After our north civic cluster meeting on Monday, July 19, we’ll get to work on a summary of these meetings and post it here. Until then, here are some photos of last night’s cluster meeting.

And please come to Monday’s north civic cluster meeting! It will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington at 418 E. Girard Ave. We’ll be discussing street connections, open space/recreation, and development potential for the northern portion of the planning area. Hope to see you there!

In this phase of work, as in the one before, there will be one meeting in the northern area of the project area and another in the southern area.  These meetings are designed to generate input from the communities adjacent to the waterfront on a range of pre-selected issues, although both meetings will be open to everyone.  The results of these meetings are then distilled and passed along to the design team.

This round of Civic Cluster meetings will address the issues of waterfront connectivity, open space location and typology and land use at key development areas.

We hope to see you there!

South: Thursday, July 15. 6:30-8:30 pm at the Independence Seaport Museum (211 S. Columbus Blvd.)

North: Monday, July 19. 6:30-8:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington (418 E. Girard Ave.)

As part of the public outreach surrounding the master planning process, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation did four topic-specific focus groups.  The topic areas addressed were waterfront business, historical resources, recreational boating and other recreation.  Across all four focus groups there was consensus on some broad points including the following.

• There is a strong desire for improved access for pedestrians and bicyclists across Delaware/Columbus and I-95 as well as along the waterfront.
• There is strong support for a continuous path or trail along the waterfront.
• Everyone wants to see more coherent connections between pockets of good development and public spaces.
• There was common support for improved signage to and along the waterfront.

For a PDF offering more in-depth information about the results of these focus groups, including the meeting summaries for each group, click here.

And thanks to everyone who participated!

The new wetlands, installed at Pier 53

On Saturday, June 27, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society ran a second workshop at Pier 53, this time focusing on ecology. The session began with a great presentation from the Philadelphia water Department, discussing the findings of various fish studies conducted by PWD in both the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Next, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary spoke about how important the Delaware Estuary system is for a number of species. Did you know that the Delaware Estuary is home to the world’s largest breeding population of horseshoe crabs? Freshwater mussels are especially important to the ecosystem as they are great at filtering water. The mussels in the estuary system can filter 59 million liters in an hour. The children in attendance were able to hold freshwater mussels and learn more about them. We also got to see their filtering in action, comparing a fish tank filled with river water against a tank with the same water with mussels.

Following the presentations, the group headed outside and listened to team members from Biohabitats describe their process for building floating wetlands. After Biohabitats taught the group how to construct a floating wetland, everyone jumped right in and constructed eight wetlands in less than two hours. Thanks to everyone who came and helped out!

Children hold mussels and learn about them from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary team

The audience watches the presentation by the Philadelphia Water Department

Constructing the floating wetlands

Planting a variety of flowering plants and grasses into the wetlands

The new wetlands, installed at Pier 53

July 3rd

Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival

The Joshua Kahan Fund continues its mission to lick Leukemia.  A $5 donation is required to enter the Super Scooper pavilion.  Once there, enjoy all the ice cream you can eat!

Noon–5:00 pm and 6:00 pm–9:00 pm

The Philadelphia Orchestra Free Neighborhood Concert

Come hear the first concert by the full Philadelphia Orchestra on the waterfront!  Under the direction of Danial Rachev, the orchestra will play a wide-ranging program that includes such favorites as “America, the Beautiful” and an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”.

Presented by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company

8:00 pm

Philadelphia Fireworks Display

The waterfront’s second major fireworks display in as many weeks will follow the performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Prime viewing locations include the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing and Penn Treaty Park.

Presented by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation

9:30 pm

July 4th and 5th

Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival

The Joshua Kahan Fund continues its mission to lick Leukemia.  A $5 donation is required to enter the Super Scooper pavilion.  Once there, enjoy all the ice cream you can eat!

Noon–5:00 pm, both days

Phase 2 Kickoff

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In the second phase of work, the consultants will use the data generated in the analysis phase to inform the design of a range of potential options for all major aspects of the master plan.  This includes everything from land use patterns to transportation and circulation systems to the redesign of Penn’s Landing.  Each idea and approach will be tested to see if it is worth pursuing or should be ruled out.  These investigations will begin to yield some quantifiable data that can be used to illustrate the alternatives in a broad, general way.

After presenting these alternatives to the public at the next major public meeting, to be held September 22nd, the selected alternatives will be further developed and synthesized into the final master plan.

Following the first public meeting, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation has continued reaching out to various constituencies across Philadelphia.

Already we have undertaken four focus groups, targeting specific types of stakeholders along the Delaware River waterfront.  These focus groups targeted feedback from the boating community, those interested in waterfront history, people interested in non-marine recreation along the waterfront and people engaged in business on the waterfront and in nearby neighborhoods.  The summaries of the views expressed in these more intimate, conversational meetings will help guide the consultant team as they work through the creation and evaluation of various alternatives for waterfront development.

In the coming weeks, DRWC, in partnership with the Central Delaware Advocacy Group, will undertake a second round of Civic Cluster meetings.  These meetings are designed to gather input from the neighborhoods adjacent the project area and will focus specifically on a discussion of land use patterns and intensity of development in various locations along the waterfront.  For more information about these meetings, see our calendar page.

Q: Why not cover parts of I-95 that are already partially covered, rather than talk about burying more.  We all know the issues surrounding the Big Dig in Boston!  It has the added benefit of eliminating the traffic problems during the New Years and Fourth of July fireworks festivities.

