49th and chancellor proposal
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
1/16
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
2/16
Ta
bleo
fContent
s
W e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a H i g h
U r b a n S t u d i e s C l a s s
S p r i n g 2 0 0 8
Introduction/SummaryPage 3
Goals/Objectives ......................... Page 4
Needs/Problems .......................... Page 4
West Philadelphia History ............... Page 5
Procedures ................................. Page 6
Demographics ............................. Page 6
Key Personnel ............................. Page 7
Timetable ................................... Page 8
Budget ...................................... Page 9
Transformation ............................ Page 10
New Infrastructure ....Page 11
Our Design ................................. Page 12-13
Next Steps .................................. Page 14
Acknowledgements ....................... Page 15
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
3/16
M
Page 3
West Philadelphia students in the Urban Studies Class hope to fix the com-
munity to help insure a positive view of the community. So far some of the stu-
dents in the Urban Studies class including the proposal team had passed out sur-
veys to the community to get the community feedback. Also we had a community
clean up on April 5, 2008 to clean up some of the garbage that is surrounding the
lot. Our plans for the lot are to plant some vegetation, paint benches, de-weed,
and to create a miniature park.
We are West Philadelphia High School students that are trying to make posi-
tive changes in a vacant lot on 49th
and Chancellor St. Some West Philadelphia
High School students are in an urban studies class and throughout the year we
discussed urban issues, and for our final project we are putting everything we
learned into fixing the 49th and Chancellor St. vacant lot. We as a class need to
make a decision to do something with this vacant lot that will be beneficial for old
In
trodu
ction
/Summary
Picture or something
1
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
4/16
W e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a H i g h
Page 4
Goals/Objectives
As a class we want to change people s views about West Philadelphia High
School by making a positive change at 49 th and Chancellor Street.
Our goals are:
To fix the vacant lot and provide a better place to enjoy
To make neighbors have more pride about their neighborhood
Make the community believe that West Philadelphia High School is
not as bad as the media displays it to be
Also to unite the community with W.P.H.S
N e e d s / p r o b l e m s
There are many problems/needs that exist around the
vacant lot at 49th and Chancellor St:
One of the problems that exists around the vacant lot area is violence
Also another problem is people in the neighborhood not cleaning up and just
having trash around the neighborhood
One of the needs that is major in this neighborhood is to keep it clean
Another need for the neighborhood is to fix the lot and provide the community wi
a better place to spend time
People in the community feel as though the community has a bad reputation so
Issu
es&Objec
tives
2
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
5/16
W e s t
P h i l a d e l p h i a h i s t o r y
West Philadelphia started out as a farmland
outside of the city of Philadelphia in 1854, when it
became a part of Philadelphia. In 1872 the University of
Pennsylvania moved its campus to West Philadelphia. In 1892 Drexel Institute opened at
32nd and Chestnut. During this time affluent white people settled in West Philadelphia in
mansions.
In the early 1900 s transportation changed West Philadelphia. Trolleys were used
to get in and out of the city, and the Market-Frankford El was built in 1910. The
inexpensive transportation allowed middle class families who were Italian, Jewish, and
African American to move to West Philadelphia. Most of the houses were built between
1910 and 1940 during this time of population expansion.
The increase in population led to the need for a high school. West Philadelphia High
School was built in 1911. The student body was primarily white, and the building was
separated by sex ( boys and girls ) . In the 1920 s the two buildings became one and it
has been that way ever since. Even though the building didn t change, the student bodybecame primarily African American. Between 1925 and 1970 African Americans moved to
West Philadelphia in greater numbers. In 1925 West Philadelphia s African American
population was 30,495 and by 1970 it reached its peak at 184,865.
Over the last 30 years gentrification has been occurring. University of Penn s
expansion has meant that college students and university related people moved into the
area by the high school. West Philadelphia High School has stayed almost 100% African
American. During this time West Philadelphia High School hasn t had the best
relationship with the community. The school has been known for fights, fires, and bad
Page 5
ABrie
fHist
ory
3
48th and Walnut on July 12,1911 (from phillyhistory.org)
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
6/16
Page 6
p r o c e d u r e s
Urban Studies students did many things beneficial to the lot-
Made plans on what to do with the lot
Met with the neighborhood which the lot is located in
Collaborated with the neighbors to help clean up the lot
Did a survey with the community about the lot
Proc
edure
s/Statistics
4
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
7/16
Pa
KeyP
ersonnelInvolved
5
The Urban Studies class has had a year long partnership with the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, and along with community input, the professors and
students from Penn have helped use on a weekly basis throughout this
In picture above students from WPHS and Penn, teachers and professors work
on their original lot designs.
