September 16: Wood Street Steps getting marker | 40th Street ME Church demo near | Civic engagement at 43rd and Baltimore | Green infrastructure at South Broad development
Welcome to the working week, Streeters. Here’s what’s making news today:
William Penn’s Wood Street Steps will have a blue state historic marker, the Daily News Reports. The historic set of stone stairs, between Front and Water streets in Old City, were commissioned by Penn to ensure public access to the waterfront. The marker dedication will take place October 12 at noon.
The Daily Pennsylvanian reports that the 40th Street Methodist Episcopal Church will be demolished and replaced with bland box retail by April 2014. Demolition permits have been posted on the Samuel Sloan-designed church since last fall but there has been no action. The stone church will be replaced with four storefronts, and three tenants have signed on: Dunkin’ Donuts, Whirled Peace, and Zesto Pizza.
To win over neighbors U3 Ventures’ Omar Blaik used civic engagement tools to involve community members in shaping his planned development at 43rd and Baltimore. In her Friday column Inga Saffron describes Blaik’s more community-minded, yet still self-interested, approach to gathering public input and building greater support for his project – likely a first here.
The building set to replace the Third Regiment Armory at Broad and Wharton will not have ground-floor commercial space (yet) but it will have a green roof and porous paving to meet the city’s new stormwater management requirements. The Daily News reports that the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the green infrastructure elements last week.
The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.
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