That is how they did Girard ave. One was getting finished while the next was on the way to being finish and the next block was getting ready to be taken apart.

It work out well. Tho we didn't have PGW get in the way.

__________________
"And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that happens between now and Election Day."--Rev. Arnold Conrad

TimK,

Thanks for an official update.

Businesses were consistently told work was going to start on the north side of South street, progress block by block, and then loop around to complete the south side in the same manner. From this breakdown, businesses were calculating and making plans for the time they would be disrupted. Those plans are now thrown out, and we are at the mercy and whim of contractors-not that I'm surprised.

From a mutual associate, I was told that the work was switched to start on the south side "as to not disrupt outdoor seating during the summertime". I'll leave it to your intellect to fill in the blanks, along with my notation that technically there are more places with sidewalk seating on the north side than the south side, which only has Copa and Bridget Foys.

first comment- i am impressed as I walked back from Wawa this morning down south street and I couldn't find a single patch of the new concrete with anybody's name carved in it....well done

second comment - walking down walnut on Sunday over by Rittenhouse - they had crews with the high pressure power washers cleaning the sidewalks and the results were pretty good. Wondering if any 'powers that be' had considered this as a way to keep the new and improved clean street as pretty as possible.

Ditto.

Thanks TimK for the 'word' ... the fact is, I too have heard the switch from North to South was so not to disrupt cafe seating... but regardless of that grapevine rumbling, the PGW drama is one that I can only bet will become a major eyesore throughout the summer months.

They have already gone on record about the aging condition of their pipelines, ever since the explosion on 6th street. This is a chance for them to replace everything at once ... all i can say is, regardless of which side of the street you're on, if you decide to stroll or sit, don't wear white this summer - esp if we have a dry patch of weather - cause add some wind and you've got yourself some crazy dirt storms!

__________________

REFLECTIONS OF A ROCK LOBSTER

I am a bit confused about the PGW debacle. They didn't do 4th street. 7th was bad. 6th. 5th. 3rd. But magically, the 400 block was ok? I thought it was a bit strange.

Oh, and I hate PGW. Man, do I have some stories.

Here is the latest on the streetscape..... I think this pretty well spells out just how far from "one block at a time" this process is...

100 & 200 blocks

• Concrete sidewalk pouring completed
• Handicap corners will be temporarily paved with asphalt to eliminate barriers while ADA plans are developed
• Wiring being installed to pedestrian lights and tree pits.

300 block

• Work will begin on PGW gas lines on Monday April 28th
• One side of the street at a time
• Completion of both mains and service lines anticipated by May 1st
• Sidewalk contractor Seravalli will jump in and finish sidewalks as soon as PGW vacates the block

400 block

• Concrete sidewalks in process of being poured
• Bridges and barricades will be off sidewalks by Friday April 25th

500 block

• Trench for granite curb and electrical conduit fully excavated
• Curb and conduit installation begin Thursday April 24th

600 block

• Partially excavated for curb and conduit
• Should be completed by Friday April 25th

700 block

• The eastern half of the block has had the initial process of breaking up the sidewalk and curb line completed
• Late Friday or early Monday April 28th the excavation for curb and conduit will begin.

i can't remember exactly where I saw it, but someone here posted an "artists rendition" of the what the South St. renovation project would be...and it had brick sidewalks, which would have been wonderful.

seems that all this work they're doing is a giant waste of time, since they're just putting regular old concrete walkways in to repalce the exact same thing. it's a waste of a great opportunity to have put in bricks, pavers, etc. that would have really classed up that street. i suppose taht the powers that be want sout street to remain a shithole and pander to its current "clientele" instead of trying to do better, and bring better shops/bars/restaurants in there.

Oh boy.

And cue Alesis in 5...4...3...2....

__________________
"I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves." - Ludwig Wittgenstein

Or HG!

Listen gtadross...the "clientele" consists of far more people than you realize. There seems to be no way to make everyone happy all of the time. There are those that are whining that South Street is being *upclassed* too much, and Philadelphia can only handle ONE Walnut Street! And now you come along and say it's not classy enough and will remain a shithole...so which is it? By the way, when was the last time you were actually ON South Street? Did you happen to notice the number of nice restaurants on the street?

And as for your claims that bricks or pavers would 'class it up', see this since apparently they can look like crap too.

__________________
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"Censorship is free advertising by the government"--Federico Fellini

"Do you mind if I smoke while you eat?"

i'm on south street every single day. i live right there.

I'm not going to debate whether south street should be nicer, or should cater to certain individuals or whatever. it is what it is, and probably always will be.

the point of my original posting, if you read it closely, was that they should have used bricks and pavers instead of concrete during this phase of the renovation. whether or not that brings in a more upscale clientele, i think we can all agree that using bricks/pavers would be more appealling than the poured concrete they're using now, notwithstanding the link to your previous posting regarding trees uprooting sidewalks, which would happen regardless of whether you use concrete or bricks depending on the type of tree being planted.