End the obnoxious appropriation of sidewalks by developers! - Page 2 - PhillyBlog

Queen Villager · #11 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 12:56 AM

What about the 700 block of Bainbridge Street, which for months, if not longer, has required pedestrians to step into the street or cross mid-block? Not sure if this remains the case - at one time, sidewalks on both sides of that block were blocked.

zur · #12 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim K

Um, no. You just need to put up scaffolding that allows pedestrians to safely use the sidewalk underneath. Clearly, there are times, that for safety, sidewalks are closed so that material isn't falling on people....but some of these sites close the sidewalk for extended periods of time even after major work is done and they have moved to the interior of the building. This is when it is a problem, as people refuse to cross and use the other side and insist on walking into the street.

How many plywood boards do you need to stop a piece of glass falling 20 stories?

Dave · #13 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 03:45 PM

Text of bill:

http://webapps.phila.gov/council/detailreport/?key=8171

Nytecat · #14 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:10 PM

In Philadelphia they've always closed the adjoining sidewalk to build new buildings or refurbish existing ones, forcing pedestrians to use the other side. This is also the case in Baltimore. But in New York City and Boston, the city closes a lane of traffic, protected with jersery barriers, so pedestrians don't have to cross over. I'd like to see that done here too, but merchants will lose business and bitch to the politicians because the lane closure impedes traffic flow.

Bebop · #15 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 10:49 PM

This is really a major crisis that is facing our city?

Issues like this make me think that DAG is really out of touch with what is going on in the City.

If they want to focus on a real design issue, why don't they volunteer to do facilities assessments at all of our schools?

Or why don't they volunteer to help restore the beautiful Victorian homes that are crumbling in West Philly and other neighborhoods.

But god forbid you should make someone have to go ten steps out of their way just to get their lattes.

lbphilly · #16 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 05:18 PM

Forwarded by the Design Advocacy Group. Apologies if this duplicates something in another thread. The deadline for sending photos of egregious sidewalk hogs is past, but it's possible that they make take some anyhow.

Quote:

Dear DAG Member
The Committee on Streets and Services of the Council of the City of
Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 1:00 PM,
in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

080088 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Streets and Services to hold
public hearings to investigate sidewalk closures during construction projects
and examine ways to improve pedestrian access to these sidewalks by requiring
protected walkways around construction sites.

DAG intends to testify or submit testimony on this important issue that has
been a focus for us.
We seek case studies from you -- particularly photographs of inappropriate
sidewalk and street closures. Alan Greenberger and I are providing
documentation of the following sites:

1. 21st and Market (Murano)
2. Architect's Building (17th and Sansom) 3. 18th and Sansom (Rittenhouse) 4.
5th and Market 5. 1352 South Street

Here is what you can do to help: Especially powerful are images of people
walking in the street because of the sidewalk closure, unclear signs, and
disruptions caused by loading or excessive contractor parking. Images that
show people at risk will be most telling. Would you please provide no more
than four photographs not to exceed about 400kb each and a short description
of the problem including the address and name of the project if known? We are
also looking for those irritating "spur of the moment" sidewalk blockages
that maintenance contractors seem to think they can do with no permits so
keep your cell phone cameras ready. Additionally we are looking for
situations where blockage occurs on opposite sides of a street within the
same block or nearby blocks. This would be very powerful in making our case.
Also if anyone is in New York or other cities in the next few days where
there are more obviously appropriate provisions for sidewalk continuity such
as heavy enclosed sidewalk protection structures, etc. -- having
documentation of this would be very helpful.

Please send emails with photos to info@claflenassociates.com -- subject line:
DAG Testimony. Try to send as soon as possible but not later than Monday
March 31, 2008 at 6:00pm We will assume that the photo should be credited to
the sender of the email unless advised otherwise.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Sincerely,

George L. Claflen, Jr.
Vice-chair for projects

Jayfar · #17 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 08:06 PM

dup of post from 3/28 (although your thread title is better):

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/arc...evelopers.html

Mixiboi · #18 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 01:52 AM

yeah, it'd be ideal to merge and keep this title.

And I do have questions, is it easy to have sidewalk open while you are building a building and keeping people safe? Most building rip up the sidewalks and replace them with new ones after construction, would this stop them from doing that? If the sidewalks are reopen during construction, is there any protection to the companies if an accident happens and hurts a walker?

zur · #19 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 05:16 PM

I demand we increase the cost of construction and therefore housing.!

Now!

Right?

passyunk square · #20 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 10:16 PM

We can't protect pedestrians! Business will come to a halt and pedestrians will be pummeled with falling construction debris (even though they'll have a steel reinforced structure over their heads.)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously?

It's not like this has never been done before by courteous developers.

Has no one been to 5th & Market? The curb lane is closed, a jersey barrier funnels people around the construction while keeping them safe from errant motorists.

Meanwhile the sidewalk at 11th & Washington is still closed for the effing BV Lofts. the BV Lofts. They started working on that 5 years ago. 5 YEARS AGO ! ! !