Phiadelphia's Revitalization (Philadelphia, Erie, Reading: lofts, new home, dangerous)

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I think that "someone" was me.

Here's the photo, of Vine Street looking east from 15th after the widening project from that point to Ridge Avenue was completed in 1955:



and here's the article I wrote that included it, arguing that we should do to Roosevelt Boulevard what we did to Vine Street:

A Case for an Urban Expressway | Hidden City Philadelphia

However, I do think capping the expressway is a good idea from an urban-fabric standpoint. There are completely buried and capped urban freeways in a number of cities around the world, including under the National Mall in Washington. There's nothing inherent in underground freeway design that makes clearing accidents more difficult - as long as there's adequate space for moving breakdowns out of the way of traffic (i.e., shoulders or breakdown lanes in the tunnels - a feature lacking in underwater freeway tunnels because of the expense but not at all uncommon in underground ones). After all, we don't use cranes from above to remove the wrecked cars; the same tow trucks that operate on the surface or the elevated structure do the job down below, no matter whether it's blue sky or artificial lighting and tile above them. Tunnels may be a turnoff for the claustrophobic, but the same can be said for rail subways, and I much prefer those to their elevated counterparts too. (Not to mention that between stations, the subways are darker, which makes evacuation in an emergency - a situation I was in once - a little scarier.)

(Edited to add: Images from PhillyHistory.org, the city Records Department's photo archive, may be reposted on other sites with acknowledgement.)

+5

Thanks.

Capping could work if they could widen the expressway to provide the room for clearing wreckage/disabled vehicles. Can you imagine the disaster for an unknown period of time? They found an unknown, abandoned cemetery last time. Who knows what they'd find.

[2002 Subaru]

Originally Posted by MB1562

I cross at 11th most of the time.

I don't find that difficult to navigate at all.

[2002 Subaru]

Originally Posted by kyb01

A high rise is suppose to go there. It was announced last year.

You're thinking of the NW corner of 10th and Vine ... There's a little pagoda on 10th, directly over the highway. It COULD be nice ...

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

+5

Thanks.

Capping could work if they could widen the expressway to provide the room for clearing wreckage/disabled vehicles. Can you imagine the disaster for an unknown period of time? They found an unknown, abandoned cemetery last time. Who knows what they'd find.

I haven't looked through all the comments, but you are aware that the phase 1 of the vine street expressway capping is wrapping up construction. It looks good. Penndot needs to light the area in the tunnel way better.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4190/3...38e07331_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2901/3...9332916b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2820/3...f34c90ef_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2942/3...a027fca6_b.jpg

[car0401]

I was looking on Curbed and I saw a post about CC's newest residential buildings.

https://philly.curbed.com/maps/new-p...-for-sale-rent

9th and Washington caught my eye and the renderings remind me of some of the residential buildings in Brooklyn

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6453...7i13312!8i6656

Any thoughts on the design and has anyone heard anything about this project moving forward. I for one am excited by the design and I hope we see more buildings like it

[PhilliesPhan2013]

Originally Posted by kyb01

1) What kind of relationship do you have with Bob Brady? None, right? Unless you do you won't get anywhere with your political ambitions in the immediate future. But, since, I'm actually very happy you are, at least, taking a stab at it aim for a council - person-at-large post first. Or try to run against Brian Simms for the state legislature. He needs some competition, imo.

I don't have any kind of relationship with Bob Brady yet; however, I'm working to change that. I have been pretty active when it comes to getting to know and converse with people who are working to make a difference in this city. Since I am moving to the city in 28 days, I think that I will be able to do a lot more. I will be able to attend many more events without having to worry about the Media/Elwyn Line schedule.

2) I'm hopeful that the Rail Park will help to change the very character of the area around/near the VSE east. Isn't there a developer who has bought up a lot of property surrounding the route of the Rail Park?

I believe that company is called Arts and Crafts Holdings. I imagine that they are not the only player in that area, but they are the first company that comes to mind.

3)Have you looked at the philly curbed article about possible development on N. Broad St? Lots of interesting stuff.

Yes I have! I regularly walk down North Broad (usually from Montgomery to Walnut Street for my Wawa fix) after class. The article does a good job of painting a picture of the energy that is engulfing North Broad. I believe that the stretch from City Hall to Erie will return to greatness within my lifetime. North Broad from Hunting Park to about Stenton Avenue also has potential to be revitalized, but it may take a little longer.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by car0401

I was looking on Curbed and I saw a post about CC's newest residential buildings.

https://philly.curbed.com/maps/new-p...-for-sale-rent

9th and Washington caught my eye and the renderings remind me of some of the residential buildings in Brooklyn

Wrt #17. The garage at that site has been closed for about a month so there may be some progress there soon.

[car0401]

Exciting news. Glad to see this project moving forward, I think this one will bring a lot of people to North Broad and spur a lot of revitalization

https://philly.curbed.com/2017/5/4/1...ction-timelime

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by car0401

I was looking on Curbed and I saw a post about CC's newest residential buildings.

https://philly.curbed.com/maps/new-p...-for-sale-rent

9th and Washington caught my eye and the renderings remind me of some of the residential buildings in Brooklyn

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6453...7i13312!8i6656

Any thoughts on the design and has anyone heard anything about this project moving forward. I for one am excited by the design and I hope we see more buildings like it

I live in the neighborhood and am excited by the design at 9th and Washington. That so badly needs to be redone/built. It's been a mess for a long time.

[Urban Spaceman]

Since the late 60s it's been a no-brainer to predict the revitalization of Philadelphia's neighborhoods. In fits and starts dependant on the economy, it's followed lines north and south of CC. Olde City... then Northern Libs... Fishtown... Port Richmond... Bridesburg. That's where, on the north side, it hits a snag. Heading south, the area is physically more cohesive and more accessible to CC so the revitalization went a bit quicker.

The big problem going forward is the vast wasteland of Kensington and Frankford. After Philco and other factories left, the working class was pushed out by waves of the poor, largely subsidized by Section 8, and the whole area went to hell in no time.

Unlike Fishtown and the eastern half of Port Richmond which held their original demographic populations until gentrification arrived, the post-grad yuppies and artists who are the usual vanguard of urban renewal will have a more difficult time cracking Kensington, where they'll face a huge unfriendly population with a macho, alien culture they're protective of, who harbor a prideful grudge against Anglos.

By the time Kensington is ready for a true rennaisance, it'll be so bombed out (like the South Bronx of yesteryear) that whole blocks will have to be bulldozed and major developments will replace the blocks of rowhomes.