🚻 WE WANT RESTROOMS
The Center City Public Restroom survey results are out and 89% of participants were in favor of public restrooms! Many of the participants disliked the existing portable toilets and only 47% have used them.
Survey-takers felt that it was a basic right and a standard and equitable amenity. They also valued restroom cleanliness and safety above any other metrics or location of units.
The City will release an operations plan based on survey feedback that will have projections on cleaning, safety, and staff capacity. There will be six permanent restrooms total, each one installed in different neighborhoods. (I wonder if a new City Council candidate is interested in championing this...)
📖 "How I Changed My Mind About Change"
Swarthmore resident and 5th Square member Rachel Pastan wrote an excellent blog post about coming to terms with NIMBYism and how it is reflected in her area. She sympathises with those who want larger lots away from the city, but that the sprawl has already forced a negative change. Rising rents and housing costs mean that residents and developers should focus on a "missing middle" that is affordable and can blend into existing neighborhoods.
"Indeed, Swarthmore already has ADUs and small multifamily buildings, constructed before our zoning code was written in the 1970s. The fact that this kind of density is woven into our fabric bolsters my confidence that we can build more relatively inexpensive housing without significant disruption." (Read more...)
If you're interested in Pastan's writing, you can sign up for updates at the bottom of her blog post.
📢 MARKETING COMMITTEE MEETING
Do you want to make a direct impact on the success of urbanist campaigns and candidates? Join us for 5th Square's monthly Marketing Committee meeting on September 13 at 7:00pm! Each second Tuesday of the month, we meet to:
- Update each other on the progress we're making towards our goals
- Brainstorm marketing tactics and ways to improve
- Gather an inventory of members' interests and skills
- Connect volunteers with projects they care about
No previous marketing experience is necessary, and all marketing disciplines are welcome!
Support our ongoing efforts for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia! Your donations go to promoting and informing urbanist issues and supporting candidates that support safety and equity.
Become a 5th Square member TODAY!
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
REGIONAL RAIL
Ben She and Will Tung, longtime transit committee members of 5th Square, spoke to TransitCenter about Reimagining Regional Rail, a redesign of the rail system as part of the SEPTA Forward project. Will Tung mentions our fare parity goals between Regional Rail and the rest of the system, and how this is a chance for positive change.
Ben She: “SEPTA really needs to utilize this moment as a way to not only reset the bus routes, but also reset the way that it approaches its customers.”
WASHINGTON AVENUE
5th Square member Andrew Davies was in a recent article in Grid Magazine about the decisionmaking process behind Washinton Avenue. His rationale for supporting the three-lane option? His one year old child, who will eventually have to cross the street for elementary school. “It’s definitely a part of why we’re on this side of Washington Avenue with our daycare.” (Read more...)
The article has a sampling of every viewpoint, which is as diverse as the avenue in question. South Philly has seen a lot of change and Washington Ave will go through quite a bit. Curious about its origins? The city has a great three-part blog post about Washington Ave's industrial past.
EVENTS
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.
Take the Lane: a Right of Way reform agenda
Friday, September 16th from 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street
StreetBoxPHL’s inaugural symposium will be featuring exciting Philadelphia public space stewards and advocates, and will explore the changes needed to make it easier to make great places out of small spaces in the right of way.
September 24 & 25
Cherry Hill, NJ (multiple locations)
Registration fee is $60 and will go up $70 on Sept. 12. Cycle through the beautiful back roads and flat terrain of South Jersey along with a community of riders dedicated to changing the world for people with MS. $300 minimum for fundraising.
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
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2022 SEPTA Key 2.0 Survey - The survey will help in developing the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the next generation fare collection program, SEPTA Key 2.0. You can take the survey online, call in at (215) 580-7145 and selecting OPTION #3 (Commendations and Complaints) to take the survey over phone, or email [email protected] for a screen reader friendly PDF.
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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.
- Future of the Roundhouse Survey - What do you think should be done with the Roundhouse on 7th and Race?
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Univ. of Pennsylvania Institute for Law and Economics / Longer Trips to Court Cause Evictions
Journal of Urban Economics / Can the land tax help curb urban sprawl? Evidence from growth patterns in Pennsylvania
Washington Post / To fight climate change, environmentalists may have to give up a core belief
🌳 PUBLIC SPACEPhiladelphia Inquirer / Camden County has plans for 2 trail bridges that will connect Philly to Cooper River Park and beyond
Billy Penn / The DF Nigeria truck is cultivating fans of West African food in Northeast Philly
Feet First Philly Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant
Feet First Philly is partnering with the Department of Public Health to provide funding for mini-grants of $500 to $2000 to create public space enhancements and safety improvements where they are needed the most. Residents and community groups in low income communities and communities of color are strongly encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, October 11th at 11:59PM.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is looking for volunteers interested in helping us with this process between September 6 and October 28. Bike counts happen on weekday mornings and evening from 7:30 – 9:00 AM and from 4:30 – 6:00 PM, weather permitting. Sign up today!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Shift Capital / Development Finance Manager
- Executive Director
- Transportation Planner, Office of Freight and Clean Transportation
- Transportation Modeler / Analyst
Lawrence Hopewell Trail / Executive Director
Lime / Senior Manager, Safety Policy
Community Legal Services, Inc / Development Assistant
U3 / Senior Analyst
Office of Congressman Dwight Evans / Digital Media Manager
Lutheran Settlement House / Administrative Assistant
jawnt / Customer Success Manager
Oonee / Chief of Staff to the CEO
ULI Philadelphia / Manager
Center City District / Retail Development Manager
Temple University / Sustainability Coordinator
Connect the Dots / Associate
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)
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia / Communications and Social Media Associate
Philadelphia Department of Public Health / Canvass Data Coordinator
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