PlanPhilly weekly news recap 1-10-08

1-10-08
Dear PlanPhilly member,

This week brought breaking news about casino permits and archaeology, historic preservation, and infrastructure costs:

1. Nutter Calls for Casino Review

In light of the Street administration’s last minute permitting for SugarHouse Casino, the incoming Nutter administration will examine every decision Philadelphia has made regarding SugarHouse and Foxwoods.  Stay tuned today as Kellie Patrick Gates continues to report this story.

Click here for the full report — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2550 — and read Gates’ piece on the permitting flap: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2526.

2. North Broad Demolition Ban in Place

Philadelphia preservationists win a temporary injunction barring destruction of PLICO buildings until a full hearing is conducted in Commonwealth Court on Jan. 24.

Read Matt Blanchard’s story: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2474

Photos and video posted: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2484
Inquirer coverage: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071225_Judge_saves_buildings_for_now.html
DAG alert: http://action.designadvocacy.org/RestorePhilaLife

The Preservation Alliance is leading the legal effort to preserve the buildings. Read more: http://www.preservationalliance.com/advocacy/current-advocacy-issues.shtml.
Donations to the ‘Philadelphia Life Legal Fund’ can be made online at: https://pagp.javelinhosting.com/membership/donateform.shtml

3. Infrastructure Series Part 4: Paying for Projects

The latest installment in a series of stories examining the infrastructure projects proposed in the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware, and how they will solve the question of funding. This story looks at one of the biggest challenges in the Penn Praxis plan: what to do with Interstate 95.

Click here for the full story: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2545.

Previous stories:

Infrastructure overview: http://www.planphilly.com/node/1989
Parks and green space: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2176
SEPTA funding: http://www.planphilly.com/node/2277

4. Norquist to Nutter: Philly Poised for Resurgence

On Sunday, the Inquirer’s Currents section printed advice from former mayors from around the country, and John Norquist of Milwaukee tips his cap to the PennPraxis riverfront civic vision. Click here to read the full op-ed: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/13298002.html.

5. 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. 12: Preservation Alliance St. Peter’s and Hopewell Villages Rural Industrial History and Hiking Tour — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2540
Jan. 12: Mural Arts Program Murals & Sacred Places Tour — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2541
Jan. 15: Philadelphia City Planning Commission monthly meeting — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2452
Jan. 17: Sustainable Philadelphia Bike Sharing Forum — http://www.planphilly.com/node/2542

Best until next week,
Matt Golas, Managing Editor