Newsletter: 🍻 Tomorrow: Happy Hour with Welcoming Neighbors Network / 🚇 Roosevelt Blvd Updates / ❄️ Open Streets this Weekend

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 307

🍻 TOMORROW: HAPPY HOUR WITH WELCOMING NEIGHBORS NETWORK 

Join us TOMORROW for an informal meet-up with abundant housing advocates from across the Northeast Region of Welcoming Neighbors Network (WNN)!

 

WNN Northeast x 5th Square Happy Hour
Wednesday, December 4th, at 6:00pm – 8pm
Human Robot Schuylkill Banks, 2401 Walnut St

We will be hosting folks from the following organizations, and more!

This happy hour directly follows a 5th-Square-led walking tour across Center City featuring the highlights (and lowlights) of Philly's planning & zoning process. You are more than welcome to join us for this tour as well! The tour will leave at 5pm from Dilworth Park's Rothman Orthopedic Cabin next to the Skating Rink.


🚇 ROOSEVELT BLVD UPDATES

PennDOT recently presented an update on their reimagining of Roosevelt Blvd

For more details, read Jay Arzu's op-ed in the Inquirer: It’s time to break the gridlock on ‘Roosevelt Boulevard Reimagined’ | Opinion

We need your help to push PennDOT to choose a vision for Roosevelt Blvd that includes a subway and improves safety on one of the most dangerous corridors in the city.

PennDOT is hosting four open houses. Show up to one and make your voice heard!

Open House 1
Saturday, December 14, 10 AM - 12 PM
Mayfair Community Center
2990 St. Vincent Street, Philadelphia, PA 19149

Open House 2
Monday, December 16, 6 - 8 PM
Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast
2400 Old Lincoln Highway, Trevose, PA 19053

Open House 3
Wednesday, December 18, 6 - 8 PM
New Life Philly Church
425 E Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19120

Open House 4
Tuesday, January 7, 6 - 8 PM
American Heritage Credit Union
2068 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115


❄️ OPEN STREETS THIS WEEKEND

Stop by Old City on Saturday from 12pm to 5pm for a fun day of activities and performances throughout the neighborhood, as well as a car-free 3rd Street between Market and Arch.

And on Sunday, head to the Rittenhouse Square area for Center City District's open streets from 11am to 6pm. There will also be another day of open streets the following Sunday on December 15th.


🎟️ GET YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY TICKETS

Join 5th Square members and friends for our annual Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony at Indy Hall on December 13th at 7 PM!

Come celebrate with other Philadelphia built environment activists, neighborhood and community leaders, architects, planners, builders, and sustainability advocates at the urbanist holiday party of the season!

Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony
Friday, December 13th at 7 PM
Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St


🚨 ACTION ITEMS

🚌 Lehigh Ave Bus Lane

OTIS is studying a bus lane on Lehigh Ave from Kensington Ave to American St. Respond to their survey.

🚲 Support the Spruce and Pine Streets Redesign

Opponents in Society Hill have been circulating flyers with a petition opposing life-saving measures which would add concrete protection to the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets. To help us push back and show our elected officials that we support safer Spruce and Pine Streets, sign and share our petition supporting the redesign.

🏘️ More Housing in PA

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has put out a survey to help it develop its housing action plan. Take the survey here.

Let them know with your responses that the solution to PA's housing problems is zoning reform and building more units statewide!

🛣️ Stop I-95 Expansion

PennDOT is planning to expand I-95 in Center City and South Philly by adding lanes and new ramps. This will threaten the well-being of our neighborhoods by worsening air quality, increasing noise pollution, harming our access to the waterfront, and destroying sports facilities. To make matters worse, PennDOT has been deceitful about its engagement efforts.

Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.


EVENTS

WNN Northeast x 5th Square Happy Hour
December 4th, 6pm – 8pm | Human Robot Schuylkill Banks, 2401 Walnut St
Join us for a happy hour with abundant housing advocates from across the Northeast Region of Welcoming Neighbors Network (WNN)! Feel free to also join us on our preceding walking tour

Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Cleanup
December 7 @ 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | 319 Delancey St
Join Philly Bike Action to “spruce up” Spruce & Pine Streets. PBA will be participating in the Great Society Hill Cleanup, focusing on Spruce and Pine streets.

Old City Shopping Sip & Stroll with Open Street on 3rd St
Saturday, December 7, 12pm to 5pm | Old City and 3rd St
Join Old City District for ambient entertainment, including acoustic musicians, strolling performers, and surprise snow showers throughout the neighborhood. 3rd Street from Market to Arch will be closed to vehicular traffic from 12-5 p.m.

Rittenhouse Open Streets
December 8th and 15th | Walnut and 18th Streets in Rittenhouse
Center City District is bringing back car-free Sundays on portions of 18th Street and Walnut Street near Rittenhouse Square.

5th Square Holiday Party + Awards Ceremony
December 13, 2024 at 7:00pm – 9pm | Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St
Join 5th Square for our annual holiday party and an awards ceremony where we will be presenting awards to members of our community for their outstanding contributions to Philadelphia’s urbanist movement.

Roosevelt Blvd Open House 1
Saturday, December 14, 10 AM - 12 PM | Mayfair Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent Street
Support the subway option at this Public Open House for Roosevelt Boulevard! Hosted by PennDOT, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia

Roosevelt Blvd Open House 2
Monday, December 16, 6 - 8 PM
Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast - 2400 Old Lincoln Highway, Trevose, PA 19053
Support the subway option at this Public Open House for Roosevelt Boulevard! Hosted by PennDOT, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia

Roosevelt Blvd Open House 3
Wednesday, December 18, 6 - 8 PM
New Life Philly Church, 425 E Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19120
Support the subway option at this Public Open House for Roosevelt Boulevard! Hosted by PennDOT, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia

Roosevelt Blvd Open House 4
Tuesday, January 7, 6 - 8 PM
American Heritage Credit Union, 2068 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115
Support the subway option at this Public Open House for Roosevelt Boulevard! Hosted by PennDOT, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia


WHAT WE'RE READING

🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE

🌳 PUBLIC SPACE

🚌 TRANSIT

🚴 MOBILITY


JOB OPPORTUNITIES


5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.

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