✍️ KEEP UP THE PRESSURE AT WASHINGTON AVENUE
This weekend, we were out on our Washington Ave Families event, making signs and postcards against the street layout changes.
Did you miss the event? It's not too late to send an email to OTIS, the Mayor, and Councilmembers Johnson & Squilla to bring back the 3-lane layout to keep Washington Avenue safe for everyone.
🎩 RUN FOR A COMMITTEE PERSON SEAT IN 2022
Want to take the next step up toward neighborhood political leadership, and help 5th Square support great candidates for office in the 2022 and 2023 elections?
Philadelphia's political parties are holding local elections at the precinct level in 2022, and you can run for and win a seat in your neighborhood with just a few dozen votes. 5th Square's mission is all about reforming Philadelphia's planning politics around transportation, housing, and public space, and elected officials really listen to grassroots community leaders on these topics. That could be you!
Sign up for more info about how to get involved in running where you live!
🎥 LEARN ABOUT NEW HOUSING
If you want to know more about why we advocate for new housing, Vox writer Jerusalem Demsas wrote an excellent article showing that a development in Camden was actually affordable housing.
It is fine to dislike the way a home looks; not all art is for everyone. But the convergence of aesthetic preferences and physical displacement under the same “gentrification” banner only serves to maintain the current system of housing development, one that has made housing prohibitively expensive for many Americans and displaced people under countless different architectural styles.
Vox then published a great video on YouTube about how new development can fight displacement.
✅🚲🏙️ JOIN US FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS
Help us decide which Philly-area candidates to support for 2022 races in the PA State Senate and PA State House.
Members will gain exclusive access to vote on our candidate endorsements and can join our discussion to shape our priorities for the upcoming election cycle.
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
Kick off 2022 by helping us advocate for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
SURVEYS
We at 5th Square are still working on our 2022 questionnaire for candidates for the State House Representatives and want your input! Submit questions for us to to include in our questionnaire here.
DVRPC may be issuing a grant to SEPTA for improvement to the 19th and 37th Street trolley stations to make them fully ADA accessible. Voice your approval for this project to the DVRPC board!
PennDOT is requesting feedback on the ongoing 63rd Street and Cobbs Creek Parkway Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Available until Wednesday, 2/16.
The Office of the City Controller is seeking volunteers to serve on a Community Advisory and Accountability Council (Community Council), as part of an independent review of the Philadelphia Police Department.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
WHYY / Legislation to halt demolitions in NW Philly could bring court challenge
Philadelphia Inquirer / A rental lease template could help prevent some of Philly’s landlord-tenant disputes before they begin
RealClearPolicy / In Philly, There's No Such Thing as Free Affordable Housing
Philadelphia Inquirer / West Philly rental dispute erupts after new owner’s family moves in with tenant
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Billy Penn / 7 parks and public spaces that will transform Philadelphia
Philadelphia Inquirer / Debate over Washington Avenue safety changes delivers harsh lessons in equity, civic influence | Opinion
EVENTS
Bicycle Film Festival Philadelphia #2
Friday, February 11th, 6:00 PM, through February 22nd
BFF Philadelphia #2, hosted by Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, presents an international selection of the most important short films from the BFF collection. A diverse curation of filmmaking styles: narratives, documentaries, international award-winning filmmakers, and emerging directors all share equal billing. A ticket allows you to view the 90 minute short film format streamed to your computer, tablet, or smart TV by simply clicking on the link provided by email 15 minutes before opening date and time. Ticket prices are sliding scale, $10-$20.
DAG Monthly Event: Why Buildings Leak
Thursday, February 24, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Join the Design Advocacy Group with a talk about how to prevent water leaks with good architectural strategies. Registration is required. Free.
DAG Monthly Event: To the Future! Rail Park Feasibility Study Results and Next Steps
Thursday, March 24, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
The Rail Park is a vision for a three mile linear park and multi-use pathway connecting 10+ Philadelphia neighborhoods and 50 city blocks along the site of former Reading and Pennsylvania Railroad lines. Friends of the Rail Park commissioned a cost estimate and feasibility study in 2021 to determine a viable next phase of the Rail Park, and better understand how the Rail Park can contribute to comprehensive community development. Friends of the Rail Park’s Executive Director, Rebecca Cordes Chan, will share the preliminary results of this work and the path forward. Registration is required. Free.
ULI Philadelphia: Multifamily - Shifts in the Suburbs
Thursday, Mar 3, 2022, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM EST
Join the ULI Philadelphia Housing Council as we explore a “Shift in the Suburbs” and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing residential development in Philadelphia’s neighboring counties.
GRANT & FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The #PhilaLandBank has issued an RFP for Pastor James Allen. Land Bank is soliciting proposals from developers to acquire and develop 25 parcels located in Philadelphia’s Haddington neighborhood for affordable homeownership. Get more RFP info at https://phdcphila.org/rfps-rfqs-sales/development-rfps/ . Due 2/28.
2022 AARP Community Challenge - The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. This year, applications will be accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation and civic engagement; support diversity, equity and inclusion; build engagement for programs under new federal laws; and pursue innovative ideas that support people age 50 or older. Deadline: Tuesday, March 22
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the 2022 round of Community Conservation Partnership Program grants. Applications accepted until April 6. More information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Grants/Pages/default.aspx
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
We're an all-volunteer grassroots organization advocating for safe and affordable transportation, abundant housing, and more and better public spaces. You’re receiving this email if you signed up via our website, attended one of our events, or supported one of our advocacy campaigns.
Support our advocacy with a recurring monthly contribution of $5.