PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

It's astounding, really.

Poor communities complain they lack investment and that the services and infrastructure are better in rich (i.e. whiter) communities, then when investment happens, they complain about that as well.

Two examples in particular come to mind: 1. this. 2. the time the residents of North Philly adjacent to Temple turned down/voted against a BID that would have been entirely funded by Temple and used to clean the streets in the neighborhood.

It's actually annoying and confounding to the point that it explains why some people give up after a while. I obviously want equity of investment in our neighborhoods, but if there is a cohort of people who are gonna fight everything under the guise of gentrification (which is laughable in the poorest big city in the country) then you're sorta on your own. I can't want to help you more than you want to help yourself.

We'll take that money up here on Delaware Avenue thank you very much. Our bike/running trail is looking quite spiffy.

I think you've lost the thread here. Plenty of people in the "poor communities " that OTIS claims they're changing the plans for were involved in the initial process to change Washington Ave. Plenty of people in these communities want these changes. Most of them don't have time to get involved in this debate one way or the other.

You shouldn't assume that just because someone like Claudia Sherrod or Kenyatta Johnson claim to represent the will of the poor communities around Washington Ave, that they actually do.

And while Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, you'd have to be living under a rock to think it's laughable for someone in Philadelphia to worry about gentrification. Have you not noticed the drastic and changes that have swept through so many Philadelphia neighborhoods in the past few decades? Can you really not understand that gentrification is a very real force in Philadelphia and a real worry for many residents?

The problem is that when most of the leaders in Philly do something they claim is designed to combat gentrification, they're really just furthering the will of their connected supporters. For as often as people in this city claim to be doing this and that in the name of fighting gentrification, nothing in this city has ever been done to actually address the issues that gentrification causes. Literally nothing. And that's because unfortunately, most of the people in this city who claim to be the champions of this city's poor, are some of the most incredibly shameless swindlers you could imagine.

I get that it's frustrating what is happening. But I hope everyone can see through the way that city leaders are basically holding poor people up as a shield for their unpopular decisions and are stoking very real fears of gentrification to push forward the will of the real people they support, not the actual people living in their communities, but the business owners and slum lords that support their campaigns and keep them in power.

[PhilliesPhan]

Originally Posted by TonyTone

City, facing criticism, says Washington Ave. pivot was a ‘matter of equity’


Sherrod is glad the city eliminated the three-lane option, but worries the remaining options will still bring more cyclists to the road, who she thinks will endanger pedestrians and drivers.

“I don’t want no slippity-sliding biker running in front of me, no matter whether they have a barricade up or not,” she said. “When you get to that corner, if they choose to run in front of you, they gonna do that.”










https://whyy.org/articles/city-facing-criticism-says-washington-ave-pivot-was-a-matter-of-equity/

I don't want to hear anything about "equity" when POC pedestrians and cyclists are victims of vehicle fatalities at higher rates than the general population. Motorists are encouraged to speed on large, auto-centric roadways like Washington Avenue, putting the lives of those who cross it in danger. I'm also offended at the notion that non-white people are less inclined to desire pedestrian-friendly changes (as mentioned in the article), and that making the environment safer for pedestrians is somehow appeasing the wealthier, whiter residents. As a black cyclist and runner, I would love to feel safer while out on the streets. Whenever I set off on a run, the thought of being hit by a car is MUCH more prevalent than being the victim of a crime.

The city had a chance to make Washington Avenue safer for all users, but now it's all gone in the name of "equity". When will our brainless "leaders" learn to stop worshipping the automobile??

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by allovertown

I think you've lost the thread here. Plenty of people in the "poor communities " that OTIS claims they're changing the plans for were involved in the initial process to change Washington Ave. Plenty of people in these communities want these changes. Most of them don't have time to get involved in this debate one way or the other.

You shouldn't assume that just because someone like Claudia Sherrod or Kenyatta Johnson claim to represent the will of the poor communities around Washington Ave, that they actually do.

And while Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, you'd have to be living under a rock to think it's laughable for someone in Philadelphia to worry about gentrification. Have you not noticed the drastic and changes that have swept through so many Philadelphia neighborhoods in the past few decades? Can you really not understand that gentrification is a very real force in Philadelphia and a real worry for many residents?

