PlanPhilly weekly news recap 1-03-08

1-03-08

Dear PlanPhilly member,

Here is a recap of some holiday week news in design and planning in Philadelphia:

1. Injunction on North Broad Street

On Christmas Eve, the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia obtained a court order to halt the demolition of the historic PLICO building and Giurgola annex on North Broad Street.  The façade of the annex was ripped off before the injunction was issued.

The Design Advocacy Group has issued an action alert, which can be seen here: http://action.designadvocacy.org/RestorePhilaLife.  There will be a hearing concerning the demolition in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg on Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.

Check out video and photos on PlanPhilly — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2474 — in addition to coverage by the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071225_Judge_saves_buildings_for_now.html.  Click here to view the court order: http://www.planphilly.com/files/Order%20of%20Agreement.pdf.

2. Inquirer: City Council Joins Call to Block SugarHouse

City Council has joined a group of state legislators in an attempt to block SugarHouse Casino from building over state-owned land underneath the Delaware River. Council’s petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court mirrors one filed by seven state legislators from Philadelphia  – saying Mayor Street’s Commerce Department improperly licensed SugarHouse to build on submerged state land.

Click here for the full story: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20071228_Council_asks_court_to_stop_city_casino.html.

3. Trump, Penn Treaty Towers closer to reality

The State Senate and the House have approved bills granting rights to riparian land to development groups for the Trump Tower and Penn Treaty Tower, located on Piers 35.5 and 53 respectively. The bills require a final vote since language was changed in the Senate, but both are expected to pass.  Click here for the full story: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2470.

4. New Timeline Feature on PlanPhilly

Check out our newest feature, an interactive timeline showing how Philadelphia developed by clicking here: http://www.planphilly.com/timeline/waterfront.

5. More Imagining, Philadelphia

PlanPhilly reporter Alan Jaffe will continue covering the series of Imagine Philadelphia sessions, a series of public forums coordinated by the City Planning Commission that marks the beginning of a city comprehensive planning process.

Here is the schedule of Imagine Philadelphia forums:

Jan. 15: North Philadelphia — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2486
Jan. 16: Bridesburg, Kensington, Richmond — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2487 
Jan. 22: Center City — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2488
Jan. 29: Germantown — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2489

Other Upcoming Events

Jan. 9: ZCC Informational Session: Presentation by Water Department — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2485
Jan. 9: Logan Square/Parkway Neighborhood Plan Kickoff — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2407
Jan. 15: Philadelphia City Planning Commission monthly meeting — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2452

Happy New Year,
Matt Golas, Managing Editor