Midvale Avenue Design was on Community Council Agenda, August 10th
An open design conversation about Midvale Avenue from Ridge to Warden Drive was on the agenda for the EFCC meeting on Monday, Aug. 10. It received positive support and agreement to proceed. You can see the presentation here - we want your input. To see the presentation, click here. To give your input, go to this website and contribute to the blog.
For more information on East Falls Goes Green!, see below.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan
Web Survey and Resources
The Planning Commission is doing a Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. They have hired a consultant and work is going on. They want to hear from you. Take the Survey about walking and biking and give your input about dangerous intersections: it is on their home page www.philaplanning.org.
Also, check out maps of where the bike crashes and pedestrian accidents are happening. For people in East Falls, look at maps labeled "Germantown and Chestnut Hill" and a part of East Falls is also in the "Upper North Philadelphia" maps. Go to the plan's web-site to see them: http://www.tooledesign.com/philadelphia/maps.php
Community Based Economic Revitalization
The mission of the East Falls Development Corporation focuses on community-based revitalization. This means supporting economic development and related improvement efforts that benefit the residents of our neighborhood. The projects and ideas come from the neighborhood for the benefit of neighbors. Right now, we are working on several projects that grew out of community input and that are continually brought before the neighborhood as they are refined, either through other organizations, special meetings, or through meetings of the East Falls Community Council (EFCC). I wanted to take an opportunity to highlight a few of our projects to show the way in which they develop. If you can wade through the alphabet soup, you will see how many organizations, government agencies, elected officials and staff members it takes to make this Village! We greatly appreciate their efforts to support this community.
The Twin Bridges Public Art project. The need for this project became more obvious as plans to build the parking lot under the Twin Bridges developed. It was apparent upon closer examination that the Sports Murals had become aged and were deteriorating. Coincidentally, the Mural Arts Program (MAP), which originally had commissioned the Sports Murals, had become concerned about the condition of the murals and sought to improve the look of them. When we presented this notion at a meeting of the EFCC, community members supported pursuing a public arts project there. The EFCC’s Zoning and Land Use Committee then endorsed the EFDC’s structure of having a committee to review specific design ideas. This committee was open to volunteers. We worked with the MAP to solicit artists. The artists’ work was then displayed for the public to get input. The committee took that input and selected the artists. They are now working with the artists as the design is refined. Because of timing and weather, we have been informed by MAP that the project is scheduled for Spring ’09 installation.
The Bathey House. The Bathey House is the small building between Ridge Avenue and Kelly Drive, across from the parking lot at the Rte. 1 ramps. It is on Fairmount Park land and is controlled by the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust. The building has been vacant for decades and was identified by the East Falls Riverfront Master Plan for renovation. The EFDC obtained an agreement from the FPHPT to work with us to obtain a developer who would renovate the building for the benefit of the neighborhood. The EFDC organized a committee that includes representatives from the East Falls Historical Society and the East Falls Business Association (EFBA), to review possible uses of the building. The committee created criteria for public amenities that include restrooms and information about the Schuylkill River Trail and the Riverfront Business District. The EFDC is currently working with a developer to renovate the building and has raised thousands of dollars in grants from the William Penn Foundation through the Schuylkill Project; the Department of Community and Economic Development, the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) through the Schuylkill River Greenway Association (SRGA), and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Take Me to the River Grant program. We hope that the building will be renovated next year.
Gateway Pedestrian Island and Street Lights. This project will bring a pedestrian island with an “East Falls” sign on Midvale Avenue at Kelly Drive. Not only will it welcome visitors and create a landmark, but it will make it much easier and safer for bicycles, pedestrians and strollers to cross Midvale Avenue and Kelly Drive. This project also includes adding street lights on East River Road and changing the direction of that street behind the Fire Station to make it safer at the intersections. It will also be easier to get to. This project is the first phase of East Falls Reconnects to the River, the urban design for the Riverfront Business District. The design ideas came from a community charette and the plan was approved by the EFCC. The consultants for the plan were funded by the State DCNR through the SRGA which was an outgrowth of the Riverfront Master Plan. Funding for this project was secured from DVRPC’s Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds which come from PennDOT and through former Fourth District Councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell and the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. This project is in the control of the Streets Department and is to be bid out this Fall/Winter.
