LOWER SCHUYLKILL MASTER PLAN Planning Team: Chan Krieger NBBJ - Planning HR&A and RES Group - Market Research ARUP and KS Engineering - Transportation.

LOWER SCHUYLKILL MASTER PLAN

Planning Team:Chan Krieger NBBJ - PlanningHR&A and RES Group - Market ResearchARUP and KS Engineering - TransportationLRSLA Studio - LandscapeLangan Engineering - EnvironmentEnvironetics - Industrial Architecture

A hard working plan for…

Second Set of Public Meetings April 18 & 19, 2012

What is the Lower Schuylkill?

4,100 acres of historically industrial land

• Most land is zoned industrial

• Primary uses: refining, utilities, freight rail, transportation and scrapyards

• Limited residential (approx. 5%)

68% of the City’s vacant and under-utilized industrial land is concentrated here

2

Why do we need a Master Plan for the Lower Schuylkill?

• Identified as a key industrial re-development area by:• Industrial Land Utilization and Market

Strategy for the City of Philadelphia• Philadelphia2035• Jobs were lost over the past as

businesses downsized, relocated or closed (e.g. DuPont, MAB, Sunoco)

• Remains isolated and disconnected despite being strategically located

• Access challenges and site conditions have deterred market-driven, parcel-by-parcel redevelopment

• Several large-scale recent projects signal change and opportunity (e.g. Food Distribution Center, U.S. Postal Service)

3

Key Assets in the Lower Schuylkill• Strategic location: in between PHL,

University City, the Navy Yard and Center City

• Large parcel sizes• Industrial character & zoning• Proximity to transportation networks• Existing infrastructure• Historic assets (Bartram’s Garden,

Woodlands)

4

… and there is a river

that runs through it!

Challenges• Contamination• Constrained highway access• Poor internal road network• Outdated infrastructure• Lack of public river access• Significant amounts of rail

infrastructure• Complicated site control issues• Blight

6

1 - Create an Identity for the Lower Schuylkill2 - Connect the Lower Schuylkill3 - Protect and Foster Diversity and Flexibility4 - Reveal the Hidden River5 - Prioritize Job Creation and Growth6 - Restore Land and Water with Green Infrastructure

6 Principles of the Master Plan

Vision for the Master Plan

To create an innovative 21st centuryindustrial district for GEDs to PhDs

8

JOBS & ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN

R&D, Advanced Manufacturing:

• Later stage R&D

• Biotechnology

• Material science

• Hospital-related industries

• University-related uses

• Medical devices

• Fabricators

Distribution/ warehouse:

• Regional and local distribution with potential for rail service

• Warehousing

• Traditional manufacturing

Energy production:

• Oil refining, pending the outcome of current efforts to sell the refinery

A. Innovation District

B. North Yard

C. Active Industry

Airport and Transportation Uses

• Just-in-time uses that require airport proximity

• Transportation, warehousing and distribution

• Airport service providers

• Airport-related uses

D. Essington

Vision Overview

EMPLOYMENT DISTRICTS

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

Innovation District• Build on momentum of Penn’s

redevelopment at South Bank

• Extend University-related use to Bartram’s Crescent on west side of Schuylkill River

• Unlock potential of site with N/S road on west side of the river

• Take advantage of university demands for open space and recreation

• Consider existing space for “start up” business to spur further growth

INNOVATION DISTRICT

South Bank (Penn) University City

Mixed-use gateway at Grays Ferry and 34th Street

Woodland Cemetery

REED STREET

WHARTON STREET

GRAYS FERRY

I-76 SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY

Long-term potential redevelopment site (Waste Management and Trolley Works)

INNOVATION DISTRICT – EAST BANK

Forgotten Bottom Neighborhood

Renovation of existing structures

Rec Center

Active waterfront

GRAYS FERRY

RAILWAY51 ST STREET

R&D and Advanced Manufacturing

49TH STREET

47TH STREET

University of the Sciences

INNOVATION DISTRICT – WEST BANK

LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN

The Lower Schuylkill Innovation District will help Philadelphia’s innovation employment base remain competitive nationally.

