Councilman Squilla at CDAG Meeting

Councilman Squilla Wants Agreement for Zoning Ordinances by All Parties

 Addressing a major concern of CDAG members, First District Councilman Mark Squilla said he would not introduce single-parcel zoning legislation at least 99 percent of the time unless the community was in agreement.  “Under the new zoning code, that’s the way it’s supposed to work,” Squilla said.  “A lot more development is supposed to be possible as-of-right, he said, and in the much rarer instances when relief is needed, a ZBA variance, rather than legislation, is supposed to be the way to go.”

See:  http://planphilly.com/cdag-heartened-squillas-stance-zoning-ordinances-plans-open-letter-city-council

Thursday, January 12, 6-7:30PM
Coral Street Arts House
2446-68 Coral Street (Kensington), 19125

Directions:

By Subway – Take the Market-Frankford Line to York-Dauphin Station (during rush hour, be sure to catch an A Train or a train making all stops. The B Train will not stop at this station). When you exit the station onto Front Street, make an immediate right turn onto York Street. Walk 2 blocks, then make a left onto Coral Street. Walk 3 blocks – the Coral Street Arts House will be on your left.

From I-95 North – Take the Girard/Lehigh exit. Follow the signs to Aramingo (stay left). Turn Left onto York St. at the Exxon. Go down York until you reach Emerald. Turn Right at Emerald, go a few blocks, Turn Right on E. Cumberland St. and the next street will be Coral where you will turn Right. You will then see Coral St. Arts House – parking on the street.

From I-95 South – Take the Girard/Lehigh exit. Go down Girard until you reach Frankford Ave. (Johnny Brenda’s bar will be on your right.) Turn Right. Go down Frankford almost a mile until you come to a huge intersection. Go Left on York St. & continue until you reach Emerald. Turn Right at Emerald, go a few blocks, turn Right on E. Cumberland St. The next street will be Coral where you will turn Right. You will then see Coral St. Arts House- parking on the street.

Mapquest map to Coral Street Arts House

 A new section of the Central Delaware multi-purpose trail will run along Delaware Avenue and Penn Street, from the foot of Spring Garden Street to Ellen Street.   The Delaware River Waterfront contracted with The RBA Group to design and engineer the project.

SugarHouse officials have agreed to further extend the trail across the parking lot, connecting it with the existing portion of the trail that runs through their property at a cost to the casino between $300,000 to $400,000.  
See:  http://planphilly.com/design-work-new-section-waterfront-trail-and-link-between-waterfront-and-fishtown-begins

                 Before & Below I-95: Archeological and Historical Discoveries 2011

WHAT:  Second annual interactive exhibition of national treasures excavated from the archeological work conducted in the historic Delaware River Ward neighborhoods of Philadelphia as part of  PennDOT’s I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange Project. See http://www.95sustain.com.

 WHEN:  Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts – 1901 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122. The event entrance is across from the Berks Street SEPTA Station, with convenient transit via the Market-Frankford Line and SEPTA buses 3, 5, 25, 57 and 89. Free off-street parking is available – and the school is ADA accessible. Light refreshments will be served.

 Due to standing room only crowds last year, the event has been moved to this larger venue – exciting in itself as the first LEED Platinum high school in the United States.

 WHY:  The Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG) and URS Corporation are sponsoring this free public event geared for the entire family. All Philadelphians will want to experience the exciting historical and archaeological discoveries from Philadelphia’s River Wards – from Native American settlements to the industrial heyday of the “Workshop of the World”. Senior archeologists Douglas Mooney and George Cress of URS Corporation will share exciting archeological and historical findings unearthed from PennDOT’s I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project.

 The evening will highlight the historic value of Philadelphia’s riverfront through engaging stories, 3-D images and interpretative displays with actual artifacts recovered from PennDOT’s ongoing archaeological digs. Attendees can talk with archaeologists about discoveries including the country’s oldest spectacles, early glass manufacturing, the 160-year-old intact canal under Aramingo Avenue, the amazing lives of our local ancestors, and Native American settlements from 4000 BC that lie just beneath our neighborhoods. Partners will host civic group outreach tables and a recording booth to preserve locals’ stories.

 BACKGROUND:  The Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG) is a 501(c)3 volunteer-based coalition of civic and public interest nonprofits that advocates for implementation of the Civic Vision of the Central Delaware riverfront. CDAG supports community awareness of the changes along and the value of Philadelphia’s Delaware riverfront and recognizes the importance of its past as it transitions into the future. PennDOT’s Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project will reconstruct I-95 from approximately Allegheny Avenue to the I-676 Interchange.

 CONTACTS:  For further information about PennDOT or the I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project, contact Eugene Blaum, PennDOT Assistant Press Secretary at 610-205-6800.

 For event specific information, please contact Laura Lanza at 215-990-3196 or Lanza.cdag@gmail.com.

All inquiries about the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG), please contact Rene Goodwin, CDAG Media & Communications Coordinator, at rgcdag@comcast.net.

WEBSITES: Additional information on the I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project is available at:  http://www.95revive.com. Additional information on the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG) is available at:  http://centraldelawareadvocacygroup.wordpress.com/

See:  http://planphilly.com/second-look-i-95-artifacts-chance-tell-your-own-river-ward-history.

See:  http://planphilly.com/long-term-blueprint-central-delaware-waterfront-adopted-heading-planning-commission

Mayor Michael Nutter and the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) officially lit the first phase of the Race Street Connector Project, a combination of design elements and public art enhancing the quality and the ease of access from Old City to the Race Street Pier and the riverfront.  Enhancements include improving the pedestrian and bike access, a major new public art project – a live-feed LED screen attached to the I-95 overpass over Race Street, showing real-time abstracted images of the surface of the Delaware River and a dramatic light screen along the right-side wall of the three underpasses between 2nd and Race Street and Columbus Boulevard.  The light screen which is made of expanded metal with colorful lighting and bold signage will unify the spaces under the three viaducts and lead people seamlessly through the underpasses, past the old historic pumping station that will soon be the home of Live Arts/Fringe Festival and from there to the Race Street Pier, Penn’s Landing, and other destinations on the Central Delaware.  Other improvements include a dedicated bike lane, signage, benches, nautical bollards, increased sidewalk widths, improved crosswalks and intensive landscape treatments along the entire south side of Race Street.  

For more information, see:  http://www.delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com/index.php?pageID=11&image=64a

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation is working with the Philadelphia Streets Department to estimate the future traffic situation after 10 more years of waterfront development.  The scope and schedule for the traffic study, was paid for by the DRWC with $1 million in William Penn Foundation grant money.   Current traffic counts and conditions could show sufficient capacity, or even excess capacity, in some spots that could have much more traffic soon.   For example, Spring Garden Street and the Festival Pie is publicly owned land that the Master Plan for the Central Delaware suggests should become a fairly dense, mixed use residential development.   It is expected that changes will involve re-timing lights, adjusting lane placements and sizes, and converting one-way streets into two-way passages.
See:  http://planphilly.com/riverfront-corp-gets-feedback-new-delaware-avecolumbus-blvd-traffic-study

It’s almost time for River Wards Restaurant & Cafe Week again! Check out our digital postcard below and click on what interests you to learn more! You can also visit the main River Wards Restaurant & Cafe Week page (by clicking on the title) where all the specials & deals will be posted as the chefs make their decisions! Here’s to good eating in the River Wards!

CDAG says they violate the city’s vision and the waterfront zoning overlay. Here’s the story from PlanPhilly:
http://planphilly.com/waterfront-advocacy-group-says-three-billboard-proposals-run-counter-citys-long-term-riverfront-goal