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Philadelphia Neighborhood Plans

4.1

CHAPTER 4. EARLY ACTION ITEMS

Following is a summary of suggested earlyaction priority items for immediate imple-mentation and action. These projects havebeen recommended for near-term actionbased on one or more of the following criteria:

• The project is part of a prior or currentlyunderway planning or design effort

• The project is a necessary first step for alarger initiative

• Sufficient capacity and resources are inplace within existing organizations toimmediately undertake the work

• Funding for the project is available

HOUSING AND COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

• Appropriate city agencies should move tosecure the "priority development sites"identified in the plan.

• As an initial action the CPZC should workwith the city to develop a demolition delayordinance and community design guidelines.

• The city, in partnership with the Chinatowncommunity, should commission an eco-nomic impact study and master plan toevaluate the comparative costs and impactsof demolishing or retaining and adaptivelyreusing all or a portion of the formerReading Railroad viaduct.

• Community connectivity improvements,including streetscape and gatewayenhancements in the area of the 10th Street

bridge recommended by the Vine StreetReconnecting Communities study shouldbe immediately implemented by the city inpartnership with Philadelphia ChinatownDevelopment Corporation and the CentralPhiladelphia Development Corporation.

• Initial streetscape improvements, as out-lined in this plan, initiated along the follow-ing street segments:

- Along 10th Street - Ridge Avenue spine from the Friendship Gate at Arch to Spring Garden

- Along the 13th Street spine in theCallowhill Loft District from Vine toSpring Garden

- Race Street from the PennsylvaniaConvention Center to 6th Street

- Arch Street from PennsylvaniaConvention Center to 6th Street

• The Philadelphia Chinatown DevelopmentCorporation should work with the city toerect strategic gateways at the followinginitial locations:

- 10th Street bridge- 6th and Race (National Constitution

Center)- 6th and Arch (Gateway Visitors Center)- 11th and Arch (PA Convention Center)- 7th & Callowhill- Spring Garden and Ridge Avenues- 10th & Callowhill/Ridge

• Appropriate organizations in Chinatownshould initiate and implement a "KeepChinatown Clean" educational campaign.

• The Philadelphia Chinatown Development

Corporation along with other local and cityagencies should explore the potential toform a Neighborhood Services District toimprove trash collection and street cleaning.

• A Chinatown social services plan should beprepared to plan and coordinate existingand new community services and facilities,including community outreach programming.

OPEN SPACE, PARKS, ANDRECREATION

• Representatives of the Chinatown commu-nity should work with the PennsylvaniaHorticultural Society to plan and develop aChinatown "greening" program.

• The Chinatown social services plan shouldincorporate recommendations to expandrecreation programming and facilities anddevelop recreation programming manage-ment and leadership.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Form a Chinatown Business ImprovementDistrict to enhance the management, mar-keting, development and enhancement ofthe core business district. (Note: if thisorganization is formed, it may be able toalso assume the duties and responsibilitiesof the Neighborhood Services District rec-ommended above).

TRANSPORTATION

• Implement the initial recommendations ofthe Vine Street Reconnecting Communitiesstudy by the city in partnership with theChinatown community. Use PCDC staff time

CHINATOWN

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4.2

to work on the implementation of the trafficcalming recommendations, includingbumpouts, on-street parking, and the 10thStreet plaza.

• In addition to implementing the initial rec-ommendations of the Vine StreetReconnecting Communities study, pedestri-an improvements should be made at thefollowing locations:

- Along Race and Arch Streets- At the intersection of Ridge Avenue,

Callowhill and 10th Street- Along 10th Street, Spring Garden and

13th Streets

• The proposed Business ImprovementDistrict should work with parking garagecompanies to create a parking validationsystem for customers of local businesses.

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CHINATOWN

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