The problem is that when most of the leaders in Philly do something they claim is designed to combat gentrification, they're really just furthering the will of their connected supporters. For as often as people in this city claim to be doing this and that in the name of fighting gentrification, nothing in this city has ever been done to actually address the issues that gentrification causes. Literally nothing. And that's because unfortunately, most of the people in this city who claim to be the champions of this city's poor, are some of the most incredibly shameless swindlers you could imagine.

I get that it's frustrating what is happening. But I hope everyone can see through the way that city leaders are basically holding poor people up as a shield for their unpopular decisions and are stoking very real fears of gentrification to push forward the will of the real people they support, not the actual people living in their communities, but the business owners and slum lords that support their campaigns and keep them in power.

Philadelphia doesn't have a gentrification problem. It has an income problem.

It's easier to blame new "gentrifiers" who come with 21st century jobs and skills, blame them, and do nothing to equip your constituents with those skills to participate in the new economy.

Said differently. Things have been so sh*tty for so long for so many people that even a neighborhood that looks completely basic and functions at a stable level is perceived as gentrified. Oh my god. The students can read at grade level!!! How dare they. Oh my god. Our park doesn't have trash in it? It must be the devil.

I mean. I understand the history but its also not normal to live in a neighborhood that looks like a war zone. Our politicians should expect that everyone would want to live in a stable, functioning neighborhood.

These people have Stockholm Syndrome.

[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

I am shaking my head at that article. What a damn joke... Is Philadelphia unique in this regard of a** backwards, spineless approaches to "improving" the QOL? (among huge cities).

It seems that way to me, yes. If you want to compare a similar city DC has been making strides to calm traffic and assist cyclists and pedestrians and it continues to gain momentum. Harrisburg added a bike lane to Front St. which was basically a three lane highway prior and making 2nd St. two way vs one. I am sure there are some saying, "Okay wow, big deal," but if you knew the dynamic of HBG and how important these two main streets are this is a really big thing for that area and quite progressive.

But it is tough to compare because A) Philly is very neighborhood driven and territorial B) can be change adverse C) I do think that the gentrification and the whole hey let's try to not get priced out of our own neighborhood are real concerns. They can manifest themselves in odd ways sometimes by making strange connections and odd leaps but I do understand what is driving some of it.

[700 Level]

The words "equity" and "inclusive" have been abused to the point of ruin. While once valuable words with specific meaning, they are now meaningless.

First, a digression that that may feel off-topic but supports the point. Most readers on this board are probably not familiar with Vail Resorts. It is the ski company based in CO that has in recent years been gobbling up ski resorts across the world (including 8 in PA). They sell a universal ski pass for cheap (the Epic Pass) - and this year they dropped their price further and sold over 2 million passes. Unfortunately, they manage the properties from afar, reduce operating hours, don't run lifts, pay below market wages, etc. It has been an absolute disaster this year: traffic jams around the resorts, lift lines as much as an hour, people walking UP the mountains, etc. (see epicliftlines on Instagram). The blowback has been brutal. So what does Vail do? They use "inclusive" as a weapon. If you complain, then you are not being "inclusive" while Vail is. Somehow, despite overselling and underserving, they are the "good guys" and being inclusive. If you don't like it, then you are being exclusive.

The broader point is that big business has figured out how to use this language to their advantage. And this is exactly what the city has done with the Washington Avenue decision. These are words that are being used to end all discussion, to prove that one side is better than the other side. I'm afraid we're going to be seeing a lot of this.

(At least with Vail, people can vote with their feet next season. It's a little more difficult when you are invested in a city.)

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Another retail update

Looks like some changes on Walnut per this Metro Commercial plan. https://www.metrocommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Philadelphia-PA-1411-1419-Walnut-St.pdf

Vans re-opening
J Crew moving to Walnut
Madewell relocating on Walnut
Outdoor Voices, Faherty, Joybird coming to Walnut. The first two are clothing stores, last is furniture. All have stores in Soho.

Yay! Awesome news.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Another retail update

Looks like some changes on Walnut per this Metro Commercial plan. https://www.metrocommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Philadelphia-PA-1411-1419-Walnut-St.pdf

Vans re-opening
J Crew moving to Walnut
Madewell relocating on Walnut
Outdoor Voices, Faherty, Joybird coming to Walnut. The first two are clothing stores, last is furniture. All have stores in Soho.

