PlanPhilly weekly news recap 10-11-07

10-11-07

Dear PlanPhilly member,

This week in planning and design news, PlanPhilly reporters Alan Jaffe and Matt Blanchard shed some light on the deplorable conditions affecting portions of the historic Girard Warehouses on Front Street. Follow their coverage (http://www.planphilly.com/node/2059) and (http://www.planphilly.com/node/2043). Inquirer architectural critic Inga Saffron also weighed in on the story: http://changingskyline.blogspot.com. Philadelphia Inquirer general coverage can be found here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20071011_City_seeks_to_compel_repair_of_historic_Girard_Warehouses.html

PlanPhilly reporter Matt Blanchard took live questions on the Great Expectations blogsite (http://greatexpectations07.com) Tuesday as a follow up to his essay on zoning challenges facing Philadelphia that appeared in The Sunday Inquirer Currents section.  Click here to read the article: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/10297242.html.

Matt Blanchard also reports out an issue that emerged at the monthly meeting of the Zoning Code Commission – the lack of design review in Philadelphia. Click here to read the article: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2065.

Tuesday night Alan Jaffe covered a Green Source seminar hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society that dealt with Seattle’s green plan, which has taken root in his city and reaped environmental, economic and social rewards. Click here to read the article: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2062.

Steven Ujifusa covered the AIA sponsored Design on the Delaware symposium, with reports on the Central Delaware Visioning (http://www.planphilly.com/node/2058) and Michael Nutter’s planning stance (http://www.planphilly.com/node/2056).

PlanPhilly’s newest reporter, Natalie Pompilio, writes about the importance of urban anchors: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2089.

Upcoming Events

Two important upcoming events for the Central Delaware planning process:

On October 16 at 1pm, Harris Steinberg has been invited to brief the Philadelphia City Planning Commission at their regularly scheduled public meeting.  This is an opportunity for citizens to hear the latest on the planning process, and engage the Planning Commissioners on the future of the riverfront.  All are invited to attend.  The meeting will be held at 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor.

Click here for event information: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2083

The presentation of the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware is set for Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. A large audience is expected to attend, so please register today:

www.planphilly.com/registration

Other events:

Oct. 11: GreenPlan Philadelphia neighborhood outreach – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2040
Oct. 16: Planning Commission monthly meeting – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2083
Oct. 16: Changing climate, changing consciousness – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2084
Oct. 16: GreenPlan Philadelphia neighborhood outreach – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2086
Oct. 18: GreenPlan Philadelphia neighborhood outreach – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2087
Oct. 24: Zoning Code Commission informational session. – http://www.planphilly.com/node/2026

Best until next week,
Matt Golas, Managing Editor