Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: a new program from the City of Philadelphia (2/2/10)
Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate program for Philadelphia businesses making energy improvements to their buildings or equipment.
The purpose of the Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate is to encourage Philadelphia businesses and commercial property owners – especially those near transit hubs and along commercial corridors – to improve the energy efficiency of their operations by investing in structural retrofits and energy efficient processes/ equipment. The resulting reduction in energy consumption will lower operating costs, making these entities economically more viable and competitive in the local marketplace. The program reimburses owners of commercial buildings and businesses who make energy efficiency improvements. The program can reimburse up to 50% of the cost of eligible improvements to a maximum rebate of $10,000. Funding is limited and applica0ons will be reviewed in the order they are received until appropriated funds are depleted.
To be considered, projects must meet at least two criteria: 1) a 20%* reduction in annual energy consumption; and 2) funds expended must result in pay‐back period in funds saved due to energy improvements of no more than 10 years. Typical projects include:
HVAC
Lighting
Energy Management Control Systems
Building Envelope (i.e. windows and insulation)
Commercial Equipment or Major
Appliances
Water Heating Systems
Electric Motors
Renewable Energy Projects
This is the Energy Assessment Form
Big turnout for Pland Planning Meeting (1/21/10)
Over 200 local residents crowded into Mercy Vocational High School’s auditorium on Jan. 7 to participate in a planning meeting about 320 acres of old industrial and institutional land. Titled “Hunting Park West,” the planning area includes the former Budd site, TastyKake, Randolph Career Academy, the SEPTA yard, as well as local arterial streets such as Henry, Hunting Park and Wissahickon Avenues.
The study is a community-based process, with full participation of the Multi-Community Alliance. This is the group that was organized around the threat of casinos in the neighborhood, the placement of the Youth Study Center at EPPI, and the closing of MCP Hospital. It includes Southwest Germantown, East Falls, Nicetown, Tioga, and Ridge/Allegheny/Hunting Park. Led by Democratic Ward Leader Ralph Wynder, the MCA ensured that community groups have had seats on the Advisory Committee that is overseeing the planning study. 
The meeting was organized by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) and led by our Community Planner Jennifer Barr. Members of the Commerce Department have also been active in the planning process and were on hand to facilitate the meeting as well. The PCPC, with input from the MCA and other City officials, hired the consulting firm of Wallace, Roberts and Todd to conduct the study. John Beckman, from WRT, set the stage by giving an overview of the existing conditions of the area.
Some of the significant conditions of the area make it ideal for redevelopment and reuse. First, it has excellent surrounding transit by bus. Although rail (freight and passenger) is throughout the site, there is no current station. It has excellent access to major thoroughfares, such as Rte. 1 and I76, with large arterial streets. Because of the former industrial uses, the area has large capacity for utilities such as water, electric and gas.
Special attention was paid to EPPI because it will likely be sold when the YSC moves to its permanent location in West Philadelphia in two years. Although its location is excellent for development, the buildings’ conditions present many difficulties for reuse. When the study is complete, there will be a separate plan for the redevelopment of EPPI that will be used to market the property.
Some key demographics include that the area has a higher household income and household expenditure per square mile than the City as a whole. Growth in upper income households was also greater than the City’s. According to the consultants, the area could support hour additional supermarkets.
After they presented some possible land use concepts, the planning professionals put attendees to work in laying out some possible scenarios for redevelopment on large maps they provided. Attendees were also given the choice to select a couple of intersections and a street that would be highest priority for improvement. The presentation and the results of the meeting are on the PCPC web site at http://www.philaplanning.org/cpdiv/Neighborhood_Plans/HuntingPk.html
There will be two more public meetings in the study process. They will be publicized in the Fallser.
Funding for the study came from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development as a result of the placement of the YSC at EPPI. Additional funds came from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and in kind assistance of the PCPC.
Meeting Notice: Industrial Land Planning Meeting on January 7th
Area residents are invited to come to a meeting Thursday, January 7th to provide their input into what should happen to industrial and institutional land nearby. The Planning Commission is leading a study about what future land use might be ideal for the 400 acres of land near to Henry Avenue, Hunting Park Avenue, Wissachickon Avenue and Roberts Avenue. This land includes the former Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (EPPI) that temporarily is housing the Youth Study Center (YSC), TastyKake, the Budd Plant, and SEPTA land. It also includes many other parcels and local streets.
