[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
Plan for Philadelphia Riverfronts,;, 1A 0, "15 t" V, LN 411 i':4 Al 'E own HT 168 T55 T66 1985 c2 .... --- - --- ---- FhfladeRphnk M7 FRmnnn*ng (Commnsonon City of Philadelphia Riverfront Staff Project Manager: Elba Cefial Pelleccha W Wilson Goode, Mayor Planners: Stephen P. Andrade David A. Baldinger Philadelphia City Planning Stephen P. Bartlett Cynthia Cronin Commission Paul D. Curran Edward W. Duffy Graham S. Finney, Chairman Sandra Garz William W. Batoff Warren E. Huff Hadley S. King David W. Brenner Marcia Kingslow Leo A. Brooks ErnestJ. Leonardo Lee G. Copeland Anthony Mazza Richard G. Gilmore Massoud Mohadjeri Rosemarie B. Greco Mary K. Noyallis Donna L. Orbach Mamie Nichols R. Duane Perry Dr. Bernard C. Watson Richard A. Redding -Deborah -S. Schaaf Barbara J. Kaplan, Executive Director William E. Toffey Graphics: Robert A. Presser Wayne Arrington Cleveland Davis Joseph Ennis US Department of Commerce Charles Harvey NOAA Coastal Services Center Library Frank McNamara 2234 South Hobson Avenue Paul Mellon Charleston, SC 29405-2413 William Ming Typists: Devorha M. Moultrie Karen Walker Kathryn Whyte Deborah A. Zappas This report by: William E. Toffey Graphics: Robert A. Presser Cleveland Davis Typists: Karen Walker This plan was financed in part through a Coastal Zone Management grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environ- mental Resources with funds provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Plan for Philadelphia Riverfrontsl-- Contents 2 Introduction 3 Existing Conditions I I Development Opportunities 15 Goals and Policies for the Riverfront 17 Port Recommendations 19 Industry and Commerce Recommendations 22 Residential Recommendations 24 Recreation Recommendations 27 Environmental Recommendations 29 Transportation Recommendations 32 Implementation Strategies < NORTH DELAWARE Sly UPPER WATERFRONT SCHUYLKILL WATERFRONT Riverfront Publications Port Facilities Study 1978 South Delaware Waterfront District Plan 1981 MARKET ST CENTRAL Central Riverfront District Plan 1982 RIVERFRONT Philadelphia's River Resources 1982 Waterfront Industries Analysis 1982 LOWER 0 SCHUYLKILL SOUTH North Delaware Waterfront District Plan 1982 WATERFRONT DELAWARE WATERFRONT Riverwalk Design Guide 1982 Lower Schuylkill Waterfront District Plan 1983 CCLAWAI?f Philadelphia's Plan for River Recreation 1984 PHILADELPHIA CONTEXT Upper Schuylkill Waterfront District Plan 1984 NAVAL SHIPYARD 30th Street Station Area Plan 1985 1 3 5 SCALE IN MILES Jntroduction The Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers will shape The Planfor Philadelphia Riverfronts is the culmi- level of planning was directed to key project sites, Philadelphia's growth through to the next cen- nation of a four year planning process which has Penn's Landing, Riverwalk and 30th Street Sta- t J been proceeding on three levels. On one level, I ary, ust as they have shaped the city's history and I tion. The products of this planning process have urban form for the past 300 years. The Planfor functional planning studies have focused on port been adopted by the Philadelphia City Planning Philadelphia Riverfronts examines the forces which needs, industrial activity, environmental condi- Commission, after review by development agen- are propelling the city's rivers toward new and ex- tions, and recreational facilities, with separate re- cies and community groups. The Planfor Philadel- panded roles, and identifies a coherent set of ports issued for each topic. On the second level, phia Riverfronts pulls together these separate goals, policies and recommendations for directing development plans have been prepared for each products, updating information when warranted, future change to the rivers and their riverfront of Philadelphia's five waterfront districts, contain- to provide a comprehensive statement of Phila- lands. The plan looks at all elements of the river- ing recommendations on land use, transporta- delphia's development plans for its forty-one front-its ports, highways, industries, residences, tion, and other physical improvements. The third miles of riverfront. recreational facilities and environmental condi- tions. It prescribes actions for immediate imple- mentation, while also charting a development course for the next twenty years. The basis for this riverfront transformation is b-4 b-4 b-4 b-4 substantial. A $2 billion public investment has been made along the riverfront since 1970. A bit- lion dollars has been spent on marine terminals, the airport, and expressways to provide modern facilities conducive to efficient, competitive enter- prise. Another billion dollars has been invested in water pollution control, largely restoring the eco- logical productivity and recreational capacity of the Delaware River. Simultaneously, private in- vestment in downtown office buildings is boom- ing, causing Center City to expand toward both 7 rivers, where large development parcels are avail- 4& able for retail, hotel, office and residential uses. The essence of this plan is the productive use of all of Philadelphia's riverfront lands. To this end, the following goals guide the plan's recommendations: Increase activity at the Port of Philadelphia 'M Expand industrial and commercial activity along the riverfront Foster residential communities within iverfront areas r Increase recreational enjoyment of the rivers Upgrade the quality of the rivers and riverfront lands Improve accessibility to and within the riverfront Existing Conditions@ 3 The Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and the lands which border them, provide resources vital for the economic and social life of Philadelphia and of the whole Delaware Valley. Some of these resources are natural elements: water used for drinking, transportation, recreation and waste as- similation and land for commercial and residen- tial uses. Other resources include private and public facilities upon which all urban enterprise depends: the street, highway and rail systems; electrical, gas, water and sewer services; the capi- tal stock of industrial buildings and equipment; and marine and airport terminals. Historical Perspective The Delaware and Schuylkill Riverfronts were -NORTHERN SHIPPING home for many of the earliest European settlers in America. The Dutch came in the 1620s to trade with the native Lenni Lenape, and Swedish and English farmers soon followed, establishing self-sufficient farming communities. These com- munities were situated close to the rivers for easy transportation access. Along the edge of the Dela- TIOGA MARINE TERMINAL ware River, at its deepest point, William Penn es- PORT RICHMOND YARD tablished his city, which became the new country's 0 largest urban center. The industrial revolution had its effect during the MARKET ST_ PIERS 78-84 early years of the nineteenth century. Canals PIERS 96-100 were built on the Schuylkill River enabling coal to be barged to the city from northeast Pennsylvania PACKER AVENUE to fuel burgeoning industrial activity. Railroad MARINE TERMINAL 0 technology advanced in the 1830s, and both river- fronts were lined with trackage. In the middle of the century, Philadelphia became one of the PORT FACILITIES world's largest fuel processing centers. Large in- TIDEWATER dustrial firms, many requiring water for process- GRAIN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE ing and cooling, built immense factories along the riverfront. Major port facilities were developed SONAT MAR11 E PORT, INDUSTRY by railroad companies at Greenwich and Port PIER 124-COAL Richmond, and the city had one of the largest pri- PIER 122-GRAIN AND COMMERCE vate shipyards in the world, the Cramp Shipyard. ARCO The federal government established two arsenals, 3 one in Frankford and one on the Schuylkill, and a GULF low- i - - SCALE IN MILES C-GC naval shipyard in South Philadelphia. 4 1 1 Many changes to the riverfront occurred during and examines the most heavily urbanized zone in Port Conditions the twentieth century. Four electric generating the five million acre watershed of the Delaware stations, a drinking water filtration plant and a River. Utilities and transportation facilities ofcrit- sewage treatment plant were built within the first ical importance to Philadelphia and the metropol- The Port of Philadelphia is one of the principal ports of North America. It offers marine trans two decades, and two other sewage treatment itan area are located here, and the Delaware portation services to ports throughout1the world plants were installed in the mid 1950s. Two River and tidal Schuylkill River are the region's through modern terminal facilities, and it handles bridges were built in the late 1920s to link Phila- preeminent industrial corridors. Yet recreational cargo of all kinds, thus making a major contribu- delphia to New Jersey, and over the past two dec- opportunities are provided along the riverfront at tion to the Philadelphia economy. Thirty-four ades two additional bridges were built. An such notable locations as Penn's Landing, Fair- thousand workers depend directly or indirectly emergency shipyard during World War 1, the 900 mount Park, and Fort Mifflin. acre Hog Island site became the site of the munic- on Port activity, and $1.5 billion in economic ben- efits from the port accrue to the local economy 1pal airport in the 1920s. During the 1950s both Forty-one miles of river frontage were examined each year. rivers were developed with interstate highways, during this planning effort. The Delaware River and the airport was modernized and enlarged to in Philadelphia extends twenty-one miles from accommodate international flights and jet planes. the northern city boundary in Torresdale down- Tioga and Packer Avenue Marine Terminals are Marine transportation was similarly transformed river to the southern boundary at Fort Mifflin. the two principal container terminals in the Dela- by cargo containerization, which resulted in the The study area also includes three miles of river- ware Estuary. Tioga Marine Terminal is located development of Packer Avenue and Tioga Ma- front owned by the City adjacent to Philadelphia three miles upriver of Center City Philadelphia, rine Terminals. Penn's Landing was built on the International Airport in Delaware County. The and Packer Avenue Marine Terminal is two miles Delaware in central Philadelphia, replacing dete- Schuylkill River extends seventeen miles within downriver of Center City. Both are city-owned, riorated piers. the city. The Schuylkill is shared for four miles administered by the Philadelphia Port Corpora- tion and leased to private operators. With the ca- with Montgomery County; it passes for four and one-half miles through Fairmount Park, and is a pacity to handle either containerized or break- Physical Conditions tidal water body for eight and one-half miles bulk general cargo, much of the manufactured above its confluence with the Delaware River. products entering or leaving the Delaware EStL1- The Planfor Philadelphia Riverfronts encompasses ary are handled at these two marine terminals. one-sixth of the city, approximately 15,000 acres, Land use along the river is varied. Table I classi- Complementing the two marine terminals are fies land use into ten categories along each of the two rivers. Transportation, with over one-quarter seven municipal piers on the South Delaware Table 1: Riverfront Land Use of all land, is the dominant category and includes Waterfront. These piers are large enough to han- Delaware Schuylkill Total several rail yards, Philadelphia International Air- dle modern ships. They currently receive non- containerized general cargo, and have the capac- Category Riverfront Riverfront Riverfront port, a dense pattern of streets and highways, and ity to be brought into service for other cargo Port 9% 1 % 5% the city's major truck terminals. Twenty-seven purposes. Manufacturing 9% 8% 9% hundred acres of available vacant land and.struc- Warehousing & tures, 18 percent of the riverfront, are awaiting Shipping by private firms is a major contribution Wholesaling 8% 7% 5% redevelopment. Recreation is a dominant land to the Port. Four private firms handle general Transportation 29% 24% 26% use along the Schuylkill River within Fairmount and container cargo in Philadelphia: Delaware Utilities 9% 5% 8% Park, but elsewhere is only a small proportion of Operating Company, I.T.O. Corporation, North- Vacant Land & land. Manufacturing, commercial, wholesaling ern Shipping Company, and Independent Pier Structures 21% 16% 18% and warehousing-the private business sector- Company. Conrail handles imported ore at Pier Commercial 4% 2% 3% together constitute 17 percent of riverfront lands. 122 in South Philadelphia and export coal at the Residential 5% 2% 4% Less extensive classes of land uses, as those of resi- adjacent Pier 124. Many millions of tons of petro- Institutional 2% 3% 2% dential and institutional, are primarily located in leum and related products and cereal grai the North Delaware district. ins are Recreational 5% 32% 17% handled within the Lower Schuylkill district. Military 4% - 3% Total Acreage 10,868 4,563 15,431 5 Port Richmond is a major port facility which has are stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Base. The cessibility to key modes of transportation makes remained idle for several decades. While contain- Central Post Office at 30th and Market Streets riverfront districts prime locations for wholesal- ing four general cargo piers and facilities for han- employs 5,800 persons. The City of Philadelphia ing activity. Trade associated with central Phila- dling bulk grain, coal, ore and sugar cargoes, this employs several hundred workers at its prisons delphia and with the rail and air terminals is a 150 acre facility is no longer used. Although in- and other municipal facilities. significant part of this employment class. But re- vestment to grain and coal handling facilities have tall and service firms also serve riverfront resi- been recently made, no exports occurred in 1984. Transportation is a major employment category. dents and businesses. Approximately one thousand persons work at the Economic Conditions marine terminals, and 4,600 are employed at the Business firms located along the Delaware and airport. Conrail's offices in the Lower Schuylkill Schuylkill rivers share good access to the regional district house 2,800 workers. Motor freight trans- highway and rail transportation systems, airport Philadelphia's riverfronts are important locations portation, an activity which is tied closely to rail, and marine port facilities. One advantage which for employment and business activity. Approxi- mately 76,000 persons, ten percent of total city highway and port traffic, accounts for about 2,000 will continue to attract manufacturing firms to the employment, work within the riverfront districts. workers. riverfront is that relatively few urban places else- Employment is especially strong in government, where in the Delaware Valley can provide