53k

*Based on HR&A assessment of 2010 employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

INNOVATION DISTRICT – ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

• Assemble and prepare parcels for advanced manufacturing, traditional manufacturing and warehouse/distribution (location and need dependent).

• “Shovel ready” underutilized sites and single ownership allow for more immediate development

• North Yard offers large parcels and access to I-76

• Extension and improvements to 34th St provides connection between the North Yards and University City

THE NORTH YARD

Looking north to Bartram’s Garden over new waterfront park

Sunoco North Yards: 250 acresSunoco North Yards: 250 acres

Looking north to Bartram’s Garden over new waterfront park

Sunoco Active Refinery

Philadelphia Gasworks

Sunoco West Yards

PASSYUNK BRIDGE

THE NORTH YARD

Likely to remain Wholesale/Distribution:

•Airport related uses

• Evolution of car dealerships into distribution

• Take advantage of airport related uses

• Infill development where possible

•Retrofit green infrastructure

•Provide connectivity to river and neighborhoods

Eastwick Industrial District

Eastwick Industrial District

DEALERSHIPS/SCRAP

Produce Center

Produce Center

ESSINGTON

Establish the Campuses: Essington

Eastwick Industrial District

Eastwick Industrial District

DEALERSHIPS/SCRAP

ESSINGTON

ACTIVE INDUSTRY

• Currently an active refinery• Sunoco plans to sell or idle the

facility by the summer of 2012• Future plans hinge on the

success of those efforts• Any long-term re-purposing

will involve substantial site work and infrastructure removal

LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN

Space Acres Est. Jobs

450k SF 39 480

280k SF 23

Increase Potential for Growth

Annual Growth

PotentialGrowth

Baseline 200

Public Leadership

1.5M SF 129 1,600

Economic Tools

Land Use Framework

Infrastructure Improvements

Long-Term Innovation Strategy

Total City-Wide Growth

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS TRANSFORMATION?

RECONNECTING THE LOWER SCHUYLKILL

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPEDIMENTS

• No direct connection between I-95 and I-76 West

• Highways and rail viaducts obstruct local access

• I-76 establishes barrier to site on the east side

• Few east-west connections are available for cross-city destinations

• Bridge crossings are far apart (up to 2 miles at points)

• N/S circulation is limited to highway and Lindbergh Blvd (no internal N/S route)

Schu

ylki

ll Riv

er

IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY

Overall north-south connections are necessary to:

o Provide N/S circulation within the study area

o Provide an alternate route between the airport and University City/Center City for passenger vehicles

o Unlock access and development potential for parcels on the west side of the river north of Passyunk

o Direct truck traffic to Essington/Passyunk for internal N/S truck circulation

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

Phased river road on the West Side:•Provides an amenity for future development•Provides a trunk for new streets to branch off•Establishes a destination for neighborhood streets•Supports a revived waterfront•Provides recreational amenity adjacent to it

KELLY DRIVE - PHILADELPHIA

MEMORIAL DRIVE - CAMBRIDGE

IMPROVE NETWORK AND CONNECTIVITY

New arterials will significantly improve:•North-south and east-west access to and through the study area for residents, businesses and employees•Circulation within the Study Area•Access to and from development sites

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

Stengthen Essington-Passyunk spine as the main goods movement road:•Connections to I-76 and Bartram Ave•Connections into center of study area•Ties to new river road at Passyunk Bridge•Create a new green street opportunity

Ess

ingto

n A

ve

PROPOSED

EXISTING

Bartram Ave

IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY

• Future 47th Street connection creates access to parcels on the west side of the river

49 th Street

• 34th St improvement and extension proposes a more people friendly streetscape and connection to area south of Grays Ferry Ave

WEST SIDE EAST SIDE

LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLANEstablish the Campuses: Bartram Connector

47 th STREET

49 th STREET

51st STREETGRAYS FERRY

University of the Sciences

57th STREET

61st STREET

59th STREET

PASSYUNK BRIDGE

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d1. New through streets provide

additional connectivity for the city:

>Snyder Avenue to 58th Street

2. Connect people from one area of the city to resources in another adjacent, but hard to reach area:

>Southwest Philadelphia to FDR Park (63rd to Pattison)

