Nov 15, 2007 12:00 am US/Eastern
New Delaware River Waterfront Plans Unveiled
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
An estimated crowd of 1,800 packed a room at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Wednesday to hear what a group of University of Pennsylvania experts called Penn Praxis proposed for Philadelphia's riverfront.
The 20-year plan called on extending parts of existing Philadelphia neighborhoods by bridging them up over parts of Interstate 95 and connecting them to the riverfront. Essentially, new modern neighborhoods will be created in the city.
"This has probably been the most comprehensive plan for the waterfront I've ever seen," Mayor John Street said.
Business, entertainment, dining, housing, and open green space are among the focal points of a monumental new design covering a seven mile long strip along the Delaware River.
Slots stirred up the debate with the proposal of two casinos in the plans. But residents are welcoming a revival surrounding the river.
"The waterfront could be one of Philadelphia's treasures and I think it's very sad that it's not," Samantha Erickson said.
"It would beautify it a little bit more make it a more comfortable place for people to visit," Bruce Poe said.
The plan included input from thousand of city residents. Among the crowd in attendance were many who opposed the casinos.
"We believe that casinos aren't responsible development, aren't good waterfront development. Other cities across the country have leveraged their waterfronts for billions of dollars in investment and Philadelphia can do the same," Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance Hillary Reagan said.
So in order to compromise Penn Praxis developed two plans, one with the casinos and the other without, officially remaining neutral in the battle.
"We're saying that cities can accommodate lots of places, if you plan correctly and so we show a waterfront that could be lots of different things," Penn Praxis Harris Steinberg said.
The plan, which is only a recommendation, will take billions of dollars, the city and its residents to initiate it.
"This is what will make Philadelphia a first class city of choice, having a first class waterfront where you can live, work and play within easy distance of everything," Steinberg said.
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