I hope the corridor of Washington Ave. continues to be built up, and I hope we get a Rt. 15-like trolley in the medium-term future (albeit with modern multi-car trolleys). Traffic tie-ups are already endemic between 11th to 7th St. b/c of the various markets.

I inadvertently drove past here today, coming up S. Broad from South Philly & finding my way blocked by the parade. Got detoured onto Federal & then turned north up 16th, so I saw the old depot building. Pretty cool.

I then drove west on Washington rather than deal with congestion further north on 16th, and it occurred to me that a new transit line in this area would still be a pretty hard sell - it was mostly deserted (granted, it's Sunday). But count me among those who'd love to see light rail come to the center of Washington Avenue anyway.

Well, light rail in the form of a trolley USED to run up and down Washington Ave., and was noted as being very successful as long as Washington Ave. was itself a vibrant destination.

i think a trolley would be nice on washington as well, but the tracks aren't there anymore below broad, are they? in addition, there would have to be some serious traffic enforcement right around 6th and 9th and 11th, or trolleys would get backed up and blocked by all the double parking at 1st oriental, the italian market, and hung vuong.

Actually, they say that's exactly what it used to be like with the old trolleys. They decided to take out the trolleys to cope with it.

That would rock.

__________________
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Just found this thread, but am glad I did...

David,

Wanted to let you know that the Passyunk Square Civic Association (to the east of the HOB, but directly South of your BV Lofts project) has been collaborating with UPenn Planning Grad students. They are doing a plan of Washington Avenue that includes many of the ideas that are being discussed in this thread. We would love to have you involved in this process. If you would like to come to the next presenation, etc... please let me know (contact@passyunk.org)

Arts... as a former artist and board member of Vox Populi Gallery (currently on Cherry Street in Gilbert Building that will be demolished for Convention Center expansion), I have been an advocate of bringing arts organizations to South Philadelphia. I think it is a natural place to create a new cultural core. We have been trying to figure out ways to encourage this on 9th Street south of Washington Avenue and along Washington Avenue.

I have talked to founders and directors of many of the most interesting theater, visual arts, performance and other cultural organizations... and most of them are very interested in space in South Philadelphia... along 9th and/or Washington Ave. (Coincidently, many of this people actually live in Passyunk Square and surrounding neighborhoods.)

If you would like to be connected up with these people, please let me know.

And now for my personal request...

Please don't develop your properties on Washington Avenue with parking lots at the sidewalk level (not that you would!). Please build to the curb line so that Washington Avenue can blossom into the pedestrian-friendly walkable avenue that it is destined to be.

Geoff
:::::::::::::::::::::::........................... .................................................. ..
vice-president
Passyunk Square Civic Association
Washington Avenue to Tasker Street, 6th Street to Broad Street
http://passyunksquare.org/



You are probably aware of this documents, but in case you aren't... they have some great recommendations for commercial development to preserve some of the great things about Philadelphia:

http://www.designadvocacy.org/docs/1...designeval.pdf

http://www.philaplanning.org/plans/neighdesign.pdf

A community meeting is scheduled for this Thursday (tomorrow) at 6:30pm at St. Thomas church at 22nd & Reed. Mr. Grasso's respect for the community and passion for a great project is getting lukewarm support from people in the neighborhood. He has addressed all concerns in a thoughtful and thorough manner.

While many local residents feel their wishes have come true and are thankful of change in Point Breeze, they are not the loudest voices and many remain silent. The local community groups are very supportive, but like to address the concerns of the immediate neighbors.

Please come and let your voices be heard!

I would not be surprised if the Universal cult members tried to oppose this so that HOB won't make Gamble's failed Royal Theater/Ave. Arts Entertainment venue look bad.

Then there is the "bring back industrial plants like it was WWII" crowd. They don't seem to know what NAFTA is. They knee-jerk oppose all commercial zoning and want to keep the abundant vacant industrial areas zoned industrial "for when they want to come back."

Such as this sad lady who stood up and said, "I want my kids to be able to get out of high school and get a good industrial job like I had, and my parents had, and we have to fight this commericial zoning or we'll only have jobs like retail." What do you say to these people? Have ya thought about college? Skilled trades? Her "good job" was working in a candy factory, wrapping and packing candies. How do you explain that this is what people do in China for pennies a day?

I can already imagine the position of Odunde, which will paint HOB as a "gentrifier" driving out "the historic" AA community, even though SP has been a community of immigrants in flux since time immemorial.

Sorry to sound sarcastic; been to a lot of these meetings.

So please come out and show your support for the actual industries coming to our neighborhoods. I've been to six years of meetings, and I've seen good ideas get killed because people want the neighborhoods to stay exactly the way they were, fighting all change blindly, without thought.

Without your voice, it won't happen. Cool folk, get your butts out there and speak up.

There was a second meeting about HOB tonight, and I was working so I couldn't go. Anyone there? Any stories? fn