I agree with Glenn and Al. When I first saw the "parklet", I thought the Green Line arranged to move its outdoor seating into the street. So I was surprised (but then again, not surprised) to find out that UCD put it there. The aesthetics of it is simply ugly--it looks like what it apparantly intends to be: any number of fenced off outdoor cafe seating arrangements. Adding a couple of window boxes with a few plants stuck in them does not render the space into anything approximating a "park"--my back yard comes closer to being a park than that does. As far as Al's question as to who was asked on 43rd Street, I think we all know the answer to that. I agree with Al that the placement of the "parklet" certainly raises questions. If the purpose is to increase needed amenities, why put it across the street from a genuine park, which renders the "parklet" a poor imitation? Why not in front of the Best House? And why in front of the Green Line, as opposed to anywhere else? I also agree with Glenn: "parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime". But in addition to that, I think the location was chosen because the Green Line patrons (who would have been sitting outside anyway) could be counted instead as random individuals, thus proving the the demand for and success of the "parklet". Oh well, enough of this. I'm opening the fire hydrant on the corner this evening; you're all welcome to come to my "beachlet".
From: krf...@aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:31:50 -0400 Subject: Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd & Baltimore To: UnivCity@list.purple.com CC: john.fen...@phila.gov In a message dated 8/10/2011 6:27:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glen...@earthlink.net writes: "University City, like much of Philadelphia, has an unmet demand for pedestrian amenities," said Bergheiser. "Our pedestrian counts throughout the neighborhood grow and grow and we must keep pace. We are pleased to demonstrate that there are simple and low cost solutions to this growing demand for the infrastructure of walkability." What a crock of "green" bullshit. Parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. Local eateries have long known that they must stay loyal and serve the district to get their upscale cookies. Where oh where will the next parklet appear? I have to agree: What's increased outdoors spacing for a private enterprise have to do with "unmet demand for pedestrian amenities?" The article in the UCReview conveyed the impression that the people in the vicinity of 43rd and Baltimore endorsed this "parklet," Who was asked and in what way? What were the actual counts and percentages of a) the people in the area, b) the people actually asked. If a "real" parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. If parking spaces on the street are going to be taken away, some fresh thinking about permit parking and a way to discourage people who drive into West Philly from the 'burbs, park here, then walk or take Septa into Penn. If Penn stopped thinking of its parking facilities as a money-making proposition and started thinking about the burden their high parking prices place on the rest of us, it might show they were actually thinking in terms of a partnership with the community rather than hegemony over it. How does this "parklet" reconcile with the hoops the beaneries on Baltimore Ave have to jump through to get a few tables on the sidewalks outside their establishments? An article the other day in the Inquirer told of the huge increase in fees the city has now imposed on restaurants that buy reserved parking spaces on the public streets. If the Green Line really wants to use what amounts to two parking spaces, whether they park there or use it for patron seating, at least they should go through the process of getting those spaces reserved and paying for them at the going rate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan Krigman KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 krf...@aol.com or al.krig...@krf.icodat.com