W e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a H i g h
U r b a n S t u d i e s C l a s s
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
8/16
t i m e t a b l e
Description of Work Start and End Dates
Phase One Planning Phase 01-08/05-30-08
Phase Two Gathering Resources 06-01-08/08-31-09
Phase Three Make it happen design the lotand make it better 09-08/10-09
Phase Four Maintain the lot by visiting it. Continuing
W e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a H i g h
U r b a n S t u d i e s C l a s s
Time
tableForPr
ocess
6
Page 8
Community Survey Summary
Our class went door-to-door and distributed a survey to the residents of the con-cerned blocks. They either told us through the survey or in face-to-face conversa-tions what they would like to see done with the lot. The wishes of the community
were important in our design efforts.
Items most people wanted included:
Garden
New benches
Flowers
Bushes/shrubs
Mural
Trash cans
Decking on half the lot/flowers on the other half
Everyone interviewed said they would be willing to help to maintain the lotmostagreed a reasonable expectation was to help twice a month.
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
9/16
Bud
get
7
Item Unit No Unit
Cost
Expanded
Cost
Notes
Bluestone Paving 72 $40 $2880 Two entrance areas
Fence 160 $45 $7200 Delgard Madrid Black 8
Gates 4 3 wide2 entrance
Picnic Tables 4 $850 $3400 Landscape Forms
Gretchen
Grill 1 $600 $600
Trash Receptacles 4 $500 $2000 Landscape Forms
Gretchen
Flowerbed 277 $6 $1662
Community Gar-
den
440 $6 $2640
Grass 263.3 $4 $1053
Benches 4 $1600 $6400
Bench 2 $1200 $2400
$30,235.00Total without Labor
Page 9
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
10/16
Summary of Survey Results from Community-
Items most people wanted included:
Garden
New benches
Flowers
Bushes/shrubs
Mural
Trash cans
Decking on half the lot/flowers on the other halfPage 10
Transformingthe
Lot
8
The lot at 49th and Chancellor in its current state.
We want to transform the lot into a community center.
Jane Golden, who is thehead of the Philadelphia Mu-
ral Arts Project, came to tell
and show us about the pro-
ject. She seems to support
our efforts.
Murals have a transforma-
tive effect on formerly bare
walls. We want a mural to
be part of our design pro-ject.
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
11/16
Page 11
New
Infras
tructure
9
Kish Valley Grill for the picnic area.
Madrid fence for the perimeter of the lot.
Gretchen benches for the picnic area.
We suggest new infrastructure at the lot to help beautify the lot,
but also to ensure that it serves the community for years to come.
New benches for the lot.
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
12/16
Our
Design
The design is the combination of the wishes of the residents and a previous
design effort in our class. We tried to create a place where everyone in the
community could enjoy.
We have planned for a small community garden to occupy the north part
of the plot. This is to ensure that members of the community have an in-
terest in keeping the plot in good order. The garden could also be a future
partnership project between the school and the community to educate
about the growing process and benefits of a healthy diet.
9
Page 12
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
13/16
Our
Design
Page 13
9
We designed a picnic area in to the lot. This is a place to meet, and enjoy
the company of your neighbors.
We included tree cover so that residents will have adequate shade .
There will be an abundance of flowers to make the plot colorful and at-
tractive.
There is also a grassy area designed for kids to play. Adults will not have
to worry about their young running out into the street because of the
fence surrounding the plot.
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
14/16
What would we like to see?
Provide money to help the Urban Studies Class stu-
dents complete the project
Provide your help and resources
Pass along our proposal to your contacts people you
think are interest in our project
Recognize West Philadelphia High School studentsaccomplishments and achievements
Page 14
WhatNext?
10
Current Endorsements
The Enterprise Center
Walnut Hill Community Center
University of Pennsylvania Students
West Philadelphia High School principals
The West Philadelphia High School UrbanStudies Academy
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
15/16
Page
Partic
ipants&Tha
nks
Our urban studies class would like to especially thank-Chancellor Street Residents and Block Captains
Jason Custis
William Brown
The Enterprise Center CDCMia King
The Mural Arts ProjectJane Golden
University of Pennsylvania PartnersMichael Nairn
John Puckett
Elaine Simon
Members of EDUC410/ URBS 327 Fall and
Spring Semesters
Walnut Hill Community OrganizationWest Philadelphia High School
Principal Saliyah Cruz
*Any and all people left off this list that helped us along this
process.
Urban Studies Class Proposal Crews
11
-
8/6/2019 49th and Chancellor Proposal
16/16