BLOSSOM AT BARTRAM
MPACT PHILADELPHIA OCTOBER 21, 2024
ABOUT CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS
What is Choice Neighborhoods?
Place-Based Anti-Poverty HUD Initiative
Successor to HOPE VI Started during the Obama administration as part of its
Revitalize severely distressed public/and or assisted housing; one-for-one replacement
Support positive outcomes for resident’s health, safety, employment, mobility, and education
Transform distressed neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to services, public assets, and amenities
SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA - KINGSESSING
Assets & Investments
• Biotech and Life Sciences
• Pennovation
• PIDC Lower Schuylkill Biotech Campus
• The Science Center
• St. Joe’s (Usciences)
• Transportation
• Trolley Modernization
• Bike/Ped Trail Network
• University City (jobs)
• River Access
• Southwest’s backyard (Bartram’s Garden)
• Schuylkill River Trail and Bartram’s Mile
NEIGHBORHOOD / PROJECT HISTORY
1644
The township of Kingsessing is founded by Swedish settlers.
1923
The Woodland Avenue commercial corridor blossoms into a retail district.
1942
Bartram Village is built to house defense workers
1970
Immigrants from Southeast Asia begin to settle in Southwest Philly 2010
African immigration increases population in the lower Southwest district 2018
HUD awards PHA a Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Activity grant to develop an aspirational neighborhood plan.
HUD awards PHA a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant to execute the transformation plan.
ENGAGEMENT
HOUSING PLAN
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
Connect, Live, Thrive
Lindbergh Improvements
+ 56th St Gateway
Beautification and Public Art -
“Thrive” Goal 5
• Enhancements, storytelling, and beautification of corridors and gateways
• 56th Street Gateway (56th, Lindbergh, Elmwood)
o Gateway park space at the entrance to Bartram Village, Bartram’s Garden, LSBC South, FloatLab, and NESTT
o Community Design Collaborative Study 2020
o Choice Action Activity for Phase 1
• 56th Street – connectivity to river and many partners
• Lindbergh Blvd – Trolley Stations
• CCI Contribution: $2 million; Leverage over $200,000 (including funds for a Community Public Art Plan)
Trolley Modernization
• SEPTA is revitalizing the streetcar network that first spurred the development of Southwest
• High-speed, high-frequency connection to Center and University City
• Level-boarding for full accessibility
• Increased passengers per vehicle
• Increased safety and security at stations
• $1.2 billion project includes a $150 million Trolley Maintenance Facility located within the target area at 5100 Grays Ave
o Increase in jobs, retail amenities, and blight removal from Grays Ave
o Focus on training for Bartram Village residents
• Mpact Transit + Community 2024
• October 21, 2024
Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia
Our mission is to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia.
13K TRANSACTIONS $19B OF FINANCING 3,350+ ACRES OF LAND SALES
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS JOBS CREATED & RETAINED MORE THAN MORE THAN
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
(2023-2026)
Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
(2023-2026)
PIDC’s three lenses inform our Strategic Framework and annual business plans
LOWER SCHUYLKILL INNOVATION CAMPUS
SITE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
• Informed by 2010 Industrial Land
Use & Market Strategy and 2013
Lower Schuylkill Master Plan
• PIDC acquired & remediated 63+ acres
• 20+ acres dedicated for public use: green space, affordable housing, schools, and transit
• Lower Schuylkill Innovation Campus: two 20-acre sites
LOWER SCHUYLKILL INNOVATION CAMPUS
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
• 1M SF Innovation Campus
• Diverse and inclusive development teams and diverse equity participation
• Quality family-sustaining jobs for SW Philadelphia
• Focus on sustainability and climate change
• Thoughtful engagement and partnerships with neighborhood stakeholders
• Maximize private investment, optimize public investment, and minimize public risk
Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia
LOWER SCHUYLKILL BIOTECH CAMPUS
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
• Environmental remediation at 1700 S. 49th Street, former oil terminal
• $2M US EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant received
• Will be redeveloped for PIDC’s Lower Schuylkill Innovation Campus, as well as important community projects:
• Realignment of Schuylkill River Trail
• Bartram’s Garden’s Field Station
Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia
LOWER SCHUYLKILL INNOVATION CAMPUS
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS
Blossom At Bartram Complete Streets
• PIDC co-funded planning study and will dedicate ~$5M to providing gateway improvements to the corridor, including Commonwealth grant funds
• Supported SEPTA’s 2023 RAISE submission
61st Street Connector
• Shared road will provide truck access to the PIDC Innovation Campus South Site and bicycle and pedestrian access to Schuylkill River Trail.
A cleaner, greener, and safer Kingsessing.
300k+ lbs of trash removed & 20+ acres of historic contamination remediated
Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia
Woodland Academy NESTT Project
Bartram’s Garden Field Station
20 Acres of new public green space
2+ Miles of new riverfront trail
Blossom at Bartram
SEPTA Complete Streets Study
$25M RAISE Grant
Environmental Cleanups
Schuylkill Crossing
Swing Bridge
Float Lab
FloatLab will be a one -ofa- kind, state-of-the-art floating classroom and art space on the Tidal Schuylkill River at Bartram’s Garden in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia.
Concept image provided by Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Brick Visual with Urban Engineers.
