🚌 🛣 BUS ONLY LANES
As SETPA's Bus Revolution gets underway, there is a potential problem on the horizon. Many key routes connect disparate parts of the city and are extremely slow. No matter how the bus routes change, the busses will still have to deal with traffic. One great way to speed things up is to add bus only lanes to the street. We need to show the City that we want bus lanes!
🎄🏆 WINTER PARTY... IN MAY!
We are pleased to announce the Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony, now scheduled for May 5th, 2022! We will be announcing the winners of the Urbanist Awards. It's also a great opportunity to meet other urbanists and community leaders. We will have beverages and snacks, and children over 5 are welcome. Proof of vaccination is required. Tickets are $30 online and $40 at the door (children are free). Volunteers get free admission.
May 5th, 2022 at 7:00pm – 9pm
990 Spring Garden (990 Spring Garden St Lobby)
🅿️ SHOULD I PARK HERE?
WHYY, in conjunction with the Free Library of Philadelphia, is presenting a "Bridging Blocks" conversation about a perenially contentious topic--parking. With people parking in the Broad Street median, illegally reserving spots on the street with lawn chairs, blocked sidewalks, and PPA being a public enemy, this is a topic worth discussing.
Aaron Ricketts / Philadelphia Inquirer
The talk is on May 12th from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Di Silvestro Rec Center (1701 S 15th St). Registration is required. Masks are mandatory.
🗳 HELP OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATES
PA House Rep. candidate Jonathan Lovitz, who is running for the 182nd district in Center City, is looking for people to help phone bank in time for the election on May 17th. It will be quite a tight race, so he will need all the support he can get. If you're unfamiliar with him or missed our candidate meet and greet, check out his questionnaire responses.
Another of our endorsed candidates, State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, has many opportunities to volunteer. There is a virtual phone banking with a training session via Zoom, canvassing days until May 15th, and a Get Out the Vote event on the 17th.
As the primaries are coming up, check out our election center for our endorsed candidates and other helpful voting information.
We still need your help during election season. Your insights and financial contributions will help hone candidates to advocate for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
EMPLOYEE COMMUTER BENEFITS
A commuter benefits bill for public transit is being presented to the city by Helen Gym with support of many of the other councilmembers. The commuter benefits apply to anyone that works more than 30 hours at an employer with 50 or more employees. There is also a small stipend for bike commuters. Longtime 5th Square organizer Will Tung was quoted in the press release.
Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0
“This commuter benefits legislation will undoubtedly support Philly’s economic recovery, cut street congestion, support public transit, and improve our climate and air quality outcomes — all while saving money for commuters who choose an alternative to driving. 5th Square is proud to support this initiative to expand transit equity and access to workers across Philadelphia.”
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
PennDOT is holding a virtual meeting room for the Interstate 95 Central and South Philadelphia (I-95 CSP) Planning Study from April 15 through May 15. The Planning Study will provide Philadelphia residents and stakeholders the opportunity to explore the study materials and share their comments, questions, and concerns with the project team. Those who are unable to access the virtual meeting room materials at home or the local public library, who have special needs that require individual attention or require translation services, please e-mail [email protected] or call the Construction Helpline at 215-513-1399.
The City of Philadelphia will be receiving $42 million to provide long-term housing and services for those experiencing homelessness via a new federal program created by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) called HOME-ARP. The Office of Homeless Services (OHS), which administers the City’s homeless Continuum of Care together with the City’s Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), has drafted the DRAFT HOME-ARP ALLOCATION PLAN using extensive community input, consultation with a range of organizations, need and gaps data from both the homeless assistance system and the local housing market. You can submit comments online; public comment will close on April 29.
Through the collaborative reporting project https://brokeinphilly.org/, we’re partnering with local sustainability blog https://www.thegreencities.com/ to report on long-standing problems with trash collection and clean-up.The survey closes on April 29, so we would love for it to run as much as possible before then.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Philadelphia Inquirer / Reparations are a moral calling for these Germantown Quakers. First up: Help for Black homeowners.
