From the director’s desk, Jan. 11

Jan. 11, 2007
Dear PlanPhilly member,

Thanks to all those who attended Monday’s Advisory Group meeting featuring the presentation from Howard Slatkin of the New York City Planning Department.  A full report of the meeting, featuring videos and a link to a summary of Slatkin’s presentation on the Greenpoint-Williamsburg project, can be found at http://www.planphilly.com

Best Practices Session

Registration is now open for the Best Practices Session, the next big step in the Central Delaware Waterfront Planning Process!  The session will feature a full day of panels and lectures from national leaders and local responders with expertise in riverfront ecology and balancing multiple uses, transportation infrastructure, development and urban design, and a variety of implementation strategies and methods.  These were among the main areas of concerns voiced by the citizens in our first round of public forums in December.

Saturday, February 3

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Independence Seaport Museum, Penn’s Landing Breakfast and lunch are provided

The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required.  Please RSVP at www.planphilly.com/registration/.  It is at this point that we begin to marry the citizen values with professional experience, so your participation and feedback is crucial.  Confirmed speakers already include Clark Manus from San Francisco, Peter Steinbrueck from Seattle, Gil Kelly from Portland, Alex Krieger from Boston and Connie Fishman from New York.

Website Changes

We are putting the finishing touches on the new and improved PlanPhilly website at www.planphilly.com.  The new site will be unveiled soon, and will include new functions and content to go with its up-to-the-minute news and event listings, so keep your eyes peeled.

Press

The Central Delaware Waterfront Planning Process continues to be in the news.
Please check out the following articles:

Jan 8: Inquirer article on Janice Woodcock, new Planning Commission director and partner in the Central Delaware Riverfront planning process:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16406893.htm

Jan 3: Port Richmond Spirit article on Sugar House casino:
http://spiritnewspapers.com/main/modules/news/article.php?storyid=495  

January/February 2007: Pennsylvania Gazette feature about Praxis and the
waterfront: http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0107/gaz01.html

December 2006: Philadelphia Magazine feature on “green” design techniques in Philadelphia includes short on waterfront planning:
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/ideas_let_it_grow

That’s all for this week.  Don’t forget to RSVP for the Best Practices Session!
 It will be incredibly informative as we think about how to make a 21st century waterfront that is distinctively Philadelphian.

Best,

Harris

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PennPraxis Office
410 Duhring Wing
University of Pennsylvania School of Design Philadelphia, PA 19104-6311
Tel: 215-573-8720
Fax: 215-573-9600