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From: Lynn's mail [mailto:LynnLandes@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 11:32 AM
To: Councilman Mark Squilla; David.Perri@phila.gov; Jon.Farnham@phila.gov
Subject: PSSS Response to The Historic Streets Assessment Report

May 13, 2015

Councilman Mark Squilla
Streets Commissioner David Perri
Historical Commission’s Executive Director Jon Farnham

The Philadelphia Society of Small Streets (PSSS) would like to thank you for all that you and your staffs have done for Philadelphia’s historic streets over the past several years. We truly appreciate it. Below is our response to the January 5, 2015, The Historic Streets Assessment Report.  We have used bullet statements for ease of reading.  In general, we think that the prioritization of the Historic Streets Restoration Program did not work as hoped, for the reasons stated below. Frankly, we are not sure that a computer is capable of making these kinds of determinations.  And although we have had meetings with the Streets Department in the past, we were not included in this project. Below are some comments, suggestions, and our PSSS Suggested Restoration Priority List.  We hope this assists the Streets Department in your decision-making process.

• Priorities and the PSSS Suggested Profile: 
  
  Our main goal is for the Streets Department’s Historic Streets Restoration Program to have “context”.  It seems to make sense that the Streets Department should want to give priority to restore those historic streets that are lined with historic homes.  First, it is important for residents and tourists alike to have safe and walkable streets.  Secondly, it is also important for everyone to enjoy the full historic experience.  To that end, we support The Street Department’s policy of restoring streets in clusters, either near each other or intersecting, when at all possible.
   

• Logistics: 
  
  In order to best combine residents’ needs with enhancing our tourists’ experience, the Streets Department should start in the center of the historic district and then radiate outwards as quickly as possible. Think of it as triage.  The idea is to first restore the streets that fit the profile, then go back to patch and restore the rest.  
   

• The Street’s Top Ten list:  Street Department's & Historical Commission's Top Ten Streets featuring Google "Street Views"
  
  The final Top Ten list presented by the Streets Department appears to be primarily back alleys and side streets of businesses, apartment buildings, and new development.  Only one street, the 300 block of American Street, fits the PSSS profile, in that it is lined with historic houses and desperately needs restoration.  In addition, many of the streets selected are far from the historic district.  The Number 1 street on the Top Ten list is a back street in Manayunk of primarily backyards and garages, and situated over 7 miles from City Hall.  Also on the list are 3 streets in Northern Liberties that are in the midst of redevelopment, and 1 street that appears to be an intersection up in Mt. Airy.  Meanwhile, several historic streets lined with historic houses within the tourist areas and in desperate need of restoration, did not make the list.

• The Historical Commission’s Top Ten list:  Street Department's & Historical Commission's Top Ten Streets featuring Google "Street Views"
  
  Of the 10 streets recommended by the Historical Commission, only 1 street, the 2400 block of Panama Street fits the PSSS profile, as it is lined with historic houses and in need of a total restoration.  Of the remaining 9 streets,1 street appears to be new development, 2 streets need work, but are not unsafe, and the remaining 6 streets appear to be in good condition, needing little if any restoration.  One of the streets in good condition is Station Street, again, in Manyunk.
   
• The Convergence of 4 Issues - New Development, Historic Streets, “Plumbers Patches,” & the Concrete Base: 
  
  We hope that the Streets Department is working with developers or commercial property owners to incentivize them to restore historic streets adjacent to their properties, as that might be the quickest way to get those streets restored. The three streets in Northern Liberties recommended in the Top Ten by the Streets Department, all intersect and are also being newly developed, construction taking place at this time.  We are not sure about the condition of these historic streets before construction started, however, we question what is going on now, as historic block has been removed and set aside.
  
  Question:  Is the Streets Department responsible for restoring historic streets that a developer excavates in order to install utilities, etc.?  Is the developer only responsible to “make it safe” by topping the excavated area with asphalt, as is the current policy for plumbers ditches?  And is that why this new construction in Northern Liberties made it on the Top Ten list?
  
  We have long lobbied for the Streets Department to make it ‘mandatory’ that home owners and their contractors, utilities, public agencies, etc., be required to restore a historic street the way they found it.  So far, we have been unsuccessful.  And the voluntary program does not appear to be successful, as yet.  Part of the problem is the Street Department’s requirement of a concrete base (another policy we have lobbied against), which makes restoration more difficult both physically and financially. The advantages of a street base made up of modified aggregate instead of concrete are the following:
   
  • makes it safer and easier to access underground utilities
  • decreases storm water run-off and creates a drier condition for pavers
  • serves as an “Early Warning System” against collapse due to subsidence
     

PSSS Suggested Restoration Priority List:

1. Society Hill: (These two streets are next to each other in Philadelphia’s premier historic district)

• COMPLETED IN 2017! 
  S. American Street, 300 block (Society Hill) – In a historic/tourist district, lined by historic houses, looks like it needs a total reset.
  MAP:https://www.google.com/maps/place/300+S+American+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19106/@39.9446357,75.1460687,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c89ba97dcd15:0x7dfcd71b0c8b9d56
  STREET VIEW: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.944548,-75.146088,3a,75y,189.47h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1szycXsyGJJTo_k5o9US80JA!2e0!6m1!1e1
   

