Ninth District SHOPS, STREETS, CENTERS

Councilwoman Cherelle Parker connects neighborhood commerce with community vitality | Status: ongoing. When Councilwomen Cherelle Parker asked Mark Keener AIA AICP to assist with an initiative aimed at supporting the economic vitality of her North Philadelphia District, they mapped out the Shops, Streets, and Centers approach, focusing initially on neighborhood commerce.  The thesis: that when corner shops and neighborhood main streets attract investment and thrive, home values benefit and opportunity for neighborly interaction increase*.  Successes set the stage for additional Parker-driven initiatives that support North Philadelphia “middle neighborhood” property maintenance and community infrastructure.

PROJECT TEAM

Mark Keener: Project Director: Team: Neil Desai | With: KSK, Market Knowledge, and The Lighting Practice

OUTCOMES

Shops, Streets, and Centers Recommendations that translated to direct investment focused on pedestrian movement and customer experience:

• Ogontz, Wandsworth, Vernon Rd: Pedestrian environment: streetlights, landscape, crosswalks, bike racks;

• Stenton Avenue: buildings: signage, awnings, and see-thru security grates;

• Wandsworth, Vernon Rd: façade improvements, exterior lighting, branding, signage;

• Cheltenham/Wandsworth gateway landscape, intersection and signal Improvements;

…all essential, basic infrastructure needed to support a durable commercial business environment.

What’s Next?

In addition to incremental implementation of Shops, Streets, and Centers projects and strategies, City Council and the Commerce Dept. recently commissioned an update. Completed in 2018 by WRT, it lays out an approach to take on expanded initiatives that support North Philadelphia “middle neighborhood” property maintenance, transportation, and community infrastructure.

• Implement Shops, Streets, and Centers projects and strategies

• Initiate transportation and mobility improvements

• Pursue Tax Relief/Tax Credit capital

• Provide and promote home maintenance /repair resources

• Promote Age-in-Place options for residents

• Involve, and assist CDC’s, Business Associations and Corridor Managers

• Commission and roll-out corridor marketing