Occupy marches tries to move, DiCicco’s parting gifts, SEPTA smart card contract, mixed-use South of South

Occupy Philly took part in a national day of action, marching on the Market Street Bridge, and continued deliberation and dialogue about moving to Thomas Paine Plaza outside , reports the Daily News.

  • Hundreds of protesters marched at rush hour demanding jobs and fair wages, pointing to our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, like our structurally deficient Market Street bridge, as opportunities to put people back to work. Think a New New Deal. The 24 protesters who staged a sit-in in the roadway were arrested one by one.
  • Late in the evening, the occupiers voted to leave Dilworth Plaza for Thomas Paine Plaza across the street outside the Municipal Services Building, only to be turned back by police, NewsWorks reports. No permit, no move, said the cops. But, as Citypaper’s Naked City blog reports, the red tape left occupiers feeling disappointed and betrayed. Suspicions and tensions are high. Meantime, Dilworth Plaza remains occupied.

Councilman Frank DiCicco is offering parting gifts as he leaves office, in the form of development-based spot zoning legislation, reports the Daily News. DiCicco denies it, but the facts are there. Unfortunately this is also the type of piecemeal zoning that results from an outdated zoning code and zoning map. Neighborhoods in DiCicco’s district have been development hot spots, and some say developers are going around community groups by going straight to City Council for a zoning change.

Say goodbye to SEPTA’s token and ticket systems, and say hello Smart Card. Coming soon, SEPTA will have a seamless multi-modal fare collection system complete, reports PlanPhilly’s Anthony Campisi. SEPTA awarded the $129.5 million contract to ACS Transport Solutions Group, which manages our EZ Pass system and implemented New York’s Metrocard system.

Naked Philly reports that a new mixed-use development at 17th and Carpenter has the South of South Neighborhood Association swooning. Where a large vacant parcel stands now, local developers plan 11 townhouses and a larger mixed-use building for the corner all with LEED standard features including green roofs and a bioswale to trap stormwater.

 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.

 

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