February 27-March 2: Enrique Peñalosa, Pavilions, Race Street Connector Phase 2, Michael Katz, Germantown’s Commercial Corridor, Carpenter Square at DAG

Enrique Peñalosa

Monday, February 27, 6-8pm. PennDesign, Meyerson Hall, 210 South 34th Street. As Mayor of Bogotá Enrique Peñalosa prioritized improvements that would have the most benefit to the most people. He radically improved public spaces, and invested in bike infrastructure and bus transit rather than encouraging car use. Peñalosa will be at to PennDesign to speak about “Mobility, Quality of Life and Equity in Urban Environments.” Free, register online.

Panoramic Possibilities of the Pavilion

Tuesday, February 28, 6pm. Kroiz Gallery, Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania, 220 South 34th Street. The Society of Architectural Historians hosts Ken Tadashi Oshima, a professor at the University of Washington, to discuss pavilion typology through the examples like the Japanese-inspired pavilion at the 1876 Centennial Exposition and Fairmount Park’s Shofuso. Free, register in advance via email.

Race Street Connector meeting

Tuesday, February 28, 6:30pm. DRWC Offices, 121 Columbus Boulevard. Phase 2 of the Race Street Connector is coming, which will improve the north side of of the Connector Street. Come learn what’s in store and offer feedback to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.

Michael Katz: Why Don’t American Cities Burn?

Wednesday, February 29, 5:30-7pm. Inn at Penn, 3600 Sansom Street. Michael Katz, a distinguished Penn history professor, will discuss his newest book, Why Don’t American Cities Burn? along with Thomas Sugrue (Penn Professor of History and Sociology), Walter Licht (Professor of History), and Jeremy Nowak (President, William Penn Foundation). Katz’s book starts with a murder trial after a $5 dispute left one man dead in Germantown; Katz was a juror. He then looks at the poverty, isolation, and marginalization of American inner cities, wondering why violence is turned inward instead of at the structures of oppression. Free, register online.

Re-Stimulate! Re-Invigorate! ReDEVELOP! Germantown’s Commercial Corridor

Wednesday, February 29, 7-9:30pm. Germantown Friends School, Yarnell Auditorium in the Sharpless Building, 31 West Coulter Street. Germantown United has invited a panel of experts to discuss best practices for Community Development Corporations. Colvin Grannum, President of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in Brooklyn, brings the story of America’s first CDC to Germantown, and to join local panelists including: Andy Frishkoff (LISC), Barbara Hogue (Historic Germantown), Steve Mullin (Econsult), Rick Sauer (Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations), and Sandy Salzman, (New Kensington Community Development Corporation). RSVP required via email or call (215) 991-5711.

Design Advocacy Group

Thursday, March 1, 8am. Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street. Christopher Stromberg and Brian Johnston discuss their Carpenter Square development, at 17th and Carpenter Streets. The project, as PlanPhilly recently reported, will redevelop the largest swath of vacant land in Southwest Center City. Free.