barrage of public comment not withstanding, the Zoning Code Commission (ZCC) announced its strong desire to pass a new zoning code in City Council by the end of the year. Perhaps no one is more eager to see a new zoning code before the year’s end than Eva Gladstein, the Executive Director of the ZCC. Gladstein is cautiously optimistic about the odds of success. "A number of members of City Council expressed their interest in passing a new zoning code before the end of the year, and we believe that while the timeline is tight, it is achievable," says Gladstein.

From the look and sound of the hearing, City Council members and public testifiers -- including community group leaders, developers, and environmentalists -- support most parts of the zoning code update. However, there are a few sticking points among City Council and the public that might impede the ZCC deadline.

Councilman Bill Green, who many believe may run for mayor some time in the next decade, has raised many of the questions and concerns on City Council. He clarified his concerns by releasing a set of 10 amendments that he feels are necessary for the proposed zoning code re-write. At the hearing, Green complained that his office had not received a revisable copy of the zoning code proposal. Both Gladstein and Alan Greenberger, Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and a member of the ZCC, claimed they did send the document. 

One of Green’s concerns is that the proposed zoning code does not adequately restrict potentially harmful industry from going into residential neighborhoods. Some of the community groups present seemed to agree with this, as well as other aspects of Green’s amendments. Another complaint, voiced by the East Falls Community Council, was that there was insufficient, albeit improved, participation from community groups in the re-write.

With this in mind, the politicians and the public seemed ready to proceed with an improved zoning code. Speaker after speaker seemed to delight in commending the ZCC for its hard work in drafting sorely needed zoning reform. Even hesitant City Council members, like Green and Brian O’Neill, acknowledged that the zoning code needed to be modernized. Thus, it's not if, but when the zoning code reform will pass. Many hope it will be by year’s end, but that’s not a guarantee.

Source: Eva Gladstein, Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission
Writer: Andy Sharpe

If you ride SEPTA buses or trolleys, you have likely experienced what it feels like to be stopped at a red light block after block after block. The great news for you is that Philadelphia and SEPTA are working together to help alleviate your headache. In as little as 18 months, three select SEPTA bus or trolley routes within the city will be able to move a little faster, thanks to the planned re-timing of traffic lights to prioritize SEPTA vehicles.

Andrew Stober, chief of staff for the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU), explained just what traffic signal prioritization means. For instance, if a light cycle for a given intersection with no participating SEPTA routes passing through is 60 seconds, each direction would get 30 seconds of green. However, the city and SEPTA plan to utilize transponders atop buses and trolleys to alter traffic light timing so that a street’s lights will remain green for 40 seconds when a mass transit vehicle approaches.  

Currently MOTU is working with SEPTA to determine which bus or trolley routes are most deserving of traffic light prioritization. According to Stober, the five routes being debated for light re-timing are the routes 6, 52, and 60 buses, the route 13 trolley, and the route 66 trackless trolley. Stober described some criteria for the choice of routes. “All run along a single arterial with a lot of traffic signals,” he said. It is important to note that the prioritization will occur along the entirety of the three routes chosen, not just parts of them.

Interestingly, none of these routes go through Center City, which is not an accident. Stober justified these routes because they feed the Broad Street or Market-Frankford lines, which can subsequently be used to get downtown. With that in mind, the routes seem to represent many other parts of the city, including Southwest, West, North, Northeast, and Northwest Philadelphia.

Stober glorifies the transit prioritization by pointing out the many perceived benefits. The prioritization will "improve flow on capacity-constrained streets," boasted Stober. "The improvements will help increase transit modeshare." Not leaving out non-transit drivers, he added that other vehicles traveling in the same direction as the chosen buses or trolleys will also benefit from the lengthened green light.

This is all made possible by a $3.5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA). The city and SEPTA expect the transit preference to begin in 18 months to two years. This is just the latest collaboration between the transit agency and the city it serve to speed up transit vehicles. It comes on the heels of the removal of half the stops for the route 47 bus between Market Street and its South Philadelphia endpoint.

