Dean named as city planning chairman

With a bang of the gavel and a shake of the hand, Graduate School of Fine Arts Dean Gary Hack was named chairman of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission at the board's regular meeting Thursday. Even at his first meeting, the Canadian-born Hack tackled the tough issues -- the main topic of the day dealt with the controversial proposal to build new stadiums for the Eagles and Phillies. With so much experience as a contributing urban designer, taking charge of the planning process will be a new experience for Hack. "I've spent most of my life as a planning consultant, spending more time than I care to recount in front of planning boards," he said the day after his acceptance. "It will be a very interesting experience to be on the other side." GSFA studios stand to benefit from this position, as many Planning Commission projects focus on the Philadelphia environment. Professor of City Planning Anthony Tomazinis called Hack's newest undertaking the "optimal combination of town and gown." "Academics have a tendency to float between earth and sky if not connected with real problems," Tomazinis said. "This will bring to Penn the realistic view of the planning problems of metropolitan areas." Since World War II, GSFA deans have often held top positions on the city's planning commission. Hack has also been involved in developing a new campus plan for Penn which may place new retail, housing and athletic facilities at the eastern edge of campus, on land currently occupied by the United States Postal Service. "I have to be careful not to find myself in conflicting situations," Hack said. "I'll have to [excuse] myself when plans from Penn come before the Board." Others agree that Hack's University role will not overstep the planning commission's duties. "We deal with the City Planning Commission just like any other developer of property," said Tom Lussenhop, the University's top real estate official. "The quality of vision that Gary will bring to the planning commission is a good thing for any developer." Prior to arriving at Penn in 1996, Hack was an urban design professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a partner in the Cambridge planning firm of Carr, Lynch, Hack and Sandelli -- with Kevin Lynch, author of The Image of the City. Hack's academic and professional work spans from New York to Bangkok, including over thirty city plans. Hack's tasks will include approving subdivisions and zoning city land, working in concert with the City Council for approval. "We're tremendously supportive of this decision.... [Mayor John Street] appointing so prestigious a person really speaks to the importance of the planning commission," Planning Commission Executive Director Maxine Griffith said. University students are optimistic about their dean's new job. "This is a great opportunity for us," said Luis Chuang, a first-year City Planning graduate student. "He knows the potential of Penn students." Some feel that Hack needs to be careful not to spread himself too thin. "I think that he needs to figure out some of [GSFA's] problems first -- especially financial aid," said Michelle Hollins, a third-year Landscape Architecture graduate student. Hack noted that he hopes to focus on the North Delaware River waterfront, the old Navy Yard and the Schuylkill River waterfront, using his extensive experience with urban waterfronts. "The city is at a point where it'll take more than incremental additions to transform its fabric and character," Hack said, echoing the theme of the great planner Daniel Burnham -- "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir mens' blood."