- Sarah Thorp, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, will discuss the soon-to-be-released master plan for a six mile stretch of the Philadelphia waterfront, including recommendations for land use, transportation, zoning, and economic development. She will point out parks, ecological restoration projects, recreation, and other types of open space designed to make the riverfront a more desirable place to live, work and play. She will point out smart growth development sites, address density and height, as well as options for redevelopment of key sites, such as Penn’s Landing and Festival Pier.
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- Bob Gorgone and Mary Hall, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, will bring us up to date on the Navy Yard. With 1,200 waterfront acres and 1.5 miles of Delaware River frontage, conversion of the facility to commercial uses is long underway, attracting the headquarters of Urban Outfitters, TastyKake, and most recently GlaxoSmithKline. The Navy Yard will ultimately add over 20 million square feet of new construction and historic renovation supporting office, R&D, industrial and residential development and will be complemented with retail amenities, open spaces and expanded mass transit.
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- George Kelley, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., will guide us along Camden’s waterfront, pointing out the evolution over the centuries. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Camden waterfront was a hub of industrial activity. Campbell’s Soup, RCA, and New York Shipbuilding Corporation dominated the landscape. Rail lines running between the plants and the river helped industry support the wars and a growing population. Those industries later relocated from the area and the Camden waterfront lay fallow for years until demolition made way for new construction. This tour will point out this history, and the modern amenities that now welcome people to the waterfront – The Adventure Aquarium, Susquehanna Center, Riversharks Stadium, The Victor, Radio Lofts, and L-3 Communications.
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