This is all terrific news! Will have to post this on other forums to stick it to the doomers 😂

I think J Crew moving to Walnut is a good move for them. Liberty Place is a cool building but their Chestnut St retail facade seems a little dated and tired looking - could use an update.

The new stores coming in are certainly High St brands. My friend does a lot of work for Outdoor Voices - it’s an up and coming, trendy boutique brand for the kids (and by kids, I mean Gen Z). Wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing some borderline luxury brands entering Walnut by the end of the year with all of The Laurel fancy people moving in...

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Another retail update

Looks like some changes on Walnut per this Metro Commercial plan. https://www.metrocommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Philadelphia-PA-1411-1419-Walnut-St.pdf

Vans re-opening
J Crew moving to Walnut
Madewell relocating on Walnut
Outdoor Voices, Faherty, Joybird coming to Walnut. The first two are clothing stores, last is furniture. All have stores in Soho.

Thanks for posting! Great news on all of these brands! That would literally refill the entire 1700 block of Walnut. This would leave only 2 vacancies on the 1700 block (plus the empty lot), which by the way has "proposed redevelopment" on it.


Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 10.34.19 AM by Mr. Summers, on Flickr

This puts more validity to the rumors of a 12-story building proposed here.

Also, there will now only be 2 vacancies on the 1600 block, and only 4 vacancies on the 1400 block (with Barbour closing).

That's pretty damn impressive and exciting overall! The 1400 block of Walnut is still obliterated though and almost entirely empty. Hopefully the redo of the Bellevue gives this block the shot in the arm it needs.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Philadelphia doesn't have a gentrification problem. It has an income problem.

It's easier to blame new "gentrifiers" who come with 21st century jobs and skills, blame them, and do nothing to equip your constituents with those skills to participate in the new economy.

Said differently. Things have been so sh*tty for so long for so many people that even a neighborhood that looks completely basic and functions at a stable level is perceived as gentrified. Oh my god. The students can read at grade level!!! How dare they. Oh my god. Our park doesn't have trash in it? It must be the devil.

I mean. I understand the history but its also not normal to live in a neighborhood that looks like a war zone. Our politicians should expect that everyone would want to live in a stable, functioning neighborhood.

These people have Stockholm Syndrome.

What an absurd strawman you've created. You really betray yourself as being totally disconnected from poor people in this city and completely out of touch. You really think poor people in this city are saying we don't want good schools? We want dirty parks? Is this honestly your position?

They don't want to their rent to be raised or the property taxes to go up to the point where they're displaced from their homes. It's a real thing that happens. And while you obviously don't see it as a problem, I can assure you that the people who can no longer afford to live in their homes do find it to be a problem.

Keep brushing aside gentrification as a problem and you'll be disregarding what is a major issue for many in this city. If more people engaged on this issue and worked toward actual solutions like rent control and property tax freezes, perhaps the people worried about it would have somewhere else to turn than the charlatans who claim to represent them, but do nothing to help them and only enrich themselves while pushing for policy that holds this city back.

Do you really take Otis at their word that the 3 lane Washington Ave redesign isn't happening because they're trying to be equitable to the city's poor? Yes, the working poor of this city came together to oppose this traffic plan. This is a really believable story that definitely happened. You shouldn't be mad at elected leaders and the people who bankroll them, definitely get mad at poor people as they suggest.

[summersm343]

N. American Street and Surrounds Project Updates in Olde Kensington/Norris Square

The Clay Studio new digs at 1425 N. American Street in Olde Kensington:


Rendering of that project:


1525 N. American Street in Olde Kensington:


Rendering of that project:


1705 N. American Street in Norris Square:


Rendering of that project:


2nd & Cecil B. Moore in Norris Square:


Rendering of that project:


Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/s...s-new-home-is-molded-in-south-kensington

[summersm343]

Renovation Underway At 2501 Oakford Street In Grays Ferry

Rendering:


Current progress:


Read/view more here:
https://phillyyimby.com/2022/02/2501-oakford-street-south-philadelphia.html

[summersm343]

Philadelphia’s port is getting a $246 million investment from the state, Gov. Wolf says

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday that the state will invest $246 million to help expand Philadelphia’s port, adding to the $300 million his administration committed to port development in late 2016.