those transportation and manufacturing, as indicated in Utilities are important employers. Three thou- industries which produce noise, odor and traffic Table 2. sand workers are employed at the gas plants, sew- impacts the necessary isolation from residences. age treatment facilities, water filtration plants, and Riverfront business firms are also near a skilled, Two riverfront districts are particularly important electrical generating stations in the area. In addi- diversified labor force. Large developable tracts manufacturing areas-the North Delaware dis- tion, the headquarters for Philadelphia Electric of vacant land is another significant asset. The trict, where the chemical industry dominates, and Company, housing about 3,000 employees, is situ- City's development agencies, in many cases, can the Lower Schuylkill district, with its two refiner- ated close to the Schuylkill River in Center City. help firms locate suitable new quarters, and many ies. Industrial firms along Delaware Avenue prime sites are close to the riverfront. On the south of Center City in the South Delaware dis- Trade has been one of the major activities along Schuylkill River, flooding hazards may be a deter- trict and firms on Venice Island and along Um- the rivers for the past 350 years. Wholesale and rent to business expansion and investment. bria Street in the Upper Schuylkill district retail trades together employ 8,000 workers. Ac- comprise two other important industrial areas. Manufacturing provides a shrinking proportion of riverfront employment, and national and re- Table 2: Estimated Employment By Riverfront District gional forces continue to cause declines in manu- Upper Lower South Central North U.S facturing sectors. Goods-producing industry, dominated by large firms, are contracting. Category Schuylkill Schuylkill Delaware Delaware Delaware Shipyard Total Construction - 550 - - 600 - 1,150 However, service industries, composed of rela- Manufacturing 1,350 8,750 1,650 50 6,200 - 18,000 tively small firms, are growing. Firms engaged in Transportation - 6,650 1,950 - 1,350 - 9,950 warehousing, wholesaling and business support Communication & services constitute a significant proportion of Utilities - 4,400 1,050 - 600 - 6,050 business investment along the riverfront. Many Wholesale Trade 250 1,350 50 150 1,650 - 3,450 firms make use of existing, well-built structures Retail Trade 150 4,050 50 50 200 - 4,500 formerly used by goods-producing industry, but Finance, Insurance others seek cleared land within the City's new in- Real Estate - 1,850 200 - 50 - 2,100 dustrial parks. Services 150 6,500 150 250 150 - 7,200 Government & Governments and institutions are major employ- Institutions - 8,500 - - 1,100 14,000 23,600 ers on the riverfront. Fourteen thousand workers Total 11900 42,600 5,100 500 11,900 14,000 76,000 6 Social Conditions Philadelphia riverfronts are primarily non-resi- dential. Only 21,600 persons reside within the boundary of the riverfront planning area. This is slightly greater than I percent of the city's popula- ,;43 non, although the riverfront comprises one-sixth the land area of the city. With the exception of the No Bridesburg community, only small portions of each riverfront neighborhood are within the planning area. EAST Residential blocks in the riverfront planning area ES LE 24 show some significant contrasts. Overall, the homes and population are representative of city- wide characteristics. However, significantly differ- ent from most riverfront neighborhoods are the Torresdale community in the North Delaware MANAYUNK _E 21 district, and the Logan and Rittenhouse Square BRIDESBURG communities in the Center City portion ofthe I Lower Schuylkill district. In contrast to modest EAST FA LS row home neighborhoods, these communities are 2 18 characterized by families with higher income and 3 RICHMOND with a housing stock that offers a variety of hous- 6 ing types. New construction has changed these 5 4 FISHTOWN 17 communities over the years. 8 16 The riverfront has the potential for doubling its 7 910 residential population by development of suita- LOGAN SQUARE ble, available land. Penn's Landing and nearby MARKET ST parcels are poised for major new development. RITTENHOUSE 15 On the western edge of Center City, along the SCHUYLKILL 14 Schuylkill, there is potential for high rise develop- GOOD FISHING WATERS 0 rnent, in-fill townhouse development on formerly 12 commercial lands, and the conversion of inclus- WILDLIFE CONCENTRATIONS trial buildings to residences. In both the North RESIDENTIAL AREA Delaware and Upper Schuylkill districts there are (D RECREATION SITE key parcels of river frontage which offer attrac- tive locations for apartment or condominium NEIGHBORHOODS, construction. In Manayunk, vacant commercial RECREATION AND buildings could be converted into apartment units. 13 ENVIRONMENT Recreation Conditions 1 0 1 3 5 The Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers support only SCALE IN MILES a small part of the boating and fishing activity of 7 city residents. A quarter million Philadelphians, front are the Fairmount Waterworks and four- ment plants and urban stormwater runoff in Phil- 15 percent of the population, are boaters, yet only teen historic mansions. The Manayunk Canal re- adelphia are responsible for two-thirds of all an estimated 50,000 persons use the Delaware or tains features of Philadelphia's history as a organic wastes released to the Delaware Estuary. Schuylkill Rivers for boating. And although manufacturing center. Three historical land- Dissolved oxygen concentrations fall to low levels, 17,000 Philadelphia families own boats, only marks are located on the Delaware River: Fort particularly in summer when the river's capacity 4,300 maintain their boats locally. Similarly, about Mifflin, the site of a revolutionary war battle; Old to carry oxygen is at its lowest. The tidal Schuyl- one in ten Philadelphia residents are fishermen. Swede's Church, the oldest church in the city; and kill River and the Delaware River downstream of But only 20 percent of fishing trips made by Phil- Penn Treaty Park, the site of William Penn's the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge do not meet oxygen adelphia anglers are made to the Delaware or agreement with the Indians to purchase standards. Schuylkill Rivers. Philadelphia. High concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria, Existing recreation facilities for boaters and fish- Environmental Conditions arising from sewage contamination, indicate a po- ermen are inadequate. Public access for fishing is tential health hazard for swimming or waterski- scarce along the Delaware River; the foot of Pen- Pollution of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers in ing. Only sections of the Delaware River nypack Street is the only important fishing area. Philadelphia is a serious problem. Sewage treat- upstream of Pennypack Creek and the Schuylkill The Schuylkill River, while supporting four times River upstream of Fairmount Dam have fecal col- the fishing activity of the Delaware River, is lim- iform levels that meet health standards. ited by poor access and by lack of public space. Philadelphia boaters also face limited facilities Table 3: Recreational and Metals and toxic organic substance are a third close to home. Private clubs have moorings and Cultural Facilities class of contaminants. These contaminants are slips for 206 boats, and the municipal ramp has a discharged by municipal sewage treatment plants, maximum daily capacity of 200 boats. These facil- Map industrial firms, and tributary streams. Even ities accommodate only one-quarter of the de- No. Facility Name though concentrations may be at low levels, these mand in the city for moorings, slips and launch 1 Manayunk Canal Towpath contaminants concentrate in aquatic animals and ramps. 2 Philadelphia Canoe Club may adversely affect the biological health of the 3 Gustine Lake rivers. The Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers are settings 4 Fairmount Park-East Park for a wide variety of recreational and cultural ac- 5 Fairmount Park-West Park The quality of the sport fishery is extremely varia- tivities in addition to boating and fishing. Eight 6 Canoe House ble. Abundant fish populations live in the Dela- park facilities occupy just under one-fifth of all 7 Philadelphia Zoo ware River north of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge river frontage. Penn's Landing is Philadelphia's 8 Boat House Row and in the Schuylkill River above Fairmount most important location for special events, attract- 9 Fairmount Waterworks Dam. Between the Tioga Marine Terminal and ing over one million visits annually, with its public 10 Philadelphia Art Museum Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, the recreational fishery plazas, embarcadero, historical ships, the Port of I I Schuylkill River Park is only acceptable. Major portions of the Dela- History and Maritime Museum exhibits, and 12 Bartram's Garden ware and Schuylkill Rivers cannot presently sus- commercial tour and cruise operations. Fair- 13 Fort Mifflin tain recreational fishing because dissolved oxygen mount Park is a showcase riverfront park along 14 Old Swede's Church concentrations are too low for most fish. the Schuylkill River, supporting such recreational 15 Penn's Landing uses as jogging, biking, walking, sunbathing and 16 Penn Treaty Park Tidal wetlands and shallow waters are important picnicking. The Delaware River will greatly im- 17 Pulaski Pier Park habitats for fish. But scarcely 10 percent of shal- prove as a recreational resource over the next sev- is Bridesburg Boat Club lows once existing in Philadelphia remain today, eral years as a twenty year effort to reduce 19 Frankford Arsenal Boat Launch and tidal wetlands are virtually non-existent. The municipal and industrial pollution nears 20 Wissinoming Yacht Club I quality of fish habitats is also seriously compro- completion. 21 Tacony Boat Launch mised by a heavy load of sediment in both rivers 22 Quaker City Yacht Club that makes river bottoms poorly suited as a place Important historical landmarks are located close 23 Pleasant Hill Park and Boat Launch for fish breeding. to the rivers. Situated along the Schuylkill River- 24 Glen Foerd Estate 8 1 Flooding is a significant environmental concern. as Interstate-95, marks the inland boundary of takes place at Penn's Landing. The two mile gap Approximately one-third of riverfront lands the South, Central and North Delaware districts in the Delaware Expressway. a source of traffic would be inundated during a 100 year flood. and mirrors the river's westward bend in South congestion in the airport ar@a, is now being Properties along the Schuylkill River are gener- and Southwest Philadelphia. Nine interchanges closed. Awkward and inadequate connections to ally more exposed to flood damage than those provide access to bridges to New Jersey and to the bridges over the Delaware River have also hind- along the Delaware. City ordinances regulate de- expressway, which is the principal route south to ered traffic flow. The Schuylkill Expressway, the velopment activity within floodplains. Baltimore and Washington, and north to Trenton city's earliest limited access highway, is scheduled and New York. for reconstruction through 1988. Both highways The original physiography and vegetation of riv- are plag .ued.by an inadequate number of signs erfront lands have been completely altered, and The Schuylkill Expressway, Interstate-76, follows identifying important riverfront destinations. today the riverfront provides little support for the Schuylkill River corridor from South Phila- plant and animal life. Three-quarters of the Dela- delphia westward twenty miles to Valley Forge, Local Circulation Philadelphia's riverfront ware riverfront consists of piers and bulkheads, and is the major highway for east-west traffic. is fully developed with roadways which result in and most of the remainder has a rubble edge. This highway feeds traffic to the Walt Whitman relatively good local circulation. But several fac- Wildlife concentrate within open lands of the mu- Bridge in the South Delaware district, and to the tors adversely affect local circulation. Several nicipal sewage and water treatment facilities in the airport and 1-95 via the George C. Platt Bridge. heavily used corridors are in badly deteriorated Lower Schuylkill and North Delaware districts condition. Traffic congestion is occasionally due to and within some wooded private lands. The west Highway transportation suffers from some defi- the temporary, though inappropriate, use of a bank of the tidal Schuylkill for about one mile ciencies. A major problem is the lack of conveni- roadway as a major arterial. Portions of Race and supports a narrow corridor of shrubs and trees. ent entrance and exit ramps to the Delaware Callowhill Streets in the Central Riverfront are In the Upper Schuylkill district, Fairmount Park Expressway in the Central Riverfront, arising such examples of streets on which excessive traffic and several areas with woodlands and fields pro- both from the lack of ramps to and from the ex- will persist until the Vine Street Expressway is vide habitats for birds and mammals. pressway and from the need for the still awaited completed. Other congestion problems are inher- Vine Street Expressway connection. This prob- ent in the street pattern. Richmond Street re- Several environmental nuisances exist along the lem becomes especially critical as development of ceives heavy car and truck traffic, and East and Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers as a consequence offices, hotels, retail stores and public attractions West River Drives, built originally as park drives, of industrialization. Eighty-four percent of all in- dustrial air pollutant emissions in the city occur iM within riverfro'nt areas. Odor sources are located along the riverfront; one is the oil refinery area in the Lower Schuylkill, and another is near inclus- trial firms and utilities in the Richmond and Bridesburg sections of the North Delaware. Phil- ade'lphia International Airport is a major noise source. Transportation Conditions A great asset of Philadelphia's riverfronts is its transportation system. Access to water, rail, air and highway transportation is unmatched else where in the Delaware Valley. Highway Transportation Highway access I I I L.,11 I 1 1910111 is generally excellent for all riverfront businesses and residents. Delaware Expressway, also known 9 are similarly ill-designed to serve as major rush- hour thoroughfares. Rail Transportation Main interurban rail lines and branch lines owned by Conrail, Chessie System and Amtrak provide generally excellent access to rail freight service within riverfront areas. Conrail has freight lines paralleling the Schuylkill River's west bank and the Schuylkill Expressway, and it owns a major branch line which connects the Northeast Corridor with Phil- adelphia Terminal. The Chessie System's freight track