WEST LEHIGH AVENUE 2035
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES GOALS ALTERNATIVES
Table of Contents
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
EXISTING CONDITIONS ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
CONTEXT HISTORY DEMOGRAPHICS LAND USE & ZONING HOUSING VACANCY ECONOMICS TRANSPORTATION URBAN DESIGN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT ISSUES OPPORTUNITIES GOALS ALTERNATIVE 1: GREEN CORRIDOR ALTERNATIVE 2: TEMPLE & THE PEOPLE ALTERNATIVE 3: NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY MAGNET WEST LEHIGH CDC & OVERVIEW ALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR EAST ZONE: TEMPLE PARTNERSHIP CENTRAL ZONE : PUBLIC CORE WEST ZONE: PARK GATEWAY IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
GOALS
6 6 8 10 14 16 18 21 24 28 30 36 38 42 46 48 50 54 56 60 64 66 72 76
ALTERNATIVES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
CONTENTS
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PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
2|
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
4|Existing Conditions |5
EXISTING CONDITIONS
In 1909, an ad placed in the Philadelphia Jewish Herald advertised Strawberry Mansion for its “fresh air,” and “beautiful country landscape.” As the community grew, a stadium was built by one of the new residents and opened in 1909. This stadium was commissioned by the Shibe brothers, initially named Shibe Park, and became home to both the Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies (baseball), as well as the Philadelphia Eagles (football).
By the 1950s, the Jewish community had reached its peak, having a population of roughly 60,000 residing in the area. With the end of World War II and the passing of the G.I. Bill, many residents took the opportunity to leave Strawberry Mansion and move to the suburbs. With families moving out of Strawberry Mansion, the neighborhood began to see disinvestment. Around the time Brown vs Board of Education legally desegregated schools, African Americans moved into the neighborhood that now had new vacancies. This new population had a lower income than their predecessors. Throughout the 1960s, the neighborhood faced vacancy issues as the influx of lower income residents was not enough to stem the tide of disinvestment caused by higher income residents leaving for the suburbs. One of the most prominent landmarks of the neighborhood was a baseball stadium built in 1908 at Lehigh and 21st Street. Initially named Shibe Park, it was later renamed Connie Mack Stadium. Although initially very popular, over time teams relocated and the stadium became less profitable. Vacancies in both homes and the stadium led to squatters and
Jewish Community migrated from South & West Philadelphia
arson. In 1971, the stadium caught on fire when two children trespassed and accidentally lit part of it on fire. The damaged structure could not be used any more, so the owner filed for bankruptcy and could not afford to renovate the stadium. With the abandonment of the structure, squatters began to move into the space. The Philadelphia Common Pleas Court ordered the remenants of the stadium to be demolished due to the safety concerns, and by 1976 the building was demolished. This was the end of one of the neighborhood’s largest assets and identifying feature. A decade later, the Deliverance Evangelistic Church bought the stadium land and neighboring land from the city. In 1992, the megachurch that stands today was opened and became its own neighborhood landmark. Today, the neighborhoods surrounding West Lehigh Avenue continue to suffer from the issues that ignited with mass suburbanization: high levels of poverty, increasing vacancy along the corridor, and a high degree of disinvestment.
Shibe Park (later renamed Connie Mack Stadium) opened
Height of Jewish Community in Strawberry Mansion, population ~60,000
White Flight & Mass Suburbanization + Brown vs Board of Education
1909
1950s
1960s
Fire broke out at Connie Mack Stadium & squatters began to appear
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court ordered remaining parts of stadium to be demolished
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE NORTH BROAD STREET
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
CITY HALL
1890s
1971
1976
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Prior to it’s current composition as a predominantly African American neighborhood, Strawberry Mansion was previously known as a Jewish neighborhood. Beginning in the late 1800s, Jewish communities moved from primarily West and South Philadelphia to the northern neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion.
GOALS
Just three miles north of City Hall, West Lehigh Avenue is a corridor that runs through three different neighborhoods: Glenwood, Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West. Once home to large entertainment venues and thriving Jewish and African-American communities, the corridor has experienced considerable disinvestment coinciding with the loss of Philadelphia’s manufacturing employment base. Largely correlated with the nearby “Badlands,” the communities surrounding West Lehigh Avenue experience stark vacancy compared with nearby well established communities to its north and south.
ALTERNATIVES
HISTORY
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
CONTEXT
EXISTING CONDITIONS
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PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
6|Existing Conditions
8|Existing Conditions
|9
Last but not least, the West Lehigh Avenue area is experiencing a decline in the number of children. The percentage of households with children under
Philadelphia average
27
Neighborhood Average
57
Neighborhood average
3
4 Year Graduation rate No High School Degree
PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN The West Lehigh Avenue area population is predominantly African American. In 2018, African Americans represented as much as 94% of the total population, while in Philadelphia the percentage was only 44%. However, there was a moderate trend of increasing racial diversity as both White and Asian populations have increased over the past decade. The population along the corridor also indicates less diversity and mobility compared to other parts of Philadelphia. Ninety-eight percent of West Lehigh residents are native-born (comparing to 89% in Philadelphia), and almost 90% of the residents lived in the same home over the past year.
Philadelphia Average
72
Philadelphia average
11
Neighborhood Average
82
Neighborhood average
14
High School Degree
School score Philadelphia Average
47
Philadelphia average
23
Neighborhood Average
24
Neighborhood average
31
Reading on Target (K-2) Associates or Higher Philadelphia Average
48
Philadelphia average
35
Neighborhood Average
35
Neighborhood average
24
Figure 3: Neighborhood average educational level compared to Philadelphia
The educational attainment of the neighborhoods surrounding West Lehigh Avenue were lower than Philadelphia as a whole in most categories for the 2017-2018 school year. The graduation rate was higher than the Philadelphia average, and at first glance the college matriculation rate was also higher than the city. However, 14% of residents have not earned a high school diploma, which is higher than Philadelphia’s 11% average. Thirty percent of the residents’ highest educational attainment is a high school diploma, while the city as a whole is 23%. Overall, there has been a significant improvement in the area’s educational attainment over the past decade, which is consistent with the rest of Philadelphia. The average college matriculation rate for the surrounding neighborhoods was less than 40%. However, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School in the Allegheny West neighborhood is operated and funded by Drexel University and has a 100% college matriculation rate. The overall school scores for Strawberry Mansion, Allegheny West, and Glenwood are almost half the Philadelphia average. Overall, students are not reading at the level they should be when they enter the second grade. The achievement levels, which focus on math, language arts, and science, are severely low, scoring a total of three percent.
CHILDREN IN SINGLE-MOTHER HOUSEHOLDS
Demographics
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
94% (44% in Philadelphia)
Figure 1: Decreasing population trend around West Lehigh Avenue and in Philadelphia from 1950 to 2018
Figure 2: Majority of residents near West Lehigh Avenue are African American as of 2018
72%
(49% in Philadelphia)
Figure 4: High percentage of single-mother households near West Lehigh Avenue as of 2018
Among the 6,610 children under 18 in the neighborhoods surrounding West Lehigh Avenue, more than 99% lived in family type households in 2018. However, only around 17% lived in married-couple families, which is significantly lower compared to other parts of Philadelphia (about 40%). In addition, this share has dropped dramatically from 2010 to 2018 by almost 5%, while the percentage in Philadelphia has remained stable. Among the 5,470 children under the age of 18 who lived in single-parent families in 2018, a predominate and increasing share of children lived in single-mother families. The percentage of children who lived in singlemother families in terms of total population under 18 increased from 63% to 72% around the West Lehigh Avenue corridor in the past decade. In comparison, this percentage in Philadelphia as a whole was around 50% and has remained stable.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
53
GOALS
Philadelphia Average
ALTERNATIVES
There were also significant changes in household structure within the West Lehigh Avenue area. The average household size shrunk from 2.6 people to 2.3 people in the past decade, while the average household size remained stable in Philadelphia at 2.5 people. The percentage of families along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor also decreased from 79% to 75% during the same time period. In comparison, the percentage of families in Philadelphia as a whole is 77%.
18 significantly dropped from 32% in 2010 to 24% in 2018. In contrast, approximately 28% of households in all of Philadelphia contain children under the age of 18.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
West Lehigh Avenue runs through three neighborhoods and all three have had shrinking and aging populations over the last few decades. From 2010 to 2018, the total population in this area decreased by fourteen percent (from 33,450 to 28,900), compared to a five percent increase in Philadelphia as a whole (Figure 1). The median age of residents in this area increased from 36.4 to 38.5 during this time, while the median age in Philadelphia remained stable at 34.
LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
College Matriculation Achievement Level
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
SHRINKING & AGING POPULATION
EXISTING CONDITIONS
DEMOGRAPHICS
10|Existing Conditions
|11
this is also where Lehigh Avenue intersects with the Broad Street Line and regional railways. As a result of the large concentration of industrial and transportation uses, the street environment and atmosphere are quite different from those at 22nd Street or at Ridge Avenue.
The 2nd most common zoning category is commercial, which covers 28% of the total land. However, there are a higher number of commercial lots than residential lots, suggesting that commercial areas are very dispersed along West Lehigh Avenue. The dispersed commercial zoning and relevant activities could be helpful in creating a mixed-use neighborhood.
43%
The 3rd largest zoning category along West Lehigh Avenue is industrial zoning. Industrial zones are concentrated on the eastern side of the site, where Lehigh Avenue intersects with most of the railways. Unsurprisingly,
28%
Residential
22%
Commercial
When excluding the area used for transportation uses (railroads and streets), the top three land uses in terms of area are residential, commercial and civic/institution. The distribution of commercial uses varies over different parts of West Lehigh Avenue. The central portion of the corridor contains scattered, small mixed-use corner stores, while the eastern part features large autooriented shops. Along 22nd Street, the commercial uses are more condensed and continuous to form a commercial street and small commercial center at the intersection of 22nd Street and West Lehigh Avenue. Of the substantial proportion of civic/institution uses, churches account for a large portion. There are many churches both along West Lehigh Avenue and throughout Allegheny West and Strawberry Mansion.
Industrial
The large quantity of churches brings about a lot of activities on the street. Around the intersection of West Lehigh Avenue and 22nd Street, the mix of churches, schools, commercial and open spaces creates a hub of public life. Also, on the western side of West Lehigh, the Widener Branch Library serves as a large generator of public activities. Commercial and civic uses help to provide public spaces for public activities and encourage public life. The vibrant 22nd Street and the numerous churches along Lehigh Avenue have not only shaped the street interface of the corridor greatly, but are also unique identifiers of West Lehigh Avenue, Allegheny West and Strawberry Mansion. In a sense, these places and these activities happening everyday have been part of what makes Lehigh unique.
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PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
20th St
21st St
22nd St
23rd St
24th St
19th St
Gl
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
15th St
e
W
Oakdale St
16th St
W
oo nw
17th St
Gl
Se
18th St
18th St
Oakdale St
Land Use & Zoning
W Lehigh Ave
e
W
15th St
W
ve dA
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oo nw
17th St
W Lehigh Ave
Se
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WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
25th St
Somerset St
e Av ley
16th St
Somerset St
Legend
Legend Residential
Commercial
Industrial
RM1
CA1
CMX2
IRMX
I1
CMX1
CMX3
ICMX
I2
RSA5
26th St
27th St 28th St
19th St
20th St
21st St
22nd St
23rd St
24th St
25th St
26th St
28th St
27th St
N
ALTERNATIVES
Much of the area along West Lehigh Avenue is zoned for residential use. In total, about 70 acres, or 43% of the land, is zoned residential. Furthermore, over 90% of the residentially-zoned land is designated RSA-5 zones. The main housing type in RSA-5 zone is the row house.
RSA3
Special Purpose
Residential
Civic/Institution
Transportation
SPPOA
Commercial
Culture/Recreation
Vacant
Industrial
Park/Open Space
Figure 5: Map shows the current zoning districts within the West Lehigh Avenue corridor
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
Figure 6: Map shows current land uses within the West Lehigh Avenue corridor
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND CIVIC LAND USES COMMINGLE
GOALS
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, & INDUSTRIAL PREVALENT ZONING DISTRICTS
EXISTING CONDITIONS
LAND USE & ZONING
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
12|Existing Conditions
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After looking at the Philadelphia Zoning Code and current land uses, it is clear that certain areas around West Lehigh Avenue do not have land uses in sync with the prescribed zoning.
1 Site Area & Surrounding neighborhood
Commercial uses on residential zones
Some of these inconsistencies are compatible. For example, commercial or cultural uses in residential zones.
22nd St: Commercial center
Figure 8: Commercial uses on residential zoning are most likely compatible
However, some of these inconsistencies are not compatible. For example, industrial uses in residential or commercial zones. 23rd St: Rowhouses
Residential
Figure 9: Industrial uses on Commercial zoning are most likely incompatible
Since many industrial uses and associated activities bring about large externalities, an industrial use within a residential or commercial zone could be harmful to the surrounding communities.
Land Use & Zoning
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
To better understand these mismatches, they are categorized into seven types (see Figure 10). Along West Lehigh Avenue, there are four common types of inconsistent uses, which are colored in to the right. They are mostly concentrated around the railways and around 22nd Street. Numerous churches in neighborhood
Figure 7: Axonometric Map shows the geographic location of the most prevalent land uses
Parks around churches & schools
Within the inconsistent uses, the share of potentially harmful and incompatible uses (industrial uses on residential zones) is 2% along West Lehigh and 22% in its surrounding areas. This means that although it is not common along the corridor itself, area residents may still be impacted by these inconsistencies. Nevertheless, the vacancies along West Lehigh Avenue could be a great opportunity to re-configure some of the incompatibility.
GOALS
Commercial
Industrial uses on residential zones
ALTERNATIVES
Civic
Site Area & Surrounding neighborhood
Residential uses on industrial zones
2
Site Area PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
22nd St: Commercial corridor
As is mentioned before, there are a lot of scattered mixed-use corner stores along the west and middle part of the West Lehigh Avenue. Many of these commercial uses are within residential zones.
