Development News

ANALYSIS: Center City residential market prospers, but at what price?

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

There is no doubt that Center City is going through growing pains again as it looks to add well over 1,000 residential units in high-rise towers over the short term. Much of these have thus far been in new construction buildings in the Market West sub-neighborhood of Center City. But more recently, rehabs have become economically viable, resulting in 2040 Market Street and 1616 Walnut Street being transformed from Class B and C office space into high-end apartments.

And who doesn’t appreciate a great re-use – it is certainly more economically, physically, and environmentally sustainable than tearing down an old structure and simply starting over. But as more and more high-end residential uses flood Center City, often replacing older office uses in its wake, is diversity being squashed to make way for an increasingly homogenous neighborhood that only caters to high-end users?

Most of what is happening is simple economics: in a mixed-use urban environment, some uses become especially successful and land values and rents go up. As demand increases, competition increases and values continue to rise. As this continues unfettered, the most successful use dominates the market and homogeneity wins out.

While there is no immediate cause for concern, it seems Philly is showing definitive signs of this phenomena occurring. Judging by the low rental vacancies (hovering around 4%), its clear Center City is a popular place to live. Unfortunately, the office market has not followed suit, leading to relatively high vacancies in Class B and C office space. As demonstrated at 2040 Market and 1616 Walnut, successful residential uses are taking over older, lower rent offices, leaving only Class A space. Left unabated, this trend could hinder use diversity, leaving only high-end users with the ability to succeed.

And on a long-term scale, this would be bad news for Center City and Philly as a whole. Thriving urban centers require diversity to inject vitality and sustain itself. Whether you’re talking about diverse users, uses, or building ages, diversity is the keystone in unlocking vital urban neighborhoods and ensuring they have sustainable futures for generations to come. For now, all rehabilitation projects are more than welcome. But Philly needs to keep an eye on economic diversity and reinforce this principle so that when times and desires change, the City is able to easily adapt and not get stuck with eggs in the wrong basket.

Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Raising the sustainability bar with NoLibs net-zero development

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

In recent years, Northern Liberties has become synonymous with ultra-sleek, upscale residential infill development. Whether its been contemporary row houses, bougey mid-rises or industrial lofts, Northern Liberties has come to define its niche in modern, urban living. And it doesn’t seem this neighborhood has any intention of ending its residential real estate offerings there; the area is getting its feet wet with sustainable development and will soon welcome Philly’s first net-zero energy housing development at 720 N. Fourth St.

The project, called Foundry Courts, will consist of five townhouses starting at $799,000 each and will be developed by Nexus Energy Homes, a Maryland based homebuilder that has found a way to build green homes at costs comparable to conventional ones.

So what exactly is a ‘net-zero building’ and how does it work? The answer to those questions are relatively simple: Through a number of features including solar power generation, a net-zero home feeds power back to the grid on sunny days and draws minimal energy at night or when its cloudy, resulting in a net energy cost of zero.

On top of this, the homes will feature other sustainable features including geothermal wells and solar power, as well as green roofs and rainwater harvesting. The ultra green-fest doesn’t end there: all homes will be developed to Emerald Certification standards – the highest green building certification offered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Perhaps more importantly, this project is getting major props from the City’s Office of Sustainability and is seen as a major step towards their goal of making Philly the greenest city in the nation. Considering Nexus has played an important role in Maryland’s North Pointe eco-community, and with the University of California, Davis pushing the envelope with its recent net-zero community, expect Foundry Courts to be replicated throughout Philly in years to come. And who knows, if Northern Liberties wants to continue to push the envelope and developers are on board, perhaps the neighborhood can harness the net-zero concept on a community scale and become America’s first net-zero urban neighborhood. Now that would truly raise the sustainability bar nationwide.

Writer: Greg Meckstroth

ON THE GROUND: Come out and play on Lancaster Ave. Second Friday, a tradition revived

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

When Flying Kite launched its On the Ground initiative, one of the hopes was to help contribute to the transformation it's uncovering in Mantua and surrounding neighborhoods of West Philadelphia.

That contribution will be on parade in a big way this week for Lancaster Avenue Second Friday, a collaborative effort including Flying Kite, Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association, People's Emergency Center (PEC) and Drexel University. Second Friday's return to the avenue is important for several reasons:
- organizing and strengthening a wide range of businesses and better connecting them to local residents;
- the collaborative effort of key players in neighborhood transformation;
- and the challenge of bringing both locals and visitors out onto sections of a major thoroughfare that has faced more than its fair share of blight.

