Opinion Eyes on the Street

October 10: Tacony-Palmyra Bridge stuck | Church of the Assumption at Commonwealth Court | Shutdown means more visitors for non-federal sites | Shrinking Chinatown | 3rd Ward in trouble

Eyes on the Street

October 10, 2013

Good morning, Streeters. We are in for a blustery rainy day today, thanks to the dregs of Tropical Storm Karen moving through.

The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge has been stuck open since the wee hours of this morning, with no clear cause yet reports philly.com. Crews are working on the problem, but for now don’t plan on crossing the river there. The bridge is 84 years old.

Today arguments will begin at Commonwealth Court in the ongoing legal challenges over the fate of Church of the Assumption. Hidden City Daily refreshes our memory on the case and reminds us that this is one of several cases on the court’s docket today. The day’s hearings will be held at the Widener Building at 1339 Chestnut Street in Courtroom 1 starting at 9:30am.

As tourists press on with their trip itineraries despite the government shutdown, Philadelphia’s less famous historic and cultural sites are seeing a spike in visitorship. The Daily News reports that historic sites like Christ Church, the National Museum of American Jewish History, Betsy Ross House, and National Constitution Center are all serving more tourists.

A new study reveals that Chinatowns in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston are gentrifying fast and their Asian residential populations and commercial mix are shrinking, the Atlantic Cities reports. The report by Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund studied land use in the three Chinatowns. From 2000-2010 the Asian population of Philadelphia’s Chinatown decreased from 49% to 42% and housing prices have spiked.

3rd Ward makerspace, the new creative hub in South Kensington, could close, reports Technically Philly. 3rd Ward Philadelphia opened in April as an extension of 3rd Ward Brooklyn flagship, which according to news reports is in financial trouble. It’s unclear if both entities will fold but for now 3rd Ward Philadelphia’s classes are all canceled.

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