June 27: Improve 1 Water Street | Feibush v. Johnson | $170,000 raised for Ralph Brooks Park | Rising interest in Chestnut St | Mega transportation project roundup

Happy Friday, Streeters.

Are we pleased with 1 Water Street, a new residential complex proposed just north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, simply because it’s better than the last proposals for the site? Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron agrees that it’s an improvement, but is disappointed by the lack of ground floor commercial activity, bland landscaping (important because it helps earn zoning bonuses), and its dull architecture. This coming Tuesday the Civic Design Review Committee will evaluate 1 Water Street for the second time.

Developer Ori Feibush is suing Councilman Kenyatta Johnson in federal court claiming Johnson obstructed Feibush’s potential developments using councilmanic prerogative. The Daily News reports that Feibush alleges Johnson held back vacant lots from sale to Feibush and manipulated a bidding process for another site so a different developer would win out.

In happier Point Breeze news, a concert hosted by Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin at Union Transfer last weekend raised $170,000 toward rehabbing Ralph Brooks Park. Plans to improve the park, now a rough patch of asphalt, include adding new play and basketball equipment, a community garden area, and green infrastructure tools for stormwater management.

“Chestnut Street has become a hotbed of investor and developer interest and rents on retail space along the strip has been growing,” the Business Journal notes. 1528 Chestnut Street – a two-story building now housing a Modells – is on the market and could fetch $10 million. It’s just the latest building to reflect renewed action on Chestnut Street commercial properties as prices on Walnut’s prime blocks only go up.

PlanPhilly’s Christine Fisher has put together an epic transportation construction roundup, with updates on Streets Department, SEPTA, Amtrak, PennDOT, and more. It’s a long read, but worth it if you nerd out on transportation news as much as we do. This roundup, sad as we are to say it aloud, is Christine’s PlanPhilly swansong. Christine started with PlanPhilly as a Temple student in 2011 and became a staffer in 2012. She’s shoving off for new adventures in New England and we’ll sure miss her. 

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