lines closely parallel Amtrak's Northeast Corridor in the Lower Schuylkill district, but cross the Schuylkill River at Grays Ferry and eventually connect with Conrail freight tracks U) north of the Art Museum. Conrail provides important rail services in the TACONY PALMYRA BRIDGE North Delaware district. From the Port Rich- mond Terminal, the "Belt Line" extends north to e C' R1,DO Bridge Street, serving Allied Chemical and Rohm and Haas chemical companies. South of Port Richmond, Conrail controls the "Waterfront 0 BETSY ROSS BRIDGE Line," which extends south to Columbia Avenue DELAIRE RAIL BRIDGE in Fishtown. The former Kensington and Tacony 9 Line (K & T) has been retained by Conrail in two PORT RICHMOND YARD sections, one north of Bridge Street, connecting with the Northeast Corridor at Holmesburg 30TH STREET STATION INE STREET junction, and a southern section of the K & T M ST B JAMIN FRANKLIN BRIDGE linking Tioga Marine Terminal to the Trenton CHESSIE PIGGYBACK Avenue elevated freight line. Marine terminal WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE EASTSIDE service is also provided by Conrail's Port Rich- YARD mond Branch Line. 0 RAIL FACILITIES The riverfront is the location for several impor- CONRAIL tant railyards. Conrail's main yard in the Dela- CHESSIE ware Valley for intercity traffic is the Greenwich AMTRAK Yard in South Philadelphia, called the Philadel- HIGHWAY FACILITIES phia Terminal. Several smaller nearby yards op- erated by Conrail serve bulk cargo customers and GREENWICH traffic from the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. YARD TRANSPORTATION In the North Delaware district, Conrail's Port 0 1 3 5 Richmond Yard services rail dependent bulk 1 cargo from the Tioga Marine Terminal. The Adk- SCALE IN MILES Chessie System's northernmost classification yard 1@77` 10 is the East Side Yard, situated in the Lower Air Transportation Philadelphia Interna- airport Overseas Terminal, which is unattractive, Schuylkill district. tional Airport is the Delaware Valley's principal congested and inconveniently located. terminal for domestic and lnternati@nal air travel. Piggyback, the carrying of containers or trailers Thirty airlines provide service to over one Air freight is an important element of airport op- on train flat cars, is an important component of hundred cities nation-wide with over nine million erations. Cargo City, located at the western end rail service. The demand for piggyback service, passengers arriving and departing annually. Phil- of the airport, is the maj*or air freight terminal in particularly containerized traffic through the ma- adelphia International Airport offers modern the Delaware Valley. Nine air cargo carriers oper- rine *terminals, has been strong. But piggyback terminal and runway facilities, the result of a ate out of Cargo City and handle approximately service to Philadelphia's riverfront is presently $350 million program for expansion and mod- 90,000 tons of freight annually. Land is available limited, consisting of Chessie's small yard in the ernization. Three of five new terminals are fully at the airport for expansion of this facility. South Delaware district. Riverfront locations are operational, and two are reserved for future ex- available as sites for expanded piggyback service pansion to accommodate 14 million passengers to the Delaware Valley. annually. There is a need to replace the existing 04, WK 14 la IWO WIN i@g 61 Aoft, 1 7 1,40 AL Development 0pportunities,@--_----_------ Opportunities for future public or private devel- opment are available at vacant or underutilized sites throughout each of the five riverfront dis- tricts. Locational and physical characteristics of each district, described below, provide a founda- tion for future development. The development potential for each site is also influenced by its size, configuration, physical condition, accessibility, ownership, and location within the district. South Delaware Waterfront The South Delaware Waterfront District is an im- GLEN FOERD ESTATE portant center for maritime trade and industrial activity. Extending from Center City to the Naval Base, the district contains a significant portion of the region's port facilities. This district's principal asset is its potential for significant expansion of port and port-related activity. The capacity utiliza- MAIN STREET tion of existing municipal piers and Packer Ave- HISTORIC DUTCH FRANKFORD ARSENAL nue Marine Terminal can be expanded, and DISTRICT HOLLOW marginally-used warehouses and sheds may be re- DECKER/BUTEN PLUSH PHILADELPHIA COKE SITE HILL habilitated for storage space. Underused rail RIDGE yards, occupying large land areas, can be refur- INDUSTRIAL PECO RICHMOND STATION PROPERTIES bished in response to changing rail and port ship- ping technology. Another major asset for the FAIRMOUNT WATERWORKS RIVERSIDE INDUSTRIAL PARK district is several unusually large land parcels PECO DELAWARE STATION available for industrial development at locations NORTH SPRING GARDEN with superb regional and interregional accessibil- 30TH STREET STATION NORTH BRIDGE ity. Rail, water, highway and air modes of trans- MARKET 0 a -i ST PENN'S LANDING portation are close at hand, which is an attraction INTERMET for firms dependent on convenient distribution of 0 PENN'S LANDING SOUTH goods. GRAYS 0 AMSTAR FERRY -9 0 KERR MC GEE SITE Piers 96, 98 and 100 These city-owned PIERS 96, 98 AND 100 piers, which extend along the waterfront for ap- BARTRAM S proximately one thousand feet, provide oppor- GARDEN GIRARD POINT tunities for non-container port uses. The pier structures are in generally sound condition and have dimensions which are compatible with mod- FORT MIFFLIN DEVELOPMENT ern shipping needs. The piers are well suited for break bulk cargo handling, to which recent reno- OPPORTUNITIES vations of Pier 98 for cocoa import and Pier 96 PHILADELPHIA for automobiles attest. INTERNATIO AL AIRPORT 3 Aft- i - 1 HOG ISLAND 0 SCALE IN MILES 12F Kerr-McGee Property and Vicinity over 1-95 with the public plaza at Penn's Landing. change the desirability of the Delaware River for Several industrially-zoned parcels of ground are This connection is being further enhanced by the recreation. The expanded and upgraded North- presently for sale in the vicinity of Morris Street. loop road between Market Street and Chestnut east Sewage Treatment Plant will be fully opera- The largest of these is the 18.7 acre Kerr-McGee Street at Penn's Landing. tional In 1985, and water quality and fishery site. There are port-related activities to the north conditions will greatly improve. Although public and south and active rail lines to the west. Al- NorthBridge North Bridge, situated just access to the river for recreation is currently Inad- though situated among port-related activities, this north of Penn's Landing, has excellent regional equate, now that the river's recreational suitability opportunity site has a redevelopment potential and City access, provides a dramatic river loca- has been restored, opportunities for increased ac- primarily as an industrial park. Because competi- tion, and contains many developable parcels and cess can be sought. tive rail service is available from Conrail and structures suitable for reuse. Residential reuse of Chessie, activities requiring rail access can best use existing finger piers is feasible, and conversion of North Spring Garden This area, at one this site. warehouses and small row structures for mixed time a center for manufacturing and warehous- residential and commercial uses i& possible. Piers Ing, is in a period of transition. Many industrial Amstar Site Another major development op- 12 to119 are suitable for development as a com- buildings and lands are in disuse and are suitable portunity, located at the northern edge of the dis- mercial marina, which would complement the for redevelopment. The area is close to Center trict, is the Amstar Corporation parcel. This site, Penn's Landing boat basin. City,.and thereby enjoys an attractiveness to pri- situated between Reed Street and Moore Street, vate investors which it shares with Penn's Landing is presently vacant and available for development. Penn's Landing South Unlike North to the south and with the Callowhill Industrial Several firms have expressed interest in that loca- Bridge, Penn's Landing South has few buildings Park to the west. Significant riverfront parcels are tion for bulk loading and unloading operations, as suitable for rehabilitation, thus most development available with prime views of the river. The rede- this site contains 65,000 square feet of storage will be new construction. Vacant land on the west- velopment of this area could include a mix of resi- space. Amstar represents the northern limit of side of Delaware Avenue is a prime site for hous- dential and commercial uses, including retail the industrial corridor of the South Delaware ing development. A major redevelopment establishments serving new residents of the Cen- district. opportunity would result from the consolidation tral Riverfront. of contiguous riverfront parcels adjacent to the Central Riverfront Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office. The former Riverside Industrial Park This parcel is a Reed Street Rail Yard has been recently devel- major development opportunity, being 37 acres in oped with a union headquarters, but in the long size and containing streets and utilities. Good The Central Riverfront is the focal point for the term could support a more intense residential and highway access and proximity to the Tioga rebirth of public interest and excitement in Phila- commercial use. Marine Terminal make it a suitable location for delphia's riverfront. Extending two miles from trucking terminals and wholesale trade firms. Spring Garden,Street to Reed Street, the district From the river edge there are extraordinary views offers unparalleled opportunities for housing, re- North Delaware Waterfront I of Center City. Potential constraints to develop- tailing and other commercial uses, and recreation. ment include uncertain soil bearing capacity and Each of the three sections of the Central River- The North Delaware Waterfront is an eleven mile flooding. front presents a different set of opportunities for long corridor that contains a wide range of river- development. related activities- port, water-depenclentinclus- Philadelphia Coke Company Site This try, and river recreation facilities. The district has 67 acre site has been recently cleared of the man- Penn's Landing Penn's Landing is the city's an exceptional transportation system. Five inter- ufacturing equipment and structures of the for- major development opportunity on the riverfront changes provide excellent access to the Delaware mer Philadelphia Coke Company. The site offers because of the size of its development parcels, the Expressway, and freight rail service is available in potentially large industrial parcels, a skilled work existing investment in land improvements, and most industrial sections ofthe district. Another force nearby, and permissive zoning for industrial the symbolism and prominence of its location. It asset is an existing stock of commercial and indus- and commercial activity. The potential for devel- has the potential of becoming integrated with trial buildings that is in generally Sound condition opment would increase dramatically if access Center City through a walkway system connecting and fully Occupied. were improved. the existing open spaces of Independence National Historic Park and the landscaped cover Improvements to water quality will significantly 13 Philadelphia Electric Company Sites characterized by the near completion of a billion centers. In addition, over $15 million of improve- The com*tion of PECO's Limerick nuclear en- dollars of transportation, utility and site improve- ments to the-station are planned to enhance the ergy plant would lead to phasing out PECO's two ment projects that will serve to establish this dis- commuter rail platform, the pedestrian circula- generating stations on the North Delaware trict as a regional hub for transportation and tion system, and train information signs. Physical Waterfront by the late 1980s. These sites may of- employment. and psychological barriers, however, must be ad- fer special opportunities for expansion of port dressed to make this an economically viable devel- and other uses. For example, the Tioga Marine Fairmount Waterworks Fairmount Water- opment opportunity. terminal could be expanded to the Richmond works, a two acre historic landmark, provides im- Station. portant opportunities for restoration and reuse. Grays Ferry Avenue Area The Grays The potential for harnessing hydropower at Fair- Ferry Avenue area, containing a significant num- Frankford Arsenal The Frankford Arsenal mount Dam should attract private investment ber of va@ant parcels and structures, has several is a 86 acre site situated close to the Bridge Street funds. The Waterworks is in the middle of an development opportunities. First, because it is interchange of the Delaware Expressway contain- important cultural and historical area of the City, close to Center City, it may attract business ser- ing 167 buildings with over 2 million square feet being close to Fairmount Park, Boat House Row vices dependent on proximity to downtown cus- of potential industrial and office space. The and the Art Museum. With its buildings symbolic tomers. Second, the area has exceptional access, Frankford Arsenal is on the National Register of of exceptional architectural and engineering ac- by way of the Schuylkill Expressway and major Historic Places, permitting federal tax incentives complishments of the early nineteenth century, arterials, to regional markets. for restoration of the site's historical buildings. As rehabilitation of these vacant structures will cost many as four thousand workers could be em- $7 million dollars. This cost is far in excess of Bartram's Gardens Bartram's Gardens, an ployed at the site if it were fully reoccupied. A available public resources, therefore private con- historic site that has expanded and been recently nineteen acre portion of the former arsenal is un- tributions must be sought. refurbished, provides year round historic and en- der development by the Pennsylvania Fish Coin- viron mental programs. Opportunities for greatly mission as a major boat launch, which will be an Interinet Intermet is an eleven acre site along expanding visitation will depend on'the restora- important community and employee amenity. Market Street, east of the Schuylkill River. It is at tion of several buildings near the homestead and the western edge of the Center City office core on improvements to the newly acquired, 17 acre Glen Foerd Estate The Glen Foerd tract is and has exceptional highway and transit accessi- tract.idjacent to the gardens. The entrance to the 18.2 acres of landscaped grounds at the conflu- bility. While its large size and strategic location as- gardens is poorly marked, unattractive