"We want to introduce people to experiencing Lancaster Ave. for themselves," says George Stevens, president of Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association. "Each month, Second Friday will let people see that together we can make Lancaster Avenue a safe, festive and vibrant place for residents, students and professionals to come grab something to eat, or sit down and relax with friends over a cup of coffee, or check out some of the galleries, artwork, poetry and jazz on the Avenue.

"Our goal is to make sure Lancaster Avenue is a welcoming place for everybody and celebrate the rich arts, history and strong sense of community it has to offer."

Second Friday will be held from 5-8 p.m. (and later at some sites) and include nearly 30 businesses and other participants between the 3500 and 4300 blocks of Lancaster Ave., stretching from Community Education Center (which will host an open mic, visual art performers and vendors) at 3500 to Dwight's Southern Bar-B-Cue (food specials) at 4345. By all accounts, that number is encouraging, and an indication that there is forward movement -- even if just a baby step -- along the corridor.

"We are anticipating this to be one of the biggest Second Friday celebrations we've seen in a long time," says James Wright, the commercial corridor manager for PEC. "The energy and excitement among the businesses and residents are palpable."

Also integral to Second Friday's revival is Drexel student Aashima Gandhi, who is working on a co-op project to draw more students to Lancaster Ave. and patronize businesses there.

Flying Kite will serve as the unofficial Second Friday headquarters at its On the Ground location at 4017 Lancaster with a big lineup of art and fun for folks of all ages.for its Transformation 19104 exhibition. Read about photographer Mike Arrison's work on Lancaster Ave., highlighted with an opening reception, here. Also included is food provided generously by Chestnut Street Caterers. Flying Kite will also host:

- Local members of Philadelphia's newest puppetry and performance troupe ZigZag Handmade doing face painting

and pop-up puppet theater (also performing at Puppet Manualfesto Puppet Slam on 7/21).
- Yarnbombing from Melissa Haims, a key member of West Philadelphia-rooted Fiber Philadelphia

- Certain Circuits, which will screen multimedia, cross-genre and poetic films from several local artists

- Jamie Campbell's mixed-media sculptures using found objects, another addition to the Transformation 19104 exhibit

Here's a block-by-block look at Second Friday's offerings:

3500 block

Community Education Center (3500): Garden Party Summer Series open mic, visual art performances and vendors

3600 block

Powelton Pizza (3635): Sidewalk sale and saxophonist

3700 block

Fresh Food Truck (area of 3700)

3800 block

Jollie's West (3800): Bar specials

Reed's Coffee and Tea House (3802): Open mic and art display

National Hot Dog Month (between 38th and Baring): That's right, celebrate the frankfurter with the Second Friday hot dog vendor and check out a collection of t-shirts from Philly hot dog restaurants.

A Part of Me (3834): Sidewalk sale

People's Emergency Center's Make Your Mark Building (3861): PEC hosts an art display by Brian Bazemore.

3900 block

New Angle Lounge (3901): Bar specials

Resellers Central Market (3939): Sidewalk sale

Chic Afrique (3943): Extended hours

St. James Soul Saving Holiness Church (3951): Sidewalk sale (hot dogs, sausages, chips, soda, water)

4000 block

Corner of 40th and Lancaster (4000/outside): Voter registration tent and a Condom Nation, a national condom giveaway program administered locally by Metropolitan Community Church.

Flying Kite On the Ground (4017): Lancaster Ave. First Friday HQ features its ongoing Transformation 19104 art exhibition featuring works by artists who live or work in West Philadelphia. Friday marks the opening reception for photographer Mike Arrison's Lancaster Ave. project. Flying Kite will also feature a jewelry vendor, face painting for children and a pop-up puppet performance from ZigZag Handmade, yarnbombing from Melissa Haims and food from Chestnut Street Catering.

Villa (4034): Sneaker/sportswear retailer hosts DJ FM and a live performance from Theodore Grams, a 22 year-old rapper, producer and lead of Germantown-based music group The PHRATTEAM best known for his song We Shall Not Be Moved.

Miss Prissy (4058): Sidwalk sale

4100 block

Vintage Villa Antiques (4167): A sidewalk sale with several vendors also serves as a pre-opening event for Vintage Villa, which will be reopening this summer. The shop also features artist Will Conyers and his original, limited edition framed works.

