The initial draft version of
Philadelphia2035, the prodigious, 216-page guide to the next 25 years of the city's physical development, was first made available to the public (as a
downloadable PDF) back in mid-February. But for four hours throughout the afternoon of March 23, members of the
Philadelphia City Planning Commission hosted an informal gathering at the
Center for Architecture, where physical copies of the draft were presented to the public. More than 100 Philadelphians stopped by during the course of the day.
The purpose of the open house, according to the PCPC's Alan Urek, who acted as one of the event's hosts, was to put the draft recommendations of the plan's citywide component on exhibit for literally anyone who was interested in reviewing it, or leaving comments of their own. Five different stations, each displaying a blown-up portion of the plan, were arranged in a semi-circle in a small room behind the
AIA Bookstore. And next to each station was a large flipchart, upon which visitors were encouraged to comment.
"Philadelphia is very friendly to senior citizens," read one such comment. "We choose to live here because of the walkability and activity occurring in metro-center."
"Survival of the fittest," read another note. "Deannex [the Northeast]."
"Did we reach all corners of Philadelphia (during the open house)?" Urek asks. "Probably not. But I was quite encouraged that of the people that came, virtually everyone I talked to had a positive perspective [of the plan]."
Urek also emphasized that for approximately one more week, even those when didn't attend are welcome to post comments and suggestions
online. All of those comments, Urek says, will be seriously considered before the revised draft is presented to the City Planning commission in about three weeks. The plan's citywide version will then be finalized in May, and a release party will be held in early June.
Source: Alan Urek, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Writer: Dan Eldridge
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