and lacks ence of the Poquessing Creek and the Delaware sure that it will one day support substantial parking. Improvements to the buildings and River. The Fairmount Park Commission was re- development, several factors will influence its de- grounds should come largely from private cently granted jurisdiction to this tract, and a non- sign. The Chessle System to the west separates contributions. profit group has been established to provide man- the parcel from Schuylkill River Park. Air rights agement of the attractive building as a conference over SEPTXs commuter rail lines will affect the Girard Point Girard Point is a two hundred center. Providing public access to the dramatic pattern of land use, and floodplain restrictions acre area on the east side of the Schuylkill River river views, while simultaneously encouraging will influence construction and allowable ground which offers opportunities for increased port ac- semi-private use, will be a special challenge. floor uses. tivity and for redevelopment. One opportunity is to support the continued growth of Tidewater Lower Schuylkill Waterfront 30th Street Station Area The 30th Street Grain Company, the region's principal grain ex- Station area represents the largest, most accessible porter. The reuse of Piers I and 2 for bulk or The Lower Schuylkill Waterfront District con- area for the future growth and development of general cargo would be desirable, as long as it tains 7,700 acres of land. It exhibits highly varied Center City. The area's large developable parcels does not conflict with grain export. Nearby vacant land use and contains some of the region's critical and proximity to Center City offer a unique op- land, remote from residences and with good ac- transportation, utility and energy facilities. The portunity for large scale private investment. A cess to both interstate highways, would be suitable upriver section of the district is a major employ- iniajor asset of the station area is its accessibility for a wide variety of industrial or utility uses. ment center, as it is the western edge of Center within the region and to other East Coast cities via City. It will continue to experience development its rail and highway systems. It is close to hospitals Fort Mifflin Fort Mifflin, an important land- pressures linked with downtown office and resi- and universities and other major employment mark of the colonial period, is seriously deterio- dential construction. The downriver section is 14 -1 rated and desperately needs funding for its mile length upriver of the park. A third asset is a ments. Its designation as a National Historic Dis- restoration. As the only point of recreational ac- stock of old industrial and commercial buildings trict allows investors to take advantage of I I i ita- cess to the Delaware River clownriver of Penn's which offers opportunities for economic revitali- favorable federal tax legislation for the rehabili Landing, the fort could be a significant riverfront zation and residential conversion. tion of'commercial structures. The City's comple- park and help boost tourism to the city. Immedi- tion of the Manayunk Canal Towpath will help ate improvement needs include signs, parking Ridge Industrial Properties This 13.5 attract customers to nearby Main Street. Many and an information center. acre parcel contains many spacious, arclutectur- large, attractive stone factory buildings along ally interesting buildings of the former Dobson Main Street could be rehabilitated for commercial Hog Island Hog Island a vacant, ci Woolen Mill. The tract is'centrally located In the I I ity- use or converted to residential units, and other owned parcel, situated between the airport and metropolitan region, as it is close to interchanges two and three story buildings could be refur- the Delaware River in Delaware County which of both the Schuylkill Expressway and the Roose- bished with first floor stores with apartments has potential for maritime commerce. Located velt Boulevard. The buildings at this location are above. Because the district is close to the Schuyl- I I It closer to Delaware Bay than the other marine ter- not fully utilized because of physical deterioration kill Expressway and to commuter train stations, i minals in Philadelphia, Hog Island is of sufficient and inadequate expansion space. Their use is par- provides easy access to downtown Philadelphia. size to provide the ground storage necessary at a ticularly suited for small firms and as industrial modern terminal, and it has access to rail service incubator space. As the site is possibly eligible for and highways. the National Register of' Historic Places, the reha- bilitation of Ridge Industrial Properties could be Philadelphia International Airport The aided by tax incentives provided for historic R building improvements. airport and surrounding area hold potential for future employment gains. Several key parcels of s land near the airport remain developable. Land i Dutch Hollow and Plush Hill Two va- .01T also available at the successful Cargo City for de- cant parcels in the East Falls neighborhood, each velopment of additional air freight operations. about four acres in size, are available for residen- tial development. Both occupy attractive sites Growth in air traffic at the airport can occur by replacing the Overseas Terminal, which is an un- overlooking the Schuylkill River valley and are lo- ient access to the district's attractive and inconvenient facility. A new termi- cated for conven* nal is needed to increase Philadelphia's share of highways. the international market. Decker/Buten Site This seven acres, situated Upper Schuylkill Waterfront between Ridge Avenue and the Schuylkill River at the southern end of' Main Street, is a prime The Upper Schuylkill district encompasses eight dev ielopment site. The river affords an attractive sett ng; the Schuylkill Expressway readily acces- and one-half miles of the most attractive river- sible; and good shopping is available nearby. The front in Philadelphia. The district's 2,700 acres site is mostly situated at an elevation above the are unique among the riverfront districts for the floodplain of the Schuylkill River, unlike several large proportion of land devoted to recreational other nearby riverfront parcels. High-rise rest- use, and the relatively small proportion of land dential riverfront development is suited to this supporting business activities. The district's prin- site, though office space development is also -J-_ :__J cipal asset is its strong highway linkages, with East appropriate. and West River Drives and the Schuylkill Ex- iding good traffic flow through the pressway prov 7_1 @,Z --I riverfront corridor. A second major asset is the Main Street Historic District Main Street attractive recreational resource afforded by the in Manayunk, while not the vital neighborhood river, both through the four and one-half mile shopping district and industrial center it once was, stretch of river in Fairmount Park and the four is currently poised for important new invest- Goals and Policies for the Riverfront 15 The overriding goal of this plan is to make Phila- Policy: Assure Adequate and Affordable Goal: Foster Residential delphia's riverfronts desirable places in which to River Dredging live, work, and play. Set forth below are the goals Essential to a viable port economy Is maintenance Communities in Riverfront adopted by the Philadelphia City Planning Com- of shipping channels through dredging of sedi- Areas mission for directing growth and change at the ment deposited on the river bottom. The City river's edge. These goals address the needs of must work to assure a long-term capacity to dis- Strengthening existing residential neighborhoods port, business, and residential communities and pose of dredge spoil material at a cost which does and creating a climate forinvestmentin new rcsi- the opportunities for improving recreational, en- not hurt the port's competitiveness. I . . I I vironmental and transportation conditions. For dential dwellings is an important goal of this plan. each goal, policies have been derived to guide the It recognizes a tradition of close identity between development of the recommendations of this re- Goal: Expand Industrial and residents of riverfront communities and their port, which follow. river. It acknowledges, too, a special attraction Commercial Activit- along that river locations have for people choosing a place to live, which translates into a strong willing- Goal: Increase Activi-A, at the the Riverfront IIJ ness to nvest in riverfront properties. Port of Philadelphia A major goal of this plan is to business Policy: Encourage New Residential The primary goal for the Planfor Philadelphia activity, employment, and the tax base within Phil- Development Riverfronts is to increase cargo traffic through the adelphia's riverfront area. Two policies build This plan proposes to make the riverfront a home Port of Philadelphia in order to create port-re- upon the special assets of the riverfront for sup- for many thousands more families than currently lated jobs, to make full use of existing terminal porting business growth. reside there. A large majority will be living in capacity, to expand employment in trucking, areas which have evolved from a port or warehousing and other support services provided Policy: Attract New Industrial and Port- commercial use. to the port, and to maintain the port facilities that Related Development and Strengthen are vital to a regional economy. The following Existing Businesses Policy: Strengthen Existing Communities three policies support this goal. The riverfront's traditional role as a corridor for The stability of residential neighborhoods is of industry must be maintained and strengthened. utmost importance to the City, and for this reason Policy: Upgrade and Expand New riverfront *industrial parks should be devel- public and private resources need to be directed Port Facilities oped; underutilized districts revitalized; and, in support of existing riverfront communities The Port of Philadelphia, to remain competitive within all industrial areas, zoning, financial assist- through encouraging in-fill housing construction, with other ports in the North Atlantic, must con- ance and public services directed to sustain exist- making Community Development funds avail- tinually upgrade its facilities in order to assure ing businesses. able to eligible residents, and reinvesting in deteri- an efficient, economical, and modern port. This orated public housing. will require modernizing finger piers, expanding Policy: Encourage Commercial terminal capacity, and giving support to private Development Goal: Increase Recreational terminal activities. The City must seek to take maximum advantage of the riverfront as an attractive location for of- Enjoyment of the Rivers Policy: Establish New Markets fices, retail trade, entertainment, hotels and other for the Port commercial activities. While Penn's Landing is the A fundamental goal of this plan is to greatly in- The Port of Philadelphia must strive to attain the focus of Philadelp hia's riv erfront renaissance, crease use of the riverfront by Philadelphians and effectiveness of its nearest competitors- Balti- business investment along the Schuylkill River tourists, a goal made practicable by riverfront more and New York-in being fully recognized should also be strongly supported, as should land becoming increasingly available for new uses, by shippers for its modern, full service port. A neighborhood-serving commercial projects and including recreation and redevelopment, and by very great potential exists for expanding export commercial reuse of historic landmarks. enormous public investment in river pollution and import markets captured by the port through control. Development of recreation places along the marketing efforts of the Philadelphia Port the Delaware is one way city residents can benefit Corporation and Delaware River Port Authority. from pollution control. 16 Policy: Make Better Use of Existing River sources of contamination which need to be inves- their services. The City of Philadelphia must Recreation Facilities tigated for potential controls. Fish habitats im- closely study these changes so as to identify op- Riverfront parks and playgrounds on the Schuyl- provements, sport fishery research, fish ladder portunities to encourage rail competition, ade- kill and Delaware Rivers do not presently realize construction and fish stocking are actions neces- quate intermodal transfers and a rational- their full recreational potential. The City should sary to support a healthy aquatic environment. meaning efficient and service-oriented -rail embrace a policy of achieving full use of its exist- system. ing facilities by improving its riverfront parks Policy: Upgrade Environmental and historical sites and by making better known Conditions of Riverfront Lands Policy: Increase Passenger and Freight the wide variety of river activities available Long segments of the land along the Delaware Traffic at International Airport close to home. and Schuylkill Rivers are in poor condition, and The City of Philadelphia should support growth fall to reflect the high quality recreational re- in air travel and air freight handling by making Policy: Provide New River Access source the river can be. This plan will encourage improvements to Philadelphia International Air- Opportunities improved treatment and management of the port, the Delaware Valley's principal air terminal Because the existing stock of public facilities alon river edLye throuLyh establishing a riverfront and one of the largest employers along the 9 Philadelphia's riverfronts is insufficient to support beautification program. riverfront. demand for recreation, new opportunities for river access should be provided. A dozen neigh- Goal: Improve Accessibility to borhood access areas and several major new pub- 91J lic open spaces are envisioned for the Delaware and Within the Riverfront and Schuylkill Rivers. Also, commercial and pri- vate marinas, river tours and cruise ships can sup- Although highway, rail and air transportation sys- p1cment public recreation in important ways. tems generally operate exceptionally well along the riverfront, improving the convenience, safety, Goal: Upgrade the Quality of and efficiency of riverfront transportation sys- IJ tems is a goal which will help strengthen the river- the Rivers and Riverfront front's principal asset in its competitiveness with other industrial centers in the region-its Lands accessibility. Investment in sewage treatment plants alone will Policy: Improve Highway and Street not assure optimum water quality and fishing con- Circulation MV ditions, because other sources of pollution con- Improving truck and automobile circulation on tribute to degraded waters and create conditions several segments of the highway and street net- unfavorable for fish life. Moreover, the appear- work is a necessary element of a comprehensive ance and care given to