4200 block

King's Grill: Food specials

Bottom of the Sea (4142): Food specials

4300 block

Wolf Cycle (4311): Sidewalk sale

Dwight's Southern Bar-B-Que (4345): Food specials

Sources: George Stevens, Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association; James Wright, People's Emergency Center
Writer: Joe Petrucci

Photos:

Second Friday flyer (Aashima Ghandi)

Certain Circuits

Ellen Bonett, ZigZag Handmade

Cordelia, mixed media sculpture by Jamie Campbell

ThinkBike Workshop enlists Dutch experts to reimagine bicycling around Temple University

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, June 26, 2012

There's been a steady and significant increase in the number of cyclists in Philadelphia, which has been ranked first among the 10 largest American cities for bicycle commuters, according to The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey.

The area around Temple University lags behind other neighborhoods. Last week, Temple hosted ThinkBike, a cycling workshop in collaboration with the Dutch Cycling Embassy, which promotes innovation worldwide.

The Royal Netherlands Embassy, in cooperation with Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, Temple University, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Streets Department and the Dutch Cycling Embassy held the two-day ThinkBike Workshops last week.

At the closing session, Bradley Flamm, PhD, Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning at Temple University, said, "There's a lot of potential to increase safety, comfort and convenience for the people of this city." At Temple, only 8% of students, faculty and staff regularly cycle to and from campus. the majority now drive alone.

The ThinkBike team picked key routes: Broad Street, 12th and 13th Streets, Berks, Spring Garden and Fairmount Avenue, making recommendations based on street width and international precedent. One suggestion was to create a bike lane on the other side of parked cars, adjacent to the sidewalk. This setup is now in place in Holland, and it changes the dynamic considerably, allowing cyclists to traverse streets without fear of being sideswiped or flipping over car doors that open unexpectedly. The team looked into landscaping that would add green space between the bike lane and parked cars.

North 13th Street was viewed as a major opportunity for north-south commuters, given the huge amount of vehicular traffic already on Broad Street. An estimated 32,000 vehicles travel on the city's main north-south arterial daily. The team's suggestion was to create a two-way bike lane system. Another suggestion that would dramaticlly alter the cityscape is to cordon off an entire lane around City Hall for bikes only, and extend lanes on 15th, 16th, and create a two way cycle track on JFK Boulevard.

If undertaken as a pilot program, no new legislation would need to be enacted to make the cyclist friendly changes, according to the team. ThinkBike Workshops move on to Washington, DC, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Source: Bradley Flamm, Temple University
Writer: Sue Spolan

ON THE GROUND: Wolf Cycles howls at history with new ownership on Lancaster Ave.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

New Wolf Cycles manager Sofi Courtney was greeted by boxes and trash bags full of stuff when she ventured upstairs at the shop's recently revived location at 4311 Lancaster Ave.

"We pulled everything out, and right at the bottom there’s a bunch of hats," says Courtney. "Two of them were signed by Eddy Merckx."

Merckx won the Tour de France five times and is considered the "greatest cyclist of all time." One of those hats now hangs in a frame on the shop’s wall.

In operation since 1932, Wolf Cycles is the city’s oldest continuing bike shop with a rich history - and some treasures. In 1976, Carl Miller bought Wolff Cycles from Frank Neumann and Herman Wolf. Although it took Miller over an hour to get to the shop from his Northeast Philadelphia home, he "loved every minute of it." During Wolff Cycle’s later years, his time at the shop began to dwindle. After over 30 years of ownership, he realized it was time to retire.

"My age caught up to me," Miller said.

When he was ready to sell, Miller wanted the business to remain as a bike shop. He was adamant.

"I feel it’s an institution," Miller said. "It’s for the young and old and it should be there. It’s an establishment that that can’t go away."

In November 2011, Sam Davis and Monica Pasquinelli, owners of Firehouse Bicycles on Baltimore Avenue, purchased Wolff Cycles (and dropped the last "f" when it reopened shortly thereafter)

When the new staff arrived, its history began to emerge through old receipts, found objects, and customers. They quickly recognized how much the shop meant to those who grew up in the neighborhood.

"I love that it’s such a neighborhood shop. Everybody has a connection to it," Courtney said. "Everybody’s been coming here their entire lives at least. Or their parent’s lives, their grandparent’s lives. It’s just an incredible community shop."

