Inside the Walls by Alex Dews Streets, bridges and power lines all come to mind when we think of infrastructure, but the reason all those things exist in the first place is to connect and power the buildings we inhabit. In Philadelphia, our building stock is perhaps our most valuable infrastructure asset. Earlier this
MoreMore than just a Pretty Face by Alon Abramson We all love before-and-after pictures, but sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the superficial even when a radical transformation has taken place. At first glance, you might think the brightly painted storefronts and homes on 60th Street in West Philadelphia are simply spruced up versions of
MorePushing the Envelope by Alon Abramson A recent change in how low income housing is financed in Pennsylvania, spearheaded by sustainability leader Tim McDonald of Onion Flats, could create a sea change in how all housing is built. To entice developers into building affordable housing, the government provides funding at the federal, state and local
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photo by Lindsay Docherty Man with a Plan by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Andrew Stober is perhaps best known as one of the architects of Indego, the Philadelphia bike share program, which he helped launch while working as the Chief of Staff at the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU). Now, he’s running as an
MoreDiving into a New Life by Marilyn Anthony Paul Johnson is an Aquarius who believes he has found his life’s work with water. A few years ago, Johnson, a 24-year old Strawberry Mansion resident, didn’t have promising prospects. An aimless year at community college, followed by a series of low-paying jobs in security, maintenance, fast food
MoreProject HOME, which seeks to empower homeless individuals and families to break the cycle of homelessness, continues to bring their social consciousness to a string of green building projects, most recently in Fairmount and Chinatown. JBJ Soul Homes1415 Fairmount AvenueJBJ Soul Homes offers units for formerly homeless individuals. Within its four stories are 55
MoreHome Front by Alex Vuocolo It’s happy hour on a Friday at Lo Spiedo, a Marc Vetri-owned Italian restaurant located beside the main gate of the Navy Yard. There are only a few patrons sitting at the bar. One pair sips their draft beers as they look over paperwork. Another is getting the check, ready
Moreillustration by Kathleen White Muting the Feedback by Geoff Kees Thompson If you live near Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, or traverse it on a regular basis, you’ve probably felt that this wide arterial corridor, a former rail yard, leaves something to be desired. Washington Avenue is a space given over to heavy car traffic,
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