philadelphia city planning commission · 2016. 3. 27. · public realm within the district....

PHILADELPHIA

2 35 LOWER SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN - 2nd Public Meeting

WWW.PHILA2035.ORG PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

The second public meeting for the Lower Southwest District Plan took place on January 21st at Penrose Elementary School. The meeting attracted over 75 attendees to the school located at 2515 S. 78th Street in the Eastwick neighborhood.

This meeting served a dual purpose. The first was to update the public about the planning process for the Lower Southwest District Plan, specifically providing analysis of the first Public Meeting results. The second was to obtain community input on proposed plan recommendations and comments for the two selected Focus Areas (Lower Eastwick and the Woodland & Elmwood Avenue Corridors). Focus Areas are areas where multiple layers of public intervention (e.g. zoning changes, land sales or acquisition, infrastructure improvements, business incentives, etc.) can come together to create positive momentum and revitalize specific intersections, corridors, or neighborhoods.

After a presentation about the planning process and first public meeting results, Planning Commission staff facilitated conversations and recommendation exercises at ten different stations. The stations were as follows:

JANUARY 21, 2016 - Penrose Elementary School

• Lower Southwest Gateways• Vending on Woodland Avenue• Prioritizing Safety Improvements: Cobbs Creek Parkway• Prioritizing Safety Improvements: District-wide• Streetscape Improvements Along Woodland and Elmwood• Public Open Space Improvements• Housing Types• Vacant Land in Lower Eastwick• Focus Area: Lower Eastwick• Focus Area: Woodland and Elmwood Avenue Corridors

PHILADELPHIA


PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 2

DELAWARE RIVER

PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

GIRARD

POIN

T BRID

GE

GEORGE C. PLATT MEMORIAL B

RIDGE

PASSYUNK BRIDGE

84TH STREET

S 58TH ST

ISLAND AVE

BARTRAM AVE

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

CENTER

FORT MIFFLIN

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

ESSI

NGT

ON A

VE

S 61ST ST

PENROSE AVE

KINGS

ESSIN

G AV

E

WOO

DLAN

D AV

E

COBB

S CRE

EK

PARK

WAY

ELM

WOOD AV

E

DARBY CRE

EK

COBB

S

CRE

EK

SCHUYLK ILL RIVER

I-95

I-95

ISLAND AVEM

ARIO LANZA BLVD.

S 77TH ST

S 80TH ST

S 63RD ST

BUIST

AVE

CHES

TER A

VE

ENTERPRISE AVE

BART

RAM

AVE

S 70TH ST

S 70TH ST

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

° 0 1,9003,800950

Feet

Prior to the staff presentation and the facilitated group exercises, residents were asked to participate in a “Where Do You Live” welcoming exercise. The purpose of this exercise was to assess what areas of the Lower Southwest District participants represented. As shown on the map below, participants came from all residential areas of the District. In addition, several participants came from across the City including the Upper Northwest, Upper North, West Park, West, University Southwest, South and Central Districts.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

Lower Southwest

Central

Meeting Location:2515 S. 78th Street

Philadelphia, PA

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 1: Lower Southwest Gateways

PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSIONLower Southwest District Plan Public Meeting

DELAWARE RIVER

PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

GIRARD

POIN

T BRID

GE


RIDGE

PASSYUNK BRIDGE

84TH STREET

S 58TH ST

ISLAND AVE

BARTRAM AVE

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

CENTER

FORT MIFFLIN

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

ESSI

NGT

ON A

VE

S 61ST ST

PENROSE AVE

KINGS

ESSIN

G AV

E

WOO

DLAN

D AV

E

COBB

S CRE

EK

PARK

WAY

ELM

WOOD AV

E

DARBY CRE

EK

COBB

S

CRE

EK

SCHUYLK ILL RIVER

I-95

I-95

ISLAND AVEM

ARIO LANZA BLVD.