2
Commercial uses on industrial zones
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Industrial uses around rail
EXISTING CONDITIONS
4 types of incompatibilities along the West Lehigh Avenue
Civic/Institution uses on industrial zones
1 Site Area Industrial uses on commercial zones
Cultural/Recreation uses on industrial zones
Figure 10: Typology of Land Use - Zoning inconsistency
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
ZONING AND LAND USES ARE NOT ALWAYS COMPATIBILE
Industrial
14|Existing Conditions
|15
Before 1940:
39%
Figure 13: The homes in the neighborhoods around W. Lehigh Ave. are considerably older Though the style is still popular today, the majority of rowhomes were built before 1940. In fact, the majority of the housing stock in Philadelphia as a whole was built prior to 1940. As visualized in Figure 2513 above, 64% of homes along the corridor were built before 1940. This is in comparison to 39% of homes being built before 1940 in all of Philadelphia. Rowhomes oftentimes include porches which easily facilitate nieghbor interactions. Furthermore, residents have the ability to take ownership of a front yard in one way or another. In particular, these DIY tire planters were found throughout the neighborhoods surrounding the West Lehigh Avenue corridor.
Figure 11: Mixed -use row homes on Lehigh Ave. and 24th St.
Stock of Row Homes:
Figure 14: DIY tire planters exemplifying a cohesive sense of community on the street
Housing Stock
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Allegheny West + Strawberry Mansion
FILLED WITH LONG-TERM RESIDENTS THAT RENT AND OWN PROPORTIONATELY Just as the housing units have been around for a while, so have their occupants. Residents in the neighborhoods around the West Lehigh Avenue corridor have lived in the neighborhhood longer than the average Philadelphian; 30% of residents in Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West have lived in the same house since 1989 or earlier, whereas only 17% of all Philadelphians have lived in their house that long.
Philadelphia
Figure 12: Housing stock broken down by ratio of rowhomes
Of the occupied homes along the corridor, 53% are owner occupied and 47% are renter occupied. The city of Philadelphia has the exact same breakdown.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Despite low home values, roughly 33% of homeowners in Alleghany West and Strawberry Mansion pay more than a third of their income on housing costs, which is comprable to the rest of Philadelphia. However, this percent of homeowners varies greatly throughout the neighborhoods around West Lehigh Avenue, ranging from 16% to 45%.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Philadelphia
Home values surrounding West Lehigh Avenue are low. Over eighty percent of surrounding homes are valued under $100,00.
The proportion of homeowners that own their house free and clear is substantially higher within the area surrounding West Lehigh Avenue compared to Philadelphia as a whole. Approximately 67% of homeowners near the corridor have paid off their mortgage whilst just 39% of Philadelphian homeowners have already paid off their mortgage. The higher proportion of homeowners in the surrounding neighborhoods that bought their house in 1989 or earlier might explain this phenomenon.
GOALS
Allegheny West + Strawberry Mansion
ALTERNATIVES
Housing typology and age in the Allegheny West and Strawberry Mansion neighborhoods are fairly homogeneous. The most common housing typology along the corridor is the single-family attached housing, colloquilly known as a rowhome. About eight out of ten homes in the surrounding neighborhoods are rowhomes. This can be compared to the rest of Philadelphia where six out of ten homes are rowhomes (Figure 12).
DESPITE LOWER HOME VALUES AND RENTS AFFORDABILITY CAN BE A CHALLENGE
64%
As for renters, the story is more grim. Rents in the area are relatively low, averaging $846 a month. This can be compared to Philadlephia’s average of $1,007 a month. Though, the rent burden is much greater in the area around West Lehigh Avenue. On average, renters in this area pay 42% of their income on rent versus the average Philadelphian who pays 33% of their income on rent.
W. Lehigh Corridor
% of homes valued under $100,000: 80-100% 60-80%
Beyond a higher rent burden, renters also face adversity in terms of eviction. Alleghany West and Strawberry Mansion record a five percent eviction rate, whereas the city-wide rate is 3.5%. In fact, Philadelphia has one of the highest eviction rates of all the large metropolitan cities. For comparison, New York City only evicts at 1.1%. It is important to consider that these are only official eviction rates. According to the Urban Institue, unoffical evictions are projected to be even higher. The most common reason for eviction is a city’s lack of a “just cause” bill which would require a landlord to provide a just cause before evicting a tenant. In January of 2019, Mayor Kenney signed this sort of bill into law, and it went into effect in April of 2019. The effects from the bill have yet to be seen.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
PREDOMINANTLY PRE-WAR TOWNHOMES
West Lehigh Avenue is surrounded by homes of low value
40-60% 20-40% 0-20% No Data
Figure 15: Map showing percent of owner-occupied homes in Philadelphia that have a value under $100,000 (Social Explorer ACS 2018 5 year study) 5%
42%
Lower median gross rent
$850
$1000
W Lehigh Philly
Higher median rent as a % of income
33%
W Lehigh Philly
3.5%
Higher Eviction Rate W Lehigh Philly
Figure 16: Renters in W Lehigh’s surrounding neighborhood are struggling and underserved
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
HOUSING
16|Existing Conditions
|17
Rid g
2
LOW INCOME MEANS HIGHER POVERTY RATES Median household income in the Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West neighborhoods is roughly $19,000, less than half of the city’s median household income. Incomes north of Lehigh Avenue are, on average, higher than incomes south of Lehigh Avenue. In some areas, median household incomes are less than $20,000. Thirty percent of households report less than $10,000 annual income.
Lehigh Avenue
3
Legend
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Vacant Buildings Vacant Land
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As incomes in this area are very low comparatively, there is a higher than average incidence of poverty. Across every metric, Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West have higher rates of poverty. In this area, 54% more people are experiencing poverty, 44% more people receive nutrition assistance, and 33% more children are experiencing poverty than in the rest of Philadelphia.
Miles 0.4
Figure 17: Map showing vacant parcels; five called out for visual emphasis
Vacancy & Economics
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 2917 above illustrates vacant land and building parcels surrounding West Lehigh Avenue. It is evident that there is considerable building vacancy specifically in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood south of the corridor. Photo #1 shows a vacant building flanked by two vacant lots. This block appears to only have one occupied building. Photo #2 and photo #3 show land and building vacancies in the middle of the commercial portion of West Lehigh Avenue. In photo #2, it looks like someone has co-opted the space into a food truck of sorts showing there is interest in using these parcels but potentially not enough investment to do so in a more formal manner. Looking closely at where photo #3 was taken, the map actually does not show these buildings as vacant depite them very clearly showing signs of vacancies. These buildings are even out
Lehigh Avenue outperforms the city of Philadelphia in every metric measuring poverty
of compliance with the city’s Windows and Doors ordinance; this is shown by how one can see straight through the building from the windows. There is a great deal of vacancy to the east as well. Photo #4 is of a large, previously industrial and vacant building right on West Lehigh Avenue. Furthermore, Photo #5 shows four vacancies right in a row. The prevalence of so much vacancy within the east side of the corridor may deter people exiting from one of the many transit stops in the area from walking further down West Lehigh Avenue. Local vacancy data can be distinguished between land and buildings. Measured in terms of land area, the vacancy rate is approximately 4% in Philadelphia as a whole. Comparatively, the vacancy rate is approximately
W. Lehigh Corridor
% of Vacant land+ buildings by block 80-100% 60-80% 40-60% 20-40% 0-20%
Figure 18: Vacancy around the corridor is higher than the rest of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Lehigh Avenue All people experiencing poverty
26%
40%
People under 18 experiencing poverty
36%
48%
Receiving supplemental nutrition assistance
25%
36%
Families experiencing poverty
20%
31%
Families with children experiencing poverty
30%
41%
People over 65 experiencing poverty
18%
29%
Figure 19: Poverty levels of neighborhoods along West Lehigh Ave. in comparison to Philadelphia
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
While vacancy threatens the physical vibrancy of the corridor, low incomes and high unemployment threaten the fiscal vibrancy of the corridor. With median household incomes less than half the city’s average, neighborhood residents have significantly reduced spending power, which is apparent in the physical and fiscal conditions found along the corridor.
GOALS
eA
4
ALTERNATIVES
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
29th Street
ven ue
Looking at housing specifically, 26% of all homes in the neighborhoods along West Lehigh Avenue are vacant. Of those vacant houses, only ten percent are for sale or rent, suggesting other buildings may be abandoned completely or in such disrepair that they are inhabitable.
West Lehigh Avenue traverses some of the city’s least economically prosperous neighborhoods. Even along the less than two mile stretch of corridor analyzed in this plan, employment, income, and other economic markers vary widely. There are stark differences between Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West, with the latter showing minor improvements over the former.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
10% along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor and 13% in the surrounding neighborhoods of Strawberry Mansion and Alleghany West. Figure 18 (below) shows the vacancies along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor in the context of Philadelphia. Based on the prevalence of dark areas surrounding the study area, it is clear that vacancy is a widespread phenomenon.
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
ECONOMICS
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
VACANCY
Lehigh Avenue
Neighborhood poverty rate is almost twice the city’s already high poverty rate 26%
$19,000
Philadelphia
$23,000
$16,000
MAJORITY COMMUTES BY PERSONAL VEHICLE OR TRANSIT
$15,000
Median Household Income Less than $20,000
40%
West Lehigh Ave
$20,000 - $24,000 Greater than $24,000
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
Figure 20: Median household income is less than $20,000 in most census tracts bordering West Lehigh Avenue, ranging from $15,000 - $28,000.
Much like the rest of Philadelphia, residents of the West Lehigh Avenue corridor face a 33-minute commute to their places of employment. Fortyfour percent of residents use personal vehicles to get to work, while 42% use public transportation to get to work.
Carpool
4%
Personal Vehicle
44%
Most residents in the 19132 zip code are employed in Center City and University City. Residents also commute to Hunting Park and Frankford, where large employers include: Temple University Hospital
•
St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital
•
Walmart
Transit
42%
Economics
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
There is also a notable contingent of residents who commute to Southeast Philadelphia. Large employers there include:
Figure 21: The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center turned a family-owned bar into a development center for local youth, focusing on literacy and mentorship.
Figure 22: The 22nd Street corridor is the only section of the corridor that has a cohesive identity supported by the Allegheny West Foundation and other organizations.
•
Wells Fargo Center
•
Citizens Bank Park
•
Lincoln Financial Field
•
CSX Rail Yard
EXISTING CONDITIONS
7%
While most residents use personal vehicles and public transit for their daily commutes, 14% either carpool, walk, work at home, or use bikes, motorcycles, and taxis to get to work.
•
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Work from Home Bike, Taxi, 2% Other Walking 1%
There are a network of organizations supporting job training and youth mentorship programs in North Philadelphia. The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center is one such organization operating along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor, focusing on literacy and mentorship among area youth.
$15,000
GOALS
$28,000
ALTERNATIVES
ge A
West Lehigh Ave
Figure 23: Mode share for daily commuting trips for the 19132 zip code
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ven u
e
$19,000
Nearby residents use personal vehicles and public transit at similar rates in order to get to work
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
$26,000
Rid
$19,000
17th Street
27th Street
Philadelphia
EMPLOYMENT VARIES BUT GENERALLY HIGHER THAN CITY Employment statistics vary widely between the two neighborhoods that straddle West Lehigh Avenue. In Allegheny West, the unemployment rate sits at roughly 11%, similar to the average across Philadelphia in 2017. In Strawberry Mansion, the unemployment rate is as high as 26%. Unemployment is highest in the geographic center of the corridor, with higher than average unemployment reported around 25th Street on both the northern and southern sides of Lehigh Avenue.
Broad Street
$40,000
N
29th Street
Neighborhood household income is less than half of the city’s median household income
20th Street
|19 22nd Street
18|Existing Conditions
20|Existing Conditions
|21
The bus stop with highest ridership is located at West Lehigh Avenue and Broad Street, which averages 323 people per day getting on and off. As a comparison, the most frequently-used bus stop in the city as a whole is Olney Avenue and Broad Street, which has a daily ridership of 1,007 people per day. The rest of the most frequently-used bus stops are located
West Oak Lane
< 100 Workers
201 - 300 Workers
301 - 400 Workers
301 - 400 Workers
401+ Workers
401+ Workers
Economics & Transportation
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Somerset St Lehigh Avenue
Figure 25: Workers along the corridor are largely coming from other neighborhoods in North Philadelphia, with a few commuting from Southwest Philadelphia and Northwest Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA
38%
23%
22%
6%
11%
WEST LEHIGH AVE
25%
31%
23%
5%
16%
Management & Business
Service
Sales & Office
Construction
Production & Transport
Lehigh Ave & Broad St Bus Stop
Regional Rail & Amtrak Station
Bus Stops with Highest Ridership
Broad Street Line (Subway) Station
Bus Stops
0 0.05 0.1
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Legend
OCCUPATION BREAKDOWN OF NEARBY RESIDENTS Residents of West Lehigh Avenue are overrepresented in service and production/ transportation occupations. They are underrepresented in management, business, and science occupations.
Cambria St North Philadelphia Station
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
101 - 200 Workers
North Philadelphia Station
ven
Kingsessing
201 - 300 Workers
Figure 24: More workers commute out of the Lehigh Avenue area than into the area, with a majority going south towards Center City and University City
Indiana Avenue
ue
Cobbs Creek
Allegheny Station
ALTERNATIVES
Legend < 100 Workers
N
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Legend
101 - 200 Workers South Philadelphia East
Workers Commuting into Study Area
Brewerytown
ge A
Center City
West Parkside
Allegheny Avenue
Rid
Northern Liberties
Workers Commuting out of Study Area
Allegheny Station
0.2
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Miles 0.4
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Broad Street
Fairmount Park
Lehigh Ave
29th Street
Lehigh Ave
University City
Frankford
Hunting Park
GOALS
Olney
Frankford Hunting Park
There are three regional rail stations near West Lehigh Avenue, and eight rail lines run through these stations. Besides carrying regional rail services, the North Philadelphia station also provides Amtrak service. Furthermore, there is a North Philadelphia subway station that is only 15 minutes away from City Hall. It is located at West Lehigh Avenue and Broad Street.
22nd Street
Germantown
along 22nd Street, which is a commercial corridor near West Lehigh Avenue. However, half of the bus stops do not have any ridership data reported.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
West Lehigh Avenue has a well-built transit network that includes more than 70 bus stops, three train stations (with access to both Amtrak and regional rail), and one subway station (on the Broad Street Line).