Courtney said the location of Wolf Cycles "feels very familiar" to its sister shop. The major difference between the two? Wolf Cycles sells a lot of children’s bikes.

"Like everyone bought their bikes here when they were kids," said Cortney. "A lot of it is because people are like, ‘I got my first bike here and I want mine to get theirs here.’"

Wolf Cycles is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. They offer bicycle repairs and services; sell accessories, parts and new and refurbished bikes.

"Right now, we’re serving the immediate local community and students," Courtney said. "We are going for reliable, affordable."

On Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. (weather permitting), a bike ride to the Belmont Plateau is open to all. If someone does not have a bike for the ride, they can borrow one from the shop.

This summer, Courtney said Wolf Cycles wants to gain visibility in the community and let people know they are there all year round.

Miller said he misses the shop very much. But he is comforted knowing that its history will go on.

"I like seeing the tradition of Wolff Cycles continue," Miller said. "It feels great."

Source: Sofi Courtney, Carl Miller, Wolf Cycles
Writer: Zenovia Campbell

Placemakers: Chinatown North, The Porch at 30th St., Race Street Pier will get even better

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Three high-profile, transformational areas of the city received significant funding this week through ArtPlace, a new national collaboration of 11 major foundations, six of the nation’s largest banks and eight federal agencies (like the National Endowment for the Arts) that aims to accelerate creative placemaking.

In Philadelphia, there is an abundance of creative placemaking taking shape across the city.

The Asian Arts Initiative received $450,000 for the Chinatown North Social Practice Lab. The University City District took in $375,000 for The Porch at 30th Street Station. The City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy earned $200,000 for the Numen/For Use Public Art Project at Race Street Pier.

The Porch, a reclaimed parking between the nation’s second busiest train station and the site of the former U.S. Post Office building that opened late last fall, will use the funding for urban design upgrades and art installations for the half-acre public space.

“The Porch has unparalleled potential as one of Philadelphia’s great public spaces,” says University City District’s Director of Planning and Economic Development Prema Katari Gupta in a news release. “Our early efforts to animate this space have been succeeding beyond our very high initial expectations.”

The Social Practice Lab aims to position Chinatown North as a “dynamic neighborhood site” for local and national visual and performing artists. The goal will be to create alliances that promote neighborhood development and strengthens community bonds.

The Numen/For Use Public Art Project is among the many ongoing efforts to activate the Delaware River Waterfront. Croatian-Austrian design collective Numen/For Use’s first U.S. project involves creating a large-scale interactive installation at Race Street Pier Park.

“The Philadelphia projects receiving ArtPlace funding exemplify the best in creative placemaking,” says Carol Coletta of ArtPlace, which awarded more than $15 million to 47 projects. “They demonstrate a deep understanding of how smart investments in art, design and culture as part of a larger portfolio of strategies can change the trajectory of communities and increase economic opportunities for people.”

Source: University City District

Writer: Joe Petrucci

ON THE GROUND: Chic Afrique moves natural cosmetics store west to expanded shop on Lancaster Ave.

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Chic Afrique has moved to a location that's double in size, but what customers see is only the tip of the company's business. "Ninety percent of our sales are online," reports Victoria Onwuchekwa, founder/chief cook and bottle filler at the natural cosmetics store now located at 3943 Lancaster Avenue.

Now offering over 30 products in its cosmetics line, Chic Afrique began as a kiosk at the Echelon Mall nearly three decades ago. Onwuchekwa had just completed her Master's degree in pharmacology at Long Island University, where she became fascinated by the chemistry of cosmetics. While in search of a dissertation topic, Onwuchekwa's mother, who is a pharmacist, suggested she pick a topic near home, and Onwuchekwa embarked on a study of shea butter, a common ointment in Africa that's been growing in popularity here in the US.

"Science, chemistry and pharmacology came easy to me," says Onwuchekwa. "I decided to do something extra on the side." Combining art and science, she developed simple emulsions that are still the basis for an extensive offering that includes body butter, souffle, lotion, soap, hair oil and butter, shampoo, conditioner and even candles.

Onwuchekwa's philosophy in developing products comes from the life cycle. Watoto has ingredients gentle enough for a baby; Karite is meant for a growing child's scrapes and rashes; Okuma is for a young girl who wants to smell nice; Saronia has a potent scent meant to attract suitors, and Ife, which means love, contains turai, a Senegalese aphrodisiac. Onwuchekwa counts all ethnicities among her loyal patrons, and also offers custom labeling for business to business sales locally, nationally and internationally.