riverfront lands do not re- program to support business activities and resi- flect the growing importance of the river as a clential communities. Highway and bridge inter- recreational corridor. The goal of this plan is to changes need to be completed; inadequate and improve water quality and aquatic habitats in the unsafe street patterns should be corrected; and rivers and to encourage restoration of riverfront deteriorated roadway surfaces must be recon- lands. structed if hazardous and inconvenient condi- A,- tions are to be overcome. Policy: Enhance Water Quality and Aquatic Habitats Policy: Rationalize Rail Service The policy of this plan is for actions to be taken to Rail service to Philadelphia riverfronts is respond- enhance water quality and aquatic habitats. Sewer ing to a climate ofreduced federal regulation and overflows and leaks and urban stormwater are increased flexibility granted rail carriers to modify Port Recommendations 17 No function along the riverfront Is more impor- tant than upgrading and maintaining the port. Capital investment is needed to keep the port op- erating at adequate levels of service, to adjust to changing technology and user needs, and to real- ize the full potential for private development of riverfront properties. Improve Municipal Finger Piers (P-i) Renovation of municipal piers on the South Dela- ware Waterfront is necessary to support break- bulk cargo handling. Municipal piers situated be- tween McKean Street and Oregon Avenue are of dimensions suitable for modern ships, and there -P-5 is backup cargo storage capacity here not found at finger piers elsewhere in the city. Three piers re- quire repaving of shed floors and outdoor pave- ment, repair of water and fire service lines, and rehabilitation of pier and shed structures; these are Piers 82, 84, and 100. Building on the success of restoring Piers 96 and 98 to active port use, the 2 Philadelphia Port Corporation should continue in its efforts to identify potential users of the fin- P-6 ger piers and to seek federal and state funding to supplement city funded facility improvements. Pier renovations are recommended for early implementation. MARKET ST Expand the Capacity of Philadelphia's Marine 0 Terminals P-1 Expand Tioga Marine Terminal (P-2) A container berth should be added to Tioga Ma- P-4 rine Terminal by extending the wharf approxi- P-7 mately 1000 feet upriver to join Pier 217, thus PORT increasing container handling capacity by 50 per- RECOMMENDATIONS cent. To provide essential ground storage for con- tainers, the area behind the extended wharf must 1 0 1 3 be filled, which will require measures to mitigate P-3 Aak- loss of shallow water habitat. The cost of this pro* SCALE IN MILES ect is approximately $15 million. 18 F_ Hog Island (P-3) Hog Island is recom- and a large size which might prove valuable to Assure Adequate and Cost mended to be reserved for the long -term devel- future port users. The desirability of the site opment of a third marine terminal for the Port of would be diminished if it were subdivided without Effective Dredging Philadelphia when the capacity of the Tioga and regard to long-term developability. Packer Avenue Marine Terminal is fully utilized. Operations Hog Island, with ample land area and good rail Support Deepening the and highway access, should be supported for de- Dredging Costs Congress Is studying pro- velopment to a specialized cargo use, if the eco- Channel Depth of the posals to allocate dredging costs to port users, nomic viability can be demonstrated by the Schuylkill River (P-7) which in the Delaware Estuary are $30 million willingness of a private operator to sustain the annually. The port community must remain firm debt service for the terminal's development. The in its opposition to any proposal that would ad- cost of terminal development would be $35 to $50 The Schuylkill River in the vicinity of Girard versely affect Philadelphia's competitiveness with million. Point needs to be deepened from its present other ports, especially those of Canada. thirty-three feet to forty feet in order to accom- Support Private Terminal modate grain vessels at Tidewater Grain Com- Dredging Plans The City needs to partici- pany and oil tankers at Gulf Oil Company. A pate in planning studies which the Army Corps of Activities study commissioned by the Army Corps of Engi- Engineers is conducting for the Ports. These in- neers, studying the costs and benefits of this ac- clude the recently completed Dredge Material Tidewater Grain Company (P-4) One of tion, has recommended favorably this Disposal Study and the Comprehensive Naviga- improvement to the channel. The expected tion Study. The City's Department of Com- the East Coast's most active grain exporters, Tide- dred ing cost is $10 million, of which the federal water plans to expand its operations over the 91 rnerce, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Port coming decade. The City should make every ef- share is $4 million. The rest must be raised from Corporation, must play a liaison role with the local sources. It is recommended that the City en- "I fort to support the company's expansion, particu- courage use of the Army Corps of Engineer's Corps, with assistance by Planning Commission larly through assisting in the process of having Fort Mifflin disposal basins for this project and staff. the Schuylkill River dredged to adequate depths help colordinalt"e this arrangemen't, so that the low- for its grain ships. est possible cost for this project can be achieved. Northern Shipping Company (P-5) Continued operation by Northern Shipping Support the Marketing of the Company of a general cargo terminal should be Port's Competitive Advantage encouraged by the City, even if portions of the property are marketed for industrial uses. it Port facilities in the Delaware Valley offer com- could either remain as a private terminal for pub- petitive service for shipping of all kinds ofgoods lic use, or it could be developed as a private termi- to points throughout the world, and existing ter- nal by a steamship line for its exclusive use. The minal facilities have ample capacity to handle in- facility is not recommended for bulk cargo, as rail creased shipping levels. Marketing is necessary to service would be inadequate, requiring lengthy make better known to both shippers in the region interruptions of traffic on State Road. I and shippers in the Midwest the services and facil- ities in Philadelphia. Full support is recom- Port Richmond (P-6) The City should urge mended to be given to efforts now underway, Conrail to make its Port Richmond terminal avail- both here and abroad, by the Philadelphia Port able for reuse for port or water-depenclentindus- Corporation and by the World Trade Division of try. Existing facilities, some recently upgraded, the Delaware River Port Authority to promote could be restored to service at moderate cost. Port use of the Port of Philadelphia. Richmond has excellent highway and rail access Industry and Commerce Recommendations Throughout Philadelphia's three hundred year history, industry and commerce have been preeminent uses of the riverfront. Every pro- posal in this plan for Philadelphia riverfronts is attuned to productive use of riverfront land and to the need to enhance the climate for investment. Many of the needs of business firms close to the riverfront are shared with firms throughout the city, and public programs available to assist eco- nomic development city-wide can be directed to industrial and commercial areas of the riverfront. Develop New Riverfront C-7 Industrial Parks Kerr-McGee (1-1) The Kerr-McGee site, and adjacent parcels located within the industrial C-10 corridor of the South Delaware district, constitute an especially large riverfront area which could C-4 1-3 support new business firms and which would take advantage of unique access to rail service and ma- C-6 1-4 OC-9 rine shipping. Interport Business Complex (1-2) Philadelphia Industrial Development Corpora- 1-5 tion should continue to aggressively market land 1-7,9 in its Eastwick and Penrose industrial parks, uti- C-8 lizing the program to write down land prices to as MARKET C-3 0 C-3. ST 2 low as $3,500 an acre. This marketing effort can C-1 focus on two elements: the area's special attrac- tiveness to firms affiliated with airport services; 1-6 (D C-5 C-2 and highway accessibility which will be achieved when the Delaware Expressway and interchange 0 are soon completed. Frankford Arsenal (1-3) The Frankford Arsenal site may become the city's most successful, privately developed riverfront industrial park. To INDUSTRY assist this development, the City is pledged to con- 1-2 AND COMMERCE tribute over a three year period a total of $3.5 million in funds from its Community Develop- RECOMMENDATION ment Block Grant. City agencies need to continue working with the developer to resolve utility and 1 0 1 3 5 fire code deficiencies. 6===Mnmn@ S6_ ;_4. ;_ SCALE IN MILES 20 Philadelphia Coke (1-4) The former Phila- exceptions to this policy are recommended. In the Develop Commercial Centers delphia Coke site should be prepared as an indus- Central Riverfront and a portion of adjacent trial park by making site improvements and North Spring Garden area south of Brown North and South of Penn's installing utilities, utilizing the City's industrial Street, the zoning should reflect this area's poten- Landin (C-2) land bank program. Industrial activities of many tial for conversion to a mix of commercial, resi- 9 kinds are suitable for this site, including both dential and recreational uses. Elsewhere, only Philade .lphia's river renais III not be con- heavy and light manufacturing, wholesale trade where land has been already converted to non- sance w and truck transportation. industrial or commercial uses, or has been pub- fined to Penn's Landing, but will include piers licly-acquired for recreation, should amendments and riverfront lands in North Bridge and in to zoning classes be pursued. Penn's Landing South. Piers 25 North and 55, 56 Riverside Industrial Park (1-5) This m- and 57 South could support high-rise residential dustrial park should be actively marketed for light Development Assistance The City's eco- development. A mixture of townhouses, retailing, industrial, warehouse and truck transportation nomic development programs should be targeted open space and parking is proposed for Piers 9, activities. While the site has been improved with to riverfront firms. These programs include low 11, 13 and 24 North and for Piers 28, 34, 35 and utilities and roadways, additional study is needed interest loans for plant expansion and provision 36 South. In North Bridge, where substantial va- to correct soil conditions unfavorable for indus- of second mortgage financing. This assistance will cant or underutilized land is present, new housing trial development. encourage reinvestment in existing commercial units, designed to capture views of the river, could and industrial structures and will help increase be built. And to the south, railyards and vacant jobs for persons of low and moderate income. piers in the vicinity of Washington Avenue may Assist Revitalization of be developed as townhouses and mid-rise apart- Underutilized Industrial City Services Police surveillance and sanita- ment buildings. In both North Bridge and Penn's Districts (1.6) tion are two public services recommended for ex- Landing South, plans for new comm .unities could pansion in riverfront industrial areas, as two feature commercial and private marinas built to The City should target economic planning and problems frequently noted by existing firms about serve new residents and adjacent communities. development assistance to two deteriorated Indus- their riverfront location are crime and illegal trial areas which have potential for significant new trash dumping. Develop 30th Street Station investments, as they are close to Center City and and Intermet Sites (C-3) have good highway access. These are the Grays Develop Penn's Landing as a Ferry area in the Lower Schuylkill district and the Major Commercial Center Intermet and 30th Street Station have locational North Bridge area along Delaware Avenue, from and physical characteristics that favor intensive, Brown Street north to Aramingo Avenue. These and Public Attraction (C-1) mixed use development. High-rise office and resi- two areas could support firms displaced by in- dential buildings with associated retail and com- n creasing costs for space in Center City buildings. The City must insure that Penn's Landing devel- mercial uses are proposed for these sites. Siting a Grays Ferry has (he added potential for support- ops as a center of public activity. To this end, a hotel close to the riverfront on the Intermet site ing research and development facilities needing major public plaza is being constructed which will would take advantage of riverfront views and to be close to the educational facilities in nearby be a focal point of new hotel, office and residen- amenities, and at 30th Street Station residential University City. tial development. This riverfront plaza will attract and retail activities could be developed. To accom- visitors and tourists to cultural and recreational modate substantial parking demand, garages activities and to restaurants, boutiques, and side- could be built to link conveniently to ramps of the Support Existing Riverfront walk vendors. New development will provide 400 Schuylkill and Vine Street Expressways. For both or more housing units, as many as 400 hotel sites, substantial design integration is needed to Industry rooms, and significant new office and retail space. take advantage of the proposed Schuylkill River This combination of uses will assure activity Park, to minimize interference from road and rail Zoning (1-7) Existing industrial zoning should around the clock and throughout the year. As noise, and to assure optimum circulation. Devel- be retained in viable industrial corridors. The much as a quarter billion dollars in private devel- opment should occur within the next twenty City must assure that no business firm regards its opment is expected to occur as a result of a public years. future threatened by zoning changes. Only few investment of fifty million dollars. -------- - -- 21 Revitalize Main Street in tail stores in this district provide currently limited raising ettorts will assure its restoration without service, the substantial flow of traffic through this significant financial cost to city taxpayers. Manayunk(C-4) area and the buying power of the community are factors which would support the expansion and Ridge Industrial Properties (C-9) The The Main Street National Historic District is a upgrading of business establishments. The City's owners of Ridge Industrial Properties should be commercial corridor which has received economic development agencies, working cooperatively encouraged by the City's development agencies to support from the City's development agencies. with th.e local business association, should