EXISTING CONDITIONS
TRANSPORTATION
North Broad Station SusquehannaDauphin Station
|23
DETERIORATING STREET CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR
The car ownership rate is relatively low in this area. Along West Lehigh Avenue, half of the households don’t own any vehicles. In comparison, 70% of Philadelphia households own at least one car. The low car ownership rate explains the need for alternative travel modes such as transit, biking, and walking.
The streets and sidewalks around West Lehigh Avenue are not in great condition. Throughout the corridor, it is apparent that streets and sidewalks have not been repaved or replaced, respectively, in a long time.
40%
50%
1 vehicle available
3 vehicles available
4+ vehicles available
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
The map on the right (Figure 28) shows a bus route map of all non-school bus routes that run through the West Lehigh area.
GOALS
17th St
20th St
22nd St
25th St
Figure 27: Bus operating on West Lehigh Avenue
EXTENSIVE BUS NETWORK AND CONNECTIONS
Midnight-5am (bus) service for Line, so it has a relatively low Route 33S and HRS are school they have no ridership data
North Philadelphia (Subway)
Lehigh Avenue
Figure 26: Car Ownership Rate in neighborhoods around West Lehigh Avenue
Route BSO is the the Broad Street ridership as well. bus routes, and recorded.
Cambria St Somerset St
2 vehicles available
Ridge-Lyceum (Roxborough)
29th Street
Fern Rock Transportation Center
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16 33
22nd Street 32
54
61 48 Broad-Carpenter 9th-Market
Penn’s Landing 33rd-Dauphin
2
Legend Fatal Injury
Broad-Erie
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Manayunk
Pulaski-Hunting Park 23rd-Venango
27th-Allegheny
N
Cheltenham-Ogontz
Allegheny Avenue
Rid
There are eleven bus routes that run along or across West Lehigh Avenue. Most go as north as the northwestern corners of the city, and some buses go to South Philadelphia. Among the eleven routes, Route 33 (Penn’s Landing to 23rd-Venango) has the highest average weekly ridership of 13,060 people, while Route 61 (9th-Market to Manayunk) has the lowest average weekly ridership of approximately 3,380 people.
North Philadelphia (Rail)
Major Injury High Injury Network
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BSO
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Figure 29: Injuries mapped in close proximity to Lehigh Avenue
4
Lehigh Avenue Richmond-Cambria
Legend Bus Line #2 Bus Line #4 Bus Line #16 Bus Line #32 Bus Line #33 Bus Line #48 0 0.05 0.1
0.2
Figure 28: Bus Network along West Lehigh Avenue
Bus Line #54 Bus Line #61 Bus Line #BSO
City Hall
Regional Rail Station BSL (Subway) Station 0.3
Miles 0.4
20th-Johnston
Broad-Pattison
Penn’s Landing
Figure 30: Uneven surface of a street
Figure 31: Bike lane on West Lehigh Avenue
Figure 32: Pedestrian sidewalk conditions
0.3
Miles 0.4
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
30%
Indiana Ave
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
20%
9.2%
ALTERNATIVES
ue 10%
No vehicles available
Rid ge A
ven 0%
39.4%
Broad Street
50.0%
West Lehigh
N
Allegheny
19.9%
43.6%
29th St
30.9%
Allegheny Avenue
27th St
Philadelphia
Streets are criss-crossed with construction patch jobs and markings like medians and bike lanes are faded in some places to the point that they are too light to be seen. Furthermore, sidewalks are cracked, crumbling, and in need of repairs.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
LOW CAR OWNERSHIP RATE
EXISTING CONDITIONS
22|Existing Conditions
24|Existing Conditions
|25
URBAN DESIGN
The most common building typology along West Lehigh Avenue is the twoor three-story rowhome, which is typically 15 feet wide and 40-45 feet deep and is attached to the rowhome on either side. Most homes front directly on the street, have a small backyard, and do not include off-street parking. This likely accounts for the prevalence of on-street parking throughout the neighborhood, similar to many other neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
ven
ven
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29th Street
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
29th Street
N
ge A
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Rid
ge A
North Philadelphia (Rail)
Rid
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Figure 34: Typical two-story townhomes
N
Allegheny
Schuylkill River
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
The Western zone extends from N 29th Street west to Ridge Avenue and is dominated by open spaces like Mt. Vernon Cemetery directly to the north, Laurel Hill Cemetery to the northwest, and Fairmount Park and the Schuylkill River to the west. Consequently, this portion of the study area is the least densely developed but it does include several commercial buildings, a public library, a public school, and the familiar two and three story townhomes.
GOALS
The vast majority of the buildings just north and south of West Lehigh Avenue are two or three stories tall. Larger one-story buildings are scattered throughout each zone but are more common at either end of the corridor. These buildings contain mainly commercial or industrial uses with the exception of Ethel Allen School in the western zone. The larger four-to-five story and six-to-seven story buildings are school buildings and churches. The only building that is at least eight stories within the study area is the Botany 500 building, a former commercial building by the North Philadelphia subway station.
25th Street
The Eastern zone includes the intersection of West Lehigh Avenue and Broad Street and extends west to about N 21st Street. This area is mainly commercial and less uniform in terms of parcel and building sizes than areas further west along the corridor. Larger lots are also more common in this zone. Two transit stations within the study area and two more stations within walking distance provide access to Amtrak, regional rail, and subway services. These railroad tracks bisect the Eastern zone northeast to southwest, which disrupts the regular street grid and introduces diagonal streets.
The Central zone stretches from N 21st Street west to N 29th Street and includes a portion of the N 22nd Street commercial corridor north of West Lehigh. With the exception of N 22nd Street, this zone is primarily residential and organized around the typical Philadelphia street grid. The prevalence of two-story and three-story townhomes creates the highest level of density within the study area. Although there are some corner stores, there is less retail midblock except along N 22nd Street, which appears to be the strongest commercial corridor in the area. The corridor is comprised mainly of ground-floor retail and restaurants with residential units above.
27th Street
West Lehigh Avenue runs between Broad Street and Ridge Avenue for a total of approximately 1.75 miles. Over this stretch of road, the urban character of the surrounding neighborhood varies in terms of building uses, building size, street layout, and overall personality. West Lehigh Avenue can generally be categorized into three distinct zones: Eastern, Central, and Western.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
BUILDING HEIGHT RARELY EXCEEDS THREE STORIES
ALTERNATIVES
CORRIDOR CAN BE CHARACTERIZED INTO THREE ZONES
Mt. Vernon Cemetery
North Philadelphia (Subway)
Lehigh Avenue
Central
Western
Lehigh Avenue
Eastern
North Philadelphia Subway Station
Ethel Allen School
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Fairmount Park
North Broad Street
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Legend Subway Station
Water
Railway Station
Parks
Railway
Cemetery
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Site Boundary
ley
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Figure 33: The eastern, central, and western zones of West Lehigh Avenue each have a distinct character
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Legend
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Miles 0.4
Study Area
4-5 Stories
1 Story
6-7 Stories
2-3 Stories
8+ Stories
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Figure 35: Building height map shows the prevalence of 2-3 story buildings as well as the outlier buildings
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0.2
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26|Existing Conditions
|27
Typical West Lehigh Ave. Section
TYPICAL PHILADELPHIA STREET GRID PROVIDES ORDER TO CORRIDOR
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
84 feet
15 feet
8 feet 4’ 11 feet
7’
11 feet 4’ 9 feet
15 feet
15 feet
8 feet 4’ 11 feet
7’
11 feet 4’ 9 feet
15 feet
Figure 38: Typical West Lehigh Avenue section
N 22nd Street Section
15 feet
38 feet feet Street 7’ Section 11 feet 4’ 9 feet 8 feet 4’ N11 22nd
N 22nd Street Section 38 feet
N
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
24 feet
7’
7’
24 feet
7’
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29th Street
7’
Typical Minor Street Section
ge A Rid
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Legend
24 28 feet feet
7’
7’
Typical Minor Street Section Figure 39: Typical numbered street section
North Philadelphia (Rail)
28 feet
Typical Minor Street Section
North Philadelphia (Subway)
Lehigh Avenue
Major Arterial Subway Station
Minor Arterial
Railway Station
Collector Residential
Railway
Local Residential
Figure 36: Street hierarchy map shows regularity of grid and various street widths
Se
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Ave
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7’
14 feet
7’
7’
14 feet
7’
7’
14 feet
7’
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o wo
28 feet
North Broad Street
e nu
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
15 feet
38 feet
Figure 939 illustrates a section of a typical numbered north-south street, Allegheny
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Typical West Lehigh Ave. Section
GOALS
From an urban design perspective, West Lehigh Avenue is too wide compared to the average abutting building heights. A common building height to street width rule of thumb for pedestrian comfort along an urban corridors is 1:1. So, the width of West Lehigh Avenue could support taller buildings without imposing on the pedestrian experience.
Lastly, Figure 10 shows a section of the narrowest minor residential streets, which consist of only a travel lane 12-14 feet wide and the standard 7-8 foot wide sidewalk on both sides of the street. Despite no formal public space allotted for parking, it is common for residents to park their vehicles so that half is on the street and half over a sidewalk (shown in Figure 37 below). Overall, there is no bike infrastructure incorporated in these side streets and trees are quite rare outside of backyards.
84 feet
Figure 37: Makeshift on-street parking on side streets
ALTERNATIVES
As Figure 1138 illustrates, the right-of-way of major arterial streets such as West Lehigh Avenue are over 80 feet wide and the street itself can be 50 feet wide. A typical section of West Lehigh Avenue contains parking on both sides, one to two travel lanes in each direction, periodic turning lanes, and wide (15 feet) sidewalks. West Lehigh Avenue also contains a bike lane in both directions, but that is an exception in this area. It should be noted that West Lehigh Avenue in particular was likely redesigned, so the bike lanes and the center median replaced a travel lane in each direction.
84Lehigh feet Typical West Ave. Section
which is 24-26 feet wide and features on-street parking on either side and one travel lane. Since these streets are unidirectional, the orientation alternates between north and south. Two 7-8 foot wide sidewalks are provided, and most are void of street trees. Most of the wider numbered streets are bordered by two-story buildings, but there are portions that extend to three-stories.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
The average block size in this neighborhood, especially within the residential areas, is 120 feet by 500 feet. Most blocks within the study area are oriented north-south, but several blocks along West Lehigh in the Central zone are oriented east-west. There are several “superblocks” in the study area that contain larger buildings such as a strip mall and surface parking, a church, or a school. Other large areas amongst the street grid
are Mount Vernon Cemetery, Reyburn Park next to Dobbins High School, and former industrial buildings that now appear to be largely abandoned.
Figure 40: Typical minor residential street section
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The urban fabric within the study area is based on a hierarchical street grid like most of Philadelphia. The grid is comprised of several major and minor arterial streets, residential collector streets, and many minor residential street. In addition to West Lehigh Avenue, other arterial streets within the study area are N Broad Street, N 22nd Street, N 29th Street, and N 33rd Street. Of the non-arterials, numbered north-south streets are generally wider and carry more traffic than other north-south streets with unique names. Overall, there is less variation in hierarchy of the east-west streets. A number of major streets are bi-directional but most of these minor streets are one-way in alternating directions. The historical organization of this area is consistent with the present layout.
28|Existing Conditions
|29
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community Development
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
EXISTING CONDITIONS ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES GOALS
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Educational
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Religious Figure 43: Map depicting community assets within the boundary of West Lehigh Avenue
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Figure 41: City Council Districts 4, 5, 8, and their locations in Philadelphia
0.2
N PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
29th Street
Sedgley Plaza Shopping Center Renovation
27th Street
Allegheny
Strawberry Mansion CDC
Miles 0.4
0.3
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Lehigh Avenue
Strawberry Mansion Homeownership
Figure 42: Projects under the Strawberry Mansion CDC
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Retail Townhome & Brownstone Renovations
ALTERNATIVES
Public Facility
ve dA
Legend
Criminal Justice Reform
Broad Street
5
Commercial assets consist of retail, food and beverage, grooming, and services such as tax and auto-repair shops. The most common of the functions is food & beverage, followed by retail. The commercial assets are located within the central area of West Lehigh Avenue, but more prominently along 22nd Street corridor.
Gun Violence Prevention
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
ven ue ge A Rid
4
ue
Special Focuses with the Free Library of The Widener BranchCommittee Library is associated Philadelphia. This library hosts several after-school activities for children that focus on improving their reading levels, as well as different creative activities. They also provide information about different activity calendars provided by other organizations within Strawberry Mansion. However, the working hours of this library are not constant as there is a shortage of staff at times.
Lehigh Avenue
ge A ven
Along West Lehigh Avenue & 22nd Street Corridor, there are a number of commercial and community assets. The community assets consist of three public schools, an archdiocese high school, a branch of the Philadelphia Free Library, two drug rehabilitation facilities, and a large concentration of churches. The churches are reminents of the past Jewish community, as they were previously synagogues. Some of the synagogues were known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;store-frontâ&#x20AC;? synagogues because of how small their congregation was. These were all converted into churches along West Lehigh Avenue.
8
Rid
Within the neighborhoods surrounding West Lehigh Avenue, there is only a single operational CDC: Strawberry Mansion CDC. This CDC has four projects that are ongoing: the Sedgley Plaza Shopping Center renovation, Strawberry Mansion Homeownership, and two townhome & brownstone renovation projects. Deliverance CDC is operated by Deliverance Evangelical Church located along the corridor, but there has not been any activity noted in years.
29th Street
West Lehigh Avenue is situated within three different City Council districts: District 4, 5, and 8. District 5 is led by Darrell L. Clarke, the City Council President. The City Council has three special committees that are targeting key issues within these districts: poverty reduction & prevention, gun violence prevention, and criminal justice reform. Amongst these special committees, the most influential has been criminal justice reform.
Poverty Reduction & Prevention
N
Allegheny
Food & Beverage
Grooming
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Services Figure 44: Map depicting different commercial assets within the boundary of West Lehigh Avenue
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0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
30|Existing Conditions
|31
TWO MAJOR PARKS BUT INADEQUATE TREE COVER ELSEWHERE
EXISTING CONDITIONS
ENVIRONMENT Distribution of West Lehigh Avenue Environmental Assets
N GOALS
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
ue
Glenwood Green Acres is the sole community garden and services the community with a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetable.