Chic Afrique moved from the Echelon Mall to The Gallery at Market East, first in a kiosk and then in a retail shop. Onwuchekwa then expanded to 7th and Walnut streets for a decade; after a brief period doing only wholesale, she opened up another retail spot at 3874 Lancaster just last year.

Less than two months ago, Onwuchekwa's landlord called to offer the much more spacious storefront a block west. It allows shoppers a peek into Onwuchekwa's open kitchen/laboratory, which occupies the entire back half of the expansive space. The business also has three employees.

The building was previously occupied by Grace Church and Community Center, as evidenced by the sign that still hangs above the door. Business hours are Monday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

Source: Victoria Onwuchekwa, Chic Afrique
Writer: Sue Spolan

City still encouraging homeowners to apply for proposed Homestead Exemption tax break

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The City of Philadelphia's Actual Value Initiative (AVI) might be on hold until next fiscal year, but it is still banking on real estate tax relief in the form of proposed Homestead Exemption legislation. Homeowners must apply by July 31, 2012, and the only requirement for acceptance into the program is that the you must own your home and live in it. It's actually a very simple process. On July 1, says Marisa Waxman, Office of Property Assessment, Philadelphia homeowners will receive a pre-printed application, so there's no need to take action until then.

"It's a tax relief program that already exists in every other county in the Commonwealth," says Waxman, who points out that other efforts both statewide and nationwide are often far more complicated.

Age, income and length of homeownership do not figure into eligibility. Here's how it works: you will pay taxes on the value of your home minus $30,000. For example, if a home is assessed at a value of $100,000 and there is a $30,000 Homestead Exemption, a homeowner would only pay taxes based on $70,000 compared with the actual value of $100,000.

"The City is currently undertaking a reassessment which will value properties at their market value. For residential properties, the comparable sales method is utilized in most cases. For commercial properties, the income/expense method is utilized in most," explains Waxman.

It does not matter if your home is worth $1 million or $80,000. You still get that flat $30,000 discount. Waxman says the greatest benefit will be for those with lower value homes. "It's the simplest program on the planet once we get it up and running."

The homestead real estate tax exclusion will be available for properties located within the City of Philadelphia when legislation is passed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a City of Philadelphia ordinance also has to go into effect. But city officials are encouraging residents to apply now, as it can help reduce the taxable assessed value used for calculation of a tax bill by a proposed $30,000.

Even if part of a primary residence is used as a home office or a rental property, a property owner may still be eligible to benefit from the Homestead Exemption for the percentage of the property that functions as the primary residence.

Following approval, there's no need to reapply unless the deed to the home changes.

Applications received after the deadline for this year will be considered for tax year 2014. Those who are approved in this initial round will be notified in the fall of 2012, pending passage of AVI.

Source: Marisa Waxman, Office of Property Assessment, City of Philadelphia
Writer: Sue Spolan

Reading Terminal Market's $3M expansion offers new event space, vendors, restrooms

Monday, June 18, 2012

A ribbon-cutting was held on Monday for the $3 million renovation of Reading Terminal Market that adds 2,500 square feet of leasable floor space, new vendors, an event space and more public restrooms.

Phasing was key to the project, led by Friday Architects/Planners. Some of the renovation's most impactful details go largely unnoticed at the Market, housed since 1892 in a National Historic Landmark building and a major tourist attraction. Cold storage was relocated to the basement and operations and tool rooms were shifted to make the expansion possible. A new office mezzanine was constructed within a week despite the challenges of old floor surfaces and slope variation. Popular merchants like Dinic's Roast Pork, Spataros and Flying Monkey were moved to new locations in an effort to create spaces that were mroe functional and attractive.

"Yes, it's fun to build from the ground up, but it's also very exhilarating and challenging to take a historically existing space and augment it for the growing architectural needs as a result of its popularity," says Friday President Tony Bracali in a news release.

While the Avenue D portion of the Market was straightened and streamlined, the Rick Nichols room, named for the Philadelphia Inquirer food writer and longtime advocate for the Market, will serve as a multipurpose rental space for meetings, parties and other social gatherings. It features a folding glass door and a mural along the east wall depicting a timeline of Market milestones.

Another important change is the relocation of La Cucina at The Market, the site's demonstration kitchen, to a prominent location adjacent to the Nichols Room.

