LOWER SCHUYLKILL MASTER PLAN
A hard working plan for…
Second Set of
Public Meetings
April 18 & 19, 2012
Planning Team:
Chan Krieger NBBJ - Planning
HR&A and RES Group - Market Research
ARUP and KS Engineering - Transportation
LRSLA Studio - Landscape
Langan Engineering - Environment
Environetics - Industrial Architecture
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 redevelopment 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-byparcel 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Outdated infrastructure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
6 Principles of the Master Plan
1 - Create an Identity for the Lower Schuylkill
2 - Connect the Lower Schuylkill
3 - Protect and Foster Diversity and Flexibility
4 - Reveal the Hidden River
5 - Prioritize Job Creation and Growth
6 - Restore Land and Water with Green Infrastructure
Vision for the Master Plan
To create an innovative 21st century
industrial district for GEDs to PhDs
8
JOBS &
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
EMPLOYMENT DISTRICTS
C. Active
Industry
A. Innovation
District
Energy production:
R&D, Advanced
Manufacturing:
• Oil refining, pending the
outcome of current
efforts to sell the
refinery
• Later stage R&D
• Biotechnology
• Material science
• Hospital-related
industries
D. Essington
• University-related uses
• Medical devices
Airport and
Transportation Uses
• Fabricators
• Just-in-time uses that
require airport proximity
B. North Yard
I-95
• Transportation,
warehousing and
distribution
Distribution/ warehouse:
• Regional and local
distribution with
potential for rail service
• Airport service providers
• Airport-related uses
• Warehousing
Vision Overview
• Traditional manufacturing
LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN
INNOVATION DISTRICT
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 – EAST BANK
Long-term potential redevelopment
site (Waste Management and
Trolley Works)
South Bank (Penn)
University City
Woodland Cemetery
Mixed-use gateway at
Grays Ferry and 34th
Street
Forgotten Bottom Neighborhood
INNOVATION DISTRICT – WEST BANK
R&D and Advanced Manufacturing
University of the
Sciences
Rec Center
Renovation of existing structures
Active waterfront
INNOVATION DISTRICT – ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
The Lower Schuylkill Innovation District will help Philadelphia’s
innovation employment base remain competitive nationally.
90
82k
80
76k
70
53k
(000s)
60
51k
50
8k
45k
40
30
24k
20
10
0
Baltimore
Denver
Current Innovation Employment*
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Washington, D.C.
Projected Lower Schuylkill R&D Park Employment
*Based on HR&A assessment of 2010 employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN
THE NORTH YARD
Sunoco North Yards: 250 acres
Looking north to Bartram’s Garden over new
waterfront park
•
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
Philadelphia Gasworks
PASSYUNK BRIDGE
Sunoco West Yards
Sunoco Active Refinery
Looking north to Bartram’s Garden over new waterfront park
ESSINGTON
Likely to remain Wholesale/Distribution:
•
Airport related uses
• Evolution of car dealerships into distribution
DEALERSHIPS/SCRAP
• Take advantage of airport related uses
• Infill development where possible
• Retrofit green infrastructure
Produce
Center
Eastwick Industrial
District
• Provide connectivity to river and
neighborhoods
ESSINGTON
DEALERSHIPS/SCRAP
Eastwick Industrial
District
Establish the Campuses: 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
HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS TRANSFORMATION?
Economic Tools
Increase Potential for Growth
Annual Growth
Space
Acres
Est.
Jobs
Baseline
280k
SF
23
200
Potential
Growth
450k
SF
39
480
Total CityWide Growth
1.5M
SF
129
1,600
Land Use Framework
Infrastructure
Improvements
Public
Leadership
Long-Term
Innovation Strategy
LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN
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)
IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY
Overall north-south connections are
necessary to:
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
o
I-95
IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY
Phased river road on the West Side:
•
•
•
•
•
I-95
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:
•
•
•
I-95
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
IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY
Stengthen Essington-Passyunk spine as
the main goods movement road:
•
•
•
•
PROPOSED
I-95
EXISTING
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
IMPROVE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY
• Future 47th Street connection
creates access to parcels on the
west side of the river
WEST SIDE
• 34th St improvement and extension
proposes a more people friendly
streetscape and connection to area
south of Grays Ferry Ave
EAST SIDE
PASSYUNK BRIDGE
University of the
Sciences
Establish the Campuses: Bartram Connector
LOWER SCHUYLKILL RIVER MASTER PLAN
IMPROVE EAST-WEST CONNECTIVITY
1. New through streets provide
additional connectivity for the city:
>Snyder Avenue to 58th Street
1
2
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
I-95
Existing Bridge and Connection
Proposed Bridge and New Connection
INTERNAL ACCESS & CIRCULATION
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
I-95
Existing Road- unaltered
Existing Road- retrofit
Big Moves: Transportation
New Road
CREATE A HARDWORKING ROAD NETWORK
“Green Street” network provides
high-quality access and circulation
with great aesthetics and stormwater
management capabilities
I-95
Green Connections
SIGNATURE GATEWAYS SUPPORT NEW IDENTITY
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
I-95
Michigan Ave pedestrian undercrossing
FUTURE TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES
•
Shuttle connection to
University City area and
possible future rail station
TRANSIT
•
Shuttle Extension as Area A
develops southward
•
Potential east side shuttle
route depending on land use
and density of new
TRANSIT
development
•
Shuttle extension connecting
to possible future rail station
as Area C develops
TRANSIT
•
Future rail station at Eastwick
if density warrants
ENVIRONMENT
& GREENSPACE
From Greenworks Philadelphia
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Proposed:
147 acres of Study Areas
Open Space is dedicated to
stormwater management
8.3
acres
BUILD A DISTRICT-WIDE TRAIL
NETWORK
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
CONCEPTUAL RIVER TRAIL
Typical Trail Section at River: Bulkhead
Typical Trail Section at River: Wetlands
NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO THE RIVER
47th Street
58th Street
Wharton St
63rd Street
Snyder Avenue
75th Street
Pattison Avenue
ADD NEW PARKS
Woodland
Cemetery
Cobbs
Creek
Bartram’s
Garden
East Side
Open Space
Yankee
Point Park
Penrose
Park
To Fort
Mifflin
FDR
GREENSPACE NETWORK - YANKEE POINT PARK
Louisville
Boston
• 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 - Park
NORTH
YARD
East Side
• Potential for open space along the river’s edge
Wetlands
Open Space
University Athletic Fields
River Trail Access
GREENSPACE NETWORK - PASSIVE RECREATION
GREENSPACE NETWORK - ACTIVE RECREATION
GREENSPACE NETWORK - ATHLETIC FIELDS
• 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
Overall Vision
Facilitated Discussions
Please take time to visit the four stations to share your thoughts and VOTE
Facilitators will explain each station’s key questions that will help us prioritize
1 JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2 ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSIT
3 ENVIRONMENT & GREENSPACE
4 IDEA DEPOT
50
30.8%
TO
We Must
30.8%
TO
We Must
30.8%
In Order to Enjoy the Benefits of
Al …. of the Lower Schuylkill
Vision: Connections and Open Space Network