The Fairmount Park Commission recently approved the release of a small strip of land behind the Rodin Museum, where an apartment building with automobile access will be constructed.
The move has angered local environmental groups and urban planners, who are skeptical of the plan's design in relation to other architectural successes along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Located between 21st and 22nd streets, the parcel in question is below street grade, sloping and inaccessible. Considering these conditions -- which are unsuitable for recreation -- it is "reasonable for park commissioners to consider the proposal," said William Becker, a principal at the Philadelphia-based Becker & Frondorf design consulting firm.
Professor of City and Regional Planning Eugenie Birch agreed, stressing the importance of incorporating green space in the design.
"The project behind the Rodin Museum is very proximal to Fairmount Park and could be ideal in the view of developers and residents," Birch said.
"If this building needs permission for development, it is incumbent that the city planning [committee] take a look at the site design and make sure that there is sufficient open space on the site or nearby."
The initial architectural design was proposed years ago by developer Joseph Pacitti.
Finally slated for a final decision hearing last December, the project was further delayed by former Fairmount Commissioner Philip Price Jr., who requested a public hearing to review the plan.
Pacitti's original design called for a driveway whose path would have violated the railroad's right of way.
Plans for automobile access were eventually re-routed.
Despite the alteration, "the project should continue as planned," said Fairmount Park Commission Chief of Staff Barry Bessler in a Philadelphia City Paper article.
"But the driveway will not cross over to 22nd Street. Instead, Hamilton Street will be used for access."
Cities across the country, eager to balance budgets, have also released land parcels for development. For example, in Boston, a building plan called for the paving of 29,000 square feet in Middlesex Fells' public forests. In addition, developers in New York proposed the erection of new apartment buildings in place of community gardens.
In light of these plans, concerns have been raised about the loss of public green space.
However, at least in the case of Philadelphia, Birch was quick to dispel these worries, noting that the city's development has primarily involved renovation rather than new construction.
"Philadelphia -- along with Boston, Chicago, Lower Manhattan and San Diego -- have become repositories for either adapted housing or new housing in their downtowns," Birch said. "Streets have become more animated, and it has gone a long way in changing the image of downtown."
In particular, Birch emphasized the need to develop non-suburban areas.
"Philadelphia has some wonderful [urban] neighborhoods that families often skip" while looking for housing, Birch said. "The goal is to develop those and make them more attractive as well."