Friday is currently preparing designs for three of the five new merchants expected at the Market, including Valley Shepard Creamery, The Tubby Olive and Downtown Cheese.

Source: Friday Architects/Planners

Writer: Joe Petrucci

AIA PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM: A different kind of affordable housing in North Camden

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Editor's note: This is presented as part of a content partnership with the American Institute of Architects-Philadelphia's Young Architects Forum.

Name: Jeff Pastva

Age: 29

Firm / Title: Haley Donovan / Project Architect

Education: B. Arch '06 Syracuse University

Project: The Meadows at Pyne Point (441 Erie St., Camden, NJ), an $8 million affordable housing complex with sweeping views of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge.

Why is your project important to the neighborhood or the city at large?

This project is a part of the North Camden Neighborhood Plan, a 2009 NJHMFA Smart Growth award winner, and becomes the first delivered component. Since the neighborhood has seen severely depressed economic activity and crippling blight, the building serves as a source of hope for many who haven’t witnessed this level of investment in decades.

What was the biggest obstacle in completing this project?

From a total project perspective, funding is always an issue in the state of the economy, but this particular project saw the requirements change during the design. In addition, other external factors led the project to scale back in size, so the original concept that was designed completely changed.

Did you have any key partners or collaborators in making this project a reality?

As architects, we acted as the point during design and construction, but couldn't have pulled this off without our client Ingerman and BCM Affordable Housing, the support of their non-profit partner Respond Inc., the community activists at Save Our Waterfront, and the City of Camden.

How do you feel like your personal stamp, or that of your firm, is placed on this project?

From our firm's perspective, we believe in rebuilding the underserved urban areas in the Northeast. From southern Maryland through northern New Jersey, central PA to Atlantic City, we’ve been fortunate enough to execute many of our designs. This is one of our truly transformative projects though, because it brings a highly designed building with modern amenities to an area of the Greater Philadelphia region in true need of affordable housing.

What is the most innovative or distinctive part of this project?

The ability to provide an energy efficiency and quality design on an extreme budget is always a distinctive part, but you can’t overlook the social benefits. It provides much needed affordable housing for the neighborhood’s elderly and special needs housing for the chronically homeless.

As the first built project of the North Camden Neighborhood Plan, it also provides hope and a rallying point for future development. Due to the successful completion of this project, Phase II is currently being designed.

AIA PHILADELPHIA was founded in 1869 and is among the oldest and most distinguished of AIA Chapters, with a long history of service to members and the public. AIA Philadelphia organizes architects in the region for the purpose of advancing their influence in shaping the built environment, and their ability to effectively practice architecture in an ever-changing society and competitive marketplace. The YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM provides a place for young architects to network and communicate with one another, the College of Fellows, and Associate Members regarding mentorship, leadership, and fellowship.

BICYCLE COALITION: Check out who's in front of the pack for the I Bike PHL Challenge

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Editor's note: This is presented as a content partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

If you're friends with Frank Martin, you best be in good shape. Martin is the top Philadelphia-area rider and ranks 7th nationally in the National Bike Challenge, a free program that runs through August with the goal of uniting 50,000 people to bike 10 million miles.

The local manifestation of the national effort, the I Bike PHL Challenge, includes nearly 900 riders. Nearly 600 of them logged 93,067 miles in May. Temple University ranks 15th among participating teams. While Philadelphia currently ranks 73rd among metro areas, Pennsylvania ranks 7th among states, behind Vermont, Wisconsin, Nebraska, District of Columbia, Iowa, and Colorado.

Beyond The Circuit

Two segments of The Circuit, the region's 250-mile plus network of trails that recently has been buoyed by a powerhouse coalition of supporters and funders, are opening this month. On Monday, the Gray's Ferry Crescent Trail was officially dedicated, including a transformation of the Schuylkill Riverfront and added green space for Gray's Ferry.

On June 21, the first TIGER-funded trail project -- the mile-long Schuylkill River Trail at Bartram's Garden, will also get an official ribbon cutting.

A Dutch treat

In the Netherlands, cycling accounts for 27 percent of all trips and 59 percent of all city trips, thanks to abundant cycle paths and segregated cycle facilities. Next week is an opportunity to learn from Dutch bicycle transportation experts. Sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Transportation, the Dutch Embassy, the Bicycle Coalition and Temple's School of Architecture, the ThinkBike Workshop will be held June 18-19 at the Temple University Architecture Building (2000 N. 13th St., Philadelphia).