3. Reduce crossing opportunities which can be as far as two miles apart

Existing Bridge and Connection

Proposed Bridge and New Connection

1

2

IMPROVE EAST-WEST CONNECTIVITY

Big Moves: Transportation

New Road Network:

• Large “block” structure to allow for future sub-division and internal streets

• Creates east-west connections through site and into adjacent neighborhoods

• Creates riverfront road to spur development and establish city-wide connections

Existing Road- unaltered

Existing Road- retrofit

New Road

INTERNAL ACCESS & CIRCULATION

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

“Green Street” network provides high-quality access and circulation with great aesthetics and stormwater management capabilities

Green Connections

CREATE A HARDWORKING ROAD NETWORK

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

Create significant gateways:

• Create iconic site entrances for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists

• Connect to surrounding neighborhoods• Provide clear wayfinding to the site• Address rail crossing challenges

Gateway to LAX

Michigan Ave - pedestrian under-crossing

SIGNATURE GATEWAYS SUPPORT NEW IDENTITY

Delaware River

Schu

ylkill Ri

ver

Penrose Ave

Passyunk Ave

I-95

I-76

Lind

berg

h Blv

d

• Shuttle connection to

University City area and

possible future rail station

• Shuttle Extension as Area A

develops southward

• Potential east side shuttle

route depending on land use

and density of new

development

• Shuttle extension connecting

to possible future rail station

as Area C develops

• Future rail station at Eastwick

if density warrants

TRANSITTRANSIT

TRANSITTRANSIT

TRANSITTRANSIT

FUTURE TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES

ENVIRONMENT & GREENSPACE

From Greenworks Philadelphia

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

8.3acres

Proposed:147 acres of Study AreasOpen Space is dedicated to stormwater management

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Bike Network

• Extend the Schuylkill River Trail

• Connect to existing and future destinations, including:

• Bartram’s Garden• FDR Park• Fort Mifflin• Heinz Wildlife Refuge

• Connect to the East Coast and Cobbs Creek Greenways

• Develop a multi-purpose trail network which:

• Provides an amenity for residents and employees

• Supports on-road and off-road trails• Functions as part of a comprehensive

stormwater management system

BUILD A DISTRICT-WIDE TRAIL NETWORK

Typical Trail Section at River: Bulkhead

Typical Trail Section at River: Wetlands

CONCEPTUAL RIVER TRAIL

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO THE RIVER

47th Street

58th Street

63rd Street

75th Street

Wharton St

Snyder Avenue

Pattison Avenue

ADD NEW PARKSWoodlan

d Cemetery

Bartram’s Garden

To Fort Mifflin

FDR

Yankee Point Park

Penrose Park

East Side Open Space

CobbsCreek

• Yankee Point peninsula has the potential to be a strategically located park and greenspace area

• Potential features include:•River Trail •Open Space•Boat Access•Sports Fields•Wetlands

GREENSPACE NETWORK - YANKEE POINT PARK

Louisville Boston

Park East Side

• Potential for open space along the river’s edge

WetlandsOpen SpaceUniversity Athletic FieldsRiver Trail Access

GREENSPACE NETWORK - NORTH YARD

GREENSPACE NETWORK - PASSIVE RECREATION

GREENSPACE NETWORK - ACTIVE RECREATION

• The Lower Schuylkill contains multiple sites which may be suitable for a university athletic field complex

• Why athletic fields?

• Athletic fields bring value to sites with conditions that can’t support more intensive development • Athletic fields can augment stormwater management systems

GREENSPACE NETWORK - ATHLETIC FIELDS

Overall Vision

Facilitated Discussions

50

3 ENVIRONMENT & GREENSPACE

2 ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSIT

1 JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4 IDEA DEPOT

Please take time to visit the four stations to share your thoughts and VOTEFacilitators will explain each station’s key questions that will help us prioritize

30.8%

30.8%

TO We Must

30.8%

TO We Must

In Order to Enjoy the Benefits of

Al …. of the Lower Schuylkill

Vision: Connections and Open Space Network