A: This is, in fact, very similar to the strategy that the consultant team intends to pursue to civilize the pedestrian and bicycle connections between the waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods.  By improving existing connections both over and under I-95, as well as examining potential new connections over and under the highway, it is thought that much of the negative effect I-95 has on connectivity can be mitigated.

Q: The connections over and under I-95 exist now.  I-95 can ruin this whole project.  Explain how short of burying or removing it you can ever connect neighborhoods to the riverfront.

A: There are a number of existing connections over and under I-95.  These connections are, however, both weak and unwelcoming to pedestrians and bicyclists.  There are a number of ways in which these connections can be strengthened and made more welcoming.   The extreme cost and extended timeline of an infrastructure project on the order of submerging I-95 are prohibitive in the context of the master plan.  However, by civilizing the connections that exist presently and potentially creating new connections between the waterfront and its surrounding neighborhoods access to the waterfront can be improved for all Philadelphians.  Some possibilities for improving connections include streetscape and landscape improvements, public art and lighting installations, and bike lanes.

Q: What kinds of funding will draw new businesses to the waterfront?

A: Incentives will be necessary to attract new business to the waterfront. Over the long term, developing parks and open space will in itself be an attractive draw for businesses because of the amount of people that will come to the waterfront to enjoy the parks.

Q: Can you have high density with only low- and mid-rise development?

A: High density does not inherently mean high-rise development.  The development pattern that the consultant team sees as most appropriate for the project area is similar to the scale of the row houses and townhomes that are native to Philadelphia.  This development pattern creates the kind of urban environment cherished in so many of Philadelphia’s existing neighborhoods.  Interestingly, this is also the scale of development that is most viable, based on the economics of Philadelphia’s real estate market.  Further, because these projects can be done by a number of small developers – rather than requiring a single large developer, as a high rise would – development can progress much faster. This does not preclude selective high-rise development at strategic points along the waterfront.

Q. How is the plan addressing industrial/port expansion that creates jobs?  Industry should be just as important as open space.

A. We are working closely with the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority as well as the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation to identify the appropriate locations on the waterfront for industrial activity. The project area is large enough to have balance between many diverse uses such as port and industrial, recreation and open space, residential, retail, and commercial. We recognize that this is a working waterfront and the plan will definitely address how to create jobs and transform of the waterfront into an economic generator for the city.

Q. Why is the Cramp Shipyards warehouse being allowed to be condemned to demolition due to I-95 construction?  It is a spectacular building.

Q. Can’t we save the Cramp Shipyards warehouse from demolition?  Can’t we cut through it?

A: Though a subject of continuing public consternation and debate, the decision to demolish the Cramp Shipyard building is final. That planning process was done by PennDOT many years ago, well before the Central Delaware master planning process began. However, this situation highlights the need for an integrated master planning process. It also highlights the importance of identifying buildings and other historic resources such as industrial ruins and archaeological sites for potential preservation, such as the PECO building adjacent to Penn Treaty Park.

Q: I saw a slide of people swimming in the river.  Can we really have beaches for swimming?  (At your own risk, of course!)  Is that viable?

A: There’s no reason that, with proper protection, people couldn’t swim at specifically selected locations along the Delaware River. Obviously, given the lack of locations designed for this purpose, the river’s treacherous currents and heavy marine traffic make this kind of recreation extremely unsafe at present. An additional concern is the water quality. In the past the water was very polluted and unsafe for swimming. Though the health of the river has improved drastically in the past 50 years there are still sewer outfalls along the river that occasionally overflow and cause unsafe conditions for humans to be in the river at these locations, so any recommendations for swimming facilities also need to take this into account.

Q: What is being done to entice people to go swimming/kayaking/etc.?  Is a river that has industry perceived as dirty?

A: There are already kayaking activities taking place along the river, including at Penn’s Landing. The planning process intends to identify other potential locations for aquatic recreation such as kayaking and swimming.

As stated in the above question, the health of the Delaware River is of great concern.  The DRWC regularly partners with the Philadelphia Water Department in an effort to address issues related to pollution and trash. Together we advocate for the continued improvement of the health of the river and its environs.  It is our goal to maintain a healthy river that will allow for Philadelphian’s to recreate in and on the river.

Q: There has been a transit plan proposed by the DRPA.  Can that plan be paused, to allow your planning process to inform the DRPA plan?

Q: How is the DRWC coordinating the design of the Delaware Ave. light rail line with DRPA/PATCO?

A: The next phase of the DRPA project has been in the contracting stage for the past several months. While that work has not started, the master planning work is progressing rapidly. We plan to have our alternatives for the master plan developed by September, which will provide the opportunity to inform the DRPA/PATCO light rail plan as it gets underway.

Q: Are there any updates from SEPTA regarding the trolley on Girard Ave. and Richmond St?  Will this trolley route be a significant consideration further along in the planning process?

A: SEPTA is currently calling the trolley relocation project a “temporary” re-routing. However, in the future we know that transit projects such as the light rail planned for Delaware Avenue are most successful when they connect to other transit, so it would be beneficial for the waterfront light rail to connect in some way to the Route 15 trolley line. Our transportation planners will look at this as a possibility for the future.

Missed the meeting? Have more questions?  For full coverage of the June 7^th Public Meeting, visit PlanPhilly.  Through PlanPhilly you can access full video from the public meeting .

http://planphilly.com/central-delaware-master-plan-team-reports-their-analysis-phase