Isn't it about time that the Mayor started seeing through the anointed
vision of Penn Praxis?
Al Krigman
This, from today's Philadelphia Bulletin:
Developers, Community Groups Battle Over Waterfront 'Vision Plan'
Having Blurred ‘Vision’
By JENNY DeHUFF, The BulletinWednesday, April 22, 2009
Philadelphia — Fears of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC)
allowing the destruction of important waterfront entities bubbled over
during its monthly meeting yesterday in Center City.
As part of its “vision plan” for the Central Delaware, Penn Praxis, the
University of Pennsylvania body contracted to organize a civic-led planning
process, has proposed creating a continuous, 7-mile trail along the
riverfront, from Allegheny to Oregon avenues.
But increasing “green” space and public access could mean the removal of
the Independence Seaport Museum as a consequence.
Portions of the plan would directly alter the makeup of Penn’s Landing,
which houses the museum. Renderings include 8 acres of green landscape along
the waterfront. Whether or not this includes destruction of the museum
remains unclear.
Two bills will be introduced by City Councilman Frank DiCicco, D-1st, next
month to consider remapping the Central Delaware riverfront to allow for
the Penn Praxis plan.
The Nutter administration has expressed support for the action plan for
the Central Delaware area as the city’s blueprint for waterfront development.
Al Johnson, former vice president of AFSCME District Council 33 and a
business owner along the waterfront, called Penn Praxis Executive Director
Harris Steinberg’s plan for the Central Delaware a “myopic vision.”
“This is brain dead,” he testified before the commission. “I’m not going
to stay for the overlays. It’s going to tear down the seaport museum. We
need to go back to the drawing board.”
PCPC officials could not confirm whether this was rumor or truth, but said
they spent many months in community meetings to gather input.
Penn Praxis Executive Director Harris Steinberg said the plan would
reconnect neighborhoods to the river’s edge, with the intent to “honor the
river, design with nature, strike the right balance, take a long view and
protect the public good.”
“For years, I’ve had a vision for the Central Delaware waterfront with
neighborhoods, mixed use development and true destination spots,” said Mr.
DiCicco. “Our goal was to shape the political will for long-term growth. The
bill’s endeavor would do no harm to the river, the property owners and the
community.”
“There’s fiction going on here,” said Michael Sklaroff, former chair of
the Philadelphia Historical Commission and current chair of the real estate
department at Ballard Spahr Andrews Ingersoll.
“Our major concern is that Harris Steinberg has said there’s a
partnership between the public and private sector,” said Mr. Sklaroff. “We
don’t
have a partnership. You haven’t invited the private sector to the table.”
Mr. Sklaroff said he invited Mr. Steinberg to community development
workshops, but received no response.
“It’s the sound of one hand clapping,” he told the commission. “The
theme is this, it hasn’t been mapped, hasn’t been priced, and the people
affected have not been identified so they know what’s involved.”
The legislation goes up for City Council consideration next month.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at _jdeh...@thebulletin.us_
(mailto:jdeh...@thebulletin.us)
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