9.13.2021

DAG Dispatch

By Lachelle Weathers, DAG Fellow

Start the week off with a wrap up of Philadelphia area news, public proposals, and happenings in the world of design, architecture, and planning. Follow us @designadvocacy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe to our email list to keep up with DAG Dispatch. Articles are shared to spark dialogue and keep our members informed, and do not represent DAG’s endorsement of an idea or project.

Hurricane Ida was an unexpected disaster in Philadelphia. Major flooding happened across the city and building managers, landlords and residents were ill prepared. Recently, city officials have begun to educate developers and architects on the floodproofing requirements for construction in floodplains along the Schuylkill and other parts of Philadelphia. However, FEMA flood maps that can determine where homes are built are severely out of date. How can the city, architects, developers, and future landlords be better prepared for potential disaster?

 

During the 19th century, travel by train was the most popular mode of transportation. By now, that has obviously changed. In an opinion by Alex Davis, he examines the history of the Main Line and explains how the introduction and reliance of cars in these areas has started to influence residential developments.

 

SEPTA is now The Metro? We’ve heard about their new wayfinding plan and SEPTA’s goals moving forward during the pandemic at our last DAG event. This rebrand is a part of a $40 million effort to make the transit system more inclusive and easier to navigate for all new and current riders.

 

The residents of Barclay Farm, a small neighborhood in Cherry Hill, are fighting against a proposed Wawa. They believe that this addition would change the character of the neighborhood and is, ultimately, unnecessary. There are six Wawa’s in the town and several more along the borders. Will this growing franchise win the fight or will the members of Barclay Farm prevail? 

 

Germantown is seeing more growth. A new 45-unit mixed use project is being developed by the Argo Property Group at the previous House of Jin restaurant location. The new property will have commercial space at the ground floor, a bike room, gym, green roof and allocated parking spaces. The development team plans to break ground in 2022.