The meeting this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Mercy Vocational High School, (at the corner of Henry Avenue and Hunting Park Avenue), is open to everyone. At the meeting, consultants will provide their initial analysis and will seek input from area residents about what challenges and opportunities this 400 acres has for the area. Beyond a supermarket, what else do people want? What specific issues should the consultants be aware of? Special attention will be paid to the EPPI site's future use.
This planning study came about because of the significant amount of land use changes in the area raised concern with local residents and organizations about what would be done in the future. With the closing of MCP Hospital, the closing of EPPI, and the possible moving of the Randolph Career Academy the Philadelphia Public Schools, it seemed as though each of the pieces of land could be developed separately and independently, leaving the area with a mishmash of traffic and development challenges. At the same time, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), was seeing the need for assembling parcels of land so that manufacturing or other large businesses could have adequate space for job creating industries. The neighborhoods around the area, such as Nicetown, Tioga, Southwest Germantown, East Falls, and Ridge/Allegheny Hunting Park joined togehter to respond to these proposed changes. Funding came through when the State and the City located the YSC in East Falls.
Now, with over $200,000 for the study, the neighborhoods have the opportunity to create a Master Plan for the area. The neighborhoods, in the form of the Multi-Community Alliance, have been working with the Planning Commission, Commerce Department, and PIDC to make the study responsive to neighborhood issues and concerns. Representatives are on a City-organized Advisory Committee that oversees the study, including the EFDC. Issues such as traffic, recreation, jobs, market analysis, and zoning are all being examined. This is the opportunity to see if a larger vision for the area can be articulated and designed to attract the right uses.
In a competitive process, where the neighborhoods had a seat at the table, the City hired Wallace Roberts and Todd to conduct the Study. These consultants, along with their team of experts in relevant fields, have conducted the initial phase of the study, undertaking an assessment of the existing conditions and interviewing stakeholders in the area.
Funding for the Study comes from the State Department of Community and Economic Development, PIDC and in kind support from the Planning Commission.
EFDC Board Weighs in on Alternative High School on Ridge Avenue
A branch of Delaware Valley High School (DVHS) is being planned for the 4300 block of Ridge Avenue in East Falls. DVHS is a private alternative school for students from Philadelphia Public Schools who have motivational or behavioral issues. 400 students will be at the school.
Given the proposed location on the Ridge Avenue commercial corridor, the EFDC has engaged local and city leaders, the property owner and DVHS to better understand how this new use will affect the commercial corridor and neighboring property owners. Following those discussions, EFDC has authored and sent a letter to Councilman Curtis Jones with our professional opinion that the proposed DVHS location is not an appropriate location for DVHS as it is not in keeping with our vision for the development of the Midvale/Ridge business district. EFDC has suggested that an alternate location be considered.
The school use is permitted by the underlying zoning. Should the school open, the EFDC will work with the operator on its landscape, fencing and signage design. In addition, we will work to minimize any negative impact on the corridor and to find a suitable location upon completion of the 3-year lease term. To read the letter, click here.
New Business Hours for Wag N Style
Starting next week, Wag N Style, Pet Boutique located at 3734 Midvale Ave, will begin their new store hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11am-7pm
Wednesday: 11am-7pm
Thursday: 11am-8pm
Friday: 11am-7pm
Saturday: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 12noon-5pm
Completing the River Trail Town Hall Meeting - February 26th, Academy of Natural Sciences (Feb. 27th)
What a fantastic evening!
The night was a great achievement. It raised the profile of the SRT, and brought together a lot of people who support completing the Trail. What a terrific success.
Highlights
Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. introduced a resolution in City Council in support of the completion of the Trail and talked about his commitment to the Trail's completion. In the audience State Representatives Babette Josephs and Vanessa Brown and Tony Payton. Staff from State Kenyatta Johnson, Councilman Rizzo and Green. Cindy Bass and Solomon Jones from Chaka Fattah’s office also came and confirmed his support. Mark Focht, Executive Director of Fairmount Park and Charles Carmalt, the City's were on hand to lend their support.
The Academy told us that we had 320 people in the audience, which is tremendous. The Academy did videotape the entire presentation. When that is online, we will notify folks. Go to www.completethetrail.info web site to sign the petition and get more information about the walk.
Two local businesses get Support from the Merchants Fund
Two local businesses were just awarded grants from the Merchants Fund - congratulations to East Falls Fitness and Slices!MerchantsFundGrantees.
Check presentation at Slices. L to r: Scott Aaron (East Falls Fitness), Jim Williamson (Slices), Patricia Blakely (The Merchants Fund), Jim Joyce (Slices)and David Etkin (East Falls Fitness).
