WEEKLYPRESS.COM · UCREVIEW.COM · NOVEMBER 02 · 2011


Delaware River Waterfront Corporation releases Te Master Plan for the Central Delaware


continued from page 1


phasing for future water- front development over the next 30 years. The economic assumptions in the plan are grounded in reality, propos- ing a conservative invest- ment strategy which makes this plan capable of being implemented. The plan is fo- cused on implementing new parks, trails and road proj- ects to catalyze development across the waterfront. Proj- ects will begin first at three priority sites: Spring Garden Street, Penn’s Landing and Washington Avenue. DRWC and the master plan- ning team followed an open and transparent planning process by holding three well-attended public forums and numerous stakeholder and focus group meetings, and by utilizing a project website and other media to solicit input on the plan. The final draft of the plan was presented in a public meeting on June 13, 2011 to a crowd of over 500 com- munity representatives and stakeholders. DRWC re- ceived public comments on the draft plan in the sum- mer of 2011 for a period in excess of 30 days and made revisions to the plan based on these comments. In Sep- tember, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation re- ceived the Commonwealth- Gold award for Plans and Planning for the Master Plan for the Central Delaware from 10,000 Friends of Penn- sylvania. “I am delighted that the DRWC board endorsed the Master Plan for the Central Delaware, a comprehensive roadmap for the city and de- velopers as we go forward with waterfront develop- ment,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The Master Plan has been an example of excellence in community input, transparency and en- gagement. With the success- es of the Race Street Pier and other developments under- way or already completed on the waterfront, we can already begin to witness the benefits of this plan, which will create a more vibrant and integrated waterfront in the years to come.” Jeremy Nowak, president & CEO, William Penn Founda- tion, said, “The 2007 Civic Visioning Process for the Central Delaware was one of the most meaningful and inclusive public conversa-


tions held in the modern life of this city. It embedded the hopes and dreams of our citizens in a master plan, and those concepts will now of- ficially govern the evolution of our waterfront over the next three decades. It is a remarkable achievement for our community and marks a huge leap forward for the City.”


To view the final plan, please visit www.plancentraldela- ware.com. The plan in- cludes: A network of civic and pub- lic spaces developed as dis- tinctive public amenities supported by a public fi- nancing strategy focused on initial public investments in basic infrastructure (streets, utilities and public parks and trails) to serve as catalysts for high-quality private de- velopment on priority sites in supporting Philadelphia’s transformation to a twenty- first century lifestyle city. An increased program of free and sponsored events that bring people to the wa- terfront, is being developed by enhancing the current program and expanding to additional locations on the waterfront.


Accommodations for diverse land uses along the water- front, including the working port, hotels, commercial, re- tail and flex office/light in- dustrial. The plan envisions the development of primar- ily dense low to mid rise resi- dential neighborhoods with service retail, cafes, bars and restaurants, entertainment venues, and other uses that support year-round activi- ties. New development that main- tains a character consistent with current Philadelphia building vocabulary and quality of adjacent neighbor- hoods and also matches near- term market conditions. A detailed strategy for wealth building to create opportuni- ty for MBE, WBE, DSBE and individual investors A multimodal transportation and transit plan that includes facilities for streetcar/transit, vehicles, bicycles, and pedes- trians that shapes and serves walkable communities and links waterfront destinations to each other, connects wa- terfront residents to employ- ment centers, provides at- grade service to Center City, and is an integral element of the regional transportation network.


A phasing strategy which concentrates initial public funding and therefore devel- opment on nodes of public land near transit and other assets in order to generate a critical mass of activity in key locations as well as to pace development so that it corresponds with projected absorption rates. Three spe- cific nodes, called “Priority Sites” have been selected: Washington Avenue Penn’s Landing Spring Garden/Festival Pier