• COMPLETED IN 2018!
  S. Philip Street, 300 block (Society Hill) – In a historic/tourist district, lined by historic houses, may also need a total reset due to sidewalk that is well above street level and collapsing
  MAP:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/300+S+Philip+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19106/@39.9445913,-75.1457078,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c89bab2b89ed:0xba158be370145944
  STREETVIEW:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9442225,-75.1457902,3a,75y,187.14h,65.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6gb5jQYOZ2ZPQ3aZzxGKwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

2. Wash West:  (These three streets intersect one another in Wash West, another historic district next to Society Hill, and are in the very active community (Jefferson Hospital) at 10^th and Spruce, which features lots of cafes, restaurants, businesses, and the historic Bonaparte House - http://www.ushistory.org/districts/washingtonsquare/bonap.htm)

• Quince Street (Wash West) - 200 block, lined with historic houses, one of the most photographed and filmed streets in Philadelphia, collapsing in several places
  STREET VIEW:https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9475413,-75.159926,3a,75y,190.39h,89.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGmeNGL65qtHEeWUn1CI1Aw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
   

• Hutchinson Street cluster (Wash West) – 200 block, lined with many historic houses and some new construction, needs a total reset
  MAP: https://www.google.com/maps/place/300+S+Hutchinson+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19107/@39.94603,-75.1571143,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c627aea6cb69:0x24e6b474a9967e1b
  STREET VIEW:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.946175,-75.157082,3a,75y,28.76h,70.53t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sahLZJQ7VbMGsjmlY5HD6JQ!2e0!6m1!1e1

  • Bonaparte Court (Wash West) – adjacent to Bonaparte House, lined with some new construction and garages
    MAP:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/949+Bonaparte+Ct,+Philadelphia,+PA+19107/@39.9461576,-75.1566172,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c627a541cbcf:0x8d57730777f52d45
    STREET VIEW:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9463438,-75.1567042,3a,75y,299.33h,63.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDIXtryZqKXWU_I8KJO7AGw!2e0!7i3328!8i1664!6m1!1e1
     
  • Manning Street (Wash West) – 900 block, lined with a few historic houses, plus garages, and businesses, empties onto lively 10^th Street business and café district.
    MAP: https://www.google.com/maps/place/900+Manning+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19107/@39.9458757,-75.1568078,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c627ad3246d3:0xf0ca8ee77636eee6
    STREET VIEW: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9464146,-75.1570783,3a,75y,279.78h,69.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPkNsmvZiBIfoXv8Hftihgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 

3. Panama Street (Schuylkill River/Locust Point neighborhood) – 2400 block, charming street, lined with historic houses, but in bad shape, needs to be completely reset.
MAP:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/2400+Panama+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19103/@39.9478259,-75.1802601,17z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x89c6c646e1dfc47d:0x68334be86d85ea29!2s2400+Panama+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19103!3b1!3m1!1s0x89c6c646e1dfc47d:0x68334be86d85ea29
STREET VIEW: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.947844,-75.180423,3a,75y,301.94h,80.94t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBB-y7bJKaFG9qx52dhp3EQ!2e0!6m1!1e1

4. South Philly:

• Alter (South Philly) – off Front Street, special “blue” street, across from the Rizzo Ice Rink and next to Mummers Museum, needs total reset
  MAP:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/S+Front+St+%26+Alter+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19147/@39.9332058,-75.1457518,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c8a30a7dba3d:0x58039e11f266a302
  STREET VIEW:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.93322,-75.1457759,3a,75y,296.33h,75.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sayv1rkx6aTjk3J3QTNCe8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 
• (2 streets) Oriana and Kater Streets (South Philly) – 300 block, behind TLA theatre on South Street, some houses and businesses, outside eating area, interesting situation.
  MAP: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Philadelphia,+PA+19147/@39.9414397,-75.1480096,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c89949015a23:0xbe3c4bfc85f7fe81
  STREET VIEW:

  Kater: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9411784,-75.1490511,3a,75y,113.2h,81.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swt0u3V-jmF3jZ5ryVVfi7w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

  Oriana: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9411781,-75.1481605,3a,75y,180.61h,72.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ2LXccRctjhXnALH1Qzgyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

• American (South Philly) – off Carpenter Street, special “yellow” street, very charming dead end, lined with historic houses, needs to be reset
  MAP:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carpenter+St+%26+S+American+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19147/@39.9344885,-75.1482435,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c8a22dd85a05:0xfbf5986465e576ed

STREET VIEW: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9347954,-75.1481885,3a,75y,39.39h,69.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9mTtFrgeV8x2CG-CBLf4iA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1  

• UPDATE 1/20/16: Manhole cover and surround area has been fixed!
  Bodine off of Christian Street (South Philly)
  STREET VIEW https://www.google.com/maps/@39.936396,-75.1482825,3a,75y,227.46h,74.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9WqVYG-yTB6kx9NMV9MIzw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
  MAP:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Christian+St+%26+S+Bodine+St,+Philadelphia,+PA+19147/@39.936378,-75.1482789,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6c8a21b79ffd3:0x10aff0a3f8160165

See http://www.lynnlandes.com/TopTen.htm for PSSS comments plus Google Map & Street Views of Top Ten Listing of Streets Department and Historical Commission

Lynn and Cliff Landes, Founders

The Philadelphia Society of Small Streets

http://www.SmallStreetsPhilly.org

http://www.meetup.com/The-Philadelphia-Society-of-Small-Streets-PSSS/

LynnLandes@gmail.com

215-629-3553