The opening session showcases innovative ideas used in the Netherlands that improve safety and support high cycling rates. The closing session features two design teams led by Dutch experts that will present Dutch methods that can be applied to areas surrounding Temple's main campus and City Hall.

Limited openings are available for the design teams. Interested persons should call Aaron Ritz at 215-686-9000 or email him here.

Earning our stripes

The Department of Parks and Recreation has begun the much-anticipated striping of 10 miles of path along Kelly Drive, MLK Drive and Schuylkill River Park Trail on Schuylkill Banks -- among the busiest bike paths in the region.

Parks and Rec's efforts will include traffic control signs in areas where the trail meets parking areas.

THE BICYCLE COALITION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA has been making the region a better place to ride a bike through advocacy, education, and outreach since 1972. The nonprofit, membership organization's programs include Bike Philly, the Bicycle Ambassadors, Safe Routes Philly, the Complete the Schuylkill River Trail campaign, and Neighborhood Bike Works (now an independent organization). Follow the Bicycle Coalition on Facebook, Twitter, and on their blog.

Send feedback here.

Want to write about Development News for Flying Kite?

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Flying Kite, a weekly online magazine covering growth and what's next in Greater Philadelphia, is looking for a Development News editor to cover commercial and residential real estate development, community development, infrastructure and transportation, public art and open/public space projects.

The Development News editor will write several short news items per week and regularly contribute feature stories.

Send some clips and background to Managing Editor Joe Petrucci.

BICYCLE COALITION: Check out who's in front of the pack for the I Bike PHL Challenge

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Editor's note: This is presented as a content partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

If you're friends with Frank Martin, you best be in good shape. Martin is the top Philadelphia-area rider and ranks 7th nationally in the National Bike Challenge, a free program that runs through August with the goal of uniting 50,000 people to bike 10 million miles.

The local manifestation of the national effort, the I Bike PHL Challenge, includes nearly 900 riders. Nearly 600 of them logged 93,067 miles in May. Temple University ranks 15th among participating teams. While Philadelphia currently ranks 73rd among metro areas, Pennsylvania ranks 7th among states, behind Vermont, Wisconsin, Nebraska, District of Columbia, Iowa, and Colorado.

Beyond The Circuit

Two segments of The Circuit, the region's 250-mile plus network of trails that recently has been buoyed by a powerhouse coalition of supporters and funders, are opening this month. On Monday, the Gray's Ferry Crescent Trail was officilaly dedicated, including a transformation of the Schuylkill Riverfront and added green space for Gray's Ferry.

On June 21, the first TIGER-funded trail project -- the mile-long Schuylkill River Trail at Bartram's Garden, will also get an official ribbon cutting.

A Dutch treat

In the Netherlands, cycling accounts for 27 percent of all trips and 59 percent of all city trips, thanks to abundant cycle paths and segregated cycle facilities. Next week is an opportunity to learn from Dutch bicycle transportation experts. Sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Transportation, the Dutch Embassy, the Bicycle Coalition and Temple's School of Architecture, the ThinkBike Workshop will be held June 18-19 at the Temple University Architecture Building (2000 N. 13th St., Philadelphia).

The opening session showcases innovative ideas used in the Netherlands that improve safety and support high cycling rates. The closing session features two design teams led by Dutch experts that will present Dutch methods that can be applied to areas surrounding Temple's main campus and City Hall.

Limited openings are available for the design teams. Interested persons should call Aaron Ritz at 215-686-9000 or email him here.

Earning our stripes

The Department of Parks and Recreation has begun the much-anticipated striping of 10 miles of path along Kelly Drive, MLK Drive and Schuylkill River Park Trail on Schuylkill Banks -- among the busiest bike paths in the region.

Parks and Rec's efforts will include traffic control signs in areas where the trail meets parking areas.

THE BICYCLE COALITION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA has been making the region a better place to ride a bike through advocacy, education, and outreach since 1972. The nonprofit, membership organization's programs include Bike Philly, the Bicycle Ambassadors, Safe Routes Philly, the Complete the Schuylkill River Trail campaign, and Neighborhood Bike Works (now an independent organization). Follow the Bicycle Coalition on Facebook, Twitter, and on their blog.