During the five years in between, five super post-Panamax cranes have sprung up along the port’s Delaware River shoreline, three of them financed by the state funds. The amount of cargo container volume handled at the port increased about 60%. And global supply chain disruptions ignited by the coronavirus pandemic focused more public attention on why port infrastructure matters.

Last year alone, container volume grew 15%, from 640,799 units in 2020 to 739,323 in 2021, port officials said this week. In 2021 PhilaPort also broke ground on a 200,000 square-foot distribution center, near its Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, which is scheduled to be completed this spring.

Jerry Sweeney, the port’s board chair, credited the state’s earlier round of funding with allowing the port to update its infrastructure and “become a serious competitor in the global marketplace.”

This next phase, “port development plan 2.0,″ Sweeney said, enables “long-term sustainable growth” that will attract more industry and jobs to the state.

Specifically, he said, the new funding will go to projects that increase the port’s capacity to handle cargo, such as creating more warehousing space and expanding the port’s land inventory. Port officials are aiming to grow cargo to more than 1 million container units a year.

A challenge for the port is “acquiring more land to grow our operations,” Sweeney said.

Read/view more here:
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philad...te-investment-supply-chain-20220204.html

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by allovertown

If more people engaged on this issue and worked toward actual solutions like rent control and property tax freezes, perhaps the people worried about it would have somewhere else to turn than the charlatans who claim to represent them, but do nothing to help them and only enrich themselves while pushing for policy that holds this city back.

Do you really take Otis at their word that the 3 lane Washington Ave redesign isn't happening because they're trying to be equitable to the city's poor? Yes, the working poor of this city came together to oppose this traffic plan. This is a really believable story that definitely happened. You shouldn't be mad at elected leaders and the people who bankroll them, definitely get mad at poor people as they suggest.

Lol. Okay man.

I am engaging on this issue. You're just not listening.

The reason why gentrification is a third rail is because we have an absolutely broken economy and education system. We have politicians who are completely incapable of helping the city (and it's people) adapt.

Why is the focus always on rent control and rent caps and whatever back end fix you want to propose? Why is it not on asking why so few people in this city make a living wage? Well, that would be because that is the city's fault and it is incapable of figuring out a way to change it.

That would require the city to become more efficient in the services it offers. To actually want to figure out a way to make opening a business easier. And to (gasp) think of creative ways to re-imagine our tax code for businesses that aren't punitive and are relevant in an era where people are selling services instead of things. And selling them remotely and not in person. And conducting transactions electronically.

I cannot think of a single government agency in this city that is run "well". If you can, let me know. It is easier for Kenyatta Johnson to look at newcomers (outsiders) as the problem because he quite literally has no idea to fix the problems he's actually responsible for fixing.

[William Van Alen]

https://www.phila.gov/media/20220205155047/OTIS-Washington-Ave-presentation-20220205.pdf

Not sure if anybody's read through this, but it's a pretty thorough evaluation of the city's perspective on the Washington Ave situation.

I understand the difficulty of trying to satisfy multiple constituencies who are seemingly at odds - I don't envy any city leaders in this situation, but it's still disappointing to see such substantial input shelved for what seems like the concerns of small but vocal groups (not really familiar with the RCO's that were strongly against the project, but I also don't live in Gray's Ferry so I could be wrong). One would hope that the city wouldn't go as public as they did with a "final decision" when they were clearly willing to walk it back. Good management would have considered all options thoroughly from the start and attempted to get feedback from all stakeholders before making any decisions public. If there was so much concern about the demographic responding to the survey, why weren't more surveys done before the final decision was made? There was nearly a decade of public discussion about this - I think that gives OTIS more than enough cover to say they solicited all the feedback they could.

The annoying thing is that I don't actually dislike the 4 lane configuration - it *pretty much* achieves most of the things the 3 lane configuration did. But the 4 lane configuration wouldn't seem so terrible if the 3 lane hadn't already been decided on. I'd mind a watered down version less if I wasn't first told that my feedback is less valuable than the feedback of others. Plain and simple, it's bad leadership that pits constituents against each other and betrays the public trust.

All that being said, my favorite part comes on page 31, which addresses parking concerns. The city says "The City cannot make it so that everyone
can get parking when and where they want". Really wish they would say this more often lol.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Lol. Okay man.

