Inventive plans for three commercial corridors capitalize on opportunities to improve retail sites and spur growth in surrounding neighborhoods

Contact: Carryn Golden, Community Design Collaborative 215.587.9290 carryn@cdesignc.org

Philadelphia, PA – April 10, 2007 – As the May 15^th Mayoral Primary approaches, the candidates are talking about their vision for Philadelphia and debating the best way to get results.   While the candidates are discussing ideas and options,  there is a nonprofit organization that is already putting forward real solutions for Philadelphia – inventive plans in three commercial corridors where there are great opportunities to improve existing sites and spur growth within the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Community Design Collaborative is preparing to unveil conceptual plans for revitalizing commercial corridors through its new design initiative — Infill Philadelphia. The program was launched earlier this year with three goals:  To generate workable design solutions for under-utilized physical assets in Philadelphia neighborhoods; to promote systems change by developing exciting ideas that will help Philadelphia leaders re-think the future of our neighborhoods and city; and to foster an understanding of the value of good design among community leaders and developers.

Three local design firms volunteered to participate in the Commercial Corridors project, the first phase of a three-part, five-year program.  Historically, commercial corridors have been the pulse of healthy neighborhoods and today remain critical “zippers” in urban communities. These neighborhood shopping streets bind communities together, keep resident and business dollars local, and create local employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“Vibrant neighborhoods need vibrant commercial corridors, and design is an essential element in revitalizing commercial corridors,” said Beth Miller, executive director, Community Design Collaborative. “Design helps businesses and communities enhance what’s already in place on their corridors. But design also makes it possible to bring in new kinds of retail or reuse older commercial buildings more effectively. As communities rediscover the value of their commercial corridors, we’re excited to offer design strategies that address these challenges.”

A public presentation of the design concepts created for actual project sites within three Philadelphia commercial corridors will take place Wednesday, April 18, at the Independence Visitor Center, 6^th and Market Streets, from 4 to 6 p.m. Reception to follow.

Over the last few months, the design firms have collaborated with community-based organizations to create design strategies that respond to each site’s specific requirements, which include enhancing a corridor gateway, reusing a vacant theater, and expanding a local bar into a full service restaurant. They will present their work to a jury of design and development professionals who will encourage innovative design strategies but also help ensure they are feasible and attractive to funders. The designs will not only deal with physical assets and aesthetics, they will also address safety, economic development, and community building.

Infill Philadelphia: Commercial Corridors was funded by an 18-month, $175,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation and supported through a partnership with Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a leading expert in the area of commercial corridor development.

“This initiative was created to push the envelope and demonstrate it’s possible to think inventively when responding to the requirements of older urban neighborhoods,” said Mark Edwards, program director, Philadelphia LISC. “The designs produced as a result of this initiative will help older communities re-envision the appearance of their neighborhoods and really leverage their existing assets.”   Edwards said that the final presentation is not the close of the program.   ” After the ideas are presented, we will look for the right people or funders to take one or all three of the great design solutions and bring it to life.”

Partners and Projects:

Restaurant Retrofit
Lancaster Avenue Commercial Corridor
People’s Emergency Center CDC & Cicada Architecture/Planning, Inc.

Theater Reuse
60^th Street Commercial Corridor
The Partnership CDC & Terra Studio LLC

Gateway to Corridor
East Passyunk Avenue Commercial Corridor
East Passyunk Avenue BID & Brown & Keener Bressi Urban Design and Place Planning

Jury:
Scott Erdy, AIA Erdy McHenry Architecture
Jim Hartling Urban Partners
Eva Gladstein Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Transformation
Alan Greenberger, AIA MGA Partners Architects &  Design Advocacy Group
Ahsan Nasratullah Teres Holdings, LLC
Barry Seymour, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Larry Segal, Impact Pennsylvania Strategies, LLC
Earni Young, Philadelphia Daily News
Janice Woodcock, AIA  Philadelphia City Planning Commission

Moderator: Alan Urek Philadelphia City Planning Commission

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Community Design Collaborative is a community design center that provides pro bono preliminary design services to nonprofit organizations, offers unique volunteer opportunities for design professionals, and raises awareness bout the importance of design in community revitalization. Founded in 1991 as a program of AIA Philadelphia, the Collaborative is an independent 501(c)(3) with a network of more than 600 volunteers.