W. Phila. residents discuss 40th St.

Community members expressed concerns and hopes for development of Penn's west boundary. West Philadelphia community members got a preview of the proposed redevelopment of the area around 40th and Walnut streets last week, and the reaction was mostly positive. At last Thursday's open zoning meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association, University and community officials talked about both their specific plans for the area and why improving the area is such a high priority. While some residents of the Spruce Hill neighborhood -- which extends from 40th to 46th streets and from Woodland Avenue to Market Street -- said they worry that the construction and commercialization will be intrusive, most indicated that they are hopeful that the revitalization of the area will be a boon. "I think that the general consensus is that the project is a very definite plus for the community aspects of 40th Street, the life of the business community and overall life of the residents," said Barry Grossbach, who ran the meeting and chairs the zoning committee of the Spruce Hill Community Association. Residents said they are excited about both the direct benefits of having a grocery store and movie theater as well as the effects the redevelopment will have on encouraging further investment in the area. School of Social Work Professor Dennis Culhane, a University City resident, said he and his family are very excited about the project. "This area has so little retail, we have to travel to the suburbs for what we need," he noted. University Managing Director of Real Estate Tom Lussenhop echoed that sentiment, saying that the part of 40th Street near Penn's campus is a "vital commercial corridor" whose renovation "sets the stage for a subsequent set of investments made up and down 40th Street." At the meeting, the project's architects, equipped with color drawings, models and samples of materials, presented a detailed but still preliminary set of plans. Those plans, highly touted by the University, include building an eight-screen movie theater co-owned by independent film guru Robert Redford in the Hamilton Village shopping center, a specialty food market across the street at the northwest corner of 40th and Walnut streets and an 800-car parking garage located directly above the market. Though community reaction to the proposal was mostly positive, residents raised many different concerns regarding certain aspects of the project. One such issue is the potential for damage to property by delivery trucks. Residents fear that large trucks bringing supplies to the food market will not be able to make the tight turn from 40th Street onto Sansom Street without damaging the curb and adjacent residential property. The architects assured them that all trucks will be able to make the turn. Other concerns included questions about how the area would be lit. Several people at the meeting said they wanted a balance between having enough light to ensure the area's safety without disturbing people living nearby. The project presenters stressed that all concerns will be taken into account, and revisions to the project -- construction for which is now slated to begin in April -- are inevitable. After the presentation of the project to the community, the zoning committee met privately to discuss the project with Penn officials and discuss possible changes. Community officials will meet later with the city zoning board to talk about the plan before the agency officially approves it. Lindsay Johnston, president of the 40th Street Area Business Association, also commended the project. "The status of 40th Street in its present condition is not acceptable," she said. "This is the chance to really pull this area together."