The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardship. It evolved from the Mercantile Beneficial Association, an organization dedicated to providing business advice, networking opportunities, and protection from financial failure or default due to illness, old age, or disability at a time in our nation's history when there was no health or disability insurance, or pension plans.
They recently awarded a set of grants to Philadelphia businesses under their Business Stabilization program. The Merchants Fund is committed to providing for the economic needs of the merchant community with modest grants. Merchants must be located in Philadelphia for a minimum of three years. Business Stabilization grants of up to $10,000 are available to help small businesses remain stable and viable in the face of economic challenges, changes and crisis. The application process was competitive. To learn more, visit their web site at: www.merchantsfund.org.
East Falls Fitness plans to use the grant funds from The Merchants Fund on advertising. We spoke with David Etkin and he mentioned that they want to send out mailers around 3 times a year to people in the East Falls, Roxborough, and Manayunk area. You can expect to see their first mailer after New Years! Check them out at: Phone: (215)223-2311 or their Web site: www.eastfallsfitness.com to see membership deals. East Falls Fitness is located at 371 Ridge Ave.
Slices will be putting their Merchants Fund grant funds towards new double decker energy efficient oven. According to Jim Williamson, this will help them have more room to make more pies while also saving money on energy costs! Phone: (215) 843-4747. Slices is located at 4249 Ridge and delivers their gourmet pizza, salads and sandwiches throughout the area.
THANK YOU MERCHANT FUND!
None of this could have possible without the generous grants from The Merchants Fund! Thank you to Patricia Blakely and the Board of Directors for their interest and support of East Falls.
Business Improvement District in East Falls
The East Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is moving forward. A BID is an area where local property owners get together and decide to assess themselves to provide needed services. The Steering Committee for the East Falls BID, chaired by Nancy Karahuta and Mark Sherman, held an open meeting for business and property owners on October 28th at the Sherman Mills. At this meeting, they outlined the service area and the services to be provided. They sought and received good input into the process. As a result, the Steering Committee plans to have legislation introduced in the Spring of 2009.
The services to be provided include marketing, incentives for facade improvements, security cameras, and signage. Over the first five years, cleaning and maps will be added. The service area is bounded by Ridge Avenue from Scotts Lane to School House Lane (including Ali Baba's Limo Service), Midvale Avenue from Kelly Drive to Conrad Street, and Scotts Lane from Ridge to the Falls Center. Excluded from the assessment will be owner occupied properties with three or fewer units and with no commercial use. All other properties will be assessed, including commercial properties and those properties with tax abatements.
Currently, the plan is to begin the assessments in the summer of 2009 with the BID services to begin in October. The EFDC will be supporting the BID through administrative staffing. The BID will be governed by a committee of the EFDC that will have both elected and appointed representatives.
Attending the meeting was Al Spivey Jr., from the office of Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.; Councilman Jones and Mr. Spivey are supportive of the BID and will be working with the Steering Committee and the EFDC to have the legislation drafted.
The Steering Committee will be continuing to meet. If you would like more information, please contact Mr. Sherman at Sherman Properties, Ms. Karahuta at East River Bank, or Gina Snyder at the EFDC.
The winning design for our ARTS BY THE RIVER t-shirt design contest has been chosen! The winning design is “Art Fish of the Schuylkill,” by Becky Baxendell of East Falls. Ms. Baxendell is a new resident of East Falls and is a graphic designer. Her design was inspired by the sign: the Five Fishes under the Twin Bridges: The T-Shirts are on sale at the EFDC office for $10.
Go to our new web page on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/people/28502898@N08/ to see all of the entries.
ARTS BY THE RIVER was on Saturday, October 4 from 10am to 5pm. This family-friendly arts event had something for everyone. The East Falls Riverfront was a day of fun:
- Over 40 area artists and craftsmen including jewelry, textiles, painting and photography, as well as apparel and sculpture.
- Art Activities for children and adults
- Great food
- Kiddie Kapers - moon bounce and petting zoo sponsored by the East Falls Playground Committee as a fundraiser
- Live entertainment featuring local musicians
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- The Clay Studio's Claymobile
- Local Schools, Penn Charter and St. Bridget's - with crafts for children to do at the event
- The winning T-shirt was for sale
- Arts organizations from the region were on hand to showcase their classes and student work
- Grand opening of Limelight Arts, the new performing arts school in East Falls with live music outside
- Philadelphia Open Studio Tour (POST) at Sherman Mills. Local artists at work and in their studios
- Old Academy Players
- Martial Arts demonstration
Arts by the River was at the Inn Yard Park, located between Midvale Avenue and the Falls Bridge along Kelly Drive and Ridge Avenue (4200 block of Ridge Ave.).