identify make maximum use of historic and rehabilitation I I I e no- The Philadelphia Citywide Development Corpo- strategies to attract business investment. tax credits to make financially attractive thl Ire I ration is coordinating efforts to achieve storefront Ion of the several buildings which comprise rresdale (C-7) The East Torresdale vat' improvements, sign control, street improvements, East To. this strategically located site. Although the area's loans to businesses, and other assistance which will community is continuing to grow as condomin- role is best reserved for that of incubator space make the district appealing to shoppers. This ef- iums and independent elderly housing units are for new firms and for small businesses, over the fort was stimulated in part by the completion in built. Properties along State Road could be devel- long term the site could be converted to residen- 1978 of the $2 million restoration of the Mana- oped for retail and personal services. tial or to office space. The full range of business yunk Canal Towpath as a recreational trail. The investment incentives available through the City's successful application for an Urban Development development agencies should be made available Action Grant for assisting a commercial and hous- Encourage Use of Unique or to this site. ing development project is an additional develop- ment stimulus. The stock of existing commercial Historical Structures for Shawmont Pumping Station (C-10) The and industrial buildings and Manayunk's easy ac- Commercial Activity Shawmont pumping station buildings in the Up- cessibility by highway and rail are assets which, per Schuylkill district are recommended for reuse together with incentives provided by historic tax Restore Fairmount Waterworks (C-8) to commercial activity. They consist of two espe- credits, will encourage implementation of devel- opment plans for Main Street, plans formulated Fairmount Waterworks, one of Philadelphia's cially attractive buildings, situated within the riv- best known landmarks, requires $17 million for erfront parks bordering the Schuylkill upriver of by the community and the City. its adaptive reuse for hydropower generation, Manayunk Canal. The City should e ncour age and as a restaurant and public gathering spot. A reuse as a snack shop, fishing supply store, and Promote Commercial liaison of public and private groups has prepared boat and bike rental concession to serve park Development Which Serves a plan for the Waterwork's restoration, and fund visitors. Existing Residential Communities Grays Ferry (C-5) In the Grays Ferry com- munity, land along Grays Ferry Avenue, vacant since its clearance in the 1960s, would be ideal in size, location and configuration for an area shop- ping center. It would provide needed retail ser- r vices for residents of nearby neighborhoods and Center City, who must now travel long distances for modern supermarkets and accessory retail stores. district serving the East Falls neighborhood in the -7- inter- Upper Schuylkill district is centered at the -1w, -7 sa""i East Falls (C-6) The convenience shopping section of RidLy 1 ge and Midvale Avenues. While re- ,,Residential Recommendations, Residences within riverfront districts are integral to t'ili'e concept of the r'verfront as a place for peo- ple to live and to enjoy. Throughout this plan, recommendations support improvements which open riverfront districts for productive uses, in- cluding residential use. Encourage Mixed Development Which Includes H-5 Housing at the Riverfront in H-3 Central Philadelphia (11-1) Major development sites along the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers in Center City are proposed for mixed use development, in which residential units are a major component. Penn's Landing, and H-4,6 areas north and south of it, have the capacity to H-6 support over four thousand dwellings. Intermet H-7 H-2 and 30th Street Station sites on the Schuylkill H-6 River can support the development of several thousand units. Along 23rd Street, near the In- termet site, two vacant four-acre sites are zoned for high rise development. H-6 Encourage New Development H-4 on Vacant Parcels in the MARKET ST H-1 Riverfront Districts 0-H-5 H-6 Upper Schuylkill (H-2) Three sites in the Upper Schuylkill district are recommended for 0 r Hernial development. High rise apartment esi I structures are recommended for the Decker/ Buten site, a housing site made attractive by a sce- nic river valley and good transportation access. Two other parcels, situated about a mile south of the Decker/Buten site, are suitable for single fam- RESIDENTIAL ily units, also due to good access and scenic quali- RECOMMENDATION ties. These East Falls sites are Dutch Hollow, situated between Midvale Avenue and Indian ueen ane, and Plush Hollow, between the 5 X- -M.M.MZ. 7 Roosevelt Boulevard and Indian Queen Lane. SCALE IN MILES Both have site conditions requiring that they be 23 sensitively designed to integrate well within an Community Development Funds (H-6) Schuylkill Falls (H-7) Reuse of two vacant, older row home neighborhood. Housing agencies should target the use of Com- high-rise public housing structures at Schuylkill munity Development funds to income eligible riv- Falls for elderly housing is recommended, with Torresdale (H-3) For the Torresdale neigh- erfront neighborhoods for the support of improvements made to existing low-rise family borhood, this plan supports appropriate develop- housing rehabilitation and improvements. Low public housing. There is a critical shortage of ment of the Baker's Bay site along State Road. interest loans may be provided to families to pay housing for low income persons, making public Subject to agreements reserving riverfront land for major repairs and deferred maintenance. housing an important resource. Recognizing the for open space, this site should be developed as These programs are available to residents of unsuitability of the two high-rise structures for high-rise housing for independent elderly as part Bridesburg, Fislitown ., Schuylkill, East Falls, and families, the federal Department of Housing of a master plan for a life-care center. Over 150 Manayunk. The housing agencies can also sup- and Urban Development has provided funds to dwelling units can be built at this site. port improvements to roadways, curbs, sidewalks convert these towers to elderly housing. and street trees. Make Adaptive Reuse of Commercial Structures for Housing (H-4) Conversion of commercial structures to housing is a significant trend in riverfront land use in sev- eral neighborhoods. This trend is supported by the plan in Manayunk and North Bridge where it 7, is compatible with the community's development objectives. Both areas have a stock of attractive stone or brick warehouse structures which adapt well to residential use, and both areas demon- strate a growing demand for housing due to good t location and tax laws favorable to reinvestment in old buildings. Support Improvements to Existing Residential Communities win In-fill Housing (H-5) Communities of East ivn Torresdale in the North Delaware and of Logan Square and Rittenhouse in the Lower Schuylkill contain small parcels of land which are suitable for in-fill residential development. This plan rec- ommends that these parcels be developed with 4M1 housing compatible in scale and density to neigh- boring housing. Recreation Recommendations Rivers are places of enormous appeal. People use rivers to fish, to launch boats, to watch ships.. and to see waves ripple with the wind. And because people enjoy water, they engage in other outdoor activities nearby-they come to jog, bicycle, sun- bathe, picnic, watch other people, and play fris- bee. Riverfronts therefore have become popular places for vendors to sell snacks and other wares. Also, they have become popular locations for ma- jor urban redevelopment projects. R-10 Upgrade and Expand R-3 Existing Recreation and Cultural Sites -R-6 Fairmount Park (R-1) Parklands along East R-10 and West River Drive require additional public conveniences to better serve the large numbers R-11 R-7 which visit this premier riverfront park. Fair- mount Park Commission should install two rest- 0 rooms in addition to the facility at the Canoe R-10 House. Since parking is deficient, persons park on grass areas. Additional off-street parking is needed, and the Park Commission should ex- R-1 plore the potential of weekend on-street parking R-1 on West River Drive. These improvements, ex- R-2 pected to cost $1 million of general tax funds, should be made by the Fairmount Park Commis- MA R-8. ST R-12 sion over the next five to ten years. R-9 R-13 R-12 Penn Treaty Park (R-2) Penn Treaty Park R-10 R-10 in the Fishtown community has been recently ex- R-40 0 panded with open grassy fields and an attractive river edge. Parking, walkways, a fishing pier and additional landscaping, costing a half million dol- lars, should be installed by the Fairmount Park Commission over the next five years. State grants may be available to assist this project. RECREATION Pleasant Hill Park (R-3) Pleasant Hill R-5 RECOMMENDATIONS Park should be improved to function far better than it now does as a boat launch facility and riv- Adk- erfront park. Overcrowding and confusion at the SCALE IN MILES 'ING C0111N boat launch could be alleviated with pavement markinvs and signs. A boardwalk is proposed for 25 the rocky shoreline to provide shade and a suita- government concerned with pollution control and Tourism Literature Two brochures are rec- ble surface for fishermen and sightseers. Park members of sporting, environmental and com- ommended to advertise river recreation in metro- furniture and landscaping is proposed for the munity organizations in the sponsorship of fish- politan Philadelphia. A boating map is needed to parkland adjoining the boat launch facility. Funds ing derbies, community festivals, regattas, and identify all boating facilities in the upper Dela- were scheduled in the 1985-1990 Capital Pro- fund raising events. The Office of the City Rep- ware Estuary, and a second brochure would illus- gram for this facility. resentative should coordinate this event, and trate all recreational uses along the rivers- much of the $200,000 of costs should be borne by boating facilities, good fishing spots, historical Expand Bartram's Garden (R-4) The corporate contributions. sites, parks and playgrounds, and waters suitable City should support the long-range development for water skiing, sailing and canoeing. The Dela- plans of the John Bartram Association and its Urban Fishing A comprehensive urban fish- ware River Basin Commission should prepare raising of over a half million dollars in private ing program should be instituted in Philadelphia. these brochures, with the projected $25,000 cost contributions for restoration of buildings associ- The Pennsylvania Fish Commission should ex- borne by other governmental agencies and by ated with the Bartram homestead. The 17 acre pand the scope of its fishing education program groups representing boating and fishing interests. parcel acquired for the site's expansion should be and is urged to assign a coordinator for fishing reclaimed so that it can serve as a passive park, education to the metropolitan areas, with possible Complete Planned Riverfront and deteriorated play equipment and courts funding from the DER Division of Coastal Zone south of the homestead also need to be replaced. Management and from the National Marine Fish- Park Development In the more distant future, fishing and boating eries Service. Sporting organizations are encour- access could be installed on the expanded site, aged to support this program by sponsoring Pennypack Park at the Delaware River which would also allow for visits to the gardens competitive fishing derbies along the Delaware (R-6) The one-hundred acre site at the mouth by boat. and Schuylkill Rivers to promote use of the rivers of Pennypack Creek is ideal for passive recrea- and publicize the variety and size of fish available tion activities-fishing, picnics, nature walks, sun- Fort Mifflin (R-5) Fort Mifflin is recom- in these waters. bathing, and sightseeing-and should prove to be mended for restoration so that it may appropri- the most important fishing spot on the Delaware ately support interpretation of the city's history River. The 1985 Capital Budget provided the and may help expand tourism. With the leader- Fairmount Park Commission with $390,000 for ship of the Olde Fort Mifflin Historical Society, i the first phase of park development of an en- trance ro I ten million dollars must be raised for restoration ad, a parking lot and sitting area. Later of the fort's buildings, walls and moat. In the phases will include access roadways, nature trails, short term, an adequate parking area and visitor site improvements and play areas, at an additional center is needed. Some public funds may be nec- cost of $700,000. essary to support a successful fund raising effort. Boat Launch at Frankford Arsenal (R-7) The Pennsylvania Fish Commission is encour- Promote and Publicize Use of ged to complete its boat launch at its Frankford a Available Recreation Arsenal property. The Fish Commission has 'D committed $2 million to building the launch over xl%Lt:sources a ten year period. The first phase should be open "River Awakening" Festival River Awak- in 1985 for about 190 cars and trailers, with rest- '7- rooms, drainage, lighting and additional parking ening festivals should be held during the next sev- X installed in subsequent years, for an ultimate ca- eral years to celebrate the rebirth of the Delaware @4_ pacity of 300 cars and trailers. River as a healthful river for recreation and to acknowledge the financial contribution of all Schuylkill River Park (R-8) Schuylkill Philadelphians to the pollution control invest- River Park in Center City will provide new river- men t. River Awakening, while an event coordi- Aw ated recreational opportunities for downtown rel nated by the City, should involve other levels of VI 26 residents and give them an attractive pedestrian lands, and underutilized industrial ground- integral elements of plans for riverfront redevel- link to Fairmount Park and the Art Museum. anywhere that access is warranted to overcome opment along the Central Riverfront. In addition The park will also be the principal open space barriers to waters of recreational value. Neigh- to representing approximately $50 million in pri- amenity around which housing and office space borhood organizations and sporting clubs are vate investment, a marina would attract boating could be designed and built at riverfront sites. urged to initiate the planning and development of tourists to Center City and contribute to an atmo- Although costly land assembly and bulkheading is these low costs ($ 10,000 each) access areas, to initi- sphe re of riverfront vitality and excitement. The nearing completion, about $7 million will have to ate fund raising efforts, and to provide on-going Penn's