Opinion Eyes on the Street

Holiday lighting, CitiesAlive, high-speed rail forum, Chinatown Community Center presentation, Northeast Resurgent symposium

PlanPhilly staff

November 28, 2011

(While waiting for its lights, the tree in Rittenhouse sports one ornament.)

Franklin Square’s Grand Lighting and Rittenhouse Square Tree Lighting

Tuesday, November 29, 5-7pm, Franklin Square. Wednesday, November 30, 5pm, Rittenhouse Square. Two of Philadelphia’s squares are all dressed up and ready to be illuminated this Tuesday in celebrations marking the holiday season. Both events will have children’s crafts, snacks and prizes.

CitiesAlive Conference – Green Cities: Restoring Urban Waters

Wednesday, November 30-Saturday, December 3. Sheraton Hotel, 201 N. 17th Street. The annual green roof and living wall conference comes to Philadelphia this year, in part to capitalize on Philadelphia’s green infrastructure projects. The conference boasts tours of Philadelphia projects, professional development sessions, and a trade show. Register online.

High-Speed Rail Philadelphia

Wednesday, November 30, 4:30-6:30pm. The Down Town Club, 6th and Chestnut streets. PenTrans hosts a forum with Bob Yaro (Regional Plan Association), Stephen Gardner (Amtrak V.P.), and Paul Levy (Center City District) to discuss high-speed rail growth along the Northeast Corridor. General admission $80, PenTrans Member/guest admission $60. Register online.

KlingStubbins and AKArchitects at Design Advocacy Group

Thursday, December 1, 8am. Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street. Tejoon Jung and Richard Farley from KlingStubbins and Lisa Armstrong from AKArchitects will presenting the Chinatown Community Center project. This proposed 23-story tower is a mixed-use development with housing, retail and office space.

The Northeast Resurgent?

Friday, December 2, 9am-3:30pm. University of Pennsylvania, Irvine Auditorium, Amado Recital Hall, 34th and Spruce streets. PennDesign is hosting leading researchers and planners from Northeastern cities to discuss what the 2010 US Census data reveals about cities and suburbs in the Northeast, and the resulting planning opportunities and challenges. Panelists include Richard Alba and Fatima Shama (City of New York), Nancy Hoffman (Jobs for the Future), Rolf Pendall (Urban Institute), Barry Seymour (DVRPC), and Petra Todorovich (Regional Plan Association). The Brookings Institution’s William Frey will give a keynote speech about metropolitan America. Please register for the event at decevent@design.upenn.edu

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.