April 1: Saving sturgeon | $35m to protect Delaware watershed | PGW sale review | Art Nouveau on Lehigh Ave. | Philip’s revival
Good morning, and Happy April Fools’ Day Streeters. (No, Penn didn’t try to buy Drexel. And sorry, NIMBY hasn’t been added to the OED.)
Lawsuits filed by Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Natural Resources Defense Council could help protect habitat in the Delaware River for Atlantic sturgeon, an endangered and ancient species. The Inquirer explains the lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service, and how projects in the river like dredging and rock blasting could threaten critical sturgeon spawning grounds. There are an estimated 90-300 adult sturgeon left in the Delaware.
The Delaware River will become a living lab for testing new ways to protect and improve water quality throughout the enormous watershed. The Inquirer reports that the William Penn Foundation will announce its plans today to devote $35 million in grant funding, aimed at stimulating many millions more in investments, to more than 40 groups to work on different areas of the watershed. Land conservation is a key strategy, as are improving agricultural practices and mitigating stormwater runoff.
City Council will pay a Boston-based consultant $425,000 to review the possible PGW sale, the Inquirer reports. The $1.9 billion sale to UIL Holdings requires City Council approval.
GroJLart takes a look into the past lives of an Art Nouveau treasure on West Lehigh Avenue for Hidden City Daily. A residence turned funeral home (with Art Nouveau addition applied to the facade), which became used by two successive Baptist churches.
Will Philip’s (and its awesome vintage neon sign overlooking South Broad Street) see new life? Naked Philly hints that the building will be sold for use as a restaurant. No word as to whether the sign will survive or who said restaurateur is. (UPDATE: April Fools! Naked Philly pulled this one over on us – our hopes outweighed the dateline.)
The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.
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