25th Street
Figure 45: Sparse tree canopy along West Lehigh Avenue
27th Street
Allegheny
29th Street ge A
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GROWING GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Rid
ALTERNATIVES
Ten percent of the corridor is covered by trees, which is low compared to Philadelphia as a whole (20%). Overall, the corridor has about 280 trees that are both native and foreign species. However, the corridor still lacks sufficient trees along its length to provide noticeable benefits to nearby residents (see Figure 48).
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
There are two major parks along West Lehigh Avenue: Reyburn Park and 29th & Chalmers Park. They contain a mix of open field space and recreational space. East Fairmount Park is located across Ridge Avenue and provides a larger green space and plethora of cultural resources such as the The Dell Music Center and the Historic Strawberry Mansion.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
As part of Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters program, the city plans to improve the water quality of creeks and rivers primarily through the use of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Within the West Lehigh corridor there are six public GSI projects and two privately-owed GSI projects.
REHABILITATING VACANT LOTS THROUGH PLP
Figure 46: Glenwood Acres Community Garden is the sole community garden
Environment
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
REMEDIATION PROJECTS The corridor has five inactive underground storage tanks (UST) that contain or have contained some form of petroleum product. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), a storage site becomes inactive if the tank has been removed, permanently closed, exempted from the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, transferred to a different facility record, or otherwise removed from registration with the Department of Environmental Protection.9 It is likely that more USTs remain throughout the corridor and could pose potential threats to the environment.
Legend Water
Site Boundary
Parks
Tree Canopy
Cemetery
Railway
Public GSI Site Private GSI Site Community Garden
Figure 48: Few trees line West Lehigh Avenue (Philadelphia Water Department, City of Philadelphia) Figure 47: Reyburn Park is in need of infrastructure redevelopment
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PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
As previously noted, vacant parcels are prevalent throughout the corridor. One measure to improve their condition is the Philadelphia Landcare Program (PLP), led by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This program works with community organizations and city agencies to rehabilitate vacant lots into green community assets. As of now, the PLP has rehabilitated 75 lots, but these lots do not always appear to be in a “clean and green” state. Compare Figure 51 and Figure 52 on page 32.
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
32|Existing Conditions
|33
ALARMINGLY HIGH LEVELS OF LEAD
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the area around West Lehigh Avenue has some of the highest concentrations of children with high levels of lead in their blood in the city. The immediate area surrounding the corridor has some of the highest percentages of children containing blood lead levels greater than 5 μg/dl (Figure 510). It is estimated 10%-16% of children have high blood lead levels. Within the corridor some possible sources of lead are:3 •
Lead based paint
•
Lead plumbing
•
Legacy of leaded gasoline emissions
•
Contaminated Soils5
Legend 9.0 - 13.5%
BROWNFIELDS PRESENT BUT NOT COMMON
GOALS 0
0.225 0.45
0.9
1.35
Figure 50: Neighborhoods surrounding West Lehigh contain some of the highest percentages of children with high blood lead levels in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Department of Health) Figure 51: Philadelphia Horticulture Society’s publicized image of a restored lot.
There is one brownfield site that has undergone remediation located within the boundaries of the corridor. This proeperty has since been verified as clean and has been cleared for redevelopment in 2017.
Environment
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 52: Restored vacant lots along West Lehigh are not always well maintained.
Figure 49: Strawberry Mansion has exposed active construction
1.8 Miles
ALTERNATIVES
Throughout the neighborhood, construction sites without adequate barriers for pedestrian safety are common. This lack of protection increases residents chances of getting injured on the site. Furthermore, the construction activity exposes residents to particulate matter.
Site Boundary
13.5 - 18.0%
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
INADEQUATE PROTECTION AROUND CONSTRUCTION SITES
4.5 - 9.0%
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
0 - 4.5% 4
Issues & Opportunities
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
34|Issues & Opportunities |35
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
36|Issues & Opportunities
|37
ISSUES EXISTING CONDITIONS
4. LACK OF MAINTENANCE LEADS TO POOR CONDITIONS
Issues & Opportunities
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Employment and the economic support that comes with it is foundational for a healthy community not only in an economic sense, but also in an environmental and social sense. Simply put, employed residents are more likely to be financially stable and therefore pay attention to other aspects of the community once basic needs are met.
3. LITTER PERVASIVE IN THE PUBLIC REALM Litter is a pervasive issue throughout the West Lehigh Avenue corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods. Trash collects along properties, in abandoned lots, and along the street gutter. Moreover, there did not appear to be trash cans accessible to the public along the corridor, which encourages this issue. Based on a community meeting, community members are aware of this issue and wish to address it.
are more focused on Girard Avenue and the Brewerytown area, while initiatives planned to activate the North district are largely focused on the Broad-Tioga-Germantown intersection and the Temple hospital. As the dividing line, little attention apart from the North Philadelphia Amtrak station has been paid to the Lehigh Avenue corridor, leaving its future largely unplanned and up to the unresponsive market.
GOALS
Figure 4: Litter is apparent throughout the neighborhood
Figure 2: Vacant building between empty lots
Figure 5: A metal plate remains in the road along West Lehigh Avenue
Figure 3: Vacant commercial building
Figure 6: Lead pipe
ALTERNATIVES
Figure 1: Vacant storefront and apartments above on West Lehigh Avenue
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
In the same vein as the litter issue, the West Lehigh Avenue area faces a clear lack of maintenance and thus much of both the public and private realms are in poor condition. In addition to litter, the sidewalks and street are broken up in many places and haphazardly patched back together. There were observed instances when a metal plate, which is meant to be a temporary measure, was left as the final solution. The buildings that front Such widespread vacancy not only depresses economic investment in these sidewalks and streets are also in varying states of average to poor the neighborhood, but also can have negative environmental, social, condition with chipping paint, crumbling stairs, and general disrepair. and psychological impacts on the community. Vacant buildings and lots 5. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS HURT RESIDENTS are environmental liabilities as they continue to deteriorate without proper maintenance. Severely ignored buildings may decline to the point West Lehigh Avenue is impacted by several different types of environmental the structural stability is compromised and are in danger of collapsing. hazards, including construction hazards and lead pollution. Several sites within the study area were observed with minimal safety measures, which Similarly, vacant lots collect trash. exposes residents to construction debris, air pollution, and safety concerns. The prevalence of empty lots and buildings are holes within the community Brownfields are generally former industrial sites that may be polluted from fabric. They can be detrimental to social interactions within the public previous uses. Without proper remediation, these sites continue to pose a realm and can dampen overall neighborhood pride. Vacancies have a health concern for residents. Perhaps one of the most substantial health negative psychological effect as they represent struggle and uncertainty. concerns in this area is lead pollution, which can be caused by drinking water in lead pipes, exposure to lead paint, or air pollution. West Lehigh 2. HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INHIBITS IMPROVEMENTS Avenue is within the area of Philadelphia with the highest concentration of Neighborhoods on either side of West Lehigh Avenue have high rates of lead, well above acceptable levels. unemployment. Allegheny West has a 2017 unemployment rate of 11%, which is comparable to the city-wide average. Strawberry Mansion, on 6. LACK OF PLANNING ATTENTION UNDERLYING PROBLEM the other hand, has an unemployment rate of 30%. For comparison, the The West Lehigh Avenue corridor lies between the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North and Lower national unemployment rate in 2017 was four percent. North planning districts. Initiatives planned for the Lower North district
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
The vacancy rate within the study area is about ten percent, which is higher than the city-wide average of four percent. This includes both vacant buildings and vacant parcels. Vacancy is apparent all through the neighborhood from the commercial area to the east, along West Lehigh Avenue itself, and throughout the residential neighborhoods. Furthermore, spaces of all land use categories are currently vacant.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
1. HIGH VACANCY RATES THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR
|39
2. ROBUST TRANSIT NETWORK PROVIDES ACCESS AND MOBILITY
OPPORTUNITIES
Generally, development in lower income areas can lead to gentrification and residential and commercial displacement. Due to the higher vacancy rate along the corridor, potential development would take place within vacant lots and buildings, rather than displace lower income populations. The community would then benefit from having retail and services dispersed on each block.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
As noted previously, vacancy is an issue that plagues the neighborhoods along West Lehigh Avenue, but can also be considered an opportunity. Addressing vacancies along the corridor both directly and indirectly has the potential to trigger additional development within the area.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
The corridor currently contains more than 70 bus stops, three train stations, and one subway station. Both SEPTA (rapid transit and regional rail) and Amtrak have service running through the area. The public transit network helps connect the surrounding neighborhoods to Center City, as City Hall is only 15 minutes away by subway via the Broad Street Line (BSL). The North Philadelphia BSL stop is also well-positioned between Temple University’s main campus to the south and its medical campus to the north, with stops near both.
1. VACANCY PRESENTS DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT
Figure 7: Vacant Lot under Construction
N
Figure 9: Septa bus line on West Lehigh Avenue ALTERNATIVES
West Lehigh Avenue is home to numerous facilities that boost community development. There are many religious institutions along the corridor. Another asset is the Widener Branch Library, which hosts several different programs, including after-school activities. Other activities include SAT prep courses, cooking classes, and yoga sessions hosted by other community partners.
GOALS
3. NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ASSETS BRING POTENTIAL PARTNERS
Broad Street
ven ge A Rid
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
Lower rents and lower home prices represent an opportunity as the area has a lower bar of entry for people looking to move in. Development along the corridor would bring people into the area, filling vacancies, and bolstering the local economy. Affordability still represents a great opportunity to plan proactively with inclusionary zoning and rent stabilization to ensure that the already long-term residents are not displaced. This is a cautionary tale as this process too often leads to displacement and gentrification.
ue
29th Street
4. LOWER RENTS AND HOME PRICES OFFER AFFORDABILITY
5. BIKE NETWORK CREATES CONNECTIONS WITHOUT NEED FOR CAR Lehigh Avenue
The most direct bike path connecting the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers in North Philadelphia lies along Lehigh Avenue. Its current bike infrastructure represents an opportunity to promote active transportation, especially given the area’s low rates of car ownership.
Issues & Opportunities
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
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6. REBUILD PROGRAM KEY CATALYST IN NEIGHBORHOOD
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Figure 8: Vacancy Map
Figure 10: Widener Branch Library has several after-school programs
0.2
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Miles 0.4
The city’s REBUILD initiative has selected Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center and Reyburn Park as project sites, where proceeds from the recentlyenacted beverage tax will go towards improving interior and outdoor facilities. The process is currently undergoing community engagement and design. Investments like these create opportunities to demonstrate the area’s potential and improve quality of life while building pipelines for maintaining community engagement and civic trust.
Figure 11: Low housing value could lay the foundation for affordability
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
38|Issues & Opportunities
|41
Goals
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE IS A VIBRANT, EQUITABLE, AND ACTIVE CORRIDOR SUPPORTED BY IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS.
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
40|Goals
GOALS
42|Goals
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1. IS AN ACTIVE MIXED-USE CORRIDOR
Figure 1: Storefronts, outdoor seating, and bikeshare activates corridor
Goals
ALTERNATIVES PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
With a solid base of current community assets that include houses of worship, schools, and a relatively new public library, West Lehigh Avenue has the potential to attract other cultural, economic, and educational assets. Creating a safe and attractive community environment is important for such assets and additional funding may be necessary for impactful programming. Ideally, current community assets will remain in the area and grow within the community to meet residents’ needs effectively.
Figure 2: Access to public transit is key
Figure 3: Protected bike lanes would promote access via biking
In 15 years, residents of all ages will have access to a wide range of social activities throughout the corridor. Elderly and active-minded people will chat while exercising in Reyburn Park. School-aged children will play around in the playscapes near their schools. The local economy will start to thrive as more small businesses open up. People become more comfortable walking and biking along the corridor with less worry of tripping over litter or getting hit by automobiles. Both residents and visitors will find the corridor attractive as they easily navigate around the area and discover meaningful events all along the corridor.
Figure 5: A clean environment contributes to the success of the corridor
Figure 6: Widener Library is a strong community asset to build upon
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AFTER THIS PLAN...
3. IS ATTRACTIVE AND WELCOMING TO VISITORS AND RESIDENTS WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 4: Both visitors and residents will enjoy walking down West Lehigh Ave.
5. HAS A PLETHORA OF CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATIONAL ASSETS
The urban context within which West Lehigh Avenue is situated provides ample opportunities for improving access by public transportation, biking, and walking to create a place independent of personal vehicles. With Amtrak, regional rail, and a subway line in close proximity to West Lehigh Avenue, transit connections are plentiful.
Additional attention and resources for cleanup and maintenance sets the stage for creating an attractive environment. Once the basics are covered, it is easier to incorporate new uses and provide continued support of existing uses to generate a well-functioning and attractive environment. This balanced atmosphere attracts visitors as well as residents, so capitalizing on the surrounding transportation resources is key. Equally important is implementing a legible wayfinding system to direct both
At the foundation of all these goals is the objective of creating a clean and safe environment. Cleaning up litter and installing infrastructure to prevent future littering emphasizes the importance of cleanliness and empowers residents to continue the efforts on their own. A cleaner and more orderly environment is more likely to be attractive to additional investment, which will fill building and parcel vacancies. More eyes on the street will generate a safer environment, and there is the potential to create a cyclical effect.
GOALS
4. IS A CLEAN AND SAFE CORRIDOR
2. IS ACCESSIBLE AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
Furthermore, buses currently traverse West Lehigh Avenue and N 22nd Street. Although there are very few bike lanes now, there are several streets within the neighborhood that could accommodate such infrastructure to improve bike connections to neighboring areas. Lastly, improving the pedestrian realm – from cracked sidewalks to street trees to trashcans and street furniture – would promote pedestrian activity and would be transformational.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
visitors and residents throughout the corridor. Through these steps, West Lehigh Avenue can truly grow to become an attractive and welcoming place for everyone.