I am engaging on this issue. You're just not listening.

The reason why gentrification is a third rail is because we have an absolutely broken economy and education system. We have politicians who are completely incapable of helping the city (and it's people) adapt.

Why is the focus always on rent control and rent caps and whatever back end fix you want to propose? Why is it not on asking why so few people in this city make a living wage? Well, that would be because that is the city's fault and it is incapable of figuring out a way to change it.

That would require the city to become more efficient in the services it offers. To actually want to figure out a way to make opening a business easier. And to (gasp) think of creative ways to re-imagine our tax code for businesses that aren't punitive and are relevant in an era where people are selling services instead of things. And selling them remotely and not in person. And conducting transactions electronically.

I cannot think of a single government agency in this city that is run "well". If you can, let me know. It is easier for Kenyatta Johnson to look at newcomers (outsiders) as the problem because he quite literally has no idea to fix the problems he's actually responsible for fixing.

I'm glad you've decided to engage on an issue, that just this morning you said wasn't an issue. But now that you're here, let me say that there's plenty I agree with you on. There's definitely not a government agency in this city that I think of that is operating at a high level.

Should this city be run better? absolutely? Encouraging business growth, job creation, wage growth is all great. Improving education quality is absolutely incredibly important. My point though is all of that stuff is long term fixes. Doing all of that in the long term should mean gentrification is less of problem years down the line. But gentrification is happening now. What does an improved education system or more jobs mean for a 60 year old without a high school diploma that's worried about being pushed out of a house she's been living in for 40 years tomorrow?

Rent control and property tax freezes are the only tool that addresses the immediate problem of the people who are currently losing their homes. And if people like you pushed for such policies instead viewing poor people as the problem and claiming that they wish to live in dirty neighborhoods with bad schools, then maybe they wouldn't be supporting the only people in power who say they see gentrification as a problem like Kenyatta Johnson and Darrell Clarke, while they just use it as a scare tactic to remain in power, enrich themselves and do nothing to help anyone.

The issue is you don't seem to be getting what people are saying when they say gentrification is a problem. They're not saying the problem is neighborhoods are getting nicer. The problem is they're getting displaced from their homes. If they no longer had to worry about being displaced, they'd no longer worry about the neighborhood getting nicer.

Actual relief for those who fear gentrification would also make booting all the worthless scam artists like Clarke and Johnson out of office much easier. It would take the power away from people in city Government who use the fear of gentrification to get elected. If someone already has security that their property taxes aren't going up regardless, why would they give a 🞵🞵🞵🞵 about Darrell Clark stopping a nice new apartment building from going up nearby?

And with these charlatans out of office the types of long term fixes that this city desperately needs that you mention in your post would be much easier to achieve.

[Daario]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

While I certainly think that the best use of the Cut and the Tunnel is rail transit, if I can't get that, I'd be happy with a trail. And I also can't wait for the rest of the viaduct to be complete.
Good luck at Penn!

So you actually raise a pretty interesting and sometimes contentious point within those invested in the expansion of the Rail Park. Without revealing too much confidential information, as it stands the notion of SEPTA turning the tunnel and cut sections of the park into a transit route is still entirely within the realm of possibility, but the ball is entirely within SEPTA's court. Maybe in a better time SEPTA would consider expanding their service, but at the moment they're facing a ton of issues right now. Of course I don't want anyone to take this as a conflict between the Rail Park and SEPTA, to the contrary they've been some of the most accommodating stakeholders to work with. But like you said, if we were to choose between unused land and parkland the choice is pretty obvious.

Actually, I believe that the potential of turning the cut section into park space would be a huge boon for the CCP, as they're possibly the only major college in the city without any major green space acting as a centerpiece for their campus. It could help turn CCP's main campus from a collection of buildings to commute to into an actual attraction of sorts.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Daario

Maybe in a better time SEPTA would consider expanding their service, but at the moment they're facing a ton of issues right now.

Understatement of the decade

[Daario]

Originally Posted by allovertown

Rail park is great and would love to see the next phase come to fruition. Seems like a really exciting job to have so early in your career!

