Neighborhood Innovation : In The News

Philly future: Government as 'an enabler and a platform for innovation'

GreenBiz Tuesday, July 24, 2012

GreenBiz reports on Philadelphia's Chief Innovation Officer Adel Ebeid and his talk to attendees at the GreenBiz Cities 2.0 webcast last week.

The city of brotherly love has published more than 100 datasets since April, when Mayor Michael Nutter issued an executive order requiring city branches to release their once-buried information through an online portal accessible to anyone. The site includes data from nonprofits, universities and businesses, as well as municipal data from maps of enterprise zones to a searchable database of childcare providers.

Original source: GreenBiz

Read the full story here.

Philadelphia leaders take to Toronto to share and 'steal'

Yonge Street Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Greater Philadelphia Economy League Executive Director Steve Wray talkes to Flying Kite sister publication Yonge Street about his organization's Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange, which visits Toronto this week.

One the focuses of the Economy League is what it means to be a world-class region and what it would take for Greater Philadelphia to attain status as a world-class region. As we select places to go, we look for regions that are world class or striving to be world class. Clearly Toronto has attained the status in the global community as a city and region on the rise, as a global financial capital and as an international city. We thought there were a lot of lessons we could bring back to Philadelphia from Toronto that would serve us well.

Original source: Yonge Street

Read the full story here.

Behind the B Corp 'badge of honor' with Mugshots, Workplace Dynamics

Entrepreneur Friday, June 22, 2012

Mugshots CoffeeHouse & Cafe and Workplace Dynamics in Exton are profiled as proud, eco-conscious members of the B Corp movement, reports Entrepreneur.

Mugshots owner Angela Vendetti says just making it through the extensive certification process is something to be proud of as an entrepreneur. "There are all kinds of questions about your waste policy and what you do for the environment," Vendetti says. "They ask about cleaning products and energy, everything from what you offer your employees to how you consider your neighbors in the decisions you make."

Original source: Entrepreneur

Read the full story here.

How Philly's efforts to eliminate food deserts could spread nationally

Washington Post Monday, June 11, 2012

The Washington Post digs into Philadelphia's effort to drive availability and consumption of healthy food, which "could steer the course of American food policy."

Philadelphia’s study, distinct in scope and scale, may deliver a breakthrough.

The city has, in many ways, been the epicenter of American efforts to improve food access. Of the country’s 10 largest cities, its population is the lowest-income, and it has higher obesity rates than New York City and Baltimore. It’s home to The Food Trust, a nonprofit that has risen to national prominence as an advocate for increasing food access for low-income Americans.

Original source: Washington Post

Read the full story here.

Textizen is Philly's answer to narrowing digital divide

Government Technology Monday, June 11, 2012

Government Technology reports on Code For America's work on Textizen, a citizen feedback platform launched last week for Philadelphia.

Neighborhood-specific questions are posed via colorful posters in public places like bus shelters, along with instructions as to how citizens can make their voices heard.

The PCPC is currently seeking input to revise two of the 18 district plans within the city. In the densely populated central district, people can text in views about the city’s recreation sites. Two separate questions are being asked in an effort to gather input that will help direct continued investment in the area, a haven for young families.

Original source: Government Technology

Read the full story here.

A chat with Interface Studio Architects principal Brian Phillips

Jetson Green Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Jetson Green talks shop with Brian Phillips, principal of Philadelphia-based Interface Studio Architects, which gained notoriety for its work on the 100K house.

The 100k house sits in the middle of the timeline for our firm, but serves as the clearest thesis statement. We received a 2011 Pew Fellowship in the Arts allowing us to focus more on experimentation, research, and design competitions. We are beginning to expand geographically while also scaling up the ‘100k thesis’ on bigger projects in Philly. Recent assignments include Net Zero housing in Boston (through the Mayor’s E+ Housing initiative) and a theoretical project for what a 100k house might be for Detroit.

Original source: Jetson Green

Read the full story here.

Why Philadelphia police are embracing Twitter

Governing Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Governing talks with Philadelphia Police Department communications director Karima Zedan about its officers use of Twitter to fight crime.

Our driving philosophy has been: Why not try to pave the way and use [Twitter] as a great tool to connect to people and put a face to the men and women who serve in the department. That's really what Twitter allows us to do. We've been on Twitter (@phillypolice) since September of 2009. It's been a great way to respond to people's questions, to give information to highlight programs that the police department is doing [and] to highlight the good works of people.

Original source: Governing

Read the full story here.