Source: Andrew Stober, Philadelphia Mayor's Office on Transportation and Utilities
Writer: Andy Sharpe

It's a park that fits in a pickup truck. Philadelphia's newest public space initiative, The Parklet, made its debut on Aug. 4 in University City. Flanking the sidewalk on 43rd Street at Baltimore Avenue, the 40-foot long decked platform functions as a highly flexible seating area that takes the place of about three parked cars. The seasonal structure, made of Trex, steel and wood, can be disassembled into its 4'x6' component parts and loaded into the back of a University City District truck.

"West Philadelphia in general is open to innovation and new ideas," remarked State Representative James Roebuck, on hand for the dedication. The Parklet experiment is slated to continue, with three more planned in spaces to be determined. According to designer Jules Dingle of the Center City firm DIGSAU, the next one will be on Lancaster Avenue, but the others have not yet been sited.

The intersection of 43rd and Baltimore is heavy with pedestrian traffic, thanks to Clark Park. The popular Green Line Cafe, with its own outdoor seating, is at the same southeast corner as the Parklet, and  the new seating appears to be an extension of the cafe, but officials were quick to point out that the Parklet is open to the public. "It really is a front porch in many ways," said Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler. The design quotes elements of the new Race Street Pier, added Prema Katari Gupta, UCD Director of Planning and Economic Development. The Parklet idea originated in San Francisco and New York, and UCD put a Philadelphia spin on an imported idea, according to Gupta.

At a cost of $10,000 in materials and a design fee that adds about 10 percent to the total, the Parklet is a quick and easy way to create convivial space. Designer Dingle explained that while the configuration of the present parklet is meant for cafe tables and chairs, potential add-ons include bike racks and fixed tables and benches, which may figure in to future versions.

Source: James Roebuck, Rina Cutler, Prema Katari Gupta, Jules Dingle, UC Parklet
Writer: Sue Spolan

PHOTOS by Ryan Collerd

For quite some time now, the priest of St. Maron's Roman Catholic Church, which sits on the corner of 10th and Ellsworth streets in South Philly, has had something of a vision--a dream, you might say--relating to the living conditions of his parishioners, more than a few of whom are senior citizens in their 50s and 60s.

"They're presently living in the community," says Bruce Morgan, the president of Paoli's BCM Affordable Housing, "and for a number of different reasons, they don't want to continue living in a house they own or rent, or living with family members. They need a living arrangement that's more conducive to someone who is 55 and older. They're also typically on fixed incomes, and in a lot of ways are getting priced out of a gentrifying neighborhood."

Morgan, as it happens, runs the real estate development firm that was given the green light to construct the solution to South Philly's seniors: Along with the Haley Donovan design-architect firm and the architecture and interior design firm known as Kitchen & Associates, Morgan's company will be building a roughly 71,000 square-foot building for seniors on the 900 block of Ellsworth Street, on the current site of an under-utilized municipal parking lot.

Along with 64 units, a community room, two outdoor patios, a green roof and Energy Star appliances, the L-shaped structure will be constructed according to LEED certification standards. (Due to high costs, however, Morgan doesn't plan to actually apply for the certification itself.) Construction should start sometime near the end of the year, or the beginning of 2012.

Meanwhile, in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood, the New Jersey-based Tryko Partners firm has spent $8 million acquiring the Kearsley Nursing Community campus, which has been recognized as the first nursing community in the county, according to Uri Kahanow, Tryko's director of acquisitions (skilled nursing with private and semi-private rooms available).

The three-building campus overlooks the Bala Golf Course and includes a historic property built in 1861. Still, says Kahanow, "We're definitely going to focus a lot on upgrading the services in the nursing facility. We're definitely going to expand on what they have now."

Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Bruce Morgan, BCM Affordable Housing Inc. & Uri Kahanow, Tryko Partners

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

Local bicycle entrepreneur Brian Hackford, refers to his third Keswick Cycle shop as "somewhat of a personal victory." Keswick is a high-end bicycle outpost with locations in both Glenside, Montgomery County, and Cherry Hill, N.J., and Hackford plans to cut the proverbial ribbon on his third retail space sometime this August, at 4040 Locust Street in University City--the former home of Strikes Bowling Lounge.

To hear Hackford himself tell the tale, the fact that he managed to secure the location at all is by far the most dramatic bit. University City and bicycle shops, it seems, have not always gone hand and hand.