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University City District will be encouraging neighborhood composting through The Dirt Factory

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Composting in University City is catching on. In just a couple weeks, the University City District (UCD) will be opening The Dirt Factory composting facility at 43rd and Market, a partnership between UCD and the Pedal Coop, a bicycle-powered disposal service that serves West (like Plotland at 44th and Locust) and South Philly (like Mercy Edible Park) and Center City.

The Dirt Factory represents the most permanent composting facility the Pedal Coop’s ever had, according to Seth Budick, the manager of policy and research at UCD, who says the cooperative is currently forced to compost at community gardens and other short-lived sites, which quickly hit capacity, forcing the disposers to find other sites. The facility will also have limited hours when other University City residents can use it.

"Our hope is that this facility will have sufficient capacity to allow (Pedal Coop) to expand their collection, increasing the number of residents and businesses that are able to compost," says Budick. This will enable Pedal Coop to handle large university functions at UPenn, Drexel, USciences, and other institutions.

West Philly businesses seem excited about the large-scale local composting option, whether or not they contract to the Pedal Coop. Budick says that Pedal Coop clients Metropolitan and Four Worlds Bakeries, both of which serve bread in West Philly, are especially thrilled about The Dirt Factory. Along with that, he adds that an increasing number of local businesses, affiliated and unaffiliated with the Coop, are asking how they can compost at 43rd and Market.

The Dirt Factory will also have limited hours when University City businesses, non-profits, and residents can compost.

"We hope to begin by opening the site once a week for drop-offs of small quantities of compostables," says Budick. Eventually, the space could open to the public more if the need exists.

The UCD is also planning compost, food, and sustainability workshops for the summer months to be held on-site, says Budick, who promises more details will be announced soon. Also, the site will have smaller composting classrooms where members of the community can learn techniques for composting at home. Additionally, the Walnut Hill Farm recently planted fruits and vegetables at The Factory using neighborhood compost.

Other partners in the composting effort include the owners of the property at 4308 Market St. who offered up the parcel, and the University of Pennsylvania, which sold its used "Earth Tub" composting machines at a greatly reduced rate. The public grand opening for the Dirt Factory will be on June 20, and will feature complimentary refreshments by Four Worlds, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, and Dock St. Brewing Company.

Source: Seth Budick, University City District
Writer: Andy Sharpe

A better way to dispose of food waste in West Oak Lane and Point Breeze

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Philadelphia’s Streets Department is teaming up with community groups in West Oak Lane and Point Breeze and a private food waste disposal company to encourage residents to use sink disposals to get rid of food, instead of merely throwing it away. The voluntary pilot program, called "Clean Kitchen, Green Community" is another step by the Nutter administration to help fulfill its Greenworks sustainability blueprint and make the city the most environmentally-friendly in the nation.

The food disposal pilot relies on the Ogontz Ave. Redevelopment Corporation (OARC) and Diversified Community Services (DCS) to get the word out to residents in West Oak Lane and Point Breeze, respectively. This is a role that both community organizations are happy to play.

"We pride ourselves on being innovators," says John Ungar, the chief operating officer of OARC. Both Ungar and Cheryl Weiss, the executive director of DCS, say their organizations have been busy going door-to-door in the community, striving to convince residents to give the program a try.

One hundred homeowners in both Point Breeze and West Oak Lane will receive a complimentary sink food disposal system and free installation by local plumbers, says city Streets commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson. The disposals will be provided by Wisconsin-based InSinkErator. The president emeritus of InSinkErator, Jerry Ryder, spoke at the West Oak Lane press conference and demonstration for "Clean Kitchen."

This pilot is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to bolster its environmental sustainability. While the city has worked to address greening as it relates to stormwater run-off, recycling, and energy efficiency, this program expands the scope to include food disposal.

"We want to test an opportunity and an issue for us," says Tolson of food waste. Tolson adds that not everyone is able to compost food waste, and for those who can’t, this program serves as a sustainable means of disposal. "Clean Kitchen" is in line with the Greenworks goal of diverting up to 70 percent of city materials from landfills.

The press demonstration, which was held at Special T’s Events in West Oak Lane, featured an InSinkErator and plenty of chicken wings and vegetables for dignitaries, guests, and members of the media to hurl down the sink. Speakers, including Mayor Nutter, Senator Evans, and InSinkErator’s Ryder all got to dispose of their food in the sink. Attendees seemed impressed by the sink disposal, even if it was a little louder than a trash can.

Source: Clarena I.W. Tolson, Philadelphia Streets Department
Writer: Andy Sharpe