When we last checked in on the 800 block of Opal Street in June, foundations were being dug for two new homes with a garage in the middle. We were in the area yesterday and the construction has definitely progressed.

View through a vacant lot on 20th St.

From Opal St.

Closer look

As we told you back then, these homes were designed by David Traub Architects, and are modeled after a nearby carriage house on Cambridge Street. If you really like the look of the building on Cambridge Street, there’s apparently an apartment inside that’s currently available for rent.

View of the inspirational carriage house

But back to Opal Street. The two homes are not yet on the market, but should be soon and…

Had a few too many single malt scotches at that house party and forgot where you locked up your bike?

At least your two wheels are going to a good cause. The Streets Department will be conducting abandoned bike sweeps Thursday Nov. 29 and Dec. 6. The bikes have been identified through Philly-311, the City’s if you have a question about City services call ’em up number, and tagged by the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU). Removing the abandoned bikes helps to make way for bikes that are actively in use, and all abandoned bikes collected during the sweeps are donated to local charities that specialize in refurbishing bicycles. Last spring marked the first sweep. It spawned 80 bikes for two charities, 40 each to Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), in West Philadelphia, and Resources for Neighborhood Development.

A lone

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Don’t ask why, but we were in the area today and came to the wonderful realization that 21st Street is being paved at last. You may recall, a water main break back in July has closed the 21st & Bainbridge intersection to vehicular traffic, which has created snarled traffic on South Street for months on end.

The hole

In recent weeks, crews have filled in the pit, rebuilt damaged sidewalks, and milled some of the surrounding streets to prepare for paving. And now, after months of waiting and witnessing multiple hilarious outbursts from frustrated neighbors, the repaving is taking place.

Holy smokes

Looking south

Closer look

We spoke to a worker on the site, who told us that the street should be reopening tonight.

Way to go, Streets Department! Way to go, Philadelphia Water Department! Can’t wait to walk, bike, and drive on this intersection once again.

We were in the area the other day, and noticed that the new pedestrian plaza at 42nd St. and Woodland Ave., which we told you about last month, is nearly complete. As you can see from the photos, this effort has taken a somewhat silly little stretch of city street, and turned it into an inviting and attractive public space.

In the past

Yesterday

Closer look

Huge planter

You can still see the old street

This project is the result of efforts of the University City District, the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, and the Streets Department. Also, kudos to ThinkGreen for an appealing design for this new green space. We’re particularly…

About two months ago, we tipped you off about the creation of a new public space on the southern end of 30th Street Station. This new forty-foot wide space attempts to improve walkability at this meeting of West Philadelphia and Center City and is brought to us by the Planning Commission, the Streets Department, Amtrak, Brandywine Realty Trust, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, University City District, PennDOT, and others. Back in August, the site was under some serious construction, with a new concrete slab taking the place of a parking lane.

In August

The ribbon cutting, grand opening, and naming ceremony for this new space will take place on Wednesday, November 2nd, at noon. The celebration will feature…

In honor of tonight’s grand opening ceremony for the Race Street Connector, we figured we’d head over and see what progress has been made at making the hundred yard walk under I-95 feel less like a hundred yard walk under I-95. For those who don’t know what we’re talking about, the Race Street Connector is the first step in a long-term project to improve access to the Delaware river, and utilizes landscaping, greenery, improved signage, widened sidewalks, and lights projected on a metal screen to improve the walkability and safety of the stretch of Race St. between Front St. and Delaware Ave. The purpose of this connection is to make it easier for folks to get to our pricey but pretty new public space, the Race Street Pier.

View from Front St

Getting closer

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