A further argument that could be made against this location for what seems to be intended as a "showcase" high school is the dearth of public transportation in that area (which also comes to mind when I think about the plans to move the Please Touch Museum to Memorial Hall).
The majority of the students in the city who attend the "magnet" high schools as opposed to their neighborhood school depend on public transportation to get there -- it would certainly make sense to build near a major transportation line. On the other hand, regarding the MCP site -- the better choice to look at would be the state-owned EPPI property right next to it on Henry Avenue. It's considerably larger, and MUCH flatter, than the MCP site with enough space for a good-sized school with athletic facilities. And there is absolutely no question that the psychiatric hospital is closing. And hey, from a psychiatric hospital to a high school -- that's not to big a jump!!! Kathleen -----Original Message----- From: J. Matthew Wolfe [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 3:21 PM To: 'Frishkoff, Andrew'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [UC] New West Phila High School It would be good for the school district if a school as outlined in the article is built. It would be good for West Philadelphia if it was built in West Philly. I am not saying that I am against the proposed location, but I would say that we should be careful before we commit to pave over any of Fairmount Park for any purpose. It is ALWAYS easier to build something in a park, since the land is almost by definition already clear, free (in a manner of speaking) and does not involve relocating other uses. It does, however, permanently remove open parkland. In a densely populated urban area open space is very valuable. I cannot believe that there are not other sites. Off the top of my head, there was a plan to bring Carver High School for Science and Engineering to one of the parking lots in the vicinity of 38th & Market. That land is still vacant. The old Mercy Douglas Hospital on Woodland Avenue near 49th I believe is still vacant and has been for years. In today's paper, Tenet said that they would give (for $1) the MCP hospital site to any hospital or the city or state that wants to run the hospital - maybe they would not give it for another use, but regardless it looks like that site will be vacant. The point is that there are, conservatively speaking, a million sites in Philadelphia where you could build a school and it would be an IMPROVEMENT to the surrounding area, whereas there is a downside to building on parkland. A landscape architect friend of mine spoke of being shown a map of Central Park in New York that had superimposed on it all of the various proposals to build things in that park over the years. Had they all been built, they would have virtually completely covered the park. Again, maybe this is the best plan. I am only saying that there had better be a good reason. Matt Wolfe _________________________________ J. Matthew Wolfe Law Office of Alice W. Ballard, P.C. 1700 Lewis Tower 225 South 15th Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 893-9990 Fax: (215) 893-9997 4256 Regent Square Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 387-7300 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Frishkoff, Andrew Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 1:30 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [UC] New West Phila High School The print version of the Inquirer shows what I believe is the correct site: just north and east of the intersections of Girard, Parkside, Concourse Drive and 40th Street. This is northwest of the zoo and west of the I-76 ramp. It is one of the few available sites in the area that could accommodate a new school, other than some former industrial sites that would probably not be as desirable. Andy Frishkoff -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 1/30/2004 10:51 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Subject: Re: [UC] New West Phila High School From today's Inky <http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/cities_neighborhoods/philadelphia/7830188.htm> : The Philadelphia School District wants to build its highly touted new high school in partnership with Microsoft Corp. in West Fairmount Park, across from the Philadelphia Zoo. [. . . .] The proposed site - which was recommended by Mayor Street's office - is adjacent to Girard Avenue and bordered by 34th Street and Parkside Avenue in an underused section of the park just south of Memorial Hall. Where? Maybe I'm geographically challenged, so work with me here. According to Mapquest, Parkside ends on the east at Girard near 40th St. Last time I checked, Memorial Hall was still west of where 42nd St. hits Parkside. So are they planning to build it south of Memorial Hall (I hope not--there's not that much open space between it and Parkside) or across from the zoo at 34th & Girard? These locations may look close together from Redmond, but one would think the Mayor's Office or The Inquirer could tell the difference. Bruce McCullough ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
