PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is hosting a special meeting of the Civic Design Review (CDR) Committee. This assembly carries significant implications for the future of Center City. What’s on the table? A comprehensive Master Plan for the proposed Center City arena.
This strategic review, requested by City Councilmember Mark Squilla of the 1st District, represents the second and final meeting of the Civic Design Review for Master Plans regarding this monumental project. The proposed arena’s location spans 1001-19 and 1025 Market Street and 1001-25 Filbert Street. Meeting materials are available on this web page, under “CDR Application Materials.”
This virtual meeting, scheduled for 9:30 AM on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, is open to the public. It serves as a platform for Philadelphia residents to engage, participate, and voice their ideas and concerns about the proposed arena. The meeting will be conducted in English, but to ensure comprehension across various linguistic diversities, simultaneous interpretation in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and American Sign Language will be available.
In the complex interplay of urban planning, multiple factors come into focus. The Master Plan evaluation by the CDR aims to address these, focusing on aspects visible to and accessible by the public. This includes pedestrian movement, traffic flow, public transportation provision, loading and unloading zones, public access, allocation of open spaces, and the overall size, shape, and location of the building.
The committee’s role is advisory, essentially providing recommendations, though not mandating developers to abide by these. However, given their expertise and comprehensive understanding of the project’s impact, their suggestions bear significant weight.
In a democratic endeavor of this magnitude, public comment is upheld as vital. Interested individuals can sign up to express their views verbally during the meeting, or opt to provide written comments. Quick tip: for those keen on voicing their thoughts, registering before noon on Thursday, March 28, will ensure priority in the speaking order. One might ask, “Well, what about my written comments?” Rest assured, committee members will give equal consideration to both written and spoken input.
The importance of this meeting is intertwined with the essence of a Civic Design Review. This public forum seeks to assess how large development projects, like the proposed arena, interact with the public realm. This public realm pertains to areas visible and accessible to people, encapsulating adjacent streets, sidewalks, and parks.
The special CDR for Master Plans, while less common than its building-centric counterpart, is still crucial in shaping development projects. Though a Civic Design Review does not equate to project approval, City Council may introduce a bill to legally recognize a Master Plan for the arena site. This meeting is therefore a unique opportunity for the public to influence the arena’s Master Plan before potential legislative recognition.
With the cityscape of Philadelphia potentially on the brink of drastic transformation, your participation and comments could shape the future of the Center City arena. Redefine the contours of civic engagement, turning the page to a bold new chapter in the evolving urban narrative of Philadelphia.
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