Go Green Volunteers Sought
Gardeners sought from row home blocks – Go Green
We are launching a “GoGreen" project that involves people in row house blocks. This is a greening project that will work with property owners to make improvements to their properties that will also help the river. These improvements will create curb appeal, raise property value and make East Falls more attractive.
We want to sit down with those who are interested in taking initiative to make a change for the improvement of the neighborhood, the river and specifically the street or block that they live on. Do you garden or want to work on environmental issues? Contact us to discuss the possibilities and what role you can take.
Also, as part of Go Green, we will plan changes along Midvale Ave. below the Library and at the East Falls SEPTA station. This is the result of a special study of East Falls that was done to understand by a partnership of 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.
We have published a report that is on our web page, www.eastfalls-pa.com. Scroll to the section "We can do something to help the River” for the report link. 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 also be working with local partners, such as the East Falls Tree Tenders, the East Falls Community Council, William Penn Charter School, and the East Falls Business Association, to see what we can do for our public spaces and roads to make things better. This project is generously supported by the William Penn Foundation.
Sports Murals will be replaced with new public art (4/5/08)
The Sports Murals under the Twin Bridges will be removed and replaced with a new public art project. The EFDC has partnered with the Mural Arts Project (MAP) to bring a different look to the area. The East Falls Community Council decided to proceed with this project and a volunteer committee of volunteers has been working together. The artists have been working and the installation is expected after all approvals are obtained from City agencies.
A New Philadelphia Landmark is on! (updated 1/25/08)
On January 12 the Falls Bridge’s new Lighting was officially turned on by Governor Edward G. Rendell, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, State Senator Vincent Hughes, State Representatives Kathy Manderino and Jewell Williams, and City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. They were joined by about 1000 people who came to the party to celebrate the new look in East Falls.
Cookies, hot cocoa and coffee were waiting for the guests at Kelly Drive and Midvale Avenue. The ceremony began with opening remarks from East Falls Development Corporation’s President Carolyn Sutton. She and EFDC Director Gina Snyder were presented with an official citation celebrating the lighting from Councilman Jones. Rep. Manderino then introduced Mayor Nutter, who was then welcomed East Falls resident Gov. Rendell. They were later joined by Senator Arlen Specter, another East Falls neighbor.
The nighttime look is a new landmark for Philadelphia. The bridge highlights Philadelphia’s identity as a “New River City” and announces the community with a strong visual marker.
Grenald Waldron and Associates (GWA) did the beautiful lighting design. The electrical contractor, Carr and Duff, did the work with Urban Engineers as the inspectors. .As an added benefit, there is now a permanent signed and marked pedestrian crossing on the Martin Luther King Drive side of the Bridge.
This project was many years in the planning. The idea was instigated during East Falls’ 100 year anniversary celebration of the bridge in 1995. The current project was led by the East Falls Development Corporation a Because of financial limitations, only the downriver side of the bridge is lit.
GWA’s designer Sandra Stashik, was guided by the Falls Bridge Lighting Committee, that included East Falls residents, Sandra Radich, an architect with Cope Linder; Julie Camburn, President of the East Falls Business Association; Carolyn Sutton, President of the EFDC; and, Ellen Sheehan, President of the East Falls Historical Society. The committee also included Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of the Fairmount Park Commission, and Lane Fike and Joe Doyle from the Streets Department’s Bridge and Lighting Divisions, respectively. This committee worked with Grenald Waldron to present the design to the East Falls Community Council where it was enthusiastically endorsed.
Coordinating the project also took extra efforts from Joseph Certaine in the Governor’s Office, Southeast Region, Jim Donaghy from the Managing Director’s Office, and Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson.
Lighting the Falls Bridge was funded through a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Community and Economic Development. The project and January 12th lighting event would not have been possible without the encouraging support of Governor Rendell and significant contributions from Mark Sherman of Sherman Properties, FX Duffy & Co. Accountants, Urban Engineers, East River Bank and Independence Blue Cross. Funding was also provided by Cope Linder Architects, Robert Brasler, Sunoco Inc., PECO, and the East Falls Community Council and Riverfront District Partners. Contributors included Dorothy Storm of Prudential Fox & Roach, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Gypsy Lane Franco’s Trattoria, Gilbert Rowe, Connie Gillespie of Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, and the East Falls Business Association. Tom and Arlen Leschak of Conrad Catering and Alma Catering kindly donated the cookies and hot cocoa.