In order to unify the surrounding neighborhoods, West Lehigh Avenue must be a place that neighborhood residents want to go to. Providing a mix of retail, restaurants, commercial uses, community and social services, and residential units will draw residents and visitors to the corridor. Ultimately, such mix of uses and services will support a more active and attractive, as well as useful, environment. Currently there is a high vacancy rate and high unemployment rate (especially in Strawberry Mansion), but these issues are also opportunities for future development. Development can include renovating existing buildings (addressing building vacancy) or building new structures (addressing vacant lots). With rents currently lower than much of Philadelphia, there are opportunities to begin such work affordably. Concurrently, policy work and community building will complement these physical improvements.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE:
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Alternatives
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The Neighborhood Activity Magnet alternative focuses on improving the quality of residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives around the corridor by building more neighborhood and community assets.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
The Temple & The People alternative capitalizes on the regional rail connection and brings in external investments to gradually stimulate corridor-wide development.
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
The Green Corridor alternative focuses on creating green spaces that not only develop clean and attractive streetscapes but also ensure the sustainability of vegetation and local environment.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
44|Alternatives
ALTERNATIVES
46|Alternatives
|47
Alternatives
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Urban agriculture is introduced as a strategy to create a market for a new local economy that does not currently exist. There will be a variety of different garden types: small private, large communal, and hydroponic. Larger building and land parcels, such as those to the east, will be transformed into hydroponic facilities and urban farms, respectively. Vacant parcels in the commercial districts of Lehigh and 22nd Street will be reformed into produce markets, similar to the rendering to the right (Figure 2). Creating a central produce market will provide direct access to community garden food, support farmers economically, and support a healthier community through better access to nutritious food. Bioremediation will further improve environmental conditions of vacant lots.
Mt. Peace Cemetery
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
ReďŹ&#x201A;ection garden of pollinator plants across from church
29 & Chalmers Park
Lehigh Avenue
Fairmount Park
Glennwood Green Acres
2
ue
3
Figure 1: West Lehigh Avenue is transformed into a green corridor that inlcudes additional parks, community gardens, a hydroponic facility, and a community produce market all linked together by a bike lane and pollinator spaces throughout.
e
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Commmunity garden, produce market Community park
ALTERNATIVES
Reyburn Park
S
g ed
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ve yA
Gle
nw
d oo
1
n Ave
Pollinator educational center nearby tech school
0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
2. URBAN AGRICULTURE PROVIDES ECONOMIC & HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES
Mt. Laurel Cemetery
2
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
This strategy recognizes that healthy vegetation growth can only be achieved by planting native pollinator plants along the corridor. These pollinator spaces will unify the corridor, provide a distinct identity, and support urban agriculture and overall plant health. The installation of DIY tire planters planted with native pollinator plants on the street will create a protected bike lane, ensuring a thriving and safe corridor. In addition, vacant buildings in proximity to schools and libraries will be rehabilitated into spaces to learn about the importance of green space and pollinators. Further, parcels nearby the numerous churches along the corridor will be small reflection gardens with self-sustaining native vegetation and benches.
Hydroponic building
1
A key concept of this alternative is creating a cohesive and safe connection to Fairmount Park. Visual connections will include banner flags on lightposts, wayfinding signage, and select pavement painting to ensure pedestrians and bicyclists can navigate their way successfully. The planter protected bike lane along West Lehigh Avenue will turn south down 33rd Street onto existing bike infrastructure in order to deliver bicyclists safely to the closest recreational entry point. This alternative also aims to create more park infrastructure along West Lehigh Avenue itself, which is a densely populated neighborhood. These parks would replace vacant lots and structurally unstable buildings to provide welcoming spaces for the community.
N
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
STRATEGIES: 1. POLLINATOR CORRIDOR CONNECTS AND SUPPORTS
25th Street
GOAL 5: CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC ASSETS
27th Street
GOAL 4: CLEAN & SAFE
29th Street
GOAL 3: ATTRACTIVE & WELCOMING
Fairmount Park Connection
GOAL 2: ACCESSIBLE & PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
Rid ge A ven ue
GOAL 1: ACTIVE MIXED-USE CORRIDOR
GOALS
3. ADDITIONAL AND IMPROVED PARKS INCREASE OPEN SPACE
GOAL ASSESSMENT:
EXISTING CONDITIONS
ALTERNATIVE 1: GREEN CORRIDOR
Disclaimer: This map highlights a few points of intervention, though every vacancy is intended to be addressed by one or a combination of the highlighted themes and corresponding strategies
Figure 2: A vacant lot on West Lehigh Avenue supports community gardens next to the produce market and along the bike lane with pollinator plants.
48|Alternatives
|49
GOAL 4: CLEAN & SAFE
GOAL 5: CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC ASSETS
A Botany-500 Building
Building Renovation Student Housing Mixed Use Apartment
STRATEGIES: 1. FULFILL STUDENT HOUSING NEEDS WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT Temple University is in need of more on-campus housing. In recent years, around 20% of Temple students live on campus. However, such comparatively low percentage of students (compared to 51% of Penn students who live on campus) has already taken up more than 90% of the Temple’s housing capacity. The eastern end of West Lehigh Avenue is directly accessible to Temple’s main campus and medical campus via transit, and the Botany 500 building could be transformed into mixed-use loft apartments. This high-rise building can be used for student dorms or guest rooms for short-term visitors (visiting scholars, parents, etc.).
2. TEMPLE STADIUM AS ECONOMIC STIMULUS Temple University is currently looking for space to locate a newly proposed stadium, and this could be an unprecedented opportunity to introduce this recognized university as a major stakeholder to revitalize West Lehigh Avenue. The North Philadelphia train station, with its rich public transportation resources and ample open space for both visitors and residents, is a competitive location to place the new stadium. By locating the stadium in currently underdeveloped lots, potentially negative externalities can be reduced and the entire area will be rehabilitated.
Area of interest
Alternatives
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Surface Parking
Station Plaza City Park
Temple Main Campus
C Gas Station & Garage Transformation Stadium Construction City Park
Figure 3: West Lehigh Avenue is located between Temple’s Main Campus and Medical Campus along the Broad Street Line.
By introducing a series of strategies to balance the needs of Temple and the local community, the eastern end of West Lehigh Avenue will be restored to a central commercial area that provides jobs, transit, housing, and community public space, as well as critical community assets.
D
Figure 5: Current uses of four key sites within the eastern end of West Lehigh Avenue N
Share of living-on-campus students
Temple -
51% 19%
Housing Occupancy
Temple Penn 93.5%
20% students living within university takes up 90%+ housing capacity
Long-term Development Zone
A destination for many short-term visitors, including visiting scholars, student parents and tourists
2019
3. CENTRAL PLAZA TRANSFORMS EMPTY PARKING LOT To further improve the built environment and provide vibrant space for stadium users and apartment residents, the underutilized parking lot in front of the 500 Botany building will be transformed into a pedestrian plaza that is lined with commercial venues. Rezoning some adjacent parcels from residential to commercial is needed, and the plaza will serve locals, Temple students, and visitors.
B
A Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) will be established to ensure the stadium development is equally beneficial to the existing community. At least 70% of the on-site jobs must pay a living wage for local residents, and Temple will provide continual educational programming, job-training programs, and small business training at the Widener Library. The community will have access to the stadium for events and practice, and there will also be investment in Rayburn Park and other community recreation needs. Last but not least, there will be restrictions on Temple’s expansion to protect existing residents. For example, Temple will not expand further west than 17th Street. The CBA will also look for commitments from Temple to support existing retail and housing in the community.
Figure 4: Although Temple houses a smaller percentage of students on-campus compared to other universities, it continues to face a need for on-campus housing.
1
3
4
Housing needs
EXISTING CONDITIONS
GOAL 3: ATTRACTIVE & WELCOMING
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
GOAL 2: ACCESSIBLE & PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
GOAL 1: ACTIVE MIXED-USE CORRIDOR
4. COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT MITIGATES DEVELOPMENT EXTERNALITIES
Building Renovation Station Plaza
GOALS
GOAL ASSESSMENT:
North Philadelphia Train Station
ALTERNATIVES
Temple Medical Campus
2
CBA-Aiding Zone
Short-term Development Zone
Figure 6: This alternative focuses first on the Short-term Development Zone and then expands to the Long-term Development Zones and CBA-Aiding Zone.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVE 2: TEMPLE & THE PEOPLE
|51
In the central zone of the corridor, there are fences on both sides of West Lehigh Avenue, making the pedestrian feel both trapped and unwelcome. One fence borders a church, while the other borders a public park. Lowering or completely removing the fence along the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge will physcially and psychologically remove a barrier between the park and the community. In addition, sidewalks will be repaired and become more ADA accessible for pedestrians. An increase in street lamps will also create a safer environment at night.
GOAL 2: ACCESSIBLE & PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
GOAL 3: ATTRACTIVE & WELCOMING
GOAL 4: CLEAN & SAFE
GOAL 5: CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC ASSETS
STRATEGIES: 1. NIGHT AT THE MOVIES SUPPORTS COMMUNITY A vacant parcel near the railroad bridge crossing West Lehigh Avenue serves as a site for a proposed movie theater. Modeled after a Community Land Trust in Missouri, the non-profit movie theater will have 4-5 screens. It would provide jobs for local residents, revitalize an area near a large distressed industrial building, and provide space for the community to gather and circulate money through the local economy.
Figure 7: Missouri precedent 24:1 Cinema
The railroad bridge between 18th and 19th Street separates the corridor physically and psychologically, as well. To bring the neighborhood together, community engagement through street art along the walls, ceilings, and sidewalk under the bridge is proposed. The underpass will also be illuminated by LED lights to enhance pedestrian safety. Due to a generally inadequate tree canopy in the neighborhood, a new policy will be implemented making future building permits contingent on the addition of sidewalk trees by the owner/developer. Other locations for
Figure 10: A pedestrian-friendly street in San Francisco street trees are pedestrian islands. This expansion of the tree canopy along the street will also have the effect of slowing vehicular traffic by creating a more visually narrow environment for drivers.
2. FOOD ON WHEELS PROVIDES BUSINEES OPPORTUNITIES
Alternatives
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Broad Street
17th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
27th Street
29th Street
As the only active Community Development Corporation near West Lehigh Avenue, Strawberry Mansion CDC is currently located on the southern edge of Strawberry Mansion. Relocating the CDC to the former Widener Library directly on West Lehigh Avenue creates an ease of access for all residents from the surrounding neighborhoods to reach the CDC. This relocation also brings volunteers closer to further support the health clinic and the library, which are both already on West Lehigh Avenue and constantly face staff shortages. The Strawberry Mansion CDC will be funded through a Community Development Block Grant.
ven ue
Figure 8: Food Truck Park
3. CDC RELOCATION & FUNDING ENSURES STABILITY
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
N
Allegheny
Rid ge A
To create a thriving atmosphere and utilize underused space, the parking lot on 22nd Street and West Lehigh Avenue serves as a potential space to cultivate local food truck businesses. Numerous food truck lots in Portland, Oregon serve as successful precedents. Additionally, communities in Colorado have held food festivals near food trucks to encourage community engagement as well. This proposal will attract both residents of the community, as well as visitors from neighboring areas of Philadelphia to the corridor.
Lehigh Avenue
2
3 Current State of Parking 4 Lot
1
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
GOAL 1: ACTIVE MIXED-USE CORRIDOR
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
GOAL ASSESSMENT:
GOALS
4. SAFE SIDEWALKS CREATE SAFE WALKS
Current Bridge Underpass on West Lehigh Avenue
ue
ue
Figure 9: Strawberry Mansion CDC current location and proposed location
ALTERNATIVES
ALTERNATIVE 3: NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY MAGNET
EXISTING CONDITIONS
50|Alternatives
y
Se
le dg
n Ave
od
wo
n Gle
n Ave
Precedent: Krog Street Covvvered in Art.
Figure 11: This alternative brings new uses to specific sites to strengthen the community economically, socially, and environmentally. 0 0.05 0.1
0.2
0.3
Miles 0.4
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
52|Plan Recommendations |53
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
54|Plan Recommendations
Prior to any recommendation, a new, autonomous community development corporation (CDC) will be established. This CDC, referred to as “West Lehigh CDC”, will be responsible for the entire corridor. With a third of the board consisting of corridor residents, the CDC is the ideal organization type to facilitate direct community involvement. This organization is preferable to a business improvement district because existing business owners would not bear the cost of maintaining a CDC. The CDC will be staffed by 3-5 fulltime people and will be the main coordinator in the implementation of the following recommended projects.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Corridor- Wide
- Trash cans + clean ups - Sidewalk improvements - Vacancy transformation into green space - Two-way pollinator planter protected bike lane - Wayfinding signage system
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
WEST LEHIGH CDC
|55
ALTERNATIVES
4
4
17
12
15
14
13
10
19
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
14. New CDC Location 15. Community Produce Market 16. Volunteer Support @ Widener Library 17. Chalmers Park Improvements 18. Oakdale Community Garden Park 19. Connection to Fairmount Park
West Figure 1: Overview map of recommendations
10. Reyburn Park Improvements 11. Food Truck Plaza 12. Playscape 13. Educational and Reflective Pollinator Gardens
Central
9
7
6
3 5 1
1. Temple Stadium 2. Botany 500 Building Revonation 3. Stadium Plaza 4. Temple Specific Wayfinding 5. Playgrounds 6. Lighting Improvement @ Railway Underpasses 7. Movie Theatre 8. Greened Crossing 9. Hydroponics Facility
East
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
16
18
8
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
2 11
7’
14’
7’
28’ ROW
56|Plan Recommendations
|57
Broad Street
17th Street
22nd Street
25th Street
ge
Rid
27th Street
Designated Bikeway
n Ave
29th Street
ue
Conventional Bike Lane
20th Street
Pollinator Planter Protected Bike Lane
city’s 2012 Bicycle and Pedestrian plan named 29th, 22nd, 15th, and 13th Streets, as well as Glenwood Avenue as designated bikeways that are targeted for bike friendly infrastructure in the near future. Figure 3 (below) highlights elements of designated bikeways elsewhere in Philadelphia.