S 77TH ST

S 80TH ST

S 63RD ST

BUIST

AVE

CHES

TER A

VE

ENTERPRISE AVE

BART

RAM

AVE

S 70TH ST

S 70TH ST

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

° 0 1,9003,800950

Feet

58th St / Woodland Ave

Passyunk Bridge

Isla

nd A

ve / W

oodland Ave / Cobbs Creek Parkway

Isla

nd A

ve / E

lmwood Ave / Passyunk Ave

70th St / Lindbergh Blv

d

Island Ave / Bartram Ave

Airport On / Off R

amps

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...Isla

nd A

ve /

Lind

bergh Blvd

Streetscape and Intersection Enhancements

Corridor Management and Facade Treatments

Mural Arts Program

Streetscape and Public Realm Gateway Treatments

Monumental Sculpture Art / Lighting Treatment

Seating & Public Realm Gateway Treatments

Gateway Lighting /Signage Treatments

Gateway Signage & Greening Treatments

LOWER SOUTHWEST GATEWAYS

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

12

Place ONE dot on the gateway you think needs improvements.

Place ONE dot on an example gateway treatment you would like to see in the Lower Southwest District:

(Source: UCD) (Source: Assoc. for Public Art) (Source: DFX)

(Source: Hidden City Philadelphia) (Source: Art Place America)

The Porch (30th Street Station)60th Street Passyunk Square (Source: Flying Kite)

East Falls Gateway

Race Street ConnectorPhiladelphia Beacons (S Broad St / Washington Ave)

Mural on Oil Tank (Penrose Avenue and Platt Bridge)

Woodland Green (42nd Street and Woodland Avenue)

24%32%

19%

0%

3%

10%

6%

19%

10%

3%

3%

5%

13% 0%

21% 30%

Comment Summary: Many intersections in the Lower Southwest District have the potential to become more welcoming with the appropriate upgrades. Adding new gateway features and improving existing ones can reinforce an identity for a particular neighborhood or corridor, and help the district as a whole. Residents of the district voiced their opinions about which intersections needed visual improvement and which types of improvements could enhance the neighborhood.

The most mentioned intersection for improvement was Island and Bartram Avenue, and the highest level of interest for streetscape improvements included intersection enhancements, such as bump-outs and amenities for pedestrians and transit users. General comments included linking the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to Regional Rail Station, creating better access to Penrose Plaza, preserving the garden near Bartram and Island Avenues, including Eastwick Station in planned improvements, and enhancing safety features of the bike lane on Island Avenue.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 2: Vending on Woodland Avenue


VENDING ON WOODLAND AVENUE

WOULD YOU PREFER TO...Make vending more permanent

along Woodland Avenue?

Here’s why:

Centralize vending in an open location near the corridor? I don’t like the vending.

Place dot... Place dot... Place dot...

After shopping hours on Woodland Avenue, many vendors set up grills and stands to sell food and other items. The vendors help to create a lively atmosphere after the stores along the avenue have closed.

Clark Park in West PhiladelphiaExample of a more permanent commercial streetscape with vending

Example of street vendors

along Woodland Avenue.

(Source: Friends of Clark Park)

38% 34%

10%SEE A BALANCE

BETWEEN PERMANENCE AND CENTRALIZED

LOCATION

3%WANT TO SEE CENTRALIZED

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

14%

Comment Summary:

It is a priority of the city to maintain and improve access to healthy food for all citizens. Formalizing food vending to ensure compliance with health codes is a potential strategy towards improving this access. Residents who attended the public meeting commented on whether or not they approved of street vending, voted on potential vending options, and made general comments about street vending in their neighborhood.Results of the exercise were mixed, but the majority of

participants had an interest in formalizing vending to support low-income residents, to create a unique and lively atmosphere for the community, and to ensure food safety by requiring valid licenses and compliance with health regulations. Some residents favored the idea of farmer’s markets, particularly in Elmwood Park, and most believed that if vending were formalized, it needed to be clean and healthy.Some participants believed that there was not enough space for vending, that it would take away from other amenities in the community, and that it was not possible for venders to comply with health codes.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 3: Prioritizing Safety Improvements: Cobbs Creek Parkway


Ches

ter Ave

nue

McCree

sh Pl

aygro

und

PRIORITIZING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: COBBS CREEK PARKWAYCURRENT CONDITIONS

Cobbs Creek Parkway and S 67th Street

Cobbs Creek Parkway and S 70th Street

Larry Street and 70th Street

Cobbs Creek Parkway, Woodland Avenue & Island Avenue

1

2

3

4

S 65th Street

S 67th Street

S 68th Street

Cobb

s Cre

ek Pa

rkway

Woo

dland

Avenu

e

S 70th Street

Larry Street3

1

2

4

Are there any other intersections you think need improvements? Show us!