Landing Corporation and Philadelphia be programmed for landscaping, pathways, light- maintenance. The DER Division of Coastal Zone Port Corporation are offering unused City piers ing and other improvements, and Fairmount Management may provide a limited amount of upriver of Penn's Landing for commercial mar- Park Commission should pursue project technical assistance toward this kind of project. ina construction. A commercial marina upriver of completion. Penn's Landing would compensate for excess de- Develop the Upper Schuylkill mand on summer weekends for daytime or over- Provide Maximum River night dockage at Penn's Landing and for Penn's as a Major Recreation Area (R-1 Landing's lack of restrooms, eating facilities and Edge Access along the Central other conveniences. Private marinas are recom- Riverfront (R-9) The Schuylkill River upstream of Fairmount mended for new residential areas in the Central Park, and portions of Venice Island which border Riverfront as an amenity of enormous appeal to The river edge in the Central Riverfront should it, are recommended to be transformed into a vi- homebuyers attracted to river settings. Safety pre- brant recreation corridor. Seven elements com- cautions may be necessary to avoid collisions with be open for public access to the maximum feasible prise this comprehensive proposal, costing about marine vessels passing close by in the main ship- extent to assure public enjoyment of its amenities. $5 million over the next twenty years. A bridge ping channel, and specially designed breakwaters Plans for Penn's Landing call for promenades at connector must be built to the city-owned land at will have to be installed to protect recreational the site's perimeter, the Great Plaza for public fes- the northern tip of Venice Island to make access'- boats from large wakes of passing vessels. tivals, and placement of retail, hotel and cultural activities with river views. Riverwalk is a $ 10 mil- ble sport fishing waters and views of Flat Rock lion four-mile long pathway proposed to be built Dam. At the existing Venice Island Playground at River Tours River tours are commercial ven- jointly with public and private funds from Reed Cotton Street a launch for canoes should be in- tures that could be made more attractive than Street, south of Penn's Landing, upriver to Penn stalled, and three acres of adjacent vacant land, they currently are, both by improvements to the Treaty Park. Furnished with attractive paving, extending to the southern end of the island, boats and by a greater variety of tour programs. lighting and landscaping, it will connect all major should be acquired and developed for picnicking, The Penn's Landing Corporation should evalu- riverfront activity centers to riverfront communi- playfields, parking, and fishing. At the northern ate options for expanding tour programs on the ties. The City also should require as a condition end of the corridor, an activity center at the old Delaware, for example by linking riverfront his- of pier renovation that developers provide pedes- Shawmont pumping station would provide park- toric sites through boat tours. ing, restrooms, and a concession stand for food trian circulation along each pier's perimeter for and bike rentals. From both the northern and viewing shipping activity and for jogging, fishing southern end of this corridor, pathways should be Cruise Ships (R-13) The Penn's Landing and other recreation. Corporation and Philadelphia Port Corporation developed to link it to other recreational areas- should continue to work to establish a regular the Valley Forge-to-Philadelphia Bike Trail and schedule of cruise ship departures from Philadel- Create Points for the paths along East and West River Drives and in phia, helping build the city's reputation as a center Wissah*ckon Park. These projects would be un- 11 Neighborhood River Access of diverse leisure activities and amenities. If a sta- der the purview of the Fairmount Park ble number of scheduled cruises is achieved, the (R- 10) Commission. Port Corporation either should make improve- ments to Piers 38-40 to better accommodate tour- Small public access points should be installed Support Commercial ists at this location or assure scheduling at Penn's along the Delaware and tidal Schuylkill Rivers to Landing that would not conflict with other public provide access to the rivers for fishing and sight- Recreation Ventures events. seeing. These access points are envisioned for street and bridge rights-of-way, unused utility Marina Development (R-12) Marmasare I Environmental Recommendations------- j 27 Improvement of environmental conditions over the past thirty years has increased the potential for development of the riverfront. Foul smelling wastes have been removed from the Delaware and tidal Schuylkill Rivers, and air pollutants have been reduced by two-thirds. Penn's Landing and Schuylkill River Park, and the riverfront housing and commercial development they help support, would not be feasible without the enor- mous environmental improvements accomplished over the past thirty years. Moreover, a second round of water clean-up will soon be completed by the Philadelphia Water Department which will further support riverfront land development. Reduce Pollution Discharges E-3 Sewer Overflow (E-1) The Philadelphia E-4 E-5 Water Department is encouraged to continue its E-2 E-6 evaluation of control mechanisms to reliably di- vert sewage away from overflow pipes and into interceptor sewers, thereby reducing the fre- quency with which sewage is discharged directly E-3 to the rivers during dry weather. This is especially E-5 critical in the portion of the tidal Schuylkill in the vicinity of Schuylkill River Park. Leaking Sewers (E-2) Water quality in the Manayunk Canal is adversely affected by drain- MARKET ST age of sewage into the canal, caused by leaks or E-1 breaks in sanitary sewers. The Water Department should analyze the sources of sewage leakage to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sewer repair or 0 replacement actions. Urban Stormwater Because a quarter of the pollution discharged to the rivers comes from stormwater, the City should regulate activities which generate pollution during storms. The City of Philadelphia should adopt an erosion con- ENVIRONMENTAL trol ordinance requiring use of methods to catch RECOMMENDATIONS sediment from construction sites before it is car- ried off by storm drainage. Also, existing regula- 0 1 3 5 tions on placement of fill in floodplains and on residential ground should be better enforced in SCALE IN MILES order to reduce contamination from landfilling. Q!5' 28 F_ _77= mount Dam would provide some natural repro- ing of outside storage areas and riverside Protect and Improve duction and migration of shad along forty-five structures should be installed so as to make the Aquatic Habitats miles of the Schuylkill River. shoreline attractive, both to boaters and to em- ployees and others visiting the shoreline. This Shallow Water and Wedand Habitats Conduct Fishery program could emphasize river beautification as (E-3) Shallow water and wetland habitats are an act of civic responsibility with significant public protected from disturbance by federal and state Management and Research relations be .nefits.. This program might work well regulations, and the City is urged to fully consider Programs in conjunction with the application of a zoning these regulations in its plans for improving ma- overlay district to regulate activities within fifty feet of the river edge. A landscaping plan could rine facilities and for other riverfront projects. Fishery Research State, regional and fed- be required for the river edge when new develop- The City and the Philadelphia Port Corporation, eral agencies should cooperate in a major study of ment or rehabilitation is planned. The cost of up- in making application for riverfront projects, fish populations in the Delaware and Schuylkill grading riverfront land would be approximately should plan to offset any loss of shallows or wet- Rivers. This is necessary to answer basic questions $ 100,000 per mile of corridor fifty feet wide. lands by creating new habitats out of riverfront about fish responses to changing water quality, the lands. Such an improvement might cost perhaps level of fish contamination by toxic substances, the one percent of a marine development project, benefits of upgrading wetland and shallows habi- based on schematic plans in EPAs Environmental tats, and the contribution of the sport fishery to Enhancement Plan for the upper estuary, com- urban residents' leisure activities. Such research pleted in 1983. EPAs plan identified areas be- would provide important impetus for the imple- neath Betsy Ross Bridge and at the mouth of mentation of federal and state environmental leg- Pennypack Creek as possible mitigation sites in islation and would provide insight into the value Philadelphia. of the City's pollution control program. The cost of a comprehensive fishery study would be about Fish Ladders on the Schuylkill River a half-m'll*on dollars, and funding should come (E-4) Removal of obstructions at dams to the from state and federal sources. passage of shad, herring and other migratory fish is necessary to restore American shad to the Schuylkill River, and to add thereby an exciti Fish Stocking (E-5) The Pennsylvania Fish ing Commission is urged to continue its programs for new element to the Schuylkill's sport fishery. The stocking walleye and muskellunge in the Dela- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Re- ware and Schuylkill Rivers so as to assure a full sources (DER) is urged to install a fish ladder at response to water quality. The Fish Flat Rock Dam in coordination with any hydro- Commission should also be prepared to initiate a electric project development. Recent proposals by Y shad stocking program for the Schuylkill River, 4 a hydropower developer appear to be acceptable t med to begin when fish passage facilities have two and should result in the issuance of the required I d. Fish stocking programs in Phila- been installe Federal Power License and the eventual construc- delphia have an annual cost of $15,000 to tion of the fish ladder at Flat Rock. In addition, $20,000. five other obstructions exist on the Schuylkill River upstream of Flat Rock Dam which prohibit fish migration. Each of these five dams, three of Establish a Riverfront which are state owned and two of which are owned by the Philadelphia Electric Company, are Beautification Program (E-6) currently being considered for hydroelectric de- velopment. Should these hydroelectric projects The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the occur, each project would require construction of Chamber of Commerce are urged to establish a a fish passage facility. Provisions of fish passage program to encourage owners of riverfront prop- devices at the dams located upstream of the Fair- erties to upgrade their river edge. Visual screen- Transportation Recommendations 29 Complete Highway and Bridge Connections Delaware Expressway at the Airport (T-1) A critical two mile section of the Dela- ware Expressway in the vicinity of the airport, which was held up for more than a decade, is now underway by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Its completion at a cost of about $200 million in federal and state funds will con- tribute significantly to the attractiveness of the air- port area for future commercial and industrial development. Delaware Expressway in Center City (T-2) Exit and entrance ramps to the Delaware Expressway in vicinity of Center City must be in- stalled expeditiously. An environmental impact study is to be completed in 1985 which will iden- tify optimum ramp configurations for traffic flow onto the expressway from both Delaware Avenue T-3 and from the Vine Street Expressway, as well as T-9 exit ramps for northbound travelers near Center City. The cost for ramps, and for installing a long- planned expressway cover, is $30 million in fed- T-6 eral and state funds. Betsy Ross Bridge Connection (T-3) T-7 T-8 MARKET T-5 0 ST Vehicles with destinations or origins in Brides- T-2 burg and Port Richmond must be afforded im- proved connections with the Betsy Ross Bridge. A T-4 T-7 secondary slip ramp is proposed to allow trucks T-8 entering the expressway northbound at Castor 0 Ix Avenue access to the Betsy Ross Bridge. A second improvement would allow trucks from New Jer- sey to exit at Wheatsheaf Lane from the bridge's T-10 ramp to the southbound expressway. The cost of these ramps has been estimated to be in the $4 million range, borne by State and Authority T-1 TRANSPORTATION funding. T-1 I RECOMMENDATIONS Schuylkill Expressway at University T-120 0 1 3 5 _Z_ Avenue (T-4) A direct entrance ramp in the I I Grays Ferry area to westbound Schuylkill Ex- 4W I SCALE IN MILES pressway from University Avenue will become in- 30 F_ creasingly necessary with business growth in the confusion. In addition, a detailed study should be to Aramingo Avenue. The cost for reconstructing Grays Ferry area. A temporary ramp, installed as made ofrestrictions on traffic during times of Delaware Avenue is estimated at $35 million, and a detour during reconstruction of the Schuylkill peak use of riverbanks and paths. it should be completed by the end of the decade. Expressway, should be made into a permanent In addition, Washington Avenue should be ex- ramp by the Pennsylvania Department of Improve Local Streets (T-7) tended east of its intersection with Delaware Ave- Transportation. nue, in support of the Coast Guard's new Marine Safety Office and of long-range, multiple use de- Street Repair Local streets are deteriorated velopment plans for the riverfront at this location. Reorganize 30th Street Station in many locations and should be reconstructed or Circulation (T-5) resurfaced during the coming decade. While rail Delaware Avenue Extension (T-9) trackage has accelerated deterioration of several Delaware Avenue is recommended for extension industrial streets, others have not received ade- Traffic circulation around 30th Street Station is quate maintenance, including well-traveled routes from Lewis Street 1.3 miles north to Bridge confusing and requires excessive looping for driv- to recreation sites. Street. This would improve the marketability of ers seeking access to the station. In addition, pe- the site of the former Philadelphia Coke Com- destrians must cross many lanes of traffic in order pany, improve flow of traffic associated with ma- to reach major destinations to the west and east. Circulation A variety of conditions need to rine and truck terminals, and reduce traffic on The maze of roadways and the dullness along be corrected to alleviate congestion and provide Richmond Street, a source of neighborhood com- Market Street have reduced use of the station's improved circulation. New off-street parking fa- plaints. Estimated to cost about $9 million, the southern entrance and its associated commercial cilities and enforcement of