How Communities Organize 1957
1956
1958
A Plan for Expressways
City Planner Edmund Bacon with a model of the Society Hill Towers Edmund N. Bacon Collection
The Federal-Aid Highway Act provides states with funding for the construction of new highways. The Pennsylvania Department of Highways (PennDOT), Philadelphia City Planning Commission and other agencies are tasked with ways to connect Philadelphia with existing East Coast expressways.
1979
The green spaces along Front Street are maintained by ILMC
The two-mile stretch of I-95 near Queen Village is complete, but the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition prevents its opening. A judge enforces a consent decree declaring that exit ramps must be installed by the Delaware River, sparing the 600 block of S. Front Street. Through the consent decree, PennDOT is forced to install sound barriers to dampen traffic noise along Front Street. Also, a non-profit called the Interstate Land Management Corporation (ILMC) is created to maintain the new Front Street public spaces.
1993 The South Street Headhouse District hosts annual festivals that draw thousands to the commercial corridor along South and 4th Streets
QVNA begins working with the newly formed South Street Headhouse District to support local businesses.
22 January 2018
City and state planners propose erecting a loop of expressways around Center City, with I-95 on the east, Schuylkill on the west, Vine Street on the north, and the Crosstown Expressway on the south. Property values plummet and banks cease issuing mortgages.
1995
1961
1965
1976
The Philadelphia Historic Commission begins cataloging architecturally significant buildings located near the proposed highways. They add over 800 “Queen Village” buildings to their historic register. Queen Village, Inc., a non-profit organization, begins rehabilitating run-down buildings located between 3rd and 5th Streets. The group coins the name “Queen Village” to acknowledge Swedish immigrants who settled in the area during the 17th century. The Federal Government claims eminent domain on residences and businesses in the Front Street corridor. Buildings located between the east side of Front Street and the Delaware River are vacated by owners and poached by vandals.
QVNA opens an office at 736 S. 3rd Street, making it easier for residents to access their services.
1978
606 and 608 S. Front Street
The 600 block of Front Street is earmarked for an I-95 exit ramp. QVNA joins the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition to fight the demolition of the 18th century houses lining that block.
QVNA joins the Coalition of Philadelphia Neighborhood 2001 Associations to protest the legalization of riverboat casinos. Within two years, riverboat gambling QVNA Parking Lot is defeated. QVNA leaders note that the neighborhood is gentrifying QVNA president and will probably lose the Colleen Puckett social services funding that led the charge pays for office operations. against riverboat They open a community casinos parking lot at Front and Christian to raise revenue.