Typical West Lehigh Ave. Section Proposed Lehigh Seperated Lanes Section
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
N
Legend
EXISTING CONDITIONS
ALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR
Sidewalk Improvements Proposed Indego Station
15’ 15’
Trash Cans
ue
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N 22nd Street Section
n Ave
nw
Gle
0 0.05 0.1
Proposed Lehigh Two-Way Lanes Section 0.2
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Miles 0.4
Figure 2: Recommendations that span the entire West Lehigh Avenue corridor
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
e
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As was noted in Alternative #3, the sidewalk from Broad Street to 22nd Street along Lehigh Avenue needs improvements. There are many cracks which render it out of ADA compliance and make it difficult to maneuverer for anyone
15’ 15’
84’ ROW
Redone green space
Litter is one of the major issues and will be addressed in two ways. As is shown in Figure 2, trash cans are to be added at at least four locations along the corridor. These locations were chosen based upon the level of pedestrian traffic and proximity to new interventions. For example, a trash can is proposed for 22nd Street and Lehigh Avenue since a food truck park is being recommended. Big Belly trash cans, which compact trash with solar energy, are the ideal recommendation, but given their higher price point, it is recommended that only one Big Belly is piloted. If it is successful, the others can also be converted to Big Belly cans.
11’ 7’ 11’ 9’ 4’ 11’84’ ROW 11’ 8’ 3’ 5’
Figure 4: Existing West Lehigh Avenue layout includes bicycle lanes in either direction with little protection for bicyclist from drivers or opening car doors
New green space
Though the area has multiple, distinct zones, some recommendations are intended to be carried out throughout the entire corridor.
P
P
8’ 4’ 5’ 3’ 8’
in a wheelchair, pushing a stroller, etc. The sidewalks will be improved to serve these people and demonstrate that Lehigh Avenue is a pleasant corridor that welcomes everyone. There are nine new green spaces proposed throughout the corridor. The specific recommended uses for each space will be described in more detail in the following sections for each zone of West Lehigh Avenue, as they are specific to surrounding land uses. The two parks on the corridor will also be reimagined to fully utilize their green space and to make them more welcoming. On the note of parks, it is highly recommended that a safe pedestrian and bike route is highlighted throughout the West Lehigh Avenue corridor to Fairmount Park via 33rd Street. This can be achieved by two interventions: a redesigned and expanded bike network and cohesive, distinct way-finding signage. There are existing bike lanes along Lehigh Avenue and along 33rd Street, but that is the current extent of bike infrastructure within the area. However, the
Figure 3: Bikeways will be designated with signs and pavement markings, which is consistent with the city’s proposal for 13th Street and 15th Street in South Philadelphia As it exists today, bicyclists using the West Lehigh Avenue bike lane to get to Fairmount Park might take it all the way to Ridge Avenue where the biker is met with speeding cars and no designated space to proceed to a park entrance. Therefore, it is recommended that bicyclists are directed south along the 33rd Street bicycle lane through clear signage and the redesign of the West Lehigh Avenue bike lanes. The redesign of the West Lehigh Aveune bike lanes will require a full re-striping of the roadway to accomodate a two-way cycle track along the south side of the corridor (Figure 4 and Figure 5). DIY tire planters (already found throughout the surrounding neighborhoods) form a protective barrier between drivers and bikers and provides an aesthetic unique to this area.
13'
7’
10'
10'
7'
13'
60’ ROW
P Section P Typical Minor Street 15’
8’
11’
11’
8’
4’ 6’
6’
15’
84’ ROW
Figure 5: Proposed West Lehigh Avenue layout shifts bike lanes to the south side and protects bicyclists with a buffer that features DIY tire planters.; driving and parking lanes are maintained but the central turning lane is removed 7’
14’
7’
ALTERNATIVES
Lehigh Avenue
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Wayfinding Signage
GOALS
Existing Indego Station
58|Plan Recommendations
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EAST ZONE: TEMPLE PARTNERSHIP
29th and Chalmers Park
Entrance to Fairmount
Oakdale Community Garden 29th Street
Widener Library 22nd and Lehigh:
27th Street
Historic Lehigh
Fairmount Park
25th Street
29th and Chalmers Park
Lehigh Downtown
dg Se ley
Widener Library
22nd Street
dA oo nw Gle
20th Street
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22nd St. Commercial Corridor
nu Ave
Produce Market
17th and Lehigh:
W
Fairmount Park
N
S
22nd St. Commercial Corridor
Lehigh Community Entrance
E
17th Street
Temple
Reyburn Park 10 cm
Broad Street
W. Lehigh Movie Theater 100 cm 60 cm
N
The east section of West Lehigh Avenue from 16th Street to 20th Street is currently characterized by neglect. There is no activation of the street, and few people make the journey through the railroad underpass between 18th Street and 19th Street.
4
4
The following interventions are intended to elevate this section of West Lehigh Avenue to the level of other successful mixed-use corridors in Philadelphia: 1.) Temple Specific Wayfinding
5.) Playgrounds
2.) Temple Stadium
6.) Underpass Mural and Lighting
3.) Botany 500 Student Housing
7.) Movie Theatre
4.) Stadium Plaza
8.) Greened Crossing
9.) Hydroponics Facility
2 8
E
2’
W
Temple
Rid
28th and Lehigh:
.2 mi
29th and Chalmers Park
.1 mi
29th Street 27th Street 25th Street
22nd Street
en ue
Commercial Core 20th Street
Widener Library
W N
S
Ave e nu
Lehigh Downtown
ge
Nature and Neighborhood
3’8”
d Av
ley dg
Se
22nd St. Commercial Corridor
Oakdale Community Garden
oo ue nw Aven Gle
ue
ven dA
22nd Street
Reyburn Park
1’10”
.8 mi ley
oo
20th Street
Fairmount Park
29th & Chalmers Park
dg Se
W. Lehigh Movie Theater
nw
Gle
Lehigh Community Entrance
3’6”
22nd and Lehigh: N
Lehigh Avenue
S
28th and Lehigh:
17th Street
Temple Territory
E
Temple stadium
6
Reyburn Park
27th Street
22nd St. Commercial Corridor
1
Figure 8: Overview of interventions within the eastern portion of the corridor
Produce Market
29th Street
5
East
Broad Street
Temple
25th Street
Historic Lehigh
3
1. Temple Stadium 2. Botany 500 Building Revonation 3. Stadium Plaza 4. Temple Specific Wayfinding 5. Playgrounds 6. Lighting Improvement @ Railway Underpasses 7. Movie Theatre 8. Greened Crossing 9. Hydroponics Facility
Temple Temple
7
9
The recommendations for this section of the West Lehigh Avenue corridor most closely address the goals of being accessible and pedestrian friendly, and having a plethora of cultural, economic, and educational assets.
17th and Lehigh:
17th Street
240 cm
As the two way bike lane is recommended on the south side of Lehigh, so too is the way-finding signage. In addition to the oval signs, the corresponding text signs will be installed at four key locations indicated on the maps of the oval signs. The text signs will also be back-to-back so that travelers in either direction benefit from them. Lastly, these signs complement the oval map signs by giving direct destinations and telling travelers how far away that destination is.
Heading East...
Broad Street
5 cm
The oval signs illustrated in Figure 6 to the left will be placed back-to-back all along the corridor so that pedestrians and bikers traveling in either direction will have a map oriented in their direction of travel. These signs were largely adapted from the Walk Philadelphia signage program, so resident may already be familiar with the layout, which will improve legibility.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
ge
OVERVIEW
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Lehigh Avenue
Fairmount Park
Installing a way-finding signage system along West Lehigh Avenue not only helps residents and visitors navigate the corridor, but also provides a visual identity to the area and shows the corridor is a destination. The network of brightly colored signs will highlight the neighborhood’s gathering spot, point out the corridor’s attractions, and emphasize its connection to Fairmount Park.
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Rid
ge
Lehigh Avenue
Widener Library Entrance to Fairmount
33rd and Lehigh:
5’4” 4’6”
Temple 22nd St. Commercial Corridor Widener Library 29th and Chalmers Park
You are HERE
Oakdale Community Garden
Figure 6: Scheme of way-finding signage; oval signs are to be placed mid block and rectangular signs are to be placed on the southeast corner of its respective intersection
Figure 7: Scaled wayfinding signage
is an active, mixeduse corridor.
is an accessible and pedestrian friendly corridor.
is attractive and welcoming to residents & visitors.
is a clean & safe corridor.
GOALS
Rid
has a plethora of cultural, economic & educational assets.
ALTERNATIVES
28th and Lehigh:
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Fairmount Park
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Heading West...
33rd and Lehigh:
60|Plan Recommendations
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Temple Housing
N
Broad St.
Indiana Ave. Owls’ Stadium
Central Plaza
Lehigh Ave.
Student Housing
Central Plaza
Owls’ Stadium
Figure 9: Temple Stadium will be a source of living wage employment
Figure 11: Temple specific wayfinding scaled
DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT
STADIUM FOR PUBLIC USE
WEST LEHIGH CDC + TEMPLE PARTNERSHIP
NEW PUBLIC PLAZA
INCREASE JOB TRAINING
MORE VOLUNTEER STAFF AT KEY INSTITUTIONS NEW BUSINESS FOR LOCAL STORES
Figure 10: Benefits resulting from the Temple and West Lehigh partnership
Within this proposal, lies the concern that Temple will endlessly expand alongside the corridor. To prevent this, a core component of the CBA will be that Temple cannot expand west of 17th Street within the corridor’s boundaries. Furthermore, West Lehigh CDC will partner with the Community Justice Land Trust to purchase vacant housing lots and buildings along the corridor, especially around the stadium. The organization will hold these lots and construct affordable housing on these parcels if rent and mortgages starts to exponentially increase.
4. TEMPLE SPECIFIC WAYFINDING It is to be expected that the new Temple campus on West Lehigh Avenue will engender new riders going to and getting on at the North Philadelphia Amtrak station. This service will be especially useful during football games, graduation ceremonies, and move-in/move-out for students residing in the Botany 500 building.
Figure 12: Wayfinding map to be placed at the North Philadelphia Amtrak station These new riders may be unfamiliar with the area, so Temple specific wayfinding signage be placed so such riders can navigate from the station to the Temple stadium area. The map will be placed at the North Philadelphia station and the arrow sign will be placed at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Broad Street.
ALTERNATIVES
To Temple Stadium
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
4’8”
You are here
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
6’2” Temple Stadium
240 cm
GOALS
Food and Drink enue West Lehigh Av
eet Str
Plan Recommendations
Student Housing
Central Plaza
h
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Food and Drink
Lehigh Ave.
3. STADIUM PLAZA In addition, Temple will purchase the parking lot on 15th Street and West Lehigh Avenue and transform this space into a public plaza. The CBA will negotiate for the public plaza to contain a mix of local restaurants and commercial outlets that will extend along 15th Street. This arrangement would create new businesses and jobs on the corridor as well as secure new revenue for West Lehigh Avenue business owners. The corridor will benefit from a central place where people can gather, relax, and socialize. The Plaza will require the acquisition of four residential buildings on 15th Street, but displacement will not occur. West Lehigh CDC will negotiate carefully through the CBA for the developer to provide housing funds for these four homes to relocate anywhere within the corridor.
emple Stadium
You are here To Temple Stadium
t 15
Temple University needs more off-campus housing for students. The Botany 500 building provides a suitable space for residential dwellings and new restaurants on the ground floor.
2’6”
1’
60 cm
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Commercial Strip
Broad St.
Indiana Ave.
N
Before any construction takes place, West Lehigh CDC will work carefully with the residents of West Lehigh Avenue and Strawberry Mansion CDC to establish a contract that details a range of community benefits that Temple will be committed to provide in exchange for the development’s approval. This type of contract is known as a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The CBA could include provisions requiring Temple to ensure 70% of the on-site jobs pay a living wage for local hires and coordinates public use of the stadium for after school activities and ceremonies. In addition, the CBA could include other benefits that would span across the whole corridor such as partnering with Widener Library and community organizations to provide more assistance through qualified student volunteers and interns. As a result, the CBA will set the stage for equitable development.
2. STUDENT HOUSING
4’
2’2”
Temple University has been trying to find an ideal location to establish a new football stadium that will be developed in manner that will mutually beneficial to the neighboring community. West Lehigh Avenue and Broad Street provide an ideal location for the Owls stadium because the area’s multiple transit options makes the site easily accessible. This development will not only provide Temple a prized stadium, but also help meet the needs and desires of West Lehigh Avenue residents as well.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
1. TEMPLE STADIUM
62|Plan Recommendations
|63
CENTRAL ZONE : PUBLIC CORE
7. MOVIE THEATRE To provide an affordable and fun activity on the corridor, West Lehigh CDC will build a movie theater on the vacant parcel between 19th Street and the railway. The parcel will first be secured by a community land
Movie Theatre Greened Crossing
9. HYDROPONIC FACILITY This section of Lehigh Avenue has plenty of previously industrial, now vacant property. Such parcels facing the corridor are a priority to be transformed into an active use. This includes the parcel called out to be a hydroponic facility. If the hydroponics business becomes a success, it is possible the owner could expand to other vacant industrial buildings in the area, which are also spacious enough for hydroponic growing.
Hydroponics Building
EXISTING CONDITIONS ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
The triangular parcel on the west side of the underpass bordered by West Lehigh Avenue, West Sedgley Avenue, and 19th Street is currently a bare concrete pedestrian island. It is recommended that the Streets Department transforms this space into a green pollinator space to continue the theme of pollinators running across the entire corridor. Adding vegetation would improve the pedestrian experience on this parcel by adding a layer of protection between them and passing vehicles.
The central zone features a concentration of public facilities and public activities. The Dobbins Technical High School generates a lot of uses around it, making this place a vibrant node of public, social life. There are four recommendations for this section:
10.) Reyburn Park Improvements
11.) Food Truck Plaza
12.) Playscape on Somerset Street
13.) Educational and Reflective Pollinator Gardens
12
13
New workout facilities and playgrounds will be added to Reyburn Park in coordination with the ongoing REBUILD initiative. On the vacant lots at West Lehigh and 23rd Street, there will be reflection gardens. A few of the houses and their residents will be relocated to create a continuous green space that can be used for educational purposes by the Dobbins Technical High School and the St. Martin de Porres School. A part of the parking lot at 22nd Street and West Lehigh Avenue will be rented for food truck businesses. Lastly, a section of Somerset Street and the vacant lots along it will be turned into a playscape for children.