The work of the EFDC would not be possible without the generous donation of time and other voluntary support from Board Members. These hard working board members include local residents as well as people who are appointed from their organizations that hold Representative Seats on the EFDC Board: Carolyn Sutton, President of Board; Sharon Jaffe, Vice President of the Board, EFCC Representative Seat; Gil Rowe, Board Treasurer; Vanessa Williams, Board Secretary, Resources for Human Development (RHD) Representative Seat; Lloyd Russow, Philadelphia University Representative Seat; Steven Ohm, The Pep Boys Representative Seat; Bill Ballou , Ridge Allegheny Hunting Park Representative Seat; Jim Williamson, EFBA Representative Seat; Daniel Bernstein, Nancy Karahuta, Edward DeLisle; Jeffrey Friedman, Esq.,; John Grady, Heidi Grunwald, Lorina Marshall-Blake, Matthew McClure Esq., Gregory O'Loughlin; Sandra Radich, and John Hawkins.
Gateway Pedestrian Island and Changing the Direction of East River Road
The East Falls Development Corporation is leading a project to build a Gateway Pedestrian Island with a sign in East Falls. This project brings together a number of community goals and plans, including creating an identity, a new wayfinding system, and pedestrian safety. See the design of the Gateway Island
This project is part of Phase I of the “East Falls Reconnects to the River,” plan. This Gateway Pedestrian Island and Sign will be located on Midvale Avenue where Midvale meets Kelly Drive. The funding for the island has been secured by the EFDC from federal transportation funds specifically designated for pedestrian improvements and from the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. The Streets Department designed the pedestrian island, ensuring that it works with the flow of traffic and pedestrians.
The idea of the pedestrian island is simple – to provide a protected area where the pedestrian can safely cross a wide expanse of roadway. The pedestrian island will divide Midvale Avenue between the uphill and the downhill lanes. The island will be a very long narrow triangle, over 100 feet long and about 16 feet wide at its widest, at Kelly Drive. It will not change the number of traffic lanes. It will, however, calm traffic. The Sunoco Station will be reduced to have a single entrance/exit off of Midvale.As part of the project, the direction of East River Road will be changed in the block behind the fire Station.
Design professionals Tod Corlet and Mark Havens have taken the new East Falls logo and created a beautiful sign. The sign was desired to be moderately sized, to fit in with the island and surroundings. The sign will have a natural stone column in the center and curved metal that has the design cut out of it. It is designed to be weather resistant and vandal proof. The materials of metal and stone reflect our industrial heritage but pick up on the elegant design of the bridge railings from the logo. Behind the sign, placed in a long planted section, will be a series of curved metal elements that will reflect the railing design. The low rails and the plantings are designed to further pedestrian safety, diverting pedestrians from cutting across in midblock. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be designing the plantings so that they are harmonized with the sign.
The stone column of the sign will be illuminated at night, so the letters will visible, but the sign will not have internally-illuminated glowing faces or letters. Lighting will be the minimum brightness necessary to function and to compete with surrounding glare. The flat version of the sign does not reflect its true beauty.
Along with the pedestrian island, other changes are in the works. There will be pedestrian scale street lights on East River Road, the unlit road behind the post office and fire department. We have also secured pedestrian “count-down” signals in addition to new “hand and man” signals at the pedestrian island. This will create a strong sense that the pedestrian is welcome and alert vehicles to take caution for pedestrians. The section of East River Road behind the fire station will be changed in direction to lessen traffic confusion and calm the intersection as well.
We plan to build the island in 2009 - it is project of the Philadelphia Street Department.
We can do something to help the River
East Falls Goes GREEN!
The Schuylkill River rises quickly after it rains, bringing us high water and sometimes a flood. This is because upriver there has been so much pavement and building that rain water can't soak into the ground. Instead, it is funneled into pipes and sent to the River. The water is not filtered through the earth, and carries trash and car fluids that pollute our river. There are actions that can be taken that help with the water quality of the river and the fish and turtles who live in it.
East Falls was the subject of a special study to understand what we can do to improve the look of the community while trying to keep water from rushing to the River after a rain storm. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia University's Program in Landscape Architecture, and the East Falls Development Corporation teamed up to work with the community on design ideas. We have published a report, East Falls Model Stormwater Project. Take a look and see how you can do your part to help our beautiful Hidden River. A rain barrel, a new tree, or even some planters in the back yard are a great start.
The EFDC will be working with its partners to see what we can do for our public spaces and roads to make things better. This project was generously sponsored by the William Penn Foundation.
East Falls Goes GREEN!, an opportunity for community residents to take action that will help our river, is moving forward and conducting a series of workshops. This project is focusing on row home blocks in East Falls with the greatest area of impervious surface. Neighbors who want to take action can beautify their homes and blocks, raise their property value and, along the way, help the environment. ADD GREEN, ADD VALUE!