Since you work there though, I can't resist pitching you on something I've brought up here before. The new section of the Viaduct you're looking to work on, is mostly to the north, but there is that small section that heads south before ending at Vine Street just east of 11th. From the end of that section on Vine street, the roof of the convention center is less than 300 yards away, and there is nothing standing in the way of continuing the rail park to that roof. All you have in the way is the northern street level portion of Vine St, the expressway, the southern street level portion of Vine St and then there is a ramp leading up from Vine Street to the Convention Center where the truck bays are located. I could be way off, but it seems pretty possible to continue the rail park right back toward Reading Terminal as it once did. Then, and again, no idea what the Convention Center roof could hold and what would be feasible, but imagine the rail park culminating in a giant park on top of the Convention Center. From the Roof of the Convention Center you could then easily set up access not just from the Viaduct, but from the Convention Center itself, which is already connected to Reading Terminal Market, to Market Street, to Broad St, to Jefferson Station, etc.

I feel like a giant park in the sky like this could be a totally unique attraction and would make the rail park much more accessible to the city at large due to transit connections and of course tourists at the Convention Center or at the National Park a few blocks away.

I'm sure it's a plan that would cost more than the cut and the Tunnel combined, but I also feel like it's a much more exciting plan that would probably be a lot easier to raise money for. Most importantly though, I think it's a plan that would get way more people on the Rail Park than the cut and the Tunnel ever would. And while I agree with those who'd rather use the cut and Tunnel for transit, I do get the appeal of extending the park there and if this extension to the convention center gets more people using the rail park, it would also probably make the cut and the tunnel easier to do in the future.

Just an idea. If anyone likes it, feel free to take all the credit.

Dude that is such an awesome idea, I can't believe that anyone hasn't thought of it before. I honestly think it be possible if we had NYC-level philanthropy going on, but unfortunately this is Philly where just doing anything positive would make one feel like Sisyphus. This idea is definitely one to keep in mind as I've always dreamt of the convention center having an accessible, green roof. It would be awesome to get the Bacon brothers back to help cheerlead the Rail Park again.

However...despite my many criticisms of the Biden administration and Secretary Buttigieg, there does seem to be a real interest in helping neighborhoods that were harmed by urban highway construction back in the day. For Philly, this of course means a serious push to cap the i-95 in Center City and importantly for us, capping the Vine St. Expressway. There are three significant planning projects that could completely transform Lower North Philadelphia, and Philadelphia as a whole: Capping the Vine St Expressway, redesigning the Parkway and expanding the Rail Park. Connecting these three projects would be incredible in my view. With federal funding, this might become a reality in the not too distant future.

[allovertown]

Originally Posted by Daario

Dude that is such an awesome idea, I can't believe that anyone hasn't thought of it before. I honestly think it be possible if we had NYC-level philanthropy going on, but unfortunately this is Philly where just doing anything positive would make one feel like Sisyphus. This idea is definitely one to keep in mind as I've always dreamt of the convention center having an accessible, green roof. It would be awesome to get the Bacon brothers back to help cheerlead the Rail Park again.

However...despite my many criticisms of the Biden administration and Secretary Buttigieg, there does seem to be a real interest in helping neighborhoods that were harmed by urban highway construction back in the day. For Philly, this of course means a serious push to cap the i-95 in Center City and importantly for us, capping the Vine St. Expressway. There are three significant planning projects that could completely transform Lower North Philadelphia, and Philadelphia as a whole: Capping the Vine St Expressway, redesigning the Parkway and expanding the Rail Park. Connecting these three projects would be incredible in my view. With federal funding, this might become a reality in the not too distant future.

Haha thanks. I figured it's probably too pie in the sky. But it just makes so much sense. Not only would be huge for the rail park to have such a grand entrance, but I think it would do a lot for the convention center itself, which while obviously an asset for the city, has created its own fair share of issues in its construction and its still quite dead along much of it, especially to the north. This would hopefully help enliven that area.

Just wanted to put this idea on the radar. As you mentioned there is already a lot of great projects on the horizon. But maybe a decade from now with the next stage of the rail park complete, the Schuylkill River trail likely heading towards completion as well, and the 95 cap and park completed, maybe Philly will have room to start to consider another major project like this.

[CleetMcDougle]

Just took a walk in the area around the York-Dauphin MFL station and the construction there is crazy. Might be the third most active spot for activity going on in North Philly after 2nd/American and the Frankford Ave corridor. Several huge projects going on in the blocks surrounding the El