Development News

Imagine being handicapped without the aid of a full-time caregiver. Chances are, you'd probably live with a family member--someone who could help with essential tasks like bathing. But what if living with family wasn't a viable option? Sadly enough, there are a surprisingly large number of disabled adults who find themselves in that very situation. A hospital or an institution, then, is often their only option.

It was with such disabled adults in mind that the Philadelphia Housing Authority recently decided to develop the Quads: Twenty-five separate handicapped-accessible buildings, each constructed on a formerly vacant lot somewhere in the city, and each boasting four separate efficiency-style apartments. Naturally, the units are specially designed to accommodate the unique challenges of their tenants: "People with minimal to moderate care needs," according to a PHA press release.

According to the PHA's Michael Johns, some of the tenants who now live in the units were young people who'd previously been living in nursing homes, because they had no other options. "I think the young fellow that was at the opening (of the Quads) said it best: Now he doesn't have to have anybody help him bathe himself. So the idea," Johns adds, "is to give a level of independence for folks that are either wheelchair bound or have mobility impairments."

Tenants with significantly more serious disabilities, however, are looked after at the Quads as well, thanks to a common area in each building where care providers can work with their patients.

The 25 initial buildings -- all of which include a vertical lift and front porches on both floors -- officially opened for business on May 25. By the end of July or August, Johns says, 20 additional Quads should be complete. In total, construction will cost $14.4 million, nearly 90 percent of which will be covered by stimulus funds.

Source: Michael Johns, Philadelphia Housing Authority
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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A few years back, Marcus Presley and the North Philadelphia organization for which he works, the Women's Community Revitalization Project, began to grow increasingly frustrated with the large concentration of blighted vacant lots in the neighborhood. As a result, the WCRP decided to commission a land-use plan. And as Presley explains, the results of the plan were more than shocking.

"We realized that 25 percent of the land in our neighborhood is vacant," he says. "And 25 percent of that land is owned by the city."

The problem with having city-owned land in your neighborhood is that the city is essentially obligated to sell it to the highest bidder. In other words, the chances of a pocket park or a children's playground being built there are decidedly slim. And that's why Presley, along with fellow activist Nashanta Robinson, launched the Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land earlier this year. One of the group's initial goals, says Presley, was to "talk to as many (political) candidates as (possible) about the idea of establishing land bank legislation in Philadelphia."

To put it simply, Presley and Robinson want "to pass a law that gives communities control of vacant land in their neighborhoods." The way that actually happens -- city council would need to help create a Philadelphia Land Bank, which would parcel out land to community groups -- is a bit more complicated. Here in Philly, it may or may not ever happen.

In the meantime, Presley's group has already begun its own land trust, and is hoping to have 40 units of affordable housing built on land it owns at 5th and Diamond streets. Adds Presley: "We're really trying to push council to get to work on crafting a bill that could benefit people all over Philadelphia."

Source: Marcus Presley, Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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Along with their parents, the stroller set was out in full force last Saturday in the Art Museum district, where a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony ushered in the opening of FreePlay on the Parkway. Known as a pocket park, FreePlay is located on the south side of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd streets, on the plot of grass that was formerly known as Calder Park. The $70,000 project was the collective brainchild of two Logan Square women, Catherine Barrett and Christine Piven, who dreamed of having a small, nontraditional park space where parents and children alike could enjoy creative and unstructured leisure time.

The result is a space that looks almost nothing like a traditional American playground. The centerpiece is an octagonal sandbox that was designed to incorporate interactive play. And next to that is a space filled with dozens of squishy, blue foam blocks that children can rearrange into an infinite number of combinations. The opposite side of the park is home to a concrete ping-pong table. And during the day, tables and chairs arranged throughout the park will encourage conversation and impromptu games of chess.

There's also a bevy of good news for grownups: Summer programming at FreePlay has already been scheduled, and includes yoga and art classes for adults and kids; a monthly outdoor reading series; tai chi lessons; and even ballroom dancing performances.

Perhaps even more exciting, though, are Barrett and Piven's plans to create other similar parks in the underutilized pockets of the city. And considering that Mayor Nutter, who made a brief appearance at the ceremony, is an unabashed supporter of FreePlay, there's a decent chance that may actually happen.

"This is a very, very exciting project," he said. "Let's figure out how to get maybe 20, 25 more of them, all around the city of Philadelphia."

Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Play In Between

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It's been a long time since contemporary real estate has been considered a new construct in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, which first began experiencing pangs of gentrification in the late 1980s. Today, however, the contemporary plots of real estate dotting the neighborhood are a sure sign that NoLibs has finally graduated from under-the-radar hot spot to fully fledged Mecca of creativity.

One of the most recent neighborhood developments, a collection of four modern and gleaming townhomes known as 4 Squared, is currently in the midst of construction on the 800 block of North 4th Street, near the popular Honey's Sit-N-Eat restaurant. Starting at an eye-popping $789,000, these 2,600-square-foot homes by Callahan Ward are most definitely "considered to be the top of the market, and the most desirable project in the neighborhood right now," according to CITYSPACE Realtor Michael Garden, who's representing 4 Squared. The 20-foot wide homes will feature two-car garage parking in the rear, tons of natural light, a gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, and a fourth-floor loft with access to a deck offering jaw-dropping Center City views. As Garden likes to say, "It's really gracious living."

As anyone who lives in the area surely realizes, the pace of contemporary townhome construction doesn't seem to be letting up in Northern Liberties, regardless of the current state of the market. A townhome and condo project known as N.3 Homes is being built a block away from 4 Squared, for instance. And at 211 Brown Street, the second phase of a similar project called Twenty2 is now underway.

So what makes 4 Squared any different? "It's clean, it's modern, and it's stylish," says Golden, "but it's warm and inviting. And I think that's something we need more of in Philadelphia."

Source: Michael Garden, CITYSPACE
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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It might seem impressive enough that Philadelphia University, which was founded in the late 1800s as the Philadelphia Textile School, has chosen to encourage a new form of academic collaboration among its design, engineering and commerce students. According to Debbie Goldberg, the university's director of media relations, "It became clear that collaborative, real-world learning, infused with the liberal arts, are critical skills for our students--as well as competencies that employers need."

It was exactly that philosophy that eventually led the university to create the new College of Design, Engineering and Commerce (DEC), which will be launching in time for the fall 2011 semester. The overarching goal, explains Goldberg, is to "push students to think beyond the boundaries of existing disciplines, and (to) focus on market-driven innovation through teamwork, collaboration and connections with industry partners."

In an effort to put the full force of its economic strength behind the new collaborative college, Philadelphia University is constructing a stunning, $20 million, four-story building, which will be encircled by a perforated metallic structure intended to act as a sun-control screen. The college's design studios, classrooms and workshops will be housed in the new building, which is being designed by the Shepley Bulfinch firm to achieve a LEED-silver designation. Groundbreaking is scheduled for June 10, 2011.

And although the building's forward-thinking exterior design will almost certainly be its singular most attention-grabbing feature, the interior is also being specially designed to encourage collaboration. Instead of housing permanent offices, for instance, removable walls and rolling furniture will be placed throughout. Currently, the 38,500-square-foot building is expected to be complete in the fall of 2012.

Source: Debbie Goldberg, Philadelphia University
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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Regardless of the fact that the Metro Commercial Real Estate organization -- which bills itself as "the Philadelphia region's leading full-service real estate company" -- has been doing business in the area out of its Conshohocken and Mount Laurel, N.J., offices for more than two decades, it was nevertheless considered big news in the commercial development community when Metro recently announced the arrival of a third office, this one in Center City.

Located in the historic Wachovia Building (now the Wells Fargo Building) at 123 South Broad Street, Metro president Steven H. Gartner says the company's new location is intended to "bring our experience to the heart of Philadelphia. We have been a significant player here for the past 25 years," he adds, "and now we will have the team on the ground to more capably serve our growing client base."

Over the past few weeks, in fact, Metro has been responsible for inking deals that have resulted in three new Center City retail shops. A fourth, much larger deal is currently in the works on the southeast corner of 15th and Walnut streets, where Metro is leasing multi-level properties with 45,000 square feet of potential retail; that project is expected to be complete in mid-2013.

The store that will almost certainly generate the most excitement locally, however, is the one that's scheduled to open at the end of this year. Jack Wills is the name of the retailer -- it offers preppy, British-influenced men's and women's apparel (think Vampire Weekend-meets-J.Crew) -- and it currently operates just four other U.S. locations, one each in Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and New Haven, Conn.

Metro was also responsible for the new Krispy Kreme shop that's now open at 1535 Chestnut Street, as well as the nearby new flagship location of The Children's Place.