Alyssa Roho conducted the first workshop in the series. She is a dedicated and knowledgeable Philadelphia real estate professional with seven years experience in the area. She is an eco-broker and specializes in Feng Shui. She has posted a blog with lots of helpful information relating to our project and resources to make changes easier and more effective. www.alyssaroho.com
The second workshop was conducted by Dan Benarcik, a horticulturist specializing in "couture" container gardens with minimum maintenance. Dan Benarcik's work can be seen at Chanticleer in Wayne, PA.
Dan gave a wonderfully entertaining and knowledgeable presentation on the topic of Container Gardens!
Container gardens are window boxes, trellises, large containers or a grouping of smaller pots to create attractive Green space.
Two container gardens were given as door prizes to two lucky workshop participants! Dan demonstrated his talent and expertise in creating a container garden that through use of plant material (succulents) and soil would need less watering and a second with the use of marginal plants and compost that would hold water for a longer period of time. To learn more about the workshop click here . 
We have held two more workshops, one on rain barrels (scroll down for rain barrel info.) and the latest on Native Plants...
This latest workshop in the East Falls Goes GREEN! Series covered Native Plants. Native Plants
have evolved and adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. They are vigorous and hardy, so can survive winter cold and summer heat. Once established, they require no irrigation or fertilization and are resistant to most pests and diseases. Therefore, Native Plants suit people’s interest in "low-maintenance" gardening and landscaping, as well as provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other desirable wildlife. Many Native Plants help to enrich the soil. Their root systems help rainfall get into the soil, reducing erosion and runoff. This improves water quality.
The workshop was April 21st from 7pm-8:30pm and was conducted by our Neighbor, Charlotte Kidd and Tony Federici of the Audubon Pennsylvania's Audubon At Home program.
Native plants are available for sale through falls flowers. Door prizes came from falls flowers, as well!
Our neighbor, Ginny Smith, is the garden writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer and she was at the East Falls Goes GREEN! Native Plant workshop. She has blogged about our event...click here!
*We will be holding a rain barrel installation workday on Saturday July 10th that will enable interested residents to continue the effort to help our river. Let us know if you have a rain barrel that has not been installed. You will need to provide all of the hardware and have a diverter, if needed. Check out the information (scroll down) on rain barrels and make sure you have everything you need for installation.
*Are you planning a new look for you front or backyard? Do you have outdoor space that you can enjoy "me" time or entertain in? East Falls Goes GREEN!is offering FREE landscape design so that you can have a space to meet your needs/wants and help our river, as well!
Transform you outdoor living space! Model garden designs by Kim Douglas of Studio Gaea and Philadelphia University's Landscape Architecture Program will be planned for three lucky East Falls neighbors. Let us know if you are interested by June 30th. Include photos of the space you want to transform. 215-848-8084 info@eastfalls-pa.com
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Contractors for small Green jobs----
We are providing a list of small jobs contractors that are available for small Green jobs related to helping our river such as, tree pits and planting, taking up sidewalk or concrete and creating Green space, container gardens, permeable paving, rain gardens, grassy swales, vegetated filter strips, installing rain barrels...
Awbury Gardens and Landscaping; Sally Anderson 215-849-2855 ext#26
Liberty tree and Landscape Design; Mike Duffy 215-886-6111
Caplan Landscape Design; Pam Caplan 215-843-3058
KJK Associates; Ken Kolodziej 215-843-3058
Haye Landscaping; John Haye 610-348-9330
T&J Landscaping; Thomas Lee 267-294-6737
Budget Landscaping; Frank Feliciano 215-989-0076
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Other community resources for Green improvement----
East Falls Tree Tenders; Cynthia Kishinchand 215-849-2474 e-mail
Verden Interior Design Studio, LLC; Glynis Tart "Going Green is Gorgeous"
Urban jungle...makes it easy to keep it GREEN. Curt Alexander 610-220-6794
U.S. GREEN HOME; Hap Haven has been a national leader in the field of energy education for more than 25 years. Hap is actively involved in the community, including being the founder and past head of the Friends of Cloverly Park which was named Philadelphia City Park of the Year in 2006. Hap is intensely interested in issues of social and environmental justice.
