Philadelphia, December 22, 2011 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed legislation that comprehensively rewrites and modernizes Philadelphia’s zoning code for the first time in fifty years. The four-year code rewrite process included 50 public meetings of the Zoning Code Commission (ZCC); two public hearings in City Council chambers; 36 community-based meetings; seven Stakeholder X-Change meetings; two public meetings to discuss why the Commission adopted, rejected, or modified a group’s proposal; interviews with 125 professional zoning code users and surveys of nearly 2,000 individuals on components of the proposed new zoning code.

The Zoning Code, which was passed by City Council unanimously, codifies the City’s development regulations and sets expectations regarding land use. In February 2007, City Council unanimously approved a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Zoning Code Commission, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the voters of Philadelphia. The measure was overwhelmingly approved by voters, with 80 percent of citizens voting in favor of reforming the City’s Zoning Code.
“I am delighted to sign this once-in-a-generation legislation that makes Philadelphia more attractive to developers, promotes growth, and brings our zoning code into the 21st century,” said Mayor Nutter. “Good planning is our best way to preserve the past and to anticipate the future. This modern code will help Philadelphia, in the years to come, to ensure healthy, sustainable development that protects our neighborhoods and grows our city.”

The new zoning code includes changes to the City’s development regulations and approval procedures such as:
• Making the zoning code more user-friendly;
• Reduced number of zoning classifications;
• Incorporation of a civic design review process; and
• Establishing the role of citizens in the zoning approval process.

In June 2008, Mayor Nutter offered his vision for planning in Philadelphia in the years to come. He returned the Philadelphia City Planning Commission as the authority for broad planning and development-related decisions, established the Design Review Advisory Board to provide guidance to the Planning Commission when evaluating aesthetics, form and community context for proposed projects, placed sustainability as a central factor in evaluating development proposals, and the directed the ZCC to complete the first comprehensive code reform in 35 years. Since then there has been much progress:
• The Planning Commission has adopted the Citywide Vision component of the Philadelphia2035 Comprehensive Plan and initiated the first two of 18 district plans;
• Greenworks Philadelphia, the City’s comprehensive sustainability plan has been released and will reach its midway review in 2012;
• The Office of Property Assessment (OPA) is currently undergoing a city-wide property reassessment process; and
• In 2010, the Planning Commission established the Citizens Planning Institute (CPI), with funding from the William Penn Foundation and Office of Housing and Community Development, to educate Philadelphia residents to become “citizen planners” in their neighborhoods and communities. Since then, 90 Philadelphians have graduated.

“Our new code will help to attract investment to Philadelphia, and will also give our communities an organized means for their thoughts, concerns and input to be considered in the planning process,” said Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger. “This transformative code will prevent many of the road blocks that currently inhibit growth and will make Philadelphia’s development and planning more coherent, consistent and predictable in the future.”

Eva Gladstein, Executive Director of the ZCC, added, “The newly reformed zoning code will be a tool that all Philadelphians can understand and use. The ZCC received tremendous and valuable feedback from citizens that drove this process and is reflected in the final code. The engagement of Philadelphians throughout this process contributed greatly to its success.”

“I am excited and thankful that the Secretary LaHood and the Obama Administration have granted Philadelphia $10 million to invest in its neighborhoods,” said Mayor Nutter. “The money for these upgrades will improve the commutes for 92,000 drivers, transit riders and pedestrians. Reinvesting in and maintaining our infrastructure is key to improving Philadelphia. The Administration understands that cities and municipalities cannot wait for Congress to get the job done.”

Secretary LaHood said, “The overwhelming demand for these grants clearly shows that communities across the country can’t afford to wait any longer for Congress to put Americans to work building the transportation projects that are critical to our economic future. That’s why we’ve taken action to get these grants out the door quickly, and that is why we will continue to ask Congress to make the targeted investments we need to create jobs, repair our nation’s transportation systems, better serve the traveling public and our nation’s businesses, factories and farms, and make sure our economy continues to grow.”

IMPaCT Philadelphia is a cooperative effort between the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, Philadelphia Streets Department, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Improvements will take place along transit corridors in Northeast Philadelphia and West Philadelphia.

