Liz,
Truthfully to portray the chief concern of Philadelphia City government
as 2009 is ushered in, is not "advocating." It's just reporting.
The chief concern of City government at this hour, like most other
jurisdictions across America, is to sustain its local economy. If zoning
regulation helps to sustain that economy, zoning will do quite well
without my advocacy. If zoning regulation is perceived by local
"deciders" to hamper this economy at this hour, then regulation
enthusiasts face a challenge I recommend they respond to smartly.
Guy has shown just such a sensible response. I can't speak to the nuts
and bolts of his particular plan for 40th & Pine, but he acknowledges
the value of continued expansion of Penn to all Philadelphia. That's
what critics of the Campus Inn need to do if they wish to be taken
seriously by the deciders.
UC-list is not a cross-sample of Philadelphia. 99% of Philadelphians
today don't remember the taking of Spruce Hill to build the Superblock
in the 1960s, which was University City's "Nakba". Of those few who do
remember, nobody outside this neighborhood gives a hoot any more. Black
West Philly as a whole made out like a bandit from all the jobs
generated by Penn's growth; it has generated two of the last four
Mayors. Raising the specter of "Demon Penn" of course will foment us
locals, but it's meaningless at the citywide level.
In 2009, Philadelphia will need Demon Penn more than ever, because Demon
Penn isn't broke. That doesn't mean Penn's neighbors have to roll over
and wave their legs. But they should study the macroeconomics of keeping
a big old Northeastern city alive, because that's where we all live.
-- Tony West
When you miss both my point, and the purpose of Zoning Regulation, by
a mile, I read your response as "advocating".
I will continue to "point out" that the Zoning Codes, Historic
Designation, Building Regulations and Height Restrictions all existed
BEFORE the purchase. The Buyer - Owner has the burden of "Due
Diligence". The codes are designed to protect neighborhoods from 800#
gorillas, whether they be Meat Packers, Soap Makers, or Universities.
They are designed to protect neighborhoods from the arrogance or abuse
that can follow money or overly aggressive ownership.
> Liz
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