CITY LIMITS: A look at issues facing Philadelphia

No Rinky-Dink City No Rinky-Dink CityFrom a new ice skating rink atNo Rinky-Dink CityFrom a new ice skating rink atPenn's Landing to cleaningNo Rinky-Dink CityFrom a new ice skating rink atPenn's Landing to cleaningsidewalks on South Street,No Rinky-Dink CityFrom a new ice skating rink atPenn's Landing to cleaningsidewalks on South Street,Philadelphia is shaping up If city officials get their way, Philadelphia's Jekyll-Hyde dichotomy will soon be resolved. After a political scramble to discount a Duke University survey naming the City of Brotherly Love the most hostile U.S. city, Philadelphia was named one of 10 All-American Cities of 1994. The award was based on a city's ability to creatively address its problems through public and private partnerships -- and just may have been an indicator that the city is on the rebound. In spite of racial strife, fiscal mismanagement and chronic attitude problems over the last few decades, the city is coming back strong with a number of capital expenditures to improve Philadelphia and its image. The Center City District has plans to spend $35 million as part of a street and sidewalk renewal plan, in addition to continuing the popular "Make it a Night" program for its third year. Down a few blocks along the Delaware River, the city opened an ice skating rink at Penn's Landing last week amidst a great deal of fanfare and hoopla. Not to be outdone, the South Street/Headhouse District has instituted programs to make the area safer, cleaner, and more friendly to local businesses. But in perhaps the most ambitious project, Councilman Joseph Vignola is courting the Walt Disney Co. to build its latest theme park -- Disney America-- in Philadelphia. So while Philadelphia may have taken a fall, it is in the process of picking itself up. The blustery wind could not dampen the holiday spirit last week at the dedication of the River Rink at Penn's Landing. Even the official mascot for the venture, a giant caped penguin on skates named "Rinky", joined hundreds of others to try out the new ice. And it is Mayor Ed Rendell's hope that the crowds will keep coming, and help make Penn's Landing a year-round facility for Philadelphians. "[Penn's Landing is] one of the best parts of Philadelphia from the middle of April to the middle of October," Rendell said. "We wanted to reinforce the fact that Penn's Landing is for all year round use. "It's just going to be great," he added in his address to the crowd. "When you think of the strides we made down at Penn's Landing the last 10 years -- it's phenomenal." Rendell even went so far as to compare the new facility with the world famous skating rink at Rockefeller Center. The Penn's Landing rink, however, is not yet a landmark tourist attraction -- and is actually a temporary structure built on a site that doubles as a parking lot in the summer. Greg Mayes, superintendent for Intech, the company that built the facility, said planners expect 60,000 people to skate on the full size hockey rink each year. Shawn Greenberg of Myriad Associates, which handles marketing and management duties for the rink, said the rink will draw crowds throughout the winter. "We will be planning a number of special events to appeal to a wide variety of people," Greenberg added. "It is going to be a significant step in enhancing Philadelphia's image." Local resident Luca Sena, for one, is overjoyed with the newest addition to Penn's Landing "It's sending a lot of tax dollars back into this side of town," he said. "This will help the merchants in the area. It is a great idea." The rink opened to the public last Friday. Tickets are four dollars per two-hour session and skate rental is available seven days a week. The Philadelphia PHLASH downtown loop shuttles -- which began operations earlier this month -- will also be making stops at the rink. Center City District Director of Public Information Nancy Goldenberg said Philadelphia's Street Scape Renewal project will "greatly improve" the image of the Center City District which runs from Vine to Locust Street and 6th to 21st Street. Organizers expect that the multi-million dollar plan will redo the sidewalks, pedestrian level lighting, building facades and plant trees, Goldenberg said. "It is an effort to really improve the pedestrian experience in Center City," she said. "It is clean, it is safe, and it is tourist-friendly, but if you look at the sidewalks, they have deteriorated over the years." Goldenberg said the project will increase local merchants' sales by allowing the area to be more frequented by potential shoppers. "The more pedestrians feel comfortable walking in town, the more they will bring their friends and family," she added. "We have done an excellent job in making the streets clean and safe. Now we are working on the more attractive piece." Financing for the project will come through a bond issue by the district. The remainder of the funds will come from state and federal sources. Commerce in Center City has already been boosted through the "Make it a Night" program, in which local business stay open late on Wednesday evenings. Businesses participating in "Make it a Night" have seen sales rise sharply due to the additional shoppers, Goldenberg said, with stores reporting 10 to 40 percent sales increases on Wednesday. "Make it a Night" has been so successful, Goldenberg said, that the organizers have received calls from cities around the world inquiring about the project. "'Make it a Night' continues to make a very positive impact on Center City," she added. "It has gotten to the point where people are planning their events for Wednesday night, because people know things are going to happen on Wednesday." And tonight is to be no exception in Center City -- the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony outside City Hall at 5 p.m. will be followed by the Market Street East Holiday Festival. "It's going to be huge," Goldenberg predicted. But such image-intense programming is not limited to Center City. Executive Director for the South Street/Headhouse District Peter Whitehouse said the special services district is looking for ways to improve its own area. Created a year and a half ago, the district is smaller in budget and size than the Center City District -- but both districts have the same mission, Whitehouse said. "[South Street/Headhouse is] charged with creating a cleaner, safer, business area," he said. In the process of the renovations, a consultant was hired by the district to beautify the area as part of a "major capital improvement," Whitehouse said. In addition, the district built a new police mini-station, started six-day-a week sidewalk cleaning, and produced a brochure for tourists. "We work very closely with the city, and we have gotten a lot of support from the City Council," he said. "We hope to become part of the Avenue of the Arts and tie into the Mayor's cultural loop." Whitehouse believes the improvements have gone a long way in enhancing the district's image, with positive feedback coming from businesses and members of the community. "I think South Street is a much safer place," he said. "I think police consider it one of, if not the safest, street. "We have a better, more interesting mix of people than any other place in the city," he added. "That's its appeal. I don't think people would come if they did not feel comfortable." But all these projects would become secondary if Disney America were to set up headquarters in South Philadelphia's naval yards. Vignola said earlier this month that Philadelphia is a perfect location because the theme park is to focus on American history. "Why not Philadelphia?" Vignola asked. "You don't have to create basic history. It is already here." Last month, Vignola sent a letter formally asking to Disney to consider Philadelphia as a potential site after Disney had to pull out of the location in Virginia's Prince William County because of protests by residents. And while Disney America is still searching for another site in northern Virginia, Vignola believes Philadelphia is still in the running. "I am optimistic that if we would have asked this question six months ago, they would have said no," Vignola said. For the councilman, he said the main issue is the economic boon and additional tax revenues the city could potentially reap from Disney's presence. "Jobs, jobs, jobs -- it's the bottom line," Vignola said. Vignola's Chief of Staff Arthur Holst said that Disney America would fit into the overall scheme of improving the city's image. "From day one, the Mayor committed to make Philadelphia a better place to do business," Holst said. "We have worked with folks to create additional jobs. "From my one perspective, I've noticed a complete difference in the way people view the city," he added. "The city's image had improved a thousand fold."