Source: Amy H. Orons, Metro Commercial Real Estate
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) has been working to design and develop their namesake river's waterfront for well over two years now, although the recent afternoon of May 12 was one of the agency's most important days yet. At 2 pm that day, a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Nutter kicked off, and the long-awaited Race Street Pier was finally -- and officially -- opened to the public.

Located along the length of Pier 11, which sits just south of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the one-acre waterfront park was designed by James Corner Field Operations, a world class landscape architecture and urban design firm that was also responsible for the stunning High Line park in New York City.

As the DRWC's Master Planning Manager, Sarah Thorp, is quick to point out, "[The Race Street Pier was] designed to be a very spectacular place, both during the day and at night." The park, in fact, has its own extensive lighting system embedded in the pavement. The transformation in the park from daytime to nighttime, Thorp says, is simply spectacular.

Of course, The Race Street Pier is only one small example of what DRWC has in store for the city. The organization's currently-in-progress master plan, which will reveal all the upcoming waterfront development being planned between Oregon Avenue in South Philly and Allegheny Avenue in the north, will be unveiled on June 13. (Watch this space for more information.)

In the meantime, though, Thorp is encouraging everyone to take full advantage of the city's newest waterfront treasure. "The (designers) have done an amazing job creating a really different kind of place for Philadelphians," she says. "This is a really different park -- it's unlike any other in the city."

For more information about the park and its upcoming events, click here.

Source: Sarah Thorp, DRWC
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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The downtown business improvement organization known as the Center City District has been working to improve the experience of an afternoon spent wandering along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for well over a decade now. But as the organization's CEO, Paul Levy, explains, the Parkway has always had one major downfall. "(It's) a wonderful cultural district," he says. "(It's) perfect in postcards, and great to drive on. But it's always been seriously lacking in pedestrian amenities."

And that's one major reason why Levy and the CCD have decided to seriously transform Philadelphia's 35-year-old Sister Cities Park, which is located on Logan Square. It's also just one small aspect of the $19.9 million renovation of the Parkway that will also include the forthcoming installation of the Barnes Museum, and the upgrading of the Rodin Museum.

Constructed in 1976, and located directly in front of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Sister Cities Park was originally intended to celebrate Philadelphia's relationship with its 10 international sister cities, which include Florence, Tel Aviv, and even Douala, Cameroon. But as Levy points out, "If you ask 99 percent of Philadelphians, 'Why is it (called) Sister Cities Park, and what does it say about sister cities?' there was virtually nothing (informational) there--just some names on stones."

In order to rectify that situation, a series of educational signs will be installed at the park. A fountain will also be added, with various plumes of water representing each of the sister cities. Landscaping and a set of benches will surround the fountain, and a garden designed especially for children's play will be constructed nearby.

The $4.6 million project, Levy says, which is expected to open in the spring of 2012, was funded by an especially wide range of donors, including the Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation.

Source: Paul Levy, Center City District
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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If you were lucky enough to live on the 800 block of Percy Street in South Philly, you could literally walk out your front door, pour the contents of a bottle of tap water onto the newly-paved street, and then watch as the water slowly began to be sucked up by the street itself, until it eventually disappeared altogether.

That's what happened, at any rate, during a recent press conference that was held on Percy Street's 800 block, which is now home to the city's very first porous street--a street that allows water to soak through its surface, in other words, thereby eliminating the pollutants found in storm water from entering the sewer system.

The street is one of the first initiatives of the Water Department's 25-year-long, $2 billion Green City, Clean Water program, which was itself the result of a directive from the EPA, which insisted that the city fix its combined sewer overflow (CSO) problem. CSO is an unfortunate situation during which sink and toilet water mixes with storm water in local rivers during periods of heavy rain.

According to the Water Department's Joanne Dahme, both the PWD and the Streets Department will be monitoring the effect of Percy Street's porous surface street over the next few years. And as Dahme explains, storm water capture is only one of the benefits of such a surface.

"It seems to have a lot of positive qualities," Dahme says, of the porous surface. Ice is said to melt quicker, for instance, thanks to the warmth of the soil underneath, which also makes snow removal easier. And although the installation of the street was about 10 percent more expensive than it would have been with regular asphalt, the city is already hoping to install many more porous streets in the coming years.

