UCD to start 40th St. work

The construction project is aimed at improving the street's appearance. Since the University announced plans to build a new movie complex, fresh foods market and parking garage at 40th and Walnut streets last fall, interest in the economic growth of the 40th Street commercial corridor has skyrocketed. In a move aimed at further revitalizing what is often referred to as the "Main Street" of University City, the University City District is set to begin a major construction project today on the 40th Street area between Walnut and Chestnut streets. UCD officials say the work will improve the aesthetics of the commercial streetscape. A construction crew will repave sidewalks and curbs, build new bike racks, install new lampposts and plant trees along the block. "The University's overall commercial redevelopment strategy for 40th Street was what drove [our] desire to improve the public environment of 40th Street," UCD Executive Director Paul Steinke said. While the UCD developed and will manage the project, Penn is paying for the $220,000 construction, which will likely be completed by June 1. The project includes the area outside of establishments like Tandoor India, Fork and Chopstick, Steve's Fashions and Jay's Cleaners. The City of Philadelphia is planning a similar project -- still in the design stages -- that will renovate the 40th Street streetscape between Chestnut and Market streets. That phase of construction should be completed by this fall, Steinke said. "Before the end of the year, 40th Street will have an entirely new streetscape from Market all the way down to Spruce," Steinke said. The new design of both blocks will be consistent with the current appearance of 40th Street between Walnut and Locust streets. Calling the project a "strategic investment," Steinke said the most important part of the renovations will be the noticeably better lighting on the block, which "will improve the sense of safety on the street and overall make it a more attractive place to be." The UCD selected Lorezon Bros., a West Philadelphia-based contractor, to head the construction and employed University architects in the design phase of the project. In addition, the UCD worked closely with the University to "ensure that local residents are employed during the construction? and minority- and women-owned business are utilized during the project as well," said Jack Shannon, the University's top economic development official. While the project will have little impact on the flow of street traffic, pedestrian passage may be hampered by the construction, Steinke said. Another major part of the UCD's 40th Street revitalization initiative was the creation of a steering committee composed of Penn officials, community members and area businesspeople aimed to spur further retail development in the 40th Street corridor. The committee has conducted surveys -- through e-mail, the UCD's World Wide Web site and on-site interviews with 40th Street patrons -- to get an idea of what kind of retail should be introduced to the area. "We're gonna see a number of new, exciting businesses opening up along the corridor that will better serve the needs of the students and our neighbors," said Shannon, who serves on the steering committee. With the help of a consulting firm, the committee will soon create a plan to develop "a retail mix that would be more appealing to a broader range of people," said committee member Barry Grossbach, who chairs the zoning committee of the Spruce Hill Community Association. Another objective of the committee is to enhance the aesthetics of the commercial corridor through improving the appearance of the business storefronts, Grossbach said.

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