As the Philadelphia2035 process progresses and a second round of public meetings ensues, themes and target areas identified in earlier meetings will be shared and developed.

For the University/Southwest District Plan, which includes neighborhoods from University City, to Mantua, Walnut and Spruce Hills, Kingsessing and more, that means a focused discussion on transit and housing options, according to Andrew Meloney of the Planning Commission, the project manager for this plan, and a West Philadelphia Planner.

Map of the district

The first round of meetings this fall were well attended, according to Meloney. Comments and insights generated by attendees at those meetings have since been reviewed and consolidated by Planning Commission staff design professionals. The beginning stages of design ideas have started to formulate. That’s what was presented and discussed at the second round of meetings, which began last week.

Photo from last week's packed meeting

“We’re sort of tossing around a few different major themes and seeing how the community and neighborhood feels about these ideas,” said Meloney.

They’ve also identified five target areas to discuss: the 40th and 46th Street Market El Stations, Baltimore Avenue between 49th and 53rd Streets, the area north of Bartram’s Garden (Bartram’s North), and the area around Kingsessing Rec Center, located at 49th and Chester. One element of the plan will be how to connect the vast university population with more local businesses. At Bartram’s North, planners will seek to engage the community about how to increase waterfront access. At meetings, planners will gauge community response by hanging Venn-diagram-like graphs where attendees can post colored stickers indicating their opinions for or against a concept, or whether their feelings lie somewhere in the middle.

Kingsessing Rec Center

With the recent Elena’s fire that ultimately toppled three 49th and Baltimore Avenue businesses, the discussion about Baltimore Ave. between 49th and 53rd Streets has taken on new meaning and timeliness. Cedar Park Neighbors conducted a survey about how to improve their neighborhood before the meetings started and well before the fire. As the meetings progress, we’ll continue to share the news.

–Lou Mancinelli