What’s Next for Main Street?

Main Street runs alongside the Schuylkill River and Manayunk Canal, just upriver from Philadelphia’s Center City.  Early twentieth-century mills, shops, factories, workyards and over-the-shop housing have evolved into a continuously active place that now includes a wide variety of stores, restaurants, studios, outdoor recreation, and night-time entertainment venues. That economic transformation brought complications. Eventually, the Manayunk Development Corporation assembled talent and resources to respond to challenges:

• design challenges like inadequate parking; obsolete infrastructure, lighting and landscape; as well as buildings that don’t accommodate the entertainment and shopping format;

• political/policy issues such those that stem from growing friction between shoppers, night-time revelers and residents; and

• big-picture zoning and jurisdictional questions that arose from owners with big ROI expectations for properties at the edges of the district and from businesses that want to modify buildings to take advantage – waterfront tow path, canal and river.

Status: Street improvements, Gateway re-do, Venice Island, and Tow Path projects are ongoing, underway, or seeking funding

Venice Island + Riverfront

Mark was asked to evaluate several alternative locations to accommodate a planned 1 million gallon subsurface storage tank and stormwater park, needed to meet ensure that combined stormwater and sewage would no longer be dumped in the Schuylkill River. A big issue for Main Street businesses is that the 150+ parking spaces on the site were to be taken off line during construction. The community supported a new riverside park, boat landing and expanded community center.

Project Team

Mark Keener, Robert Brown FAIA, Megan Richie, and Micheal Tweed RA; with Andropogan Associates

Tow Path

Key to the discussion was setting up an understanding of the management, access and enjoyment of the Tow Path.

Outcomes

Mark’s work with the Manayunk Development Corporation, and City Department of Commerce also:

• Create detailed illustrations and cost estimates for funding streetscape, crosswalks and lighting improvements. Manayunk Development Corporation recently received commitments for funding for the streetscape improvements.

• Plan facades upgrades and functional renovations to the large industrial buildings that are outside the main shopping/entertainment area, as well as wayfinding and gateway elements.

• Evaluate alternative locations for a 1m gallon CSO storage tank, and preliminary design for stormwater park and public parking facility (now complete).

• Develop design controls for restaurants offering waterfront dining and other attractions along, and above, the tow path (adopted).