Thomas J. Walsh

Sept. 15, 2009

By Thomas J. Walsh
For PlanPhilly

The Point Breeze and Gray’s Ferry sections of southwest Philadelphia, riddled with urban decay, declining populations and an increasing vacancy rate, were re-certified as officially blighted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission Tuesday.

The agency also approved new design guidelines for the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway (to be a part of the East Coast Greenway system), approved amendments to the fiscal year 2010-2015 capital program and the fiscal year 2010 capital budget and gave the go-ahead for two neighborhood redevelopment projects.

FULL STORY HERE (with videos of meeting).

Aug. 28, 2009

By Thomas J. Walsh
For PlanPhilly

Lost in all the recent talk about the Reading Viaduct – the elevated, abandoned railroad bed that slices through the city from Vine Street northeast to Fairmount Avenue – is that if things had gone a certain way a decade ago, the City of Philadelphia would already own the property.

What’s more, Reading International Inc., the California-based movie theater and real estate company that is the ancestor of the Reading Railroad, wanted to give the city between $2 million and $3 million to take the property off its hands, say veteran economic development professionals who were with the city’s Commerce Department at the time.

…Meanwhile, the highly touted, highly publicized High Line in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood has already served two big roles for Philadelphia’s own version of a possible elevated park in the sky.

FULL STORY HERE.

Aug. 28, 2009

For PlanPhilly

HARRISBURG – The troubled Foxwoods Philadelphia Casino, if it ever does open its doors, will do so on Columbus Boulevard, state officials mandated on Friday.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board convened to hear a petition from Foxwoods for a two-year extension of its gaming license, which it ultimately granted, with what could be rather strict conditions.

FULL STORY HERE.

A natural two-part series on what’s happening on Spring Garden Street, in the short-term and over the long haul.
Part 1 ran on Aug. 4., 2009.
Part 2 ran on Aug. 6.

Spring Garden Street by the I-95 overpass, looking southeast.