NoLibs development picks up | Ninth National Bank a goner | Airport expansion deal | Philly’s parks are tops

Flying Kite reports that Northern Liberties Neighbors Association’s zoning committee “is reviewing as many agenda items as it was during the area’s economic boom in the early-2000s.” Among the proposals is a mixed-use building for the long-vacant lot at the corner of 2nd and Brown.

The former Ninth National Bank at Front and Norris could be demolished soon, reports Naked Philly. Despite its beauty the bank building (and a neighboring one) have been vacant since the 1970s. The Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) has apparently secured funding to demolish the building and build 25 units of affordable housing. A piece on Hidden City Daily from January offered a glimpse inside (it’s a sad sight) and noted the Norris Square Civic Association owned the building since 1989 and sold to WCRP fairly recently.

Plans to expand Philadelphia International Airport are not set, but the city and airlines are getting closer to a deal, an Inquirer editorial observes, calling out good signs like lease negotiations with US Airways. Sadly adding a fifth runway won’t do anything to resolve congestion in Philly’s airspace.

Frommers says Philly is one of the best cities in the world for parks, particularly calling out East and West Fairmount Park, the Wissahickon, Pennypack, and FDR parks.

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