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Source: Philadelphia Business Journal
Date: November 9, 2007
Byline: Natalie Kostelni

Delaware River waterfront plan is ready for its close-up

An estimated 1,000 people are expected to funnel into the Pennsylvania Convention Center next week to view for the first time the final draft of a vision for the Delaware River waterfront.

The so-called "Civic Vision for the Central Delaware" stands as one of the boldest urban planning exercises to emerge since the late Ed Bacon and his team formulated in 1947 his "Better Philadelphia Exhibition" to imagine Philadelphia 35 years into the future. Then, Bacon, the renowned Philadelphia planner, and his cadre of other ambitious planners laid out a framework that eventually ignited large-scale urban renewal across the city.

This time around, the focus is a seven-mile stretch along the Delaware River running from South Philadelphia to Port Richmond totaling 1,146 acres, which is about half the size of Center City. As with Bacon's plan, this one would be implemented over decades.

As important as the vision is the next step taken by the city's leadership in making it come to fruition, according to those involved and observing the evolving vision for the waterfront. At stake is billions of dollars in infrastructure and billions in potential development.

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