Place ONE dot on the intersection you think most needs safety improvements. 9%

50%

6%

28%

3%

3%

Comment Summary:

Cobbs Creek Parkway was identified by the public as an area that was dangerous and in need of traffic calming. Traffic calming measures at dangerous intersections can help to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety and improve the public realm within the district. Residents voiced their opinions about which intersections in this area needed the most safety improvements. The most highly ranked intersection for improvement was Cobbs

Creek Parkway and S. 70th Street, followed by Cobbs Creek Parkway at Woodland and Island Avenues. Respondents discussed the dangers associated with crossing the parkway due to traffic speeds and a lack of lighting. They saw the need for improved lighting as well as new amenities such as crosswalks and bike lanes, and stressed that the aesthetics of intersections are important. They cited a few areas with difficult travel patterns, and mentioned that vacant and illegal activity have become an issue, especially south of 70th Street on the parkway.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 4: Prioritizing Safety Improvements in the Lower Southwest District


DELAWARE RIVER

PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

GIRARD

POIN

T BRID

GE


RIDGE

PASSYUNK BRIDGE

84TH STREET

S 58TH ST

ISLAND AVE

BARTRAM AVE

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

CENTER

FORT MIFFLIN

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

ESSI

NGT

ON A

VE

S 61ST ST

PENROSE AVEKIN

GSES

SING

AVE

WOO

DLAN

D AV

E

COBB

S CRE

EK

PARK

WAY

ELM

WOOD AV

E

DARBY CRE

EK

COBB

S

CRE

EK

SCHUYLK ILL RIVER

I-95

I-95

ISLAND AVEM

ARIO LANZA BLVD.

S 77TH ST

S 80TH ST

S 63RD ST

BUIST

AVE

CHES

TER A

VE

ENTERPRISE AVE

BART

RAM

AVE

S 70TH ST

S 70TH ST

LINDB

ERGH

BLV

D

W PASSYUNK AVE

° 0 1,9003,800950

Feet

PRIORITIZING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTSCURRENT CONDITIONS

S 61st Street, Passyunk Avenue and Essington Avenue Corridor

S 70th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard

S 84th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard

Penrose Plaza Entrance, Island Avenue and Lindbergh Blvd.

Woodland Avenue Corridor

1

2

3

4

5

2

3

1

5

4

Place ONE dot on the intersection you think mostneeds safety improvements.

Are there any other intersections you think need improvements? Show us!

3%14%36%39%6%

3%

Comment Summary:

Goals for the district include improving transportation safety, efficiency, and convenience. It is important to ensure that all residents traveling feel safe and at ease while commuting to their destination. Those who attended the public meeting voiced their opinion about which intersections needed the most safety improvements.The intersections of Island and Lindbergh Boulevard and 84th and Lindbergh Boulevard were top

ranked in terms of preference to prioritize improvements. Commenters also discussed intersections not on the map, including 60th and Chester Avenue, 60th and Kingsessing Avenue, Island and Bartram Avenue, 70th and Essington Avenues, and Norwitch Drive.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 5: Streetscape Improvements Along Woodland and Elmwood Avenues


STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WOODLAND AND ELMWOOD AVENUES

Greening and Vegetation Restore Iconic Buildings along Corridor Pedestrian Street Lighting

Pedestrian and Bike Safety SEPTA Transit Shelters/Enhancements Reuse / Repurpose Woodland Ave Seating

Streetscape Furniture

Allow for more vending opportunities

Place TWO dots on the streetscapeimprovements you would like to see more of

along Woodland and Elmwood Avenues.