GOALS
As previously mentioned, the underpass is a stressful hazard as it exists currently. It is highly recommended that lighting be installed. It is also recommended that the Mural Arts Program is called upon to collaborate with community members to create a mural inside the underpass and extending outward to invite people through.
8. GREENED CROSSING
OVERVIEW
11 10
10. Reyburn Park Improvements 11. Food Truck Plaza 12. Playscape 13. Educational and Reflective Pollinator Gardens
The recommendations for this section of the corridor most closely address the goals of being an active mixed use corridor and having a plethora of cultural, economic, and educational assets.
Underpass Lighting and Mural
Central
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 14: Overview of interventions within the central portion of the corridor
Figure 13: Rendering showing recommendations for the east section, west of the underpass
is an active, mixed-use corridor.
is an accessible and pedestrian friendly corridor.
is attractive and welcoming to residents & visitors.
is a clean & safe corridor.
ALTERNATIVES
6. UNDERPASS MURAL AND LIGHTING
trust, and then the movie theater will be built and operated as a non-profit to ensure cheap movie tickets for local residents.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Two parcels in the eastern end of the corridor are intended to be transformed into playgrounds for kids ages 3-6 and 7-10. Currently, these are Clean and Green lots with no other amenities. This transformation is mainly intended to serve the two day care centers within this corridor section, providing them with a designated outdoor space to take the kids. The two playgrounds will retain the white fence from the Clean and Green Program, and behind the fence will be pollinator plantings to provide partial seclusion. The play sets will be in the middle of the lot with benches in the back for guardians to watch the children playing.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
6. PLAYGROUNDS
has a plethora of cultural, economic & educational assets.
10. REYBURN PARK IMPROVEMENTS
11. FOOD TRUCK PARK
12. PLAYSCAPE ON SOMERSET STREET
Reyburn Park is the largest green open space along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor, so adding more exercise facilities and playgrounds to the park will encourage more residents to come to the park, have social interactions with other people, and stay healthy. Improvements will also include a loop path throughout the park and adding a splash pad in the southern corner of the park by 22nd Street. These interventions will help improve the appeal of Reyburn Park to a broader demographic and age range of residents and visitors.
The intersection between 22nd Street and West Lehigh Avenue is a public life core within the surrounding neighborhoods. There are multiple kinds of public facilities located near this intersection, including a high school, several churches, Reyburn Park and a McDonalds. 22nd Street is also a main commercial street, which makes this intersection the busiest place along West Lehigh Avenue.
Currently there is a lack of open space for school-age children and seating for pedestrians. A new playscape for school-aged children, as well as other spaces that encourage pedestrian activities, will be built along Somerset Street on vacant lots. Adding more spaces dedicated to pedestrian activities will help make the corridor more attractive.
Loop Path Splash Pad
Exercise Equipment
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 18: Pollinator garden for reflection
Figure 17: Food trucks arranged around a central seating area and new green space
GOALS ALTERNATIVES
Soccer Field
Various vacant lots along the West Lehigh Avenue corridor can be transformed into pollinator gardens for multiple purposes depending on the location of these lots. For instance, a pollinator garden can serve educational purposes near a school, or be designed as more of a reflection garden when near a church.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Figure 16: Sample of outdoor exercise facilities
However, the current parking lot that overwhelms the northeast corner of this intersection is underutilized. Therefore, a redesign is proposed to make better use of the surrounding public resources and activate the area. A food truck park will be introduced to create a central place without large development impacts on the community. Part of the underused parking lot will host food trucks arranged around a central seating area. Additional green space is also included to reduce the amount of pavement.
13. POLLINATOR GARDENS
Figure 19: Sample of a playscape built on a vacant lot
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Figure 15: Improvements to Reyburn Park will increase the number of users
1
EXISTING CONDITIONS
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ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
64|Plan Recommendations
66|Plan Recommendations
|67
14. NEW CDC LOCATION
The most western portions of West Lehigh Avenue terminate at the crossroads between Mount Vernon Cemetery and Laurel Hill Cemetery. The area is largely residential with few commercial buildings still in use along West Lehigh Avenue. The Ethel Allen School occupies the largest non-park parcel in the area, while the southern edge of Lehigh Avenue is abutted by alternating blocks of two and three-story rowhouses.
The old Widener Library at 2533 West Lehigh Avenue will be refurbished to be the home of the new West Lehigh CDC. This location was chosen as it is fairly central for the whole corridor, central within the commercial poriton of the corridor, and for its connection to the community as the old library. The goal is that this location will eventually lead to the revitalization of this stretch of the corridor after improvements such as the protected bike lane, sidewalk improvements, and the produce market just a block away.
17
14
15. COMMUNITY PRODUCE MARKET A produce market will run in the vacant lot between 26th Street and 27th Street on the north side of West Lehigh Avenue once a week from May through Thanksgiving. This park doubles as a pollinator park. Stalls will be built in the back for those special farmer’s market days. Stalls will be reserved both for local residents who grow at the new Oakdale garden or Glenwood Green Acres as well as the newfound hydroponic growers. A chalkboard will be installed on a wall facing the market/park for children to use and for growers to advertise their products.
14. New CDC Location 15. Community Produce Market 16. Volunteer Support @ Widener Library 17. Chalmers Park Improvements 18. Oakdale Community Garden Park 19. Connection to Fairmount Park
16. Volunteer Support @ Widener Library 17. 29th & Chalmers Park Improvements 18. Oakdale Community Garden Park 19. Connection to Fairmount Park The recommendations for this section of the corridor most closely address the goals of being attractive and welcoming to residents and visitors, as well as being a clean and safe corridor.
16. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT @ WIDENER LIBRARY
West
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Figure 20: Overview of interventions within the west portion of the corridor
is an active, mixed-use corridor.
is an accessible and pedestrian friendly corridor.
Figure 21: Old Widener library, now vacant, to be transformed into the new CDC’s headquarters ALTERNATIVES
19
14. New CDC Location 15. Community Produce Market
GOALS
15
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
16
18
is attractive and welcoming to residents & visitors.
is a clean & safe corridor.
The new Widener Library is a key community asset but currently faces staffing shortages. To improve the function of the library, volunteers will be organized to fill shifts and ensure regular hours of operations. Volunteers will come from the surrounding community and also from a program established with Temple as part of its stadium CBA. The new West Lehigh CDC.
Figure 22: West Lehigh Avenue’s farmer’s market will pop up once a week in season
has a plethora of cultural, economic & educational assets. Figure 23: Widener Library’s programs, most of which are canceled due to understaffing
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
This plan focuses on making the corridor more attractive and welcoming to both residents and visitors, while making the area clean and safe. The plan strengthens the corridor’s connection to Fairmount Park and better engages residents with existing green spaces along the corridor. Three key initiatives mark the Park Gateway end of the corridor:
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
OVERVIEW
EXISTING CONDITIONS
WEST ZONE: PUBLIC GATEWAY
18. OAKDALE COMMUNITY GARDEN PARK
19. CONNECTION TO FAIRMOUNT PARK
Chalmers Park is a 20-acre park complete with two basketball courts, a playground, playground building, and gazebo set within mostly grassy space. Facilities at Chalmers Park will be in need of repairs in the near future. In addition to necessary maintenance to the existing playground building, basketball courts, and playground, other improvements will ensure the park’s future attractiveness and utility.
Near the intersection of 31st and Oakdale Streets is a patch of greenspace suitable for a community garden. Its proximity to the Ethel Allen School makes it important to program with a productive use to deter trash dumping and other harmful uses. Its size makes the site ideal for a community garden, potentially with the cooperation of the Allen School and Neighborhood Gardens Trust. The latter group manages operations at the nearby Glenwood Green Acres.
The most feasible way to better connect the corridor with Fairmount Park is via 33rd Street, which already has (faded) bike lanes. The 33rd Street bike lanes connect West Lehigh Avenue to the intersection of Ridge Avenue, just south of York Street. To increase cyclists’ perceived and actual safety, barriers should be added between bike lanes and driving lanes.
Chalmers Avenue
West Lehig h Ave nue
ALTERNATIVES
The intersection of 33rd Street and West Lehigh Avenue will need particular design attention given the bikeway’s shift from the two-way configuration along West Lehigh to the split lanes along 33rd Street.
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Goals for Chalmers Park site design include supporting a host of active and passive recreation with an emphasis on increasing access to low barrierto-entry activities. The existing basketball courts would be complemented by two additional courts. The Sixers Youth Foundation has completed renovations at neighborhood parks across Philadelphia and Camden, placing high quality playing facilities in neighborhoods to increase safe spaces for children to play. Installing outdoor exercise equipment to the south of the playground will put high-quality workouts within reach of many neighborhood residents. Additionally, the marking of a 3/4 mile walking loop from recycled crushed concrete onsite around the perimeter will further passive recreation goals.
Figure 24: A suite of outdoor exercise equipment will increase fitness access to community members who are not members at local gyms.
The eastern half of the space is currently planted with a row of trees, therefore, that section should be left largely undisturbed. The addition of seating will take advantage of the shade offered by trees. Otherwise, the western half of the space is flat and open. This area will accomodate multiple rows of 6’ x 4’ planting beds. Leveraging the technical specialization of the nearby Dobbins High School, the West Lehigh CDC can forge a partnership with woodshop and engineering classes to build the wood frames for the plots on an as-needed basis. As the garden becomes more popular and attracts more users, more plots will be added over time.
Figure 25: Outdoor picnic facilities will provide covered shelter for community gatherings, making outdoor summer activities accessible to a wider range of community members.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The park is a popular space for gatherings throughout the summer. Some events include block parties, an annual Family Fun Day, family reunions, and an annual Eid celebration. To better accommodate these events, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department should install covered picnic shelters to provide shade from the summer sun and heat. These pavillions can immediately or eventually be used as a source of revenue through a permiting system to fund future park improvements.
While 33rd Street will maintain a separate bike lane with each direction of traffic, the proposed redesign of the bike lanes on West Lehigh Avenue will be shifted to the south side of the street. Having the bike lanes side by side decreases the amount of space needed for barriers between bike lanes and drive lanes. It also gives the bike infrastructure a more prominent presence on the corridor.
Plan Recommendations
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Chalmers Park
Mt. Vernon Cemetery
Figure 26: Aerial view of 29th & Chalmers parks after recommendation implementation
Figure 28: View of the future of Oakdale Street: Community Garden beds, Playstreet, Picnic Tables
Figure 27: The Sixers Foundation recently revitalized a basketball near the John F. Hartranft School in North Philadelphia.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
17. CHALMERS PARK IMPROVEMENTS
EXISTING CONDITIONS
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GOALS
68|Plan Recommendations
Figure 29: View of 33rd Street looking west: signage pointing to Fairmount Park, pollinator protected bike lane turning left on 33rd Street
Plan Implementation
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
EXISTING CONDITIONS
70|Plan Implementation |71
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
72|Plan Implementation
|73
$ = $100s Action
Partner
$$ = $10,000s Timeline (yr)
Cost
Funding Source
0-5
$$
Streets Dept.
oTIS Implement bikeways on 15th, 22nd, 29th, & 33rd Street Dept. Streets Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
0-5
$
Streets Dept.
oTIS Improve bike parking in parks, in former parking Street Dept. spaces, and along sidewalk Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
6-15
$
Streets Dept.
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
Improve bike network
Install 1st phase of new stations at 33rd, 22nd,
Plan Implementation
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Ped-friendly
Expand Indego bike share network
Accessible 2 Ped-friendly
Improve wayfinding signage along corridor
Attractive 3 Welcoming
Implement Pollinator Corridor
4
Clean Safe
Street Dept.
Install 2nd phase of new stations at 29th and 17th & West Lehigh Avenue
City of Philadelphia
0-5
$$
City of Philadelphia
6-10
$$
City of Philadelphia
Bicycle Transit Systems
Bicycle Transit Systems
Design and install wayďŹ nding signage
0-5
$$
Facilitate community agency over trash
PHS
0-10
$$
Audubon
Organize Clean Block system and monitor
Clean Philadelphia 0-5
$
Streets Dept. Strawberry Mansion CDC
3 Attractive
Welcoming
0-5
$
0-5
$$
Funding Source Streets Dept.
Local Schools
The Douty Foundation TD Bank Charitable Foundation
Create new parks
partnerships, and volunteer recruitment
Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), Temple, day cares
0-5
$
Secure vacant land
Current landowners, Temple
0-5
$$
Temple
0-5
$$
Streets Department
0-5
$$
Parks & Recreation Summer Food Service Program
0-5
$$
Play Everywhere grants (William Penn)
0-5
$
0-5
$$$
Greening triangular island at Lehigh/19th/Sedgley Streets Department Install Playstreet on Sedgley Avenue crossing West Lehigh Avenue
Transportation Alternatives, Streets Dept. William Penn Foundation KaBOOM!
The Pollinator Project Whole Kids Foundation The Douty Foundation TD Bank Charitable Foundation Dept. of Commerce Streets Dept.
0-15
$
Host community meetings to inform CBA
Cultural Economic 5 Educational Plethora
Leverage Temple Stadium & 500 Botany Rehabilitation
ODAAT
Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), Temple
Community Justice Land Trust PHDC
Cultural Economic 5 Educational Plethora
Temple
Temple
0-5
$
Temple
Stadium Construction
Temple
6-10
$$$
Temple
500 Botany & public plaza rehab
Temple
6-10
$$$
Temple
Coordinate meeting with tech supporters
Urban Stead
CSBG 0-5
$
0-5
$$
0-15
$$
6-15
$
6-15
$
Metropolis Fund Acquire & develop vacant parcel or building
1826 W LEHIGH LLC (landowner)
Hire & train local employees Establish programs with schools
Job Training & Small Business Training
CSBG
Zoning Change
Bennett Compost
Activating community through composting & hydroponics
Community Service Block Grant Storefront Improvement Program
Philadelphia Housing Authority Land purchase agreement with land trust
Expand ODAAT career training capacity through Temple programs
Dobbins Tech High School & Ethel Allen
Strawberry Mansion CDC Temple
KCP Patricia Kind Family Foundation
ODAAT
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Create underpass mural with local children
Install small childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playgrounds
Local Businesses
Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Install Big Bellies or trash cans along West Lehigh Avenue and 22nd Street
Cost
Strawberry Mansion CDC
oTIS
and Broad Streets & West Lehigh Avenue
Acquire pollinator plantings for bike planters and parks
Streets Department
Timeline (yr)
Amtrak
Local outreach, formation of community
$$$ = $100,000s
oTIS
2 Accessible
Improve Lehigh Ave. underpass
Partner
Strawberry Mansion CDC
Install protected bike lane along West Lehigh Ave. Street Dept.
