There weren't big
changes in the latest version of the Lower North District plan presented last
week at Temple's Howard Gittis Student Center. But reaction to the plan was
more positive than at previous sessions, where citizens sometimes voiced frustration
that they were not being heard - even when planners assured they they were -
and feelings surfaced that the future did not include them.
“It's excellent,” said North Philadelphia Resident Travis
Lively after reviewing the key recommendations of the current draft, which
includes calls for targeted public investment, a focus on the reuse of vacant
properties, the preservation of single-family homes, and zoning changes
designed to concentrate commercial development and foster redevelopment of former
industrial zones. “It brings change. It possibly can bring better
neighborhoods.”
Other plan recommendations include improving major
commercial corridors, in part by concentrating development; improving mass
transit and preserving historic assets, including those in Strawberry Mansion.
Much of the plan is geared at concentrating efforts in those
parts of the district that planners say either remain strong or are showing
signs of redevelopment right now, such as market pressure for more housing. The
district's population is now slowly growing, but remains at less than half of
its peak of 270,000.
In addition to Lively's North Philadelphia, the plan, one of
18 district-level portions of the city's comprehensive plan planners will
complete in coming years, covers North Central, Norris Square, Olde Kensington,
South Kensington, West Kensington, Yorktown, Ludlow, Brewerytown, Green Hills,
Cecil B Moore, Sharswood, Strawberry Mansion.
Filling in vacant properties with homes, parks or other uses
is especially important to Lively, both personally and professionally. He's a
dad. “Neighborhoods being distressed like that affects people in certain ways,
mentally.” he said. “Imagine your a little kid, and you see vacant lots every
day. It does something to you. Seeing nice homes and clean streets, it makes
you more positive about things.”
Professionally, Lively is both a carpenter who works on
ships at the Navy Yard and a landlord who buys, refurbishes and rents homes in
his neighborhood and others. Another part of the proposal he likes: Taking down
the Blumberg Apartments and re-establishing 23rd Street as a connector. The
city's housing authority has applied for grant money to do this, but it will
take time – new, neighborhood-scale replacement housing must be built for
current residents first.
“They're talking about bringing down something negative, and
replacing it with something positive. I wouldn't have bought (properties near
Blumberg to renovate and rent), but now I want to,” Lively said.
Glenda Tate, whose family runs the All In The Family Group
non-profit that focuses on the Village Community within Strawberry Mansion,
liked the ideas planners presented for vacant land, including allowing
residents to take over some parcels for side yards and others for parking – a
use happening informally in some places now. She said the planning process
alone has been helpful, as she's met other community activists she can join
forces with and city government contacts who can help them get things done.
City Planner and Lower North Project Manager David Fecteau
and other planners were stationed at boards that presented the key ideas from
the draft plan. They answered questions and jotted down feedback that will be
used to further refine the draft before it is presented to planning
commissioners in January. Much information is presented on-line now, and the
draft will also be posted there after the commission review. Hard copies of the
information are available at local library branches: Cecil B Moore (2320 Cecil
B Moore Avenue);Kensington (104 W. Dauphin Street); Lillian Marrero (601 W
Lehigh Avenue); Ramonita Rodriguez (600 block of Girard Avenue); and Widener
(2808 W Lehigh Avenue). The public comment period will remain open through Feb.
28, with the finalized plan going back to commissioners for adoption in March.
Feedback can be emailed to Fecteau at David.Fecteau@phila.gov.
Source: PlanPhilly.com
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