“We have a fabulous team of partners who over the past few years has successfully brought tens of millions of dollars of competitive grant funds to Philadelphia. Today is one more win for Philly.”

The project will upgrade nearly 100 existing traffic controllers to solid state controllers and connect them through fiber-optic cable. It will also provide infrastructure for the transit signal prioritization, which will extend the green light when a bus or trolley is detected. Other intersection improvements include ADA ramp upgrades, pedestrian countdown signals and improvements in safety and access for pedestrians and people with disabilities.

TIGER grants are awarded to transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact. Projects are chosen for their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, increase energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and enhance the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. The Department also gives priority to projects that are expected to create and preserve jobs quickly and stimulate increases in economic activity.

The continuing demand for TIGER grants highlights the need for further investment in the nation’s transportation infrastructure that could be provided by President Obama’s American Jobs Act. The American Jobs Act would provide $50 billion to improve 150,000 miles of road, replace 4,000 miles of track, and restore 150 miles of runways, creating jobs for American workers and building a safer, more efficient transportation network. It would also provide $10 billion for the creation of a bipartisan National Infrastructure bank.

The City is bringing carton recycling to its residents in a public private partnership with the Carton Council, a group of carton manufacturers united to deliver long term collaborative solutions in order to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. Philadelphia’s recycling diversion rate, the amount of materials diverted from the waste stream, currently stands at nearly 20 percent, reaching rates of more than 25 percent in some neighborhoods of the city.

“Philadelphia is committed to becoming the greenest city in America, and our recycling program is a leading component in this effort,” said Mayor Nutter. “We are proud to partner with the Carton Council to bring recycling innovation to our residents. This collaboration shows what can happen when government and companies work to create successful public-private partnerships. I am proud to be the mayor of a city with individuals and organizations that are dedicated to creating clean and green neighborhoods.”

Beginning immediately, residential households can place all empty, clean and dry food and beverage cartons in their recycling bins. Commonly used carton containers include milk and juice cartons, along with soup and broth, soy milk, eggnog and wine cartons.

The addition of cartons to the curbside recycling program will enable residents to earn more Philadelphia Recycling Rewards points and properly dispose of commonly used holiday materials.

“Adding cartons to your recycling bin is a great way to earn more Recycling Rewards points, which can be redeemed during the holiday season to purchase gifts for your friends and family,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena I. W. Tolson. “Also during this time of year, people are increasingly using carton materials- such as eggnog, broth and wine cartons- for their festive recipes and gatherings. Now is the perfect time to introduce this to the city so we can allow residents to fully take advantage of all of the benefits that this program has.”
The Carton Council’s collaboration with the City of Philadelphia serves as a model for how other cities can promote and implement carton recycling in their communities. The Carton Council acted as a facilitator to help the City achieve its goal to add carton recycling to its curbside programs. A key step was working with the City’s recycling processors to ensure cartons would be marketable as a recyclable commodity before they would be added to the City’s program. The Carton Council provided technical and financial support for equipment upgrades for processing the cartons. The Carton Council is also supporting City staff as they raise awareness and disseminate information on carton recycling to local residents that use the City’s recycling services.

“Carton recycling is a win for Philadelphia’s residents and the environment,” said Derric Brown, Director of Sustainability for Evergreen Packaging, a Carton Council member. “We are committed to working with more cities to take the important step of expanding their recycling programs to keep cartons out of the landfills and into the recycling bin.”

For more information on the City of Philadelphia’s recycling programs, please visit the Streets Department’s website and social media pages at www.philadelphiastreets.com, www.facebook.com/PhilaStreets, www.facebook.com/UnLitterUs, www.twitter.com/PhilaStreets and www.twitter.com/UnLitterUs.

About the Carton Council
The Carton Council is a group of carton manufacturer united to deliver long term collaborative solutions in order to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. The members of the Carton Council are Elopak, Evergreen Packaging, SIG/SIG Combibloc and Tetra Pak. They are working with local government officials, recycling facilities, paper mills and communities across the United States to build a robust system to recycle liquid food and beverage carton packages.

