COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:  GUS SCHEERBAUM/TANYA SEAMAN

Economic Development/Zoning Workgroup Meetings are held THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT THE SOSNA OFFICE.

The Zoning Workgroup first met to refashion the monthly zoning meetings and the process of receiving and reviewing applications for variances. Having now professionalized the zoning meetings, the committee is taking on other issues such as code and building enforcement, sidewalk seating, and a host of other planning-related projects. If you are interested in participating in any of these projects, please contact Andrew Dalzell. We are always open to including folks who are passionate about making positive change in the neighborhood!

Commercial Corridors Development: We have many empty storefronts in the neighborhood and they are at risk for being removed as developers come in and claim the first floors as residences. As we live in an urban area that could benefit from greater walkability and more sidewalk activity (and be safer), it is important not only to maintain the storefront infrastructure, but to attract services and retail to these buildings. Most dollars spent by residents are spent outside the neighborhood. Unfortunately, our neighborhood is often overlooked by businesses that wish to find a good place to locate or expand. This project seeks to market our amenities so that we can enliven our streets.

Southbridge Project: A small committee of residents from Center City and South of South are working on a cohesive vision development in the area mostly south of the South Street Bridge and Devil’s Pocket (particularly along Schuylkill Ave) and South Street West. The crux of the project is that we wish to share our vision for development with major and minor land owners so that when it is time for them to develop, they can build within the context of the neighborhood and our vision. (The typical way development occurs is parcel by parcel, with a landowner working independent of the neighborhood, and then facing strong opposition to its plans. At that point, the landowner has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and is reluctant to go back to square one. Therefore, we intend to take a new, proactive approach to developing these underutilized parcels and forging a positive relationship with these property owners.) A group of Penn City Planning grad students is working with us this semester to study the area and propose a vision. The student work will be shared at community-wide meetings at the midterm (March) and final stages (May 10, 7 PM at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church, Grays Ferry and Fitzwater Streets).

Washington Ave: Two Workgroup members are providing direction to a group of Drexel architecture students who are looking at ways to update and develop the west end of this corridor. We expect to have the students present their final projects at a public meeting (May).

Grays Ferry and the Triangles: A study and designs have been developed for improving Grays Ferry north of Washington and the triangles, such as at Grays Ferry and Bainbridge. This project is being reinvigorated so that we can move forward and implement the changes. There are aesthetics and bicycle/pedestrian/vehicle traffic issues to be addressed.  For more information, visit: www.graysferrytriangles.org and take a two-minute survey about possible improvements there!