Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

A new survey has ranked Philadelphia as the fifth most walkable city in the nation, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The website Walkscore.com ranked the walkability of 40 U.S. cities and placed Philadelphia in the number five slot (with Centery City as its most walkable neighborhood), behind San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Washington.

According to Paul Levy, head of the Center City District:  “Philadelphia’s competitive strength is that we were designed, particularly in and around the downtown, before the automobile created really wide streets. So the ability to walk here is extremely good.”

Levy also believes that Philly’s walkability can be greatly improved. One project that he points to is thejust-announced renovations and improvements to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Photo courtesy of KYW1060.com.

University City District is teaming up with the Science Center to renovate and rejuvenate Market Street between 34th and 41st Streets, according to an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian.

University City District Executive Director Lewis Wendell is teaming up with Science Center Senior vice President of Real Estate and UCD board member Curt Hess to revitalize the blocks on Market Street in a more than $5 million project aimed at “creating uniformity in the streetscape.”

Some of the improvements will include light fixtures  powered by the sun and wind, stormwater collection systems that prevents runoff, sidewalks embedded with Wissahickon schist to create a “sparkle effect”, reduced on-street parking, a new bike lane, planted median areas, and more pedestrian lighting.

The improvements are currently being reviewed by the Streets Department and SEPTA. The project is slated to start in about 6 to 9 months when the design is finalized.

“This is going to be part of a gateway into University City,” said Hess, “a much more elegant boulevard.”

Photo courtesy of DailyPennsylvanian.com.

The popular Naked Chocolate Cafe will be opening a new branch of their store at 34th and Walnut this coming September, according to an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian. The cafe will be replacing University Jewelers, which closed in May.

According to cafe’s founding owner Tom Block, the plans for this store began about four months ago, but he has wanted to open a store in University City since his original store opened at 1317 Walnut Street almost 2 years ago.

“We’re hoping we’ll get a very positive response from the students and the entire community out there,” Block said.

Another Naked Chocolare Cafe will be opening on 18th and Chestnut in October.

Photo courtesy of NakedChocloateCafe.com.