“We are investing to make Philadelphia safer, cleaner and greener,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “We are collaborating with private partners, residents, government and non-profits to promote green infrastructure that will impact our city in the decades to come. At our schools, we are creating rain gardens. In our neighborhoods, we are installing porous streets. At our bus shelters, we are planting green roofs. Every day Philadelphia comes closer to being the greenest city in America.”

Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug was grateful for NRDC’s recognition of the PWD and the City as a whole. He noted, “Our goal is to make the city’s waterways – our precious natural resources – clean, beautiful, fishable and a destination for all citizens. Our sister agencies are our partners in making this a reality.”

The PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters plan includes the following goals:
• Implementation of green stormwater infrastructure to manage runoff at the source and reduce demands on sewer infrastructure;
• Incentivize green stormwater infrastructure for businesses and residents;
• Create a large-scale street tree program to improve appearance and manage stormwater;
• Restore waterways to reduce pollution and support healthy aquatic communities; and
• Responsibly redevelop vacant land and promote open space.

For more information regarding Green City, Clean Waters, please visit www.phillywatersheds.org.

The purpose of the project is to divert water from the sanitary sewer into the storage tank during intense rain storms, thereby reducing the amount of sewage that overflows into the river, a source of drinking water for the City.

The underground storage basin is approximately 400 feet long, 75 feet wide and 25 feet deep, and will be located under the current parking area. The above ground pump house will be approximately 90 feet long and 40 feet wide.

“This project not only provides much needed stormwater management for Venice Island but also enhances its recreational offerings,” said Mayor Nutter. “I hope this project serves as a model for how government and communities can work together to improve neighborhoods. The City of Philadelphia is taking another step forward on its journey to become the greenest city in America as described in Greenworks Philadelphia.”

The existing recreation facility at Venice Island has been demolished in order to complete this project. It will be replaced by a performing arts facility. The existing basketball courts, pool, and parking lot will be replaced, reconfigured and surrounded by landscape that demonstrates green stormwater management practices such as rain gardens, a green roof and tree trenches. These facilities were designed with community input to ensure that they meet the needs of the surrounding area.

“We are witnessing a double win for green-city development on Venice Island today – above ground and underground,” said Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02). “We have a clear example of federal-city cooperation — EPA regulation mandating that we do the right thing for clean water safety, with a recreational bonus for Philadelphia’s citizens, all joined by the vision of Mayor Nutter’s administration.”

“This is an exciting project for the Water Department as it is one of our first, large scale Green City, Clean Waters construction projects to take place. The project will be completed in approximately three years, and will be a wonderful addition to the City of Philadelphia, and the Manayunk neighborhood,” said Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug. “The community involvement in planning and development has been paramount to the success of the project, and we appreciate their assistance and dedication to seeing this project through with us from start to finish.”

The Keating Construction Company will complete the Venice Island Storage Tank project in phases by 2014.Canal restoration and enhancement projects, sponsored by the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Water Department, are also taking place and will be unveiled. For updates and information on this project, visit the following website http://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/traditional_infrastructure

Philadelphia, October 25, 2011 – The City filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit yesterday to intervene in defense of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). CSAPR, when implemented, will reduce the transport of harmful air pollutants from coal-fired power plants in upwind states to downwind regions such as Philadelphia.

Mayor Michael A. Nutter said, “Studies have shown that the benefits of CSAPR far exceed the cost of compliance, and the longer polluters delay implementation of this vital rule, the longer Philadelphia residents—particularly sensitive groups such as children, seniors, and those with health issues—will be denied the tremendous health and economic benefits of cleaner air.”

Operators of coal-fired power plants that are major contributors to downwind air pollution and the upwind states that they call home have challenged CSAPR on the grounds that they will be unable to comply with the regulation in the required timeframe. However, CSAPR’s challengers have long been aware of the required reductions and have had time to prepare. Several power plants in upwind states have already installed necessary pollution control devices to reduce airborne emissions and aid in CSAPR compliance.

