🍻🚇 AUGUST MEETUPS GALORE!
We're having our next meetup on August 25th at Pennsport Beer Boutique in South Philly. We have lots of new faces online and it's time to connect offline with a beer in hand. This is a great opportunity to chat with like-minded people about urbanist issues as a professional or a volunteer. We can talk shop and hatch some plans, or just relax in good company.
For the more serious-minded, come to the Roosevelt Blvd Subway Town Hall to hear about the past and future of this delayed subway. The panel will be led by 5th Square member Jay Arzu and joined by State Representative Jared Soloman, 5th Square volunteer Will Tung, and others. The event will be on Saturday, August 27th at 9AM at the PATH Center on 1919 Cottman Ave.
🏠 UC TOWNHOMES
The Inquirer writes about the aftermath of the University City Townhomes last week, and how much of these current conflicts are brought about by fixed-term contracts for low income housing. While IBID Associates could have handled the situation better, there are parts of situation that should have been avoided through better land use. Multifamily housing like UC Townhomes is affected by zoning laws, which means that there are a limited number of places that can be built on. Councilmanic prerogative also allows councilmembers to reject new construction in their district, even if it would be a good fit for the neighborhood. This halts the ability to build any multifamily housing. If they did need to relocate, they should have been able to either stay in the neighborhood or have comparable housing elsewhere. This is much easier when there are more vacant units. Displacement doesn't have to be the result of a neighborhood changing--with an elastic housing stock and more units below market rates, residents can stay where they are and welcome new neighbors to the fold.
You can read more about the situation here and here. If you have ideas on how the city could help provide better low income housing, come to our meetups and talk about solutions!
🚇 ROOSEVELT SUBWAY PETITION
The Roosevelt Blvd Subway is gaining traction again, appearing in an article in Billy Penn, with more maps and history of the project. We've started a petition to get the region's transit planners and politicians together to start working on the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway. Signing this petition is a great way for us to prove that there is interest by residents in more public transit.
If you want a sneak peek at the progress, here's a new proposed route for the subway (and an MFL extension):
Support our ongoing efforts for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia! All contributions go to supporting elected officials and campaigns that shape the city.
Become a 5th Square member TODAY & help us decide who to endorse in the next election!
EVENTS
Kingsessing Advisory Council Community Day
Saturday, August 20 – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Kingsessing Recreation Center (5001 Kingsessing Ave.)
A family event for the neighborhood, with an appearance of the SEPTA Trolley Modernization Team.
Sunday, August 21st at 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
N 22nd St and Cecil B Moore Ave.
Join Terrill Haigler aka “Ya Fav Trash Man”, Indego, and The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia on a ride to clean up the Brewerytown and Sharswood section of Philly! We will meet at the Indego Station at N. 22nd st and Cecil B. Moore Ave. to begin the Group Bike Ride. We will stop at 7 locations to clean up the community while exploring the neighborhood. Registration required.
Advancing Racial Equity through Land Use Planning
Wednesday, September 7 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm via Zoom
This webinar, featuring Joe Bernard and Douglass Smith, will present examples of two cities addressing racial inequity through their land use planning tools & codes. Deadline to register is September 6, 2022.
Tuesday, October 11 at 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Crowne Plaza Harrisburg-Hershey, 23 South 2nd Street, Harrisburg
The 82 Alliance is hosting a half day Mobility Summit, featuring Stan Caldwell from the Traffic 21 Institute at Carnegie Mellon, and Jody Holton from Planning & Strategic Initiatives at SEPTA. Early bird tickets are $90 and are available until August 31st.
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
- Blossom at Bartram! Complete Streets Alternatives - If you live near or travel along Lindbergh Ave, take this survey to pick the best option for street reconfiguration. "Complete streets" means that all the options include bike lanes and better sidewalks, so choose the designs that you think would fit the area.
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Nyier: funeral service and for his son for college - A memorial fund for Nyier Cunningham, who was struck by a speeding truck last month.
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Future of the Roundhouse Survey - What do you think should be done with the Roundhouse on 7th and Race?
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Remove the Amendment from HB140 - The Bicycle Coalition is asking for people to email their state senators for the removal of an amendment to HB140, parking protected bike lane bill, that would hamper efforts for bike infrastructure.
- Reimagine the Parkway - Survey 1 This public survey is part of the first round of engagement to help refine the vision and goals for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Public Realm Plan and gather the priorities for uses of the Parkway from a diverse audience.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Philadelphia Inquirer / How thousands of affordable homes in Philly are threatened by expiring government subsidies
Multi-Housing News / 4.3 Million New Apartments Needed by 2035
NPR / 'We have nowhere to go': Many face eviction during a crisis in affordable housing
The Onion / Philadelphia Becomes First City To Be 100% Parking Spots
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Hidden City Philadelphia / Old Movie Palace Seeks the Spotlight Once Again
Billy Penn / Citing 'criminal activity,' police are nixing more block parties in West and North Philly
ArchDaily / How Gender Inclusion Is Influencing Urban Design
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Temple University / Sustainability Coordinator
Connect the Dots / Associate
NKCDC / Vice President of Development
City of Philadelphia /
National Zoning Atlas / Project Coordinator
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia / Communications Manager
City of Jersey City / Various (Planners, architects, environmental related positions)
Scout / Marketing Communications Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity /
PeopleForBikes / OpenStreetMap editor
Philadelphia Inquirer / Interactive Newsroom Designer
US Dept of Transportation / Supervisory Transportation Specialist
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia / Communications and Social Media Associate
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia / Communications Manager
School District of Philadelphia /
Green Building United / Development Manager
Independence Blue Cross / Lead Provider Experience Measurement & Insights Lead
Comcast / Sr Specialist, Employee Communications
Nationalities Service Center / Various positions
Philadelphia Department of Public Health / Canvass Data Coordinator
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
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