The intersection at 31st and Spring Garden Streets is a critical gateway into Powelton Village. What should happen here? How could we attract Art Museum visitors to venture over the river?
This image depicts one idea for the site. In this scenario, a pocket park would integrate public art, anchor uses would enliven the southwest and northeast corners and terraces would showcase the view of Center City.
The problem is the terrifying walk across Spring Garden from the Art Museum. The mural/barriers make it very scary with the high speed traffic inches away. The high tension electrical wires need to be relocated so that teh mural barrier can be transformed to something more inviting.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think it is the murals that are the problem, I think the murals are really cool. I think the problem is that the sidewalks are so narrow, that people can only walk one-by-one, but that's my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe picture on this post would be a great reality. When is that park planned to be finished renovating? Is there truth to someone actually buying out that auto shop, or is that just a fantasy?
The scenario presented here is one potential idea for the site. At this point, it is a "fantasy", but if many neighbors get behind this idea (or another idea on the blog), we could present a plan to make it a realty.
ReplyDeleteWell I do think it is a great idea! I was just wondering how the auto shop could be convinced to sell and who would be the entrepreneur to buy them out and build the restaurant there?
ReplyDeleteI just got back from London where pedestrian traffic on bridges across the Thames is thick and lively. Wouldn't that be nice? Yes wider sidewalks. I agree the mural is off-putting - why not something pedestrians can see through to the river and beyond? It wouldn't feel as claustrophobic. As for the corner, it would be so wonderful not to have the auto shop eyesore as the gateway to West Philly from the bridge.
ReplyDeleteWe need to hear from the Streets Dept. on the status of removing the murals. Their removal has long been in the plan for the West Bank Greenway. The vision to widen the bridge access was discussed and I believe it could be done structurally but it's pricey.
ReplyDeleteThere is a zoning sign on the SE corner and a big sign describing a sub station to be built by SEPTA. Neither of these projects sound compatible with a greenway. The SEPTA project seems to be be a done deal already.
ReplyDeleteParking for all these new ideas is needed.
Have you noticed that the trees and the area around them from Spring Garden South on the greenway are looking really healthy and the weeds are not a big problem. Going North on the greenway from Spring Garden is a different story. Only some of the trees are doing well and there are big tall weeds growing around many of them and in between the paving between the trees.
I feel that the Spring Garden Street bridge needs significant overhaul in order to create a gateway at 31st and Spring Garden, although I love the idea. The bridge is too narrow and has unsafe crossings at highway 76. It is a stressful walk over the bridge to the Art Museum with a group of people, especially with children or a class of students. I believe that if the bridge were more pedestrian/bike friendly an even greater flow of folks would travel between Powelton/West Philly and the Art Museum/Center City area for leisure.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ 3:51, the tree pits along the greenway have been weeded by members of the PVCA. Unofortunately, we just don't have the time or resources to cross Spring Garden.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the substation is being built at track level (thank goodness!).
I agree with the murals. I'm sure they were meant to revitalize the area but with the rusted, bent metal threatening to slice you as you walk by it becomes really cold and uninviting.
ReplyDeleteAlso the railroad bridge above does absolutely NO justice at all! Maybe the railroad bridge could become the gateway by doing it up real nice (i.e. an upgraded cement facade with clean lines) and putting nice "Welcome to Powelton Village" lettering on the side of the bridge above the road.
Also pedestrian friendliness is an issue. Cars tend to zip by you at top speed and it can be pretty unnerving considering there is no barrier between pedestrians and traffic and the sidewalks are so narrow they can barely accommodate two people walking side-by-side. Many times I've had to step out onto the street in the bike lane to get around people coming toward me on the sidewalk.
In addition to the mural comment that I previously made above: the murals are so high! The space feels very enclosed and claustrophobic because you can't see anything around you other than the murals and the traffic speeding toward you! It feels very...urban (but not in a good way). It's more like "ghetto urban" like you suddenly come to the realization that you must be entering the ghetto. I really don't know how else to describe it!
ReplyDeleteWell, seeing as Powelton Village is hardly a ghetto, I'm assuming you mean "visually unattractive" when using that term. There are transportation design standards (for better or worse), that influence the Spring Garden bridge's design, courtesy of PennDOT: google> PennDOT bridge railings (1st result)> Aluminum Protective Barrier.
ReplyDeleteThis is not relegated to only this bridge, but most high-voltage railroad overpasses, so efforts would best be focused on beautification of some sort. Maybe an updated mural or a re-cladding of the aluminum could make the bridge better.
Infrastructure like this can be difficult in that the time the bridge was built, pedestrians, much less bicycles were not addressed properly in the design, and West Philadelphia/Powelton were not the desirable neighborhoods they are now- that is, not nearly as many people were traveling the route as are today, nor were they as cognizant about proper urban design.