Promulgated under the Clean Air Act, CSAPR establishes a market-based, emissions trading system that will limit the release of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, that travel long distances through the air and contribute to harmful levels of smog (ozone) and soot (fine particulates). The emission of these pollutants from coal-fired power plants and other sources located in upwind states currently make it difficult, if not impossible, for the Philadelphia region to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and fine particulates.

Area residents will enjoy improved air quality and substantial health care savings as a result of CSAPR’s implementation. Exposure to high airborne concentrations of ozone and fine particulates are scientifically linked to widespread illnesses and premature deaths. In particular, more than one in five children in Philadelphia suffer from asthma, a respiratory disease that is aggravated by Ozone and Fine Particulate pollution.

Nitrogen oxides, fine particulate, and sulfur dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania will fall by 11, 54, and 75 percent respectively in 2014 with the timely implementation of CSAPR. The airborne concentration of fine particulates in Philadelphia alone is projected to drop by 9 percent over the same period. EPA has calculated that the improvement in air quality attributable to CSAPR will prevent up to 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000 non-fatal heart attacks and 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma nationwide every year. It is estimated that Pennsylvania’s share of these national health benefits will be worth billions of dollars annually.

City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith said, “By reducing the amount of air pollutants transported from other states into ours, EPA’s rule will deliver substantial health and economic benefits to the people of Philadelphia and the region.”

“CSAPR will ensure the air we breathe is cleaner, which means less illness and lower health care costs,” said Health Commissioner Donald F. Schwarz.

“The Manayunk Bridge serves as a bright example of regional partners and community groups collaborating to achieve something great,” said Mayor Nutter. “I am excited for this project because it strengthens the connection between Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, encourages exercise and recreation, and enables all residents to enjoy the beautiful landscape that we share.”

When finished, a walking and bicycling trail across the iconic Manayunk Bridge will connect Lower Merion Township’s recently completed Cynwyd Heritage Trail with Dupont and High Streets in Manayunk. From there, it’s just a short walk to the shops and restaurants of historic downtown Manayunk.

“When the Mayor first talked about establishing the Metropolitan Caucus, we were looking for ways to partner with our neighbors and this project was one of the first to come up,” Chairman Matthews said. “I’m thrilled to see it finally get underway. It will be an absolutely gorgeous gateway between our communities.”

“Today we shake hands in a ceremonial fashion, but it symbolizes how the Township, Montgomery County and the City of Philadelphia have collaborated to fulfill a vision that, as individual entities, we couldn’t have accomplished,” Board President Rogan said.

This landmark project is only possible through a truly cooperative effort. In addition to the City, County and Township, partners include SEPTA, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Manayunk Development Corporation, the William Penn Foundation, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“SEPTA is pleased to be involved in a partnership that can create a new use for an old, transit and iconic asset within the region,” said Joseph M. Casey, General Manager of SEPTA, which owns the bridge.

Future phases will extend the trail to the Ivy Ridge Station and beyond, eventually connecting to the Schuylkill River Trail at Shawmont Avenue.

About the Metropolitan Caucus
The Metropolitan Caucus is composed of a group of elected leaders from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Established in March of 2009, the Metropolitan Caucus focuses on issues of common interest among the five counties.

“Philadelphia is a great place to walk for residents, commuters and visitors,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I would like to thank The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center for recognizing our city’s ongoing commitment to creating a great walkable city. A more walkable Philadelphia makes for a healthier, safer and more sustainable city.”

Philadelphia adopted its first Pedestrian Plan last fall, and a second phase is in progress. In recent years, the Streets Department has made significant efforts to improve pedestrian safety including: converting 535 signalized intersections to all-way stops. This effort alone resulted in more than 50 percent reduction in injury related crashes. Additionally, the Streets Department has expanded the use of countdown pedestrian signals across Philadelphia and piloted numerous innovative traffic calming strategies.

Philadelphia is among ten communities recognized in the latest round of Walk Friendly Communities announced. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze, to silver, gold and the highest designation of platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. To date, 21 communities in the U.S. have been designated as Walk Friendly Communities.

