Shown above is the location of AMERICAN MACHINE WORKS

Retooling the 19th century “Workshop of the World”

The American industrial village: What’s after the railroad, factories & smokestacks? | Status: Ongoing

Once a national center of manufacturing, the American Street area of North Philadelphia is slowly, very slowly, transforming from a foundering 19th century smokestack district into a regional hub for new light industry, artisan workshops, and distribution, as well as a center of community life and neighborhood commerce. Headwinds included a landscape dominated by deteriorating building stock, rail-corridor/work yard infrastructure, and redevelopment potential constrained by legacy industrial-era environmental burdens. The City’s Department of Commerce, together with Local Initiatives Support Coalition LISC and the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone initiated a revitalization program that engaged residents, business owners, community leaders, and city agencies. Mark Keener AIA AICP led a team of professionals to define strategies designed to repurpose/retool the commercial and industrial corridors that support investment, local jobs, and local neighborhood identity.

American Machine Company became North Brothers Manufacturing Company, famous for a variety of products, including the Yankee Screwdriver. It was later bought by Stanley.

The American Street area occupies 100 city blocks — about the same area as Center City

The North Pennsylvania Rail Road ran up American Street.

Outcomes

Since completion of the American Street Plan (2004, Plan for 4 Changing Places (2005), and a follow-up Empowerment Zone Toolkit (2010), the City of Philadelphia applied for and received federal funding to make improvements along American Street between Girard and Indiana Avenues. The improvements include rehabilitation of sidewalks with extensions at intersections that reduce pedestrian crossing distances, new medians with green stormwater infrastructure, protected bike lanes, new street trees, and new lighting. The work currently in construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2020. Additional funding supported the implementation of improved sidewalks, lighting, crossings, graphics, and landscape elements along 30 blocks of Girard Avenue. City policies, increased opportunity, and an array of economic mechanisms, minimize displacement that may increase with renewed economic activity.

Project Team

Concept Plan: Mark Keener AIA AICP: Primary author and Project leader for planning, zoning and design: Team: B. Brown | With: Urban Partners, KSK, Margie Ruddick, Lager Raabe Skafte Landscape, Orth Rodgers.

AMEZ Implementation Strategy: Mark Keener AIA AICP: Primary facilitator and Project leader Team: N. Desai, M. Winslow | With: Marcus Reinvestments, Iola Harper and 4ward Planning.

What’s Next?

Following this study, the City of Philadelphia applied for and received federal TIGER grant funding supporting construction of innovative stormwater management improvements along American Street between Girard and Indiana Avenues. Additional project elements include improved sidewalks with intersections designed to reduce pedestrian crossing distances, protected bike lanes, street trees, and lighting. Construction is now underway, with completion expected by the end of 2020.