The crime-fighting trees of Philadelphia

Stanford Social Innovation Review Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Stanford Social Innovation Review writes about a study led by University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine epidemiologist Charles Branas that showed greened vacant lots decreased gun assaults.

"We see it happening," says Robert Grossman, director of the PHS Philadelphia Green Program. "The neighborhoods where we’ve done a lot of this work are really transformed." The vacant lots host weddings and barbecues, instead of drug dealers and prostitutes, he says.

Original source: Stanford Social Innovation Review

Read the full story here.

A more humane, effective urban prison courtesy of two UPenn students

Fast Company Tuesday, April 17, 2012

University of Pennsylvania architecture masters students Andreas Tjeldflaat and Greg Knobloch are re-thinking the urban prison, reports Fast Company.

499.SUMMIT would be composed of three violently geometric arches that’d rise, and overlap, in the heart of Jersey City. First, a word on why they selected Jersey City: In part, that was the assignment (for a course at Penn taught by HWKN’s Matthias Hollwich). But they also believe that a prime urban location could set the backdrop for a more humane prison experience. “Compared to the typically isolated sites chosen for prisons, this location would have several advantages: It would be close to family, friends, work opportunities, services and professionals needed and most of all; close to society, or rather, feeling as being a part of society,” Tjeldflaat tells Co.Design in an email. “This could make the transition back into society softer.”

Original source: Fast Company

Read the full story here.

Inside NovaThermal Energy's bold move to warm a building with heat from sewage

Forbes Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Forbes dives into NovaThermal Energy's first project to warm a building using heat from sewage.

The building, the Southeast Water Pollution Control Facility in Philadelphia, will house the 1 million BTU/hour unit in its basement, where it will directly access and transfer heat from an adjacent sewage channel.

Original source: Forbes

Read the full story here.

Kensington artist takes renovation work on the road

Eastern Iowa Life Monday, April 09, 2012

Philadelphia artist Lewis Colburn's exhibition, called "After the Architect Has Gone," is on display in April in Iowa City, reports Eastern Iowa Life.

Colburn places a model of his row house, portrayed in a serious state of renovation, on top of a chest of drawers. Experimenting with new architectural-modeling software, Colburn creates a landscape form in one of the open drawers that represents an afghan or quilt, a sign of comfort. The landscape models appear again on a drawing table, serving as places of rest for coffee mugs. The piece also hints at a dining room table set for dinner, another emblem of domestic comfort. A leaky faucet runs into a china basin; a bowl set in a bathroom vanity that is either being repaired or constructed.

Original source: Eastern Iowa Life

Read the full story here.

Philly schools could get hands on India's $35 tablet

TechCrunch Monday, April 09, 2012

Philadelphia's Wilco Electronics is aiming for a procurement deal to bring Indian company DataWind's $35 tablet to Philadelphia schools, reports TechCrunch.

It can show video, administer quizzes, mirror class resources, and so on. A tool any teacher would love to have, if it isn’t more trouble than it’s worth. And there are many practical considerations. Charging the devices, keeping them clean, secure, and updated, preventing inappropriate usage, creating class-administration software… the list goes on and on. But that is, of course, part of what pilot programs are meant to explore.

Original source: Tech Crunch

Read the full story here.

The E-Lane's fleeting reality and how Philly pedestrians walk on

City of Philadelphia; Prevention Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Further proof that Mayor Michael Nutter is lining up a second career as an entertainer is the E-Lane video and weeklong April Fool's joke that shed light on the real problem of distracted pedestrians.

Meanwhile, Philly rates as the ninth most walkable city according to Prevention, which utilized Walkscore's grades to build a top-25 list.

This spring, Sister Cities Park in Center City opens, with attractions like a family-friendly café, children's discovery garden and play area, and a fountain commemorating Philadelphia's global sister cities—adding to the city's already 10,000 acre park system.

Original source: Prevention

Read the full story here.

Park it here: Philly ranked among world's best cities for parks

Frommer's Tuesday, March 27, 2012

We're not exactly sure of the criteria, but we can't help but agree with the folks at Frommer’s who think pretty highly of our parks, naming Philadelphia to its list of the world’s 10 best cities for parks.

Highlights include Wissahickon Valley Park with 50 miles of rugged terrain for mountain bikers and hikers, plus trout fishing in Wissahickon creek; Pennypack Park along the Delaware River; the Azalea Garden; Boathouse Row; Batram's Garden; the Japanese House and Garden; Franklin D. Roosevelt Park ("The Lakes"); and East and West Parks.

Original source: Frommer’s

Read the full story here.