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Fri
Sep 21
2012

A Semi-Permanent Parklet For South Street West

Yesterday, we were heading east on South Street and came upon a new parklet under construction at 1610 South St., in front of Pumpkin Market. This parklet comes to South Street through the efforts of both Pumpkin and SOSNA, who together applied for and received a $5,000 grant from the Parklet Pilot Program from the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU). With this grant money, Pumpkin is taking a couple of parking spots off of South Street and is not only creating an expanded outdoor seating area for their business, but also a new public space.

Under construction

But almost finished

Design for the parklet comes from Johnston Stromberg Architecture, a design firm that’s based above a certain coffee shop at 18th & South. The rendering below shows the final layout plan for the parklet, which will include tables and chairs, planters, and paper lanterns.

Ooh, so professional

This new parklet will officially make its debut today, as part of Philadelphia’s annual Park(ing) Day. Unlike most of the mini-parks on display, however, this parklet will remain until October 22nd, at which point it will be dismantled in anticipation of the winter months. But fear not! The parket will make a triumphant return in April, and will remain in place throughout next summer.

Way to go, Pumpkin, SOSNA, and South Street West!

9
COMMENTS
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Posted in Graduate Hospital | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments
  • bbb

    So they received money from the city to appropriate part of a public street to further their business? They will be paying the city for the use of the space, correct?

  • Dave

    I agree with bbb. This is kind of an outrage. How is it legitimate to take annex public good, remove several parking spots from a very crowded part of the city, and get a grant for doing so?

  • NEC_2012

    Businesses that set up parklets are not allowed to serve them with waitstaff as if they were private outdoor seating and may not restrict the area for patrons only.

  • pheebs

    Yea I’m confused. they should be paying the city for using the space, not the city paying them to build it. This is a horrible use of city funds.

  • deeeee

    I hate these parklet’s Trashy and cheap looking. Just like those murals all over the city. This is becoming the city of trashy things.

  • Earth

    I mean seriously, why do you think you have a right to those parking spaces? Or the street for that matter? Just think, at one point there was earth there, and then someone decided to pave it, so you could drive your car down it and then, they made it wider so you could park your car there, who decided to annex the Earth for cars?

  • Eric

    No – they received money to turn what was essentially a public parking lot for cars into a public space for humans.

  • Pheebs

    If the space is open to the public then I’m hosting a board game day there this Saturday. Im taking this parklet over! And not buying a thing from Pumpkin. I’ve invited 30 friends and we will be there from noon to 9pm. Just sitting there playing board games all day. No room for anyone else. Maybe we will even sleep there until October 22 when they break it down.

  • john

    Ha, love it.

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