Dotting the “i”s and crossing all the “t”s was a team of party-planning volunteers from the EFDC. They included Greg O’Loughlin, Heidi Grunwald, Steve Ohm, Gilbert Rowe, Sandra Radich, Ed Delisle, and Lorina Marshall-Blake. East River Bank was especially supportive, through President Chris McGill, Branch Manager Nancy Karahuta, and Vice President Rose Siegel: The Redevelopment Authority, Executive Director Michael Koonce, and Robert LaBrum are especially appreciated for allowing the use of the Rivage lot for event parking.
Youth Study Center to be in East Falls for Three Years (1/5/08).
The City of Philadelphia's application for zoning approval to locate the Youth Study Center at the site of the former Easter Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (EPPI) was approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Multi-Community Alliance is appealing.
Rivage Developer Selected
The RDA Board voted on Sept. 25 to preliminarily select "East Village" as the new plan for the old Rivage Site. The developers are Riverfront District Partners, a team that includes Ball Street Partners from Washington DC, a partnership between Brian Davis and Christian Laettner and local developers Paul Horning, of Devon Urban Advisors and David Stubbs, of Ivary Towers Investments from Philadelphia. This 1.6 acre site should be sold within the next year.
This is good news for local residents who came to the August 13 Special meeting of the EFCC and indicated that they preferred this project. The EFDC conducted a survey at the meeting and on-line about the three proposals that were submitted, East Village got the highest positive rankings. It was considered the most well designed, thoughtful and connected to the community. It received some negatives because of its height; it was the tallest of the three proposals submitted. Close behind was the Westrum proposal. East Village is as multi-family living over 10,000 sq. ft. of retail spaces with a 3-level indoor garage within its core. They are proposing 173 residential units, in a mixture of 118 apartments and 55 condominiums. They plan to sell the apartments as condominiums within 3-5 years after occupancy. Torti Gallas & Partners, of Silver Spring, Maryland, is responsible for Land Planning and Architecture. They are proposing two buildings, connected by an pedestrian bridge over a public walkway.
The East Falls community has been actively engaged in the selection and review of the potential developers for this site over the past two years. The neighborhood has had a number of a special meetings of the East Falls Community Council, facilitated by the East Falls Development Corporation, to hear about the site, urban design, and various proposals and to provide input. Even before selection, important community goals were put in the Request for Proposals itself through the work of the EFDC. These include streetscape improvements and design requirements. As a result, the developers are required to undertake over $500,000 in public improvements as part of their project. This made sure that the proposals were in line with community concerns in advance. The RDA's vote was a confirmation of a recommendation from the RDA's Selection Committee. Six people sit the Committee, including Sharon Jaffe, the EFCC's representative and representatives from these City agencies: the Commerce Department, the Planning Commission, the Office of Housing and Community Development, the RDA, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation: The Committee's vote was unanimous. Members evaluated the proposals on a variety of factors, including bid price, design, experience with development in Philadelphia, minority participation, and financial feasibility. Riverfront Patners will have until Nov. 27, 2007 to enter into a development agreement with the RDA and will then have six months to obtain the neighborhood's approval for any zoning variances that might be needed.
Torti Gallas & Partners, of Silver Spring, Maryland, is responsible for Land Planning and Architecture. See Their PowerPoint Presentation
Gateway Pedestrian Island
East Falls will have a Gateway Pedestrian Island sign. This pedestrian island will be located on Midvale Avenue where Midvale meets Kelly Drive. The funding for the island has been secured by the EFDC, as a way to make the area friendlier for pedestrians. The sign will also give us a landmark identity market – telling people they are in East Falls.
The idea of the pedestrian island is simple – to provide a protected area where the pedestrian can safely cross a wide expanse of roadway. At an East Falls Community Council meeting in Fall 2006, Mark Havens and Tod Corlett, design consultants, showed the design. They have taken the new East Falls logo and created a beautiful sign. 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 island will have attractive plantings designed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Expanded Parking in East Falls
The parking lot under the Twin Bridges has 50 spaces. It is located under Rte. 1 (The Twin Bridges), between Ridge Avenue and Kelly Drive. Construction is finished. The lot will be operated by the EFDC, with input from local business owners. The cost will be free for the first two hours during the day and then one half of one dollar the for time after. There will be a flat rate fee of $4.00 for evening parking. No overnight parking permitted.
