Northeast residents get a voice
in planning for city’s future

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

The Philadelphia Planning Commission was out in force at the Northeast Regional Library last week to hear from residents about their visions for the city in 2035.
The meeting was the third of four held around the city this month to help lay the groundwork for a citywide plan called Imagine Philadelphia. Additional meetings will be scheduled in January.
It will be the city’s first comprehensive plan in more than 40 years. The last one was done under the direction of former city planning director Ed Bacon.
Since that time, the city has seen economic and population shifts.
"We’re not the only game in town," said Janice Woodcock, the commission’s current executive director, referring to the allure of the suburbs for homebuyers and businesses.
With strategic planning going on across the city’s neighborhoods with plans for the waterfront, transportation and business corridors, as well as revamping of the city’s zoning ordinances, now is the time for a comprehensive plan.
Woodcock invited participants at the meeting to look at the city’s future and decide how they’d like to influence it.
Attendees were assigned groups to examine different aspects of the city such as utilities, economics, transportation, regionalism, open space, housing, culture and tourism.
While many had criticisms of the city, facilitators at each table brought the discussion back on point to what can be done to make the city a better place, while another city planner took notes on the ideas suggested at each table.
Others, including Oxford Circle Civic Association member Lorraine Brill, Paulette Rodriguez of Castor Gardens, Ken Cunningham of Pennypack, and Saul Berger of East Oak Lane, focused on public services and utilities.
City planner Morgan Barlow directed the table’s discussion, while fellow planner Mike Thompson took notes.
Many of the group’s points such as focusing on renewable energy, taking a look at old plans to extend the Broad Street Subway up Roosevelt Boulevard to the Bucks County line, and finding a solution to the "brain drain" — keeping young people that are educated in the city’s universities living and working in the city — were echoed by other groups as well.
Their "big ideas" for Philadelphia are to follow through with plans for the city’s waterfront, re-vamping the educational system and finding a more equitable tax system.
Planners will synthesize comments from around the city and combine them with expert consultants before returning for a follow-up meeting next year.
In the meantime, residents are encouraged to visit www.imaginephiladelphia.org and www.zoningmatters.com to stay informed and involved. ••
To be notified about future meetings, sign up at www.imaginephiladelphia.org
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@philynews.com