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Wed
Aug 15
2012

New Pedestrian Plaza Coming to Triangle Near University of the Sciences

On site work commenced this week as workers refashioned the triangular intersection of 42nd St. and Woodland Ave. in University City, as part of the City’s Pedestrian Plaza Program. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for September 19th.

Recent shot

Closer look

Launched last year, the program is aimed at transforming underutilized asphalt into welcoming pedestrian spaces, a citywide trend that’s also occurring at blacktops at various city schools and rec centers. Members of the University City District hosted community meetings to collect design input which informed the final renderings, created by ThinkGreen of Glenside.

“We were fortunate in this case to be able to combine that street segment with the adjacent traffic triangle, creating a much larger space that will allow people to sit and linger, including patrons of the Starbucks across the street,” said Seth Budick, manager of policy and research at UCD.

Across the street

Design features include a large planter composed of salvaged logs, some from the nearby Woodland Cemetery, smaller wood planters built in part from joists salvaged from a housing rehab, and a shaded seating area with moveable chairs and tables and umbrellas. Partners at the University of the Sciences will remove the furniture nightly and help maintain the plaza.

Rendering of the plaza

Two of three University City applications were selected by the City for this excellent new program. A second plaza at 48th and Baltimore is planned for next spring. We’ll let you know as we notice these and other plazas pop-up around town.

–Lou Mancinelli

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COMMENTS
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Posted in University City | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments
  • http://philadelphiaplaneto.com/get-to-know-your-comp-plan-public-realm-edition/ Get To Know Your Comp Plan: Public Realm edition | Philadelphia Planeto

    [...] 1. Ped Plazas are coming! Ever since we started tracking the amazing work coming out of New York City’s Department of Transportation in the areas of pedestrian safety and “road diets”, we knew many of the same strategies could be Philly-ized and yield similar benefits, and launching a ped plaza program became a key strategy in the Public Realm section of the plan. Our own Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) is in the midst of implementing a first round of projects, including this one at 42nd and Woodland Avenues in West Philadelphia. We hope to refine and continue this program into the future, and doing so requires community support as well as your ideas for future plaza locations! [...]

  • http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2012/08/16/first-round-to-ucity-42nd-and-woodland-plaza-update-nj-reps-boycott-drpa-meeting-septa-signage-fail-dinics-rules/ First Round to UCity | 42nd and Woodland plaza update | NJ reps boycott DRPA meeting | SEPTA signage fail | DiNic’s rules

    [...] The new pedestrian plaza at 42nd and Woodland is taking shape and will officially open September 19. Naked Philly takes a peek at the plaza’s progress to date and shows off designs that feature salvaged wood benches (logs from the Woodlands) and planters (planks from a house) as well as movable seating and umbrellas. [...]

  • http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/08/little-canal-street-might-become-somthing/ Little Canal Street Might Become Somthing | Hidden City Philadelphia

    [...] In keeping with its Pedestrian Plaza Program, the city will begin work next month on a public space on the vacant triangular lot formed by the int… [...]

  • http://feetfirstphilly.org/2012/08/17/new-pedestrian-plaza-at-42nd-and-woodland/ New pedestrian plaza at 42nd and Woodland! «

    [...] plaza is popping up at 42nd Street and Woodland Avenue in University City! According to the Naked Philly real estate blog, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the plaza on September [...]

  • blorp

    uh did you mean 49th and Baltimore or are they going to build a traffic island at 48th to beautify?

  • http://nakedphilly.com/university-city/update-woodland-pedestrian-plaza-nearly-complete/ Update: Woodland Pedestrian Plaza Nearly Complete | NakedPhilly

    [...] 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 [...]

  • http://nakedphilly.com/university-city/a-walk-down-woodland-avenue/ A Very Cool Storefront on Woodland Avenue | NakedPhilly

    [...] 42nd Street, it passes the newly constructed Woodland Plaza, and continues west past the campus, and touches the southern border of Clark Park as it continues [...]

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