parking regulations project would require a bridge over Frankford and retail space. A thorough redesign of the road would help alleviate congestion within several Creek and selection of an alignment to minimize system is recommended, recognizing the potential commercial areas, notably in Old City and Society disruption of businesses and branch rail traffic. for development north of the station. The cost Hill near the Central Riverfront and on Main The Philadelphia Department of Streets should for reorganizing the road system is expected to be Street on the Upper Schuylkill. A new spur from implement this project within the next ten years. $3 million, of which a maximum of 25 percent the Parkway would be useful to enhance access to would be City funds. the Logan Square neighborhood and to river- front parcels west of 22nd Street. To accommo- Provide Optimum Rail date a projected increase in traffic along Grays Service to the Port and Reduce Traffic Hazards Ferry Avenue, this street should be opened for on East and West River northbound traffic movement to South Street. Riverfront Industry Throughout the riverfront, directional and trail- Drives (T-6) blazer signs are needed to direct drivers to and Philadelphia Terminal (T-10) The City from major destinations, principal arterials and should facilitate improved rail service to the Phila- East and West River Drives through Fairmount highways. delphia Terminal in Greenwich. The Federal Park pose hazardous conditions at several inter- Railroad Administration's diversion of Conrail sections. These can be reduced by adding turning traffic onto Chessie trackage may be the basis for Make Im rovements to lanes, providing markings to aid traffic flow and I p negotiations to revise agreements governing ac- adding traffic signals. At Columbia Bridge, a no- Delaware Avenue in Support cess to the terminal, and the City of Philadelphia toriously sharp bend on East River Drive requires of Reinvestment should play its historic role as a catalyst in the ne- extensive improvements, including roadway wid- gotiation process. ening, barriers and changes to the pitch of the road. The Pennsylvania Department of Trans- Existing Delaware Avenue (T-8) Piggyback Facilities The City should ac- portation has scheduled this project for imple- Reconstruction of three miles of Delaware Ave- mentation at a cost of about $2 million. After the nue, including elimination of unneeded tracks tively participate with the Chessie System in the Schuylkill Expressway reconstruction project has and addition of a median with left-turn lanes, is identification of a site for a new intermodal, been completed, the current pattern of alternat- necessary to bring it up to acceptable standards trailer-on-Hatcar yard, which it has announced an ing one-way and two-way traffic flow on West and to support reinvestment which has been oc- intention to develop. Similarly, Conrail, which has developed recently a major piggyback facility in River Drive should be eliminated to reduce driver curring in the section from Oregon Avenue north 31 Morrisville, Pennsylvania, may find it advanta- absorbed into Conrail in 1976. The benefit of in- nal A, presently unused, or terminal E, which can geous to have a second piggyback yard situated creased rail competition in Philadelphia should be expanded, could be developed for this new ter- closer to shippers in the city. Conrail property at occur, however, only if Conrail is fully reim- minal. The Commerce Department's Division of the Greenwich Railyard might be available for de- bursed for performing reciprocal switching. Aviation should implement this project over the velopment of such a facility. High quality service next several years at a projected cost of $30 to $75 and attractive rates could be best offered if con- Make Airport Improvements million in federal and city self-sustaining funds. tainers can be "double-stacked" on railroad cars. The City should encourage new piggyback facill- Which Expand Passenger Cargo City (T-12) Successful freight ban- ties which can handle this new type of service. Travel and Cargo Handling dling operations at Cargo City should be ex- panded in accord with Philadelphia International Delaware and Hudson The Delaware and International Terminal (T- 11) A new in- Airport's Master Plan. Freight aviation is not only Hudson Railroad Company's authorization to ne- an important element of the region's transporta- ternational Terminal must be built to replace the gottate reciprocal switching rights with Conrail present Overseas Terminal at Philadelphia Inter- tion system, but it is a major factor in the region's should be supported by the City. It offers the City capacity to develop and enlarge its high technol- national Airport so as to improve connections be- an opportunity to regain a portion of the intra- tween international and domestic flights and take ogy industry, which is very dependent on air modal competition that was lost when the bank- advantage of the Airport Rail Line. Either termi- transport. rupt Penn Central and Reading railroads were AIR.r AL Implementation Strategy The Plan for Philadelphia Riverfronts, which sets front. The principal agency advising on use of tion. The City develops riverfront open space, forth a comprehensive, long-term program for riverfront landis the City Planning Commission. supports community festivals and public pro- riverfront development, has no single implemen- Zoning, building and use regulations are adminis- grams at these facilities, and is responsible for tation strategy. Implementation will depend on tered by the Department of Licenses and Inspec- their care and improvement. The City also pro- coordinated actions by government as well as tions (L&I) and the Zoning Board of Adjustment vides interagency coordination with state and fed- many individuals and organizations. This plan- through ordinances passed by City Council and eral governments, giving policy advice on matters ning document lays out, in a single place, many made law by the Mayor's signature. Through the of river channel maintenance and assisting in law elements which together fashion a cohesive pat- project review process, the City helps assure that enforcement on the waterways. tern of land use changes for Philadelphia's river- riverfront development meets requirements for front, and it attempts to make citizens, public floodplain development and other environmental officials and investors aware that Philadelphia's controls, is consistent with long-term land use Regional Strategies riverfronts are alive with new possibilities, not just plans and zoning, receives adequate review by at Penn's Landing, but all along the City's forty- neighbors, and achieves standards for quality Several organizations provide a regional forum two miles of river. Its development concepts will design. require an investment of several billion dollars, for governmental coordination on riverfront is- sues affecting port, business and recreation facili- largely private funds. The two billion dollar pub- Redevelopment and Development ties. The Delaware River Port Authority, while lic investment made in riverfront facilities over Assistance The City can actively promote riv- having a limited operating role, is a principal the past ten years alone will not assure that this private investment will occur. Coordinated and erfront development in several ways. The Phila- agency for promoting and marketing the port, diligent efforts of government at all levels are re- delphia Port Corporation, a Don-profit and, through its formal organizational links to the corporation which is responsible for managing, Philadelphia Port Corporation, helps coordinate quired to help realize this return and to guide the constructing and promoting port facilities in the long-range planning for the Ports of Philadel- form of development. The following local, state city, is also responsible for utilization and develop- phia. The Delaware River Basin Commission is a and federal strategies, working in concert, can ac- ment of city-owned river frontage. The Corpora- federal a ency established principally to provide complish many of the policies and recommenda- 9 tion markets unneeded piers for new port uses for equitable allocation of water resources and co- tions of this plan and create a favorable climate and prepares Penn's Landing for development. ordinated control of pollution, although the com- for private investment in the riverfront. 11 The Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia is pact under which it operates would permit a large the principal agency for acquiring land for dispo- role in fisheries management and recreation plan- Local Strategies sition for new residential development, and assists ning. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning the development process by assembling and clear- Commission is the metropolitan planning organi- Public Capital Investment The City of ing land into marketable parcels. The City's sev- zation responsible for transportation and other Philadelphia prepares annually a budget for capi- eral development agencies -Philadelphia planning functions and it provides the regional tal improvements which has been the principal Industrial Development Corporation, Philadel- coordination for on-going elements ofthe coastal funding source for strategic investments at Penn's phia Citywide Development Corporation and the zone management program, including an Urban Landing, Schuylkill River Park, and the marine Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation Waterfront Action Group committee to provide terminals. Grants from federal sources are also of -are the iorganizations through which private in- early permit review ofriverfront projects. prime importance when matching local funds, vestment is leveraged by favorable land prices and particularly for airport, sewage treatment and financing, using tax-exempt bonds and subsidies highways. The responsibility for preparing, from the Community Development Block Grant. State Strategies adopting and implementing the City's Capital Budget is jointly shared by the City administra- City Management and Services The City Highways and Port Investments The tion, City Planning Commission, City Council, provides municipal services to businesses and resi- State is the principal level of government respon- and several quasi-governmental agencies. dents, and the dependability and adequacy of sible for building and maintaining both the high- those services contribute to the desirability of the ways vital to the functioning of the city and the Project Review and Regulation The riverfront. These services include gas, water and roads along its riverfront areas. The State has City enforces regulations for land use and stan- sewage treatment utilities, street cleaning and played a significant role also in funding reinvest- dards for building construction along the river- solid waste disposal, and police and fire protec- inent in the coal export capacity of the port and in the promotion of port and industrial develop- large role in supporting transportation and eco- rinent opportunities at riverfront locations. The nomic development in the city's riverfront areas. Pennsylvania Water Facilities Loan Board pro- Three agencies help manage waterborne com- vides loans at attractive interest rates for port merce on the nation's waterways. The Army irnprovements. Corps of Engineers maintains the shipping chan- nels; the Coast Guard is the law enforcement Environmental Management State agen- agency on navigable waters; and the Federal Mar- cies manage river resources, thereby influencing itime Commission regulates and reviews the prac- their capacity to sustain recreational use. The tices of shippers and terminal operators. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Re- Federal Aviation Administration provides fund- sources (DER) is responsible for protecting water ing assistance for airport development and makes quality and wetlands, regulating obstructions regulations for safe airport operations. The U.S. along waterways, and assuring local compliance Department of Transportation provides substan- with the floodplain laws and regulations. The tial grants for expressway and highway develop- Pennsylvania Fish Commission protects and en- ments. The Economic Development hances the state's fisheries by enforcing fishing Administration provides financial assistance to de- and pollution control laws, and by stocking the velopment projects in Philadelphia, having as- streams and rivers with game fish. sisted several pier renovation projects. The federal Department of Housing and Urban De- Coastal Zone Management and River velopment, through its Community Development Recreation Several state agencies work to- Block Grant and Urban Development Action ward increased public enjoyment of the rivers. Grants, has provided several million dollars to Yhe Division of Coastal Zone Management in riverfront firms over the past several years for DER administers the Pennsylvania Coastal Zone their expansion or rehabilitation. The federal De- Management Program and has provided the partment of Commerce, through its National funding for Philadelphia's riverfront planning. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, pro- The Department of Communities Affairs (DCA) vides the framework and funding for the devel- administers grants to local governments for recre- opment and implementation of state coastal zone ation projects qualifying under the federal management programs. Coastal Energy Impact Program; assistance has Environmental Control Several agencies been provided to Pulaski Pier and Penn Treaty enforce national environmental laws in navigable ?arks by this department. DCA also allocates waters and thereby contribute to an improving re- funds from two other federal sources-the Ur- ban Park and Recreation Recovery Program and source for recreation. The Environmental Protec- Land and Water Conservation Fund-although tion Agency (EPA) has been the principal both sources are becoming increasingly scarce. organization for pollution clean up, providing a The Pennsylvania Fish Commission plays a major billion dollars in funds for upgrading levels of r-ole in boating on the river, both through its en- sewage treatment in the Delaware Estuary. The forcement of state boating regulations and Army Corps of Enginee.rs is the permitting through its construction and operation of boat agency for any construction work at the water's launch facilities, and it also provides fishing edu- edge and for any landfilling In the water which cation to city residents. might adversely affect aquatic habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department Federal Strategies of Interior and the National Marine Fisheries of the Department of Commerce have complemen- Commerce, Transportation and Port tary roles in the protection and promotion of Development The federal government has a sport and commercial fisheries of the Delaware Estuary. im/m , @-A m V C- MY PLANNING COMM 85-5