Wall Street Journal / Yimby Movement Goes Mainstream in Response to High Housing Costs
Philadelphia Inquirer / Low-income housing vs. parking: Habitat for Humanity wins the latest round in North Philly
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
The Philadelphia Citizen / Ya Fav Trashman gives us his Earth Day Rx for our dirty, dirty city
Philadelphia Inquirer / City Council wants the next budget to fix ‘black hole’ created by quality-of-life problems, from trash to broken streetlights
EVENTS
25th Street Community Conversations
Thursday, April 28th, 4pm - 6pm (rain date Friday)
Smith Playground (25th and Snyder)
City representatives will be taking input from residents about improvements to 25th Street, with three different design choices.
Vision Zero PHL Conference 2022: Speed Control for Safe Mobility
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Temple University Student Center South (1755 N 13th St)
This year's in-person conference will focus on policies and infrastructure that address the primary factor in traffic deaths: speeding. Panel topics range from automated speed cameras to creating more space in streets and intersections for people, not cars. Tickets are sliding scale ($35-$95), with a "pay-what-you-can" ticket available. See the event registration page for more pricing information.
Transit for All PA Statewide Summit
May 4th, from 6:00-7:30 pm (virtual)
Transit for All PA, a coalition of transit advocates across the Commonwealth, is working on getting all of the transit agencies the money and support they need to strengthen their systems. You'll be hearing about the transit funding horizon in Pennsylvania in the wake of Act 89's sunset, and the federal infrastructure bill.
Blossom at Bartram! Complete Streets April Open House
Wednesday, April 27th from 6:00-7:30 PM (virtual)
SEPTA, in partnership with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Philadelphia, is taking a holistic look at all modes and users on Grays Ave, Lindbergh Blvd, 49th Street, and streets connecting to the Schuylkill River Corridor to improve safety, public health, and livability. This corridor, which is also home to a segment of the Route 36 trolley, has been identified by the City of Philadelphia as part of its High Injury Network, with three people killed and one seriously injured between 2014 and 2018. Our focus is on roadway safety and access to economic opportunity. Learn more about the project and provide your input! There will be a corresponding in-person event on April 30th from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM on Lindbergh Blvd at Wheeler St. Just look for a SEPTA tent!
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, CFPs
PHDC, on behalf of the Philadelphia Land Bank (“Land Bank”), is soliciting proposals from developers for the following projects:
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RFP for Strawberry Mansion North 31st Street Et Al (2 Sub-Areas)
The Project Site is split into two (2) development sub-areas (“Sub-areas”) bounded by Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Euclid Street, North 30th and North 32nd Streets, Master, North 27th and North 28th Streets. -
RFP for North Central Cecil B Moore Energy Efficient Homeownership Pilot
The site is located at 1625-41 N. 10th Street. It consists of a vacant lot that is approximately 26,352 square feet. It is an integral part of current and future comprehensive redevelopment efforts within the target area. -
RFP for North Central North 10th Street et al.
This RFP is to develop three (3) parcels located in Philadelphia’s North Central neighborhood for affordable homeownership. -
RFP for West Poplar Melon Street Et Al (2 Sub-Areas).
The Project Site is split into two (2) development sub-areas (“Sub-areas”) bounded by Fairmount, Melon, Wallace, North 10th, and North 11th Streets. The subareas are specified below and composed of vacant lot properties owned by Philadelphia Land Bank (“PLB”); it does not include privately-owned land on these blocks. -
RFP for East Kensington East Orleans et Al.
This RFP is for developers to acquire and develop seventeen (17) parcels located in Philadelphia’s East Kensington neighborhood for affordable homeownership. To apply, click here.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The annual Nothern Liberties Neighbors Association board election is fast approaching and will be electing President, Treasurer, and 6 Board seats. The nomination meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28th, at 7:00 PM at the NLNA Community Center at 700 N 3rd Street, and mask will be required. You may also make nominations online by emailing them to Paula at [email protected]. Nominations will be closed at 9:00 PM on Thursday, April 28th. After checking eligibility, and receiving confirmation from nominees, we will post a list of candidates, along with information about the May General/Election Meeting.
To run for an at-large Board seat, you need to be at least 18 years of age, and have lived in the neighborhood (this includes both owners and renters) for no less than one year, or have owned or operated a business with a physical location in the neighborhood for no less than one year. To run for President or Treasurer, you also need to have been on the NLNA board for one year, now or in the past.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
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