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Plants for containers and other new GREEN space ----
Marilyn Shaffer, LHAR Consulting 3541 Indian Queen lane 215-848-5587
Secret Garden, 7631 Ridge Ave Philadelphia, PA 19128 215-483-5009
Peicha Chang, falls flowers LLC in The Marketplace at East Falls peicha@fallsflowers.com
215-888-1754
Native Plants ----
Charlotte Kidd, M.Ed. In the Garden Design inthegarden@charlotte1.us 267-255-5284
Kimberlee Douglas, MLA, RLA Studio Gaea kim@studiogaea.com 610-220-2815
Tony Federici, Audobon at Home Program
Peicha Chang, falls flowers LLC in The Marketplace at East Falls peicha@fallsflowers.com
215-888-1754
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EcoBrokers, Real Estate Professionals ----
Zeta Cross
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Green Roof Specialization ----
K Group; Alex Hallowell, e-mail 215-849-2001 "Environmentally mindful building, remodeling and development"
Roofscapes, Inc. ; Melissa Muroff 215-917-4419, e-mail
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Rain Barrels ----
Alyssa's blog
www.cumberlandcd.com/rainbarrel.html
http://www.phillywatersheds.org/rainbarrel/
http://rainbarrelsandmore.com/
http://rainreserve.com/
Installation handout from East Falls Goes GREEN! Rain Barrel Workshop pg1 pg2
Philadelphia Water department Office of Watersheds Rain Barrel Training installation instructions
Philadelphia Water department Office of Watersheds Rain Barrel Training
more rain barrel resources...
8-rain barrel system at the R6 SEPTA station is up and running. This is a demonstration project to show how rain barrels work and the amount of water that a roof the size of the stations trailer can help to collect. The collected water is used to water the SEPTA station planters and the planting bed (through the use of soaker hoses). Look for informational signage, soon...
Ridge Avenue is subject of study for improvement
Special meeting on Oct. 29, 2007 - What could the area around Tommy Gunn's and Duron Paint on Ridge Avenue look like? - do we need all of those bridges and ramps; can the traffic patterns at Ridge and the City Avenue ramps be improved? - How could the trail along the River be made better? - How can we get people to enjoy the River in East Falls?
These are some of the questions that were asked at a Special Meeting of the East Falls Community Council on Monday October 29 at the Mifflin School. The community development corporations of East Falls, Roxborough and Manayunk have joined together to study this area where our neighborhoods meet - the section of Ridge Avenue, from the City Ave ramps to the Wissahickon Train Station. Here, is the convergence of several major roads, a public transportation hub as well as pedestrian and bike trails. Safety issues as well as ways to improve the look of the area were discussed. The Schuylkill Project, a partnership between East Falls and Manayunk is leading design and engineering consultants in improving the trail and road connections. To see the PowerPoint presentation, click here.
Look at the "New" items. When you are done, you are welcome to give your feedback here - info@eastfalls-pa.com..
The Riverfront Master Plan
Good community-based development begins with good planning. The East Falls Development Corporation has engaged the neighborhood in a series of plans that build on each other.
To begin, in 1998, the EFDC engaged Norman Day and Associates to create the Riverfront Master Plan. This plan focused on overall development of the riverfront, and developed base-line data on traffic, parking and land use. You can see this plan at the EFDC. The Master plan called for a phased implementation of a number of projects, including more detailed design and planning work.
The Streetscape Plan
We then built on this plan by developing “East Falls Reconnects to the River,” the public improvement plan for the area. This plan provides the basis for streetscape improvements as well as details on how to calm traffic and make the area more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. It proposes ways to bring people to the Riverfront by making the river more accessible and attractive. The Plan included input from the neighborhood and City agencies, such as the Planning Commission, the Streets Department, and the Fairmount Park Commission. This is a $10 million dollar plan that is slated to be constructed in phases.
River Access Plan
The projects goals are to create a river access facility that will strengthen the integration of the Schuylkill River into
the community identity at East Falls. The plan will allow river related recreation, educational opportunities and activities to move further up the river to East Falls and beyond. River Access Plan
Way Finding
“East Falls Reconnects” also calls for wayfinding system. This is important because there is no signage in East Falls that designates the neighborhood or shows you how to get from place to place. The EFDC retained a consultant to develop a wayfinding sign system. Their plan calls for a gateway sign at the pedestrian island. East Falls Way finding Plan
Identity
The EFDC ran a design competition last year to develop the logo for the neighborhood. The design, drawn by a student from Temple University. Jack (Shi) Pu draws from the railing design of the Falls Bridge. The EFDC had a logo selection committee, with members Rashida Ng (an architect and Professor at Temple University), Karen Minyard (formerly with PNC Advisors), Gary Crowell (formerly, Dean, College of Architecture, Philadelphia University), Claudia Phillips (Director, School of Landscape Architecture, Philadelphia University), Sharon Jaffe (design professional), and Sean Carton (formerly, Dean, School of Graphic Design, Philadelphia University). The winning logo used the design from the railing of the Falls Bridge. The new East Falls banners use the new logo.