Source: Joanne Dahme, Philadelphia Water Department
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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When Mayor Nutter first introduced Philadelphia's ambitious Green 2015 initiative, which aims to add 500 new acres of accessible green space to the city by the year 2015, he made it perfectly clear that the goal couldn't possibly be achieved by the efforts of municipal entities working alone. As it happens, Lucy Kerman, who works as Drexel's Vice Provost for University and Community Partnerships, felt exactly the same way when she first heard about Green 2015. "We also felt it was really important that the universities around the city step up to the plate," she says.

And so Kerman and her colleagues at Drexel approached the city's Department of Parks and Recreation with something of a partnership proposal. The idea, as she explains it, was partly to help the department in greening parts of the Mantua neighborhood, which surrounds Drexel. But it also involved lending to the city the intellectual expertise of Drexel's Environmental Engineering department, which is particularly interested in sustainability issues.

According to Kerman, Drexel sees the partnership as both multifaceted and long-term, and on April 18, an announcement on the university's campus officially introduced the partnership, and spelled out some of its goals, which include the giveaway of 200 trees to Drexel employees living in Philadelphia.

Three area playgrounds--including Miles Mack Playground, where members of the partnership recently planted 28 trees--will also be greened and otherwise improved. Drexel's environmental engineering students, for instance, will be creating new storm water treatment systems for the parks. And students in the school's Interior Design department will be studying ways in which playgrounds can be created "that support not only children's play, but children's learning," Kerman explains. What's more, the partnership will be heading up a number of 'greening days' that will take place throughout Mantua in the coming months.

"You know, it's really a win-win-win-win," says Kerman.

Source: Lucy Kerman, Drexel University
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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The 800 block of Markoe Street in West Philly has long held a reputation for being one of the most unkempt and dangerous stretches in its neighborhood, which is also home to the sprawling Lucien E. Blackwell public housing project. And yet unfortunately, when the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) built the Blackwell project back in 2000, the money ran out before the 800 block of Markoe Street had a chance to experience any renovation of its own.

But instead of simply forgetting about the 800 block, the PHA chose to hold a sustainable design competition for young architects; a handful of firms submitted their own ideas about how the block could best be saved. The Center City-based Jibe Design won the competition, and when additional funds were finally made available to build on the block, they won the design contract as well.

According to Jibe Design's founder, Juliet Whelan, Jibe most likely won the competition because hers was the only firm that proposed a renovation of the original homes, as opposed to trashing them and then starting over. "Once you tear down these buildings," Whelan says, "I think you've already taken several steps back in sustainability."

Last year, Jibe Design's plan was also honored with a national award for design excellence by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). And two weeks ago, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site celebrated the project's completion and welcomed its new residents. In all, 17 homes were rehabilitated and six new homes were built atop formerly empty lots. Jibe's uniquely modern design allows natural light to stream into nearly every room in the new homes, and Energy Star appliances are used throughout. "I think this street feels like Philadelphia," says Whelan. "It feels like a nice mix of modern and old. I think it's a success."

Source: Juliet Whelan, Jibe Design
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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The concept of cohousing--a collaborative style of living in which a number of different families participate in each others' lives, and may even bunk underneath the same roof--certainly isn't anything new. The idea originated in Denmark, and today, in some of the more liberal corners of the U.S., cohousing is practically considered mainstream. There are websites, annual conferences, and even cross-country tours promoting the lifestyle.

And yet in a hardscrabble city like Philadelphia, cohousing is just about as edgy as it gets. So it makes sense that one of Philly's edgiest home designers, Postgreen Homes, has announced plans to build a six-unit cohousing space in Kensington. And while each of the units will have its own kitchen and living area, large common areas--including a commercial kitchen, a dining room, and a roof deck--will be shared.

Postgreen is joining forces in the venture with the team from Independents Hall, the Old City coworking space. Indy Hall co-founder Alex Hillman says that he and his business partner, Geoff DiMasi, have long talked about the idea of "reinventing some other elements of life" in the same way they reinvented their work lives after Indy Hall was opened. Those very conversations, in fact, eventually led to the idea of creating a cohousing village. But as Hillman is quick to point out, "Cohousing is more than just providing common areas for renters. The cool thing about it," he says, "is that the communities are designed by the members of the communities."

Currently, Hillman and his team are searching hard for those members, as a fairly steep amount of money needs to be raised by June in order to secure the preferred plot of land. To learn more about joining the community, visit village.indyhall.org.

