January 16: City buzzes over Comcast plans | DRPA needs culture change | Destination Frankford to make art decision | Bridesburg CSA | 7th and Snyder heyday

Good morning Eyes on the Street!

The city is buzzing about Comcast’s plans to build a new, 59-story skyscraper at 1800 Arch Street – the “Comcast Innovation & Technology Center.” When completed in 2017, the $1.2 billion project will be the tallest building in the city. In addition to 1.28 million square feet of office space and standard amenities like meeting rooms, restaurants and TV studios, the project will involve another major undertaking – extending the Suburban Station below-ground concourse directly to the building. For a peek at the design renderings, check out this slideshow. 

Delaware River Port Authority’s (DRPA) interim chief executive, John Hanson, says DRPA needs a change in culture. As The Inquirer reports, DRPA “has long been a political patronage haven.” 

Destination Frankford will soon decide on the large-scale art-based project to go in Womrath Park as part of the coalition’s three-part effort to enliven the area through art. On January 27, five ideas selected from more than 100 submissions will be reviewed at a community meeting. The final project will be installed in November. 

A group of Bridesburg residents is pushing for a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm share program in the neighborhood. The idea began with talk of converting an empty lot on Lefevre Street into a community garden, and some see the CSA option as an interim solution that could get more neighbors onboard the fresh, local food bandwagon. 

Naked Philly takes us back to a time when the intersection of 7th and Snyder in South Philly was a thriving hub anchored by a church-turned-theater that grew with the success of live Vaudeville, silent films, “talkies” and air conditioning – an interesting look at the changing character of neighborhoods.

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