Accessible 2 Ped-friendly
Install lighting beneath underpass
Key: Strategy
Action
GOALS
Goal
Attractive 3 Welcoming
Strategy
ALTERNATIVES
CORRIDOR-WIDE
Goal
Value-Added Producer Grant (US Dept. of Agriculture) Philadelphia School Department CSBG KCP Patricia Kind Family Foundation
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
The following matrix outlines the strategies, action items, partners, timing, to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations contained within anticipated costs and potential funding sources for each proposed zone of this plan. For each implementation strategy, the West Lehigh CDC will West Lehigh Avenue. Taken together, this matrix is a step-by-step checklist assume the lead.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
EASTERN ZONE
STRATEGIES & ACTION ITEMS FOR EACH ZONE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX
74|Plan Implementation
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Action
Partner
Timeline (yr)
Cost
Funding Source
partnerships, and volunteer recruitment
Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), Dobbins, Deliverance Evangelistic Church
0-5
$
PHS, Deliverance Evangelistic Church
Secure vacant land & buildings
Current landowner, Deliverance Church
0-5
$$
PHS, Deliverance Evangelistic Church
Relocate residents and demolish selected buildings for parks
City of Philadelphia
0-5
$$
City of Philadelphia
Implement design for new parks
Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), Dobbins, Deliverance Evangelistic Church
0-5
$
Parks & Recreation Department
0-5
$$
Parks & Recreation Summer Food Service Program
0-5
$
0-5
$$
Local outreach, formation of community
3
Attractive Welcoming
Create new parks
Install Playstreet along Somerset Street between 21st & 23rd Streets
Attractive 3 Welcoming
Clean up parks beyond Clean & Green Program
Improve existing parks
Transportation Alternatives, Streets Department Fairmount Park Conservancy PHS Philadelphia LandCare
Install exercise equipment in Reyburn Park in coordination with Rebuild
Managing Director’s Office
Activating community through a food truck plaza
Rent portion of parking lot from Church
Plan Implementation
0-5
$$
Community Info Session @ Widner Library
Philly Mobile Food Association Philadelphia Score Philly Mobile Food Association
0-5
$
0-5
$
Glenwood Green Acres Community Gardens Oakdale Community Gardens Hydroponics facility operator Bartram’s Garden
6-10
$$
Hydroponics facility operator
Install wayfinding signage and plantings 0-5
$$
Fairmount Park Conservancy
Local outreach, formation of community partnerships, and volunteer recruitment
PHS, Ethel Allen School, St. Martin de Porres Church, Mt. Sinai Tabernacle, Calvary Church
0-5
$
PHS, Ethel Allen, St. Martin de Porres, Mt. Sinai Tabernacl, Calvary Church
Secure vacant land
Same as above
0-5
$$
Same as above
Implement design for new parks
PHS, Ethel Allen School, St. Martin de Porres Church, Mt. Sinai Tabernacle, Calvary Church
0-5
$
PHS, Ethel Allen, St. Martin de Porres, Mt. Sinai Tabernacl, Calvary Church
Park Stewardship Program, PHS Philadelphia LandCare Program
Install Playstreet on Oakdale Street between 30th & 31st Streets
Transportation Alternatives
6-10
$$
Philadelphia Activities Fund Grant
Clean up parks beyond Clean & Green Program
Fairmount Park Conservancy Neighborhood Park Stewardship Program
0-15
$
Park Stewardship Program, PHS Philadelphia LandCare Program
Attractive 3 Welcoming
3 Attractive
Welcoming
Keystone Communities Program (KCP)
3
Attractive Welcoming
Create new parks
Improve existing parks
Expand community gardens along corridor
PHS Philadelphia LandCare Install exercise equipment in 29th & Chalmers Park
Parks & Recreation Department
0-5
$$
Philadelphia Activities Fund Grant ACHIEVE Grant
Local outreach, formation of community partnerships, and volunteer recruitment
Glenwood Green Acres, Bartram’s Garden, churches & schools
0-5
$
Glenwood Green Acres, Bartram’s Garden & churchs
Secure vacant land
Same as above
0-5
$$
Same as above
Create community garden at Oakdale Street
Glenwood Green Acres, Bartram’s Garden, churches & schools
0-5
$$
Scott’s Miracle Grow GRO1000 Grants Strawberry Mansion CDC
(between 30th & 31st Streets)
TBD
Cultural Economic 5 Educational Plethora
Job Training & Small Business Training
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Funding Source
AGS (Walk! Philadelphia partner)
Ped-friendly
Neighborhood Progress Fund
Additional furniture and facilities improvements
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Deliverance Evangelistic Church
Cost
in vacant lots along 33rd Street between West Lehigh Avenue and Fairmount Park
CSBG
Cultural Economic 5 Educational Plethora
2 Accessible
Improve link between corridor & Fairmount Park
Create local Produce Market
Timeline (yr)
Acquire land/building and relocate Strawberry Mansion CDC
Strawberry Mansion CDC
6-15
$$
Add staff to Widner Library
Temple volunteers
0-10
$
Inform QCHC about lead remediation service to inform patients
Quality Community Health Care
0-15
$
City of Philadelphia
Temple
GOALS
Strategy
Link community gardens with economic development
Partner
ALTERNATIVES
Goal
Active 1 Mixed-use
Action
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
CENTRAL ZONE
Strategy
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Goal
EXISTING CONDITIONS
WESTERN ZONE
76|Plan Implementation
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IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE EXISTING CONDITIONS
PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR EACH ACTION ITEM
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
The following timeline outlines the timing of each of the previous action More significant actions, like those involving Temple’s stadium, will take items in five year increments. The majority of the actions are proposed for more time to plan and prepare and are consequently proposed for years years 0-5 in an attempt to jumpstart improvements to the corridor. 6-10 and 11-15. Some items are ongoing through the whole 15 years.
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE 6-10
11-15
Plan Implementation
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
Install lighting beneath railroad underpass Local outreach, formation of community partnerships, and volunteer recruitment for parks Secure vacant land for parks Greening triangular island at West Lehigh Aevnue/19th Street/Sedgley Avenue Coordinate meeting with tech supporters of hydroponics facility Acquire and develop vacant parcel or building for hydroponic facility Install small children’s playgrounds Host community meetings to inform CBA Land purchase agreement with land trust Zoning change for Temple Stadium Create railroad underpass mural with local children Stadium construction 500 Botany & public plaza rehab Install Playstreet on Sedgley Avenue crossing West Lehigh Avenue Establish composting & hydroponics programs with local schools Expand ODAAT career training capacity through Temple programs Hire & train local employees in composting and hydroponics
0-5
6-10
11-15
0-5
6-10
0-5
6-10
11-15
GOALS ALTERNATIVES
Install 2ndphase of new stations at 29th and 17 th Street & West Lehigh Avenue Design and install wayfinding signage Improve bike parking in parks, in former parking spaces, and along sidewalk Organize Clean Block system and monitor
Eastern
Central Local outreach, formation of community partnerships, and volunteer recruitment for parks Secure vacant land & buildings for parks Relocate residents and demolish selected buildings for parks Implement design for new parks Install Playstreet along Somerset between 21st & 23rd Streets Install exercise equipment in Reyburn Park in coordination with Rebuild program Rent portion of parking lot from Deliverance Church Community informational session @ Widner Library Additional furniture and facilities improvements to food truck area Clean up parks beyond Clean & Green Program
11-15 Western
rd
Install wayfinding signage & plantings in vacant lots along 33 Street Local outreach, formation of community partnerships, and volunteer recruitment for parks Secure vacant land for parks Implement design for new parks th st Create community garden at Oakdale Street (between 30 & 31 Streets ) Install exercise equipment in 29th & Chalmers Park Add staff to Widner Library th
st
Install Playstreet on Oakdale Street between 30 & 31 Streets Create local Produce Market Acquire land/building and relocate Strawberry Mansion CDC Inform QCHC about lead remediation service to encourage patients Clean up parks beyond Clean & Green Program
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
0-5
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Corridor-wide Install protected bike lane along West Lehigh Avenue th nd th rd Implement bikeways on 15 , 22 , 29 , & 33 Street st rd nd Install 1 phase of new stations at 33 , 22 , and Broad & Lehigh nd Install Big Bellies or trash cans along West Lehigh Avenue and 22 Street Acquire pollinator plantings for bike planters and parks
78|Plan Implementation
|79
Desmond, Matthew, et. al. Eviction Lab National Database: Version 1.0. Princeton: Princeton University, 2018, www.evictionlab.org. Dignam, Timothy, et al. “Assessment of child lead exposure in a Philadelphia community, 2014.” Journal of public health management and practice: JPHMP 25.1 (2019): 53.
SE:A10057. Median Year Structure Built (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/ R12548148
“Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects.” Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects, Philadelphia Water Department, www.arcgis.com/apps/ webappviewer/index.html?id=c5d43ba5291441dabbee5573a3f981d2.
SE:A10036. Median House Value for All Owner-Occupied Housing Units (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www. socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
“Hazardous Waste.” PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Environmental Protection, newdata-padep-1.opendata.arcgis.com/ search?tags=Hazardous Waste.
SE:A18001. Gross Rent (Housing Units with Cash Rent) (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/ tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
Haynes, Tim. “Vacant Property Indicators.” Open Data Philly. Web, 1 Feb 2020.
SE:B18002. Residents Paying More Than 30% or at least 50% of Income on Rent (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www. socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
McKernan, Signe-Mary, et. Al. Thriving Residents, Thriving Cities: Family Financial Security Matters for Cities, April 2016. “Philadelphia Child Blood Lead Levels.” OpenDataPhilly, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 29 Sept. 2017, www.opendataphilly.org/dataset/ philadelphia-child-blood-lead-levels. Philadelphia, City of. City of Philadelphia: Lead, City of Philadelphia, www.phila.gov/water/wu/drinkingwater/lead/Pages/default.aspx. Philadelphia City Planning Commission. (2012). Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA). Philadelphia 2035 Lower North District Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.phila2035.org/lower-north Philadelphia 2035 North District Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.phila2035.org/north
Plan Implementation
SE:A10031. Housing Units by Year Householder Moved Into Unit (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer. com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
Dominick, Cassise. “Street Centerlines.” - Open Data Philly. Web, Dec 2014.
“LandCare Program.” LandCare Program, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, phsonline.org/programs/landcare-program. “LandCare Program.” OpenDataPhilly, Division of Housing and Community Development and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 16 Mar. 2015, www.opendataphilly.org/ dataset/land-care.
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
SE:A10047. Vacancy Status by Type of Vacancy (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
Philly Elementary, Middle & High Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2020, from http://www.philasd.org/. Philadelphia Zoning Code. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.phila.gov/documents/zoning-code-information-manual-quick-guide/ SE:A10008. Households by Household Type (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ ACS2018_5yr/R12548148 SE:A10026. Housing Units by Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www. socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Darshna, Patel. “Land Use.” - Open Data Philly. Web, Dec 2014.
SEPTA - Regional Rail Lines. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://septaopendata-septa.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/septa-regional-rail-lines SEPTA - Regional Rail Stations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://septaopendata-septa.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/septa-regional-rail-stations SEPTA - Spring 2019 Routes. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://septaopendata-septa.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/septa-spring-2019-routes SEPTA - Spring 2019 Stops By Route. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://septaopendata-septa.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/septa-spring-2019-stops-byroute Signs & Banners. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.centercityphila.org/ccd-services/streetscape/signs-banners Strawberry Mansion Learning Center. (2016). About. Retrieved from http://strawberrymansionlearningcenter.com. “Superfund Data and Reports.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 31 July 2019, www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-data-and-reports. Temple University Institutional Research and Assessment. (n.d.). Temple University at a glance. (2019-2020). Retrieved from https://www.temple.edu/ ira/documents/data-analysis/at-a-glance/Temple-At-a-Glance-2019-2020.pdf Temple University Multipurpose Facility/Stadium project overview. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.temple.edu/about/campus-development/ multipurpose-facilitystadium U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Household Size by Vehicles Available, Philadelphia County, Table B08201. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (2002-2017) [computer file]. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program, retrieved from https://onthemap.ces.census.gov.
GOALS
Crashes in Philadelphia County involving pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities or major injuries (data.philly.com/datasets/crashes/pedestrian_bicyclist/)
SE:A10044. Occupancy Status (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/ R12548148
ALTERNATIVES
The City of Philadelphia’s Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet. (2019). 2019 Litter Index Report. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA).
SE:A10060. Tenure (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/R12548148
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Bradham, Karen D., et al. “Relationship between total and bioaccessible lead on children’s blood lead levels in urban residential Philadelphia soils.” Environmental science & technology 51.17 (2017): 10005-10011.
Income in the Past 12 Months (ACS 2018 [5-Year Estimates-). Retrieved Feb 1, 2020 from https://www.socialexplorer.com/tables/ACS2018_5yr/ R12548148
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The BigBelly Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.philadelphiastreets.com/sanitation/the-bigbelly-program/
EXISTING CONDITIONS
SOURCES
80|Plan Implementation
|81
U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics, Philadelphia County, Table S0801. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.factfinder.census.gov.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
SOURCES U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Selected Economic Characteristics, Philadelphia County. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.factfinder.census.gov.
Plan Implementation
WEST LEHIGH AVENUE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
ALTERNATIVES
GOALS
Zeitchik, Steven. “Near Ferguson, a Nonprofit Movie Theater Proves Pop Culture Can Help Change a Neighborhood Narrative.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2017, www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-st-louis-movie-theater-ferguson-20170406-story.html.
ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
Vision Zero High Injury Network 2017. (2017, October 2). Retrieved from https://www.opendataphilly.org/dataset/high-injury-network