Source: Alex Hillman, Independents Hall
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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Right around this time last year, relations between the University City Science Center and Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (RDA)--which is responsible for encouraging development in the city--were slightly strained, to say the least. In May, the Science Center filed a lawsuit against the RDA in an attempt to stop the seizure of a portion of its University City research park. The undeveloped lots, which had fallen into default due to the financial crisis, were meant to become future additions to the Science Center's campus.

But thanks in part to a clause in the original agreement between the two agencies which disallowed foreclosure in the instance of "unforeseeable causes," the Science Center managed to hang onto its property. The two entities have also shaken hands and made up, metaphorically speaking. And on April 29, the Science Center published a press release announcing that the "longstanding redevelopment agreement" had been amended.

That's certainly good news for anyone who believes in the technology-based economic development happening at the Science Center. And according to Saul Behar, the Science Center's Vice President and General Counsel, the center now has the buffer of an additional 10 years to develop the four parcels on its campus that are still vacant. If the center is willing to shell out for additional fees, Behar says, that decade can legally be extended to 13.

As for what may or may not eventually be developed on the space over the next decade, the Science Center isn't quite sure--or isn't telling. "There's nothing solid right now," says Behar. "But we're continuing to market the parcels, and we're always looking for opportunities."

Source: Saul Behar, University City Science Center
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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When Sara Hirschler was driving around Spring Garden a few years back on a house-hunting mission, it was her real estate agent who pointed out the embarrassing eyesore that was Roberto Clemente Park, at 19th and Wallace streets. "He was like, 'Don't look at this park--it's not a good place!'" Hirschler recalls. And at the time, that was certainly an accurate assessment. Roberto Clemente Park has long been seen as a hotbed of illicit drug and gang activity, regardless of the fact that much of the surrounding community is relatively upscale.

Hirschler nevertheless ended up purchasing a condo around the corner from the park, and she soon came to know Roberto Clemente as "this really amazing, central spot in the neighborhood," she says. "I definitely saw it as an opportunity, where I could have a place to get to know my neighbors."

At first, Hirschler organized a series of kickball games in the park, but they soon evolved into something bigger and better. "I went through the park," she says, "and created an action plan of all the needs the park had--basic things, like painting the playground equipment, and the field needing some grass."

Along with Justino Navarro, a Spring Garden CDC board member, Hirschler also launched Friends of Clemente, which has been working to revitalize the park since 2008. (The group is largely funded by donations.) The organization's latest initiative involves a complete overhaul of the park, which should be finished by the end of May. A fence that wraps around the park's field is also being painted, and on May 14 the group will be hosting the second installment of Clemente Fest, a sort of neighborhood get-together featuring food, music, and a handball tournament.

"It's such a beautiful neighborhood," Hirschler adds. "And (Clemente Fest) is a great opportunity to start to get to know everybody, and to really feel like a community."

Source: Sara Hirschler, Friends of Clemente
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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When Philadelphians Paul and Nichole Badger were going through the process of planning their wedding in 2008, they "decided that we just didn't believe in the typical one-day splurge that everybody does for their wedding," Nichole explained, during a recent telephone interview.

Nichole is a corporate entertainment attorney who has long been involved with charitable work, and at the time, she and Paul had been tossing around the idea of starting a nonprofit of their own. "And then," she said, "it suddenly occurred to us: Why not do it now? And so instead of having this full-blown, crazy wedding, we decided to take a portion of our wedding budget, and to use it to start Stars Within Reach."

Today, Stars Within Reach partners with various entertainers, pro athletes and businesses on what Badger refers to as twelve different platforms; the group works on everything from housing issues to greening and nonviolence initiatives. (Their motto: Changing the world one cause at a time.) Their latest project, A Healthy Future Within Reach, aims to battle childhood obesity, and SWR plans to focus its local efforts in the South Philly neighborhood of Point Breeze, a so-called 'food desert' where healthy eating options are scarce.

On Monday (May 2), they kicked off a 30-day multimedia campaign to raise awareness of childhood obesity. At the month's end they'll join with Mayor Nutter, Congressman Chaka Fattah, 76er Lou Williams, and other area notables to create two community gardens and a fruit orchard in Point Breeze. "We definitely believe that eating healthy and healthy living is at the core of everything you do," Badger says. "And Point Breeze is an area where the kids really are impacted by the lack of healthy eating options."

Source: Nichole Badger, Stars Within Reach
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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