Visions for a greater Philadelphia are being applied at a local level.
On April 18, the Philadelphia planners will present a draft of the University Southwest District Plan to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
The plan is a part of the Philadelphia2035 “Integrated Planning and Zoning Process,” for which PCPC just received a Best Practice award from the American Planning Association. As a part of the comprehensive plan for the city’s future, Philadelphia2035 separated Philadelphia into 18 districts and aims to improve each one according to community needs and suggestions. The University Southwest District includes Powelton Village, University City, Walnut and Spruce Hills and Kingsessing.
The plan proposes more diverse development around 40th and Market streets. For example, denser, mixed-income residential apartments were recommended for the area.
Other major changes involve the re-zoning of single-family residential areas. If the plan is adopted, higher buildings will be concentrated along the eastern edge of the district that includes University City. According to a press release, some of these properties would be restricted as residences to families as opposed to being divided for student apartments.
According to PCPC City Planner, project manager and West Philadelphia Planner Andrew Meloney, this is the first time Philadelphia has implemented a city improvement plan since the 1960s. Meloney credits Mayor Nutter and his administration with spearheading the overall initiative. “The new administration was interested in putting planning at the forefront of people’s thoughts,” he said.
Much of the feedback for the plan has come directly from Philadelphia citizens during public meetings. The first meeting, which was held on Nov. 13 at the Enterprise Center at 4548 Market St., set the District Plan attendance record with 169 guests. The second was held on Jan. 23 at the Kingsessing Recreation Center at 49th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, and the last meeting was on April 8 at Quorum in the University City Science Center at 3711 Market Street.
According to PCPC Planning Division Director Richard Redding, the final meeting resulted in “excellent notification of the community, strong attendance and good sharing of information.”
While Redding believes a “good cross-section” of people attended the meetings, he would like to have seen greater attendance by college students.
“Youths tend to be underrepresented in community meetings, whether the meetings are held by government or by neighborhood groups,” Redding wrote in an email.
From those who attended the meetings, city planners received some unexpected but helpful feedback. For instance, participants said one of the top three destinations in the district was the Kingsessing Recreation center at 49th and Chester streets. As a result, the plan includes recommendations for this site such as installing elevators within the next five years.
“There are always some surprises,” Meloney said.
Though the open house meetings are over, residents can submit comments to the plan until June 1. By the middle of June, the draft will be complete and the PCPC will have to vote on its adoption. As of now, Meloney says city planners are “proud of the plan.”
“This is definitely something to look forward to,” he said.
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