New Plan Seeks to Reunite Philly With Its Waterfront

Kellie Patrick Gates reports on the planning effort, which was led by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) and was years in the making, and the optimism it has generated.

According to Gates, "Main tenets of the plan include reconnecting city neighborhoods to the waterfront by fostering connections along key streets that generally end in a public space. The series of public spaces, occuring about every half-mile, are linked to each other with a multi-purpose trail. The plan calls for mixed use development, including residential, commercial and industrial. View corridors to the water are preserved, and buildings are generally low- and mid-rise in illustrations that accompany the plan. The street grid is extended to the waterfront."

Land owners concerned about liability issues had been some of the most vocal opponents of the plan and nearly led to its dismantling. "As recently as Saturday, top planning staff was still in discussion over whether to recommend that the commission adopt the full plan or accept portions on the northern and southern end," writes Gates.