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CITYSCAPE: Plaza plan becomes a debate over public and private space
Turning a side street into a public park is more complicated than you might think.
CITYSCAPE: Plaza plan becomes a debate over public and private space
Left: A plan that eliminates only one lane of parking; right, the whole street becomes a pedestrian hangout spot.
Turning a side street that already shuts down for weekly farmers' markets into a pedestrian plaza for year-round events and general hanging out seemed like a slam dunk to the South Street Headhouse District, which has been looking for creative ways to revitalize the area. But after they won a city grant to turn a block of Passyunk Avenue into a removable pedestrian park, local hardware store owner Mitchell Cohen kicked up a fuss, saying it would kill his business. But last night, after viewing another version of the plan that calls for only one lane of traffic to be closed, he told CP, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I like the idea now."
Not so much for Sally Jeon, whose family owns J-Brite, a dry-cleaner that has been on the block for decades and is known for its drive-through service. "Business is completely unstable right now. We can't afford the risk," she said. "My customers need all the access they can get."
The plan, by the way, calls for raised lawn planters, wooden benches, a fresh coat of paint for the pavement and overhead banners as a gateway to the street.
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