🎁 LAST-MINUTE GIFT IDEA
Need a last-minute gift for the urbanist in your life? We still have some GrimGrimGrim Blvd Subway shirts left in stock.
And while you're at it, give yourself the gift of a 5th Square membership!
Membership comes with discounts on merch and event admission, ability to vote on our endorsements, and most importantly it supports our work to make Philadelphia a more walkable, bike-friendly, and livable city with abundant housing and reliable transit.
🛣️ MARKET STREET TRANSFORMATION
Changes are coming to Market Street in Old City between 2nd and 6th Streets.
Source: OTIS
Construction recently started on the project which will narrow Market St to one car lane each way, create a new Tamanend Plaza at 2nd and Market, and add Philadelphia's first sidewalk-level bike lanes.
Read more in The Inquirer:
🏀 SIXERS ARENA APPROVED
After a final vote before City Council, the 76ers arena on Market Street has officially been approved.
Source: 76 Place
Demolition and construction are expected to begin in 2026 and 2028 respectively.
Read more from WHYY:
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🌉 New Delaware River Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Path
There is currently no bike/pedestrian access across the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Trenton. As plans advance to rehabilitate or replace the I-95 Delaware River Bridge, we are calling for a multi-use path to be included to better connect Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Take the survey here (by January 3rd) and read more about the proposal from the Bicycle Coalition. Questions 4 and 5 are open-ended and are the best place to ask for a bike and pedestrian path.
🚌 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.
🛣️ 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
YIMBY Chanukah Philadelphia
Thursday, Dec 26 at 7:30pm | RSVP for Location
Come celebrate Chanukah with other pro-housing folks in our first ever YIMBY Jewish Chanukah party in Philadelphia!
Roosevelt Blvd Open House 4
Tuesday, January 7, 6 - 8 PM | American Heritage Credit Union, 2068 Red Lion Road
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.
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.
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