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

(Source: Landscape Architecture Foundation) (Source: Landscape Online) (Source: St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization)

(Source: My Ballard)

22%

8%

9%

13%

22%

6%

5%

16%

Comment Summary:

The Woodland and Elmwood Avenue Corridors are thriving commercial corridors with need of moderate improvement. This area is a local cultural destination, with shops and restaurants that emphasize the district’s diverse heritage. Enhancing the corridor experience will help to connect the community and make it more valuable to the residents. Participants were asked which types of streetscape improvements they most preferred. Respondents said that greening and vegetation as well as pedestrian street lighting would be the most viable streetscape improvements,

followed by opportunities for vending and SEPTA transit shelter enhancements. General comments were that outdoor vendors along the corridors were inconvenient as they congested the sidewalks and blocked car doors, lighting should be more prominent for pedestrians, especially at Eastwick Station, more trash cans should be installed in order to prevent littering on vegetated areas, iconic buildings should be restored into something positive for the community, business signage and storefronts should be more uniform, and the area should be made more pedestrian friendly by creating more walkable access, installing more bus shelters, and constructing more bike lanes.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 6: Public Open Space Improvements in the Lower Southwest District


PUBLIC OPEN SPACES IN THE LOWER SOUTHWEST DISTRICT

Public Art / Passive Open Spaces Habitat and Pollinator Gardens Rain Gardens / Stormwater Control

Community Gardens / Urban Agriculture Playgrounds / Other Programmed Spaces Active Recreation

Markets in the Park

I don’t want more open space. Here’s why:

Place TWO dots on the open space features you would like to see more of in the

Lower Southwest District.

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

(Source: Frankly Penn)

15%

21%

12%

11%

16%

19%

5%

3%

Comment Summary:

The Lower Southwest District is home to eight Philadelphia Parks and Recreation parks, four recreation centers, and two nationally known public open spaces: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and the historic Fort Mifflin. In some cases, these spaces can use improvement. Residents were asked to identify types of open space improvements that they would like to see in the district. The

most mentioned improvements were community gardens and urban agriculture, followed by active recreation. Residents also voiced support for some form of open space to remain on the former Korman site, safety improvements at the current recreation sites, stormwater mitigation, and multi-purpose trails. Concerns included future maintenance of existing and planned open spaces.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 7: Housing Types in the Lower Southwest District

13

11

36

36

Wilm

ington

/New

ark

Line

Airp

ort L

ine

PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

Girard

Point

Bridg

e

George C. Platt Memorial Bridge

Passyunk Bridge

84th Street

S 58th St

Island Ave

Bartram Ave

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

CENTER

FORT MIFFLIN

Lindb

ergh

Blvd

W Passyunk Ave

Essi

ngto

n Av

e

S 61st St

Penrose Ave

Kings

essin

g Ave

Woo

dland

Ave

Elmwoo

d Ave

I-95

I-95

Island AveM

ario Lanza Blvd.

S 77th St

S 80th St

S 63rd St

Buist

Ave

Ches

ter Ave

Enterprise Ave

Bartr

am A

ve

S 70th St

S 70th St

Lindb

ergh

Blvd

W Passyunk Ave

° 0 1,9003,800950

Feet

PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

Girard

Point

Bridg

e

George C. Platt Memorial Bridge

Passyunk Bridge

84th Street

S 58th St

Island Ave

Bartram Ave

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

CENTER

FORT MIFFLIN

Lindb

ergh

Blvd

W Passyunk Ave

Essi

ngto

n Av

e

S 61st St

Penrose Ave

Kings

essin

g Ave

Woo

dland

Ave

Elmwoo

d Ave

I-95

I-95

Island AveM

ario Lanza Blvd.

S 77th St

S 80th St

S 63rd St

Buist

Ave

Ches

ter Ave

Enterprise Ave

Bartr

am A

ve

S 70th St

S 70th St

Lindb

ergh

Blvd

W Passyunk Ave

° 0 1,9003,800950

Feet

HOUSING TYPES

NonResidential

You tell us: If more residential development is to take place, what form should it take? Place a colored dot where your would prefer new residential development.

Reference the zoning map to the left - the yellow and orange areas indicate single and multi-family zoning districts respectively.

Single-family residential

Multi-family residential (row house conversions or apartment buildings)

Where would you support each type of development? Existing Zoning

Other housing concerns?Post them here!

Comment Summary:

Zoning in the Lower Southwest District is generally consistent with land use, but in the residential portions of Paschall and Elmwood, zoning allows for multi-family development in single-family neighborhoods. During the public meeting, residents indicated areas that needed to be preserved as single-family neighborhoods as well as areas that could support higher density residential uses.Residents also provided general comments, such as wanting more senior and veteran only housing, wanting improvements to existing housing, desiring a mix of housing options, and desiring amenities to support the housing.

