Eastwick’s neighbors demand full inclusion in planning process for 189 vacant acres
During our very first meeting, neighborhood residents told us to expect a 'fiery bunch' and they did not disappoint. We are so fortunate to be working with such an engaged community. Thanks to all who came out on Monday night, it was a great discussion, and we look forward to planning WITH you in the coming months!
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Great turnout in Downtown Atlanta!
Nearly 500 folks came through to view the plan and add their 2 cents. Participants dove in to the planning process, adding comments to a sprawling map of the area, leaving comments on pictures of other cities, taking surveys about transportation and amenities they would like to see in the neighborhood, and even designing their ideal street.
Read ArticleEnvironmental foundation to guide Eastwick's plan
It’s easier to understand Eastwick’s flooding problem when you look at an old map and realize that most of the neighborhood was part of the Tinicum Marsh. By 1900, the marsh encompassed 5,700 acres covering not only what the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge protects but also where most of the Philadelphia International Airport and the Philadelphia Refining Complex stand today. As the city started developing, the wetlands started getting filled and dredged. And by 2000, the marsh was just 200 acres.
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Interface Studio kicks off the Lower Eastwick Public Land Strategy
"After decades of dealing with the impacts of what was called the largest urban renewal project in the country, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority launched a new planning and feasibility study to decide the future of Lower Eastwick’s 190 acres of publicly owned land." We couldn't be more thrilled to be part of the next chapter for Eastwick!
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Downtown Atlanta Master Plan wants to hear from YOU
"Ultimately, the Master Plan, when finished, will be “the primary vision-setting and policy-directing strategy to lead the ongoing evolution of Downtown Atlanta for the next fifteen years,” according to Central Atlanta Progress. [...] that sounds pretty important." Check out the article for a link to the survey, and visit www.plandowntownatl.com for details on other ways to get involved!
Read ArticleKnight Cities Challenge Finalists
Congratulations to the Knight Cities Challenge finalists! We're proud to be among this passionate and innovative bunch of folks and hope we get the chance to roll up our sleeves and implement.
Read ArticleMacon gets some love
Next City gives Macon a little love for their excellent work in creating the world's first pop-up bike network. As stated in the article: "Macon, Georgia, population 150,000, was able to increase cyclist counts nearly tenfold during a one-week pop-up bike network, which at 8 miles, may have been...
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GR Forward Day!
Grand Rapids celebrates the one year anniversary of the adoption of GR Forward.
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Reimagining the Civic Commons
The strength and vibrancy of cities has always taken root in the public assets we share collectively as citizens. To build social capital, encourage civic engagement, and prosper, cities need common ground, spaces where citizens of all backgrounds can mix. Yet in the past century, support for public assets – our libraries, parks, recreation centers, pools, and schools - has declined. Assets and organizations that once defined our shared experience as citizens have, in many cases, suffered from decades of disinvestment and decline, decreasing our sense of trust, empathy, and connection to our neighbors, a trend that has come to epitomize our era. Reimagining the Civic Commons is a national effort initiative to demonstrate how public assets can once again drive prosperous, equitable, and connected communities. Working in Akron, Chicago, Detroit, and Memphis over the next three years, our charge is to help each community measure the social, economic, cultural, and environmental impact of their work. Building from our recent work on Philadelphia’s Rebuild initiative, we look forward to being partners in the work of the Civic Commons, developing new tools and methods for understanding the dynamics of public space, and discovering new ways of unlocking the potential of our common ground to revitalize communities. Reimagining the Civic Commons is made possible by the generous support of the JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and local funders.
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Chinatown: more than just a tourist destination
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is a unique ecosystem that encompasses immigrants, small businesses and manufacturers, institutions, visitors, and a growing creative class. Known to outsiders mainly as a place for food and commerce, Chinatown is also a residential neighborhood and remains a vital hub of community and services for immigrants who have dispersed to other parts of the city – a home away from home.
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