Marilyn Jordan Taylor, DRWC Board Member/Plan- ning Committee Chair and Dean of University of Penn- sylvania School of Design, in describing the foundational principles that underpin the plan, said, “With its formula of parks every half mile, meaningful connections to neighborhoods, and cutting- edge urban design, this plan responds to the goals of our city and makes them realiz- able along the Delaware. It will be a waterfront with a myriad of opportunities for developers and entrepre- neurs of all scales, which will meet our obligation to make the Central Delaware a city and regional asset.” Alan Greenberger, DRWC Board Member and Deputy Mayor for Economic De- velopment, said, “The tim- ing of this plan gives us an opportunity to coordinate with the recently unveiled Philadelphia2035, the city’s comprehensive plan, and the modernization of the zoning code currently being evalu- ated by City Council. We are setting the table to make a se- ries of strategic public infra- structure improvements that will encourage high quality development on the adjacent sites as the real-estate de- velopment market recovers; aligning the actions and in- terests of the public sector with those of private land- owners and developers.”


“Over the next several years, DRWC will implement a se- ries of short term initiatives identified in the plan which include plans for new con- nector street projects, new parks, water taxis, traffic improvements, pre-develop- ment work for the Festival Pier Site at the foot of Spring Garden Street and the design and construction of various segments of the permanent multiuse waterfront trail,” said Tom Corcoran. “Much of the funding for these early action projects has already been secured. Not only will these projects stimulate eco- nomic development within priority sites but will also serve to create momentum to propel this waterfront for- ward.”


About DRWC: The Delaware River Water- front Corporation (DRWC) is a nonprofit corporation organized in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. DRWC acts as the steward of the Delaware River waterfront to provide a benefit to all of the citizens and visitors of the City. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia between Oregon and Allegheny Av- enues. DRWC intends to transform the central Dela- ware River waterfront into a vibrant destination loca- tion for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia. DRWC will serve as a catalyst for high quality investment in public parks, trails, maritime, resi- dential, retail, hotel and oth- er improvements that create a vibrant amenity, extending Philadelphia to the river’s edge. For more information, visit www.delawareriverwater- frontcorp.com.


Submit a birthday of someone special to you for FREE!


INTRODUCING BIRTHDAYS!


WHAT WE NEED: • Photo of individual(s) • Date of Birthday


• Message to individual(s)


Email information to: cchristian@pressreview.net or Mail to 218 South 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Attention: Claudia Christian


WeeklyPRESS Review UNIVERSITY CITY


218 South 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel (215)222-2846 • Fax (215)222-2378


Email – editor@pressreview.net • graphics@pressreview.net


Editor & Publisher – Robert Christian Associate Publisher – Claudia Christian Bookkeeping – Jackie Strickler Graphics – Tracey Jones


Publisher’s Assistant – Nicole Contosta


Contributing Writers – Thom Nickels • Kerry O’Connor Mark Brakeman • Haywood Brewster


Richard Carreño • Nathan Lerner • Dea Mallin • Ray Simon


Columnists – Jennifer Jones • John Lane • Henry Lazarus • Kam Williams Sales – Claudia Christian • Champé Simmons • Georgina Gozum


3


Need storage? When you move in you get.


$99 for 10 x 10 215-471-1002 5500 Sansom Street (at 55th Street) Open 7 Days - Great Rates - Convenient TOBACCOExpress


Tri-State Mall, Claymont, DE 19703 • 302-798-7079 Next to K-Mart at the PA/DE Border


VISA/MC/MAC • Mon-Sat 9:30AM-9PM • Sun 10-5PM


Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes, Lighters, Power Ball, Sporting Knives No Limit on Cigarettes, Except Newport Right Now.


$5409 Carton


$5099 Carton


$5599 Carton


$4770 Carton


$5409


Carton $


4919 Carton


$4399 Carton


$5399 Carton


TAX FREE SHOPPING • PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE Cigarettes can be hazardous to your health.


I-95 S. to I-495 Exit Naamans Rds. (Rt. 92). Bear left at fork, make left at light. Next to K-Mart. Hours: Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon-Sat. 9:30AM-9PM


Your teeth are valuable to you. Let me help you keep them healthy.


Now with digital x-rays. Great clarity with one fifth the exposure.


HENRY L. LAZARUS, D.M.D. Dentistry with a personal touch Hours by appointment


Mon, Tue, Tur 9 - evening • Sat 9 - 1 (215) 382-5126


4603 SPRINGFIELD AVE hlazar@netaxs.com


www.netaxs.com/~hlazar


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16