"I've been trying to get on Penn's campus for seven years," he insists, In today's economic climate, of course, landlords aren't nearly as picky. (The 4,000-square-foot shop is being rented by Campus Apartments.) And it didn't hurt that Hackford's rental agent was himself a cycling enthusiast.

As for the Keswick Cycle retail philosophy, it tends to take bikes just a touch more seriously than your average cycle shop. Keswick sells and repairs bikes, of course, and all manner of biking gear and apparel is on offer. But you'll also find a 'fit studio' at the new shop, where pros and hobbyists alike can be properly fitted for an appropriately proportioned ride.

A grand opening celebration, Hackford says, will likely be planned for September, once school is back in session.

Source: Brian Hackford, Keswick Cycle
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

There's certainly nothing new or unusual about major universities that seem to insatiably gobble up various plots of real estate surrounding their respective campuses. And while it may appear that Drexel, the country's 14th-largest private university, is no different, the reality of the school's most recent real estate acquisition may come as a surprise. That's because Drexel's latest $21.8 million land purchase--a 3.6 acre former public parking lot that sits just east of the school--promises to take the campus in a whole new direction, quite literally.

The thin but long track of land--sandwiched between JFK Boulevard to the south, and the 30th Street Station train tracks to the north--was purchased by the university with the intention of creating a new eastern gateway-style entrance to the Drexel campus, says Bob Francis, Drexel's head of university facilities.

The purchase certainly reflects Drexel's current mission of continuing to grow and expand. But as Francis explains, the strategic purchase was actually much more community-minded than it might have at first appeared.

"When (a school) grows," Francis says, "you don't just grow academics. And it turns out that the direction Drexel has traditionally gone, which is to the north, pressing up against the Powelton Village and Mantua communities, is probably not the way to go in the future, because we've put a lot of stress on those neighborhoods."

It was with exactly that sort of community-focused attitude in mind that the eastward-facing lot was purchased. And what's more, Drexel intends to rely heavily on community input during the year-long planning phase for the new eastern campus entrance.

The school's current plans for the land include developing a number of residential, retail, and mixed use spaces. "We plan to consult with all the partners who have an interest in this," adds Francis, and bring them and the community along with us."

Source: Bob Francis, Drexel University
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

It's probably safe to say that most of the regular Flying Kite readers among you are by now familiar with Philadelphia2035--the comprehensive plan to create a blueprint for the city's future development. But you're probably not yet familiar with the recent plan to do something relatively similar--albeit on a much smaller scale, and without a catchy name--in five different West Philly neighborhoods.

Early last week, the People's Emergency Center held a kick-off event to celebrate the upcoming year-long process, which is known simply as the Neighborhood Plan, and which will focus on the Belmont, Mantua, Mill Creek, Saunders Park, and West Powelton neighborhoods. "Make Your Mark," as the party was called, was organized as a way to give area residents a chance to do just that: West Philly locals, for instance, scribbled various suggestions for area development and community-growth facilitation on a giant banner. ("More affordable housing!" "Jobs!") According to the PEC's Kira Strong, the banner will be traveling to all the planning meetings and public events that the PEC plans to host over the course of the year.

As for the $100,000 that will actually fund the year-long planning process, it came from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, whose mission involves improving the quality of life for those living in low-income areas.

And now? The real work of urban planning begins: There will be door-to-door resident surveys, Strong says, but also a listening booth where residents can leave audio comments and feedback for the planners. (Look for it at the Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival on July 16.)

Once the year of planning is over, of course, a significantly larger chunk of funds will be needed to actually implement the plan. But in the meantime, says Strong, "We're really trying to engage residents and other stakeholders, to make sure this is an exciting planning process with some real energy."

Source: Kira Strong, People's Emergency Center CDC
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

Even if you don't happen to be a skateboarding enthusiast, there's still a decent chance--assuming you've lived in Philly for any amount of time--that you're familiar with our city's legendary status among skateboarders worldwide. What you might not be aware of, however, is that a local nonprofit organization known as Franklin's Paine Skatepark Fund (FPSF) is currently in the process of reviving and growing the skateboarding scene here, and in a very major way.