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 8: Vacant Land in Lower Eastwick

Lower Southwest District Plan Public Meeting PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

VACANT LAND IN LOWER EASTWICKWhat should happen to the vacant or under-utilized land in Eastwick?

DEVELOPMENT OPEN SPACE

Playgrounds, Multi-use Sport Fields, Recreation

Urban Agriculture

Educational Open Space

Preserved Open Space/ Trails

Office / Business Services

Light / Medium Industrial

Commercial / Hospitality

Transportation Functions

Place ONE dot along the scale to show how you think vacant land should be used.1

2

DEVELOP VACANT LAND

PRESERVE OPEN SPACE[ [] ]

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place dot...

Place ONE dot on the image that best represents what you would like to see happen to vacant land in Eastwick.

2%20%

18%25%

5%11%

7%11%

PHILADELPHIA



STATION 9: Lower Eastwick Focus Area General Comments


Have something to say?Post it here!

Existing Land Use

Existing Zoning

Land Use Legend

Zoning Legend

Residential - Low DensityResidential - Medium DensityResidential - High DensityCivic/InstitutionIndustrialCommercial Mixed-UseCommercial ConsumerPark Open SpaceVacant Land

Residential - Single Family AttachedResidential - Multi-Family AttachedAuto Oriented CommercialNeighborhood Commercial Mixed-UseCommunity Commercial Mixed-UseMedium IndustrialAirportRecreation

Penrose Plaza

George Pepper Middle School

Former Korman Site

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

Wawa

PNC Eastwick Center

Bartram

Ave

Eastwick Community

Garden

Hertz Rental Car

USPS Distribution Center

I-95

Island Avenue

S 84th Street

Mar

io La

nza B

lvd.

Lindb

ergh

Blvd

.

FOCUS AREA - LOWER EASTWICK

Key Map

focus areaother focusarea

STATION 10: Woodland/Elmwood Ave Corridors Focus Area General Comments


Have something to say?Post it here!

Existing Land Use

Existing Zoning

Land Use Legend

Zoning Legend

Residential - Low DensityResidential - Medium DensityResidential - High DensityCivic/InstitutionIndustrialCommercial Mixed-UseCommercial ConsumerTransportationVacant Land

Residential - Single Family AttachedResidential - Multi-Family AttachedAuto Oriented CommercialNeighborhood Commercial Mixed-UseIndustrial Commercial Mixed-UseLight IndustrialMedium IndustrialRecreation

Former GE Site

ElmwoodPark

S 67th Street

S 65th Street

S 58th Street

S 62nd Street

S 70th Street

Elmwood Trolley Loop

Elmwoo

d Ave

nue

Woo

dland

Avenu

e

John Bartram High School

Woodland Village Plaza

Mt. Moriah Cemetery

12th Police District

FOCUS AREA - WOODLAND AND ELMWOOD AVENUE CORRIDORS

Key Map

focus areaother focusarea

Comment Summary:

Residents were asked what type of development they would like to see in the Lower Eastwick Focus Area, and responded between a range of development and preservation options. Some residents felt that commercial and hospitality functions were appropriate, while others voice an interest in educational and preserved open space options. Residents also discussed using Penrose Plaza as an opportunity for providing more commercial economic development, the need for flood control through preservation of open space and wetlands, the need for educational and training services, the need for recreational opportunities, a desire to conform with the current redevelopment area plan, and discussed issues related to traffic. Some respondents also mentioned a need for healthy food options and better retail mix, a need for better connections to the Eastwick Station, and a desire to pursue development opportunities keeping in mind flooding and climate change issues.

Comment Summary:

Residents were asked for general comments about the Woodland Avenue and Elmwood Avenue Commercial Corridor Focus area and responded with ideas for revitalizing the area. Ideas included turning vacant properties into green spaces, improving facades of businesses along the corridors, making the area more walkable and less car-centric, adding a parking lot for the 12th Police District and Fire Department, adding amenities for children, such as daycare, adding big box commercial options or school uses on the former GE site, adding more diverse healthy food options, adding lighting, adding recreation centers, and improving sidewalks. Concerns included maintenance of the Mount Moriah Cemetery, locations and safety of outdoor vending, auto-repair sites that operate illegally, and the proliferation of Stop & Go’s.

philadelphia city planning commission · 2016. 3. 27. · public realm within the district....

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