Near the end of May, FPSF, which is "dedicated to the advancement of skateboarding in the Greater Philadelphia region," according to a recent press release, made public an ambitious 31-page master plan for the future of Philadelphia's skatepark development.

The plan was created in partnership with the city's Parks and Recreation Department, and was completed by the Center City-based Friday Architects/Planners. According to FPSF's Claire Laver and Josh Nims, it's only the first phase of a study that will eventually see $11 million spent on the planning and construction of somewhere between 30 and 40 skateboarding spots throughout the city and the surrounding region.

"It's our goal to continue working on this, and to eventually create a plan that covers every corner of the city," says Laver. "But we have a lot of projects on our plate with this first phase."

The master plan's first phase focuses exclusively on sites in the west and southwest regions of the city, and according to Nims, one of the first projects involves the skatepark at McCreesh Playground, which will see further development this summer. The Miles Mack Playground is also mentioned in the master plan, as is the Rose Playground in Overbrook.

In the meantime, FPSF is sponsoring the international Go Skateboarding Day on June 21; among other area skate spots, both Miles Mack and McCreesh will host events.

Source: Claire Laver and Josh Nims, Franklin's Paine Skatepark Fund
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

Imagine being handicapped without the aid of a full-time caregiver. Chances are, you'd probably live with a family member--someone who could help with essential tasks like bathing. But what if living with family wasn't a viable option? Sadly enough, there are a surprisingly large number of disabled adults who find themselves in that very situation. A hospital or an institution, then, is often their only option.

It was with such disabled adults in mind that the Philadelphia Housing Authority recently decided to develop the Quads: Twenty-five separate handicapped-accessible buildings, each constructed on a formerly vacant lot somewhere in the city, and each boasting four separate efficiency-style apartments. Naturally, the units are specially designed to accommodate the unique challenges of their tenants: "People with minimal to moderate care needs," according to a PHA press release.

According to the PHA's Michael Johns, some of the tenants who now live in the units were young people who'd previously been living in nursing homes, because they had no other options. "I think the young fellow that was at the opening (of the Quads) said it best: Now he doesn't have to have anybody help him bathe himself. So the idea," Johns adds, "is to give a level of independence for folks that are either wheelchair bound or have mobility impairments."

Tenants with significantly more serious disabilities, however, are looked after at the Quads as well, thanks to a common area in each building where care providers can work with their patients.

The 25 initial buildings -- all of which include a vertical lift and front porches on both floors -- officially opened for business on May 25. By the end of July or August, Johns says, 20 additional Quads should be complete. In total, construction will cost $14.4 million, nearly 90 percent of which will be covered by stimulus funds.

Source: Michael Johns, Philadelphia Housing Authority
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.

When Mayor Nutter first introduced Philadelphia's ambitious Green 2015 initiative, which aims to add 500 new acres of accessible green space to the city by the year 2015, he made it perfectly clear that the goal couldn't possibly be achieved by the efforts of municipal entities working alone. As it happens, Lucy Kerman, who works as Drexel's Vice Provost for University and Community Partnerships, felt exactly the same way when she first heard about Green 2015. "We also felt it was really important that the universities around the city step up to the plate," she says.

And so Kerman and her colleagues at Drexel approached the city's Department of Parks and Recreation with something of a partnership proposal. The idea, as she explains it, was partly to help the department in greening parts of the Mantua neighborhood, which surrounds Drexel. But it also involved lending to the city the intellectual expertise of Drexel's Environmental Engineering department, which is particularly interested in sustainability issues.

According to Kerman, Drexel sees the partnership as both multifaceted and long-term, and on April 18, an announcement on the university's campus officially introduced the partnership, and spelled out some of its goals, which include the giveaway of 200 trees to Drexel employees living in Philadelphia.

Three area playgrounds--including Miles Mack Playground, where members of the partnership recently planted 28 trees--will also be greened and otherwise improved. Drexel's environmental engineering students, for instance, will be creating new storm water treatment systems for the parks. And students in the school's Interior Design department will be studying ways in which playgrounds can be created "that support not only children's play, but children's learning," Kerman explains. What's more, the partnership will be heading up a number of 'greening days' that will take place throughout Mantua in the coming months.

"You know, it's really a win-win-win-win," says Kerman.

Source: Lucy Kerman, Drexel University
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.