For more information on Walk Friendly Communities, please visithttp://www.walkfriendly.org.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 13, 2011 — EnergyWorks, Greater Philadelphia’s one-stop resource for commercial and residential energy improvements, today announced the approval of a $1.04 million loan to The Goldman Properties Company for large-scale energy-saving renovations at an 18-story commercial property in Center City Philadelphia. The ten-year loan, issued at a fixed interest rate of 4%, will be used to replace 1,290 single-pane wooden windows with double-hung, energy efficient, aluminum windows at The Philadelphia Building, located at 1315 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The upgrade, when compared to the old windows, will result in a 60% decrease in thermal energy consumption and save almost $71,000 in utilities. This represents a 13% savings in the utility bill. The 200,000 square-foot brick-and-masonry Beaux-Arts office building, designed by Horace Trumbauer, serves as an unofficial business incubator for start-up entrepreneurs in creative fields such as architecture, graphic design and fashion.

Tony Goldman, founder and CEO of The Goldman Properties Company, said, “Tenants in The Philadelphia Building are cutting-edge entrepreneurs who are engaged with the city and committed to contributing to its productivity, sustainability and livability. It’s important to provide them with an energy-efficient work environment that speaks to their vision of our region’s future. EnergyWorks allows me to do that simply and inexpensively.”

This project represents one of the first commercial loans awarded by EnergyWorks, a comprehensive energy-solutions program for owners of residential and commercial properties. The program is managed by the Metropolitan Caucus, a coalition of Commissioners and Councilmembers from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties and the Mayor of Philadelphia and is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Program.
Mayor Michael Nutter noted, “When we released our Greenworks plan for the city, we made some big promises to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs at the same time. The EnergyWorks program is doing just that. Goldman Properties has made the smart choice to invest in Philadelphia by implementing a project that will save energy and improve the work environment for creative industry employees in The Philadelphia Building.”

The commercial component of EnergyWorks, administered in conjunction with The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and The Reinvestment Fund, provides expert assistance, energy assessments, and low-interest loans to facilitate energy renovations that result in energy reductions of 25% or more. Financing includes construction loans, term loans, and lease financing. The typical interest rate on an EnergyWorks commercial loan can be as low as 3.5%. In addition to providing low cost financing, EnergyWorks helps connect applicants with energy assessment services provided by Practical Energy Solutions. EnergyWorks will support up to 75% of the cost of an energy assessment.  EnergyWorks is actively seeking applications for projects in the suburban counties, as well as for projects in Philadelphia.

Emphasizing the importance of the regional approach, James R. Matthews, Chairman of the County Commissioners of Montgomery County, said, “EnergyWorks made the Ambler Boiler House project happen, simple as that. This is a great example of the kind of progress we can make when we look past political boundaries and cooperate as a region.”

As a national leader in the adaptive reuse of urban buildings, the family-run Goldman Properties Company has been instrumental in transforming the blocks that connect Philadelphia’s vibrant convention and office district to its diverse residential neighborhoods. The firm was also a major force in reviving Manhattan’s SoHo district and the art deco South Beach section of Miami.
For more information on The Goldman Properties Company, visit www.goldmanproperties.com.

To learn more about EnergyWorks’ programs for commercial, industrial and residential property owners may call (215) 496-8161 or visit www.energyworksnow.com

“I could not be more proud of Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The City is lucky to have such a knowledgeable, visionary and passionate individual leading Philadelphia’s transportation, infrastructure and greening efforts. Deputy Mayor Cutler understands how to get things done. She has helped transform Philadelphia into a more beautiful city while reducing costs and improving efficiency in her departments.”

Deputy Mayor Cutler added, “I am honored to be recognized as the Public Works Leader of the year by American City and County Magazine. The work we are doing to make Philadelphia a more livable, sustainable and economically dynamic city would not be possible without the leadership of Mayor Nutter, our Streets and Water commissioners, our Airport CEO and the tireless work of thousands of City employees. We have done some amazing work in the last several years including the South Street Bridge, a strong focus on green infrastructure, expanding the bike lane network, launching an airport capacity enhancement program and a spectacular gateway mural at the Philadelphia International Airport. We will continue to work hard at being innovative and meeting the needs of Philadelphians.”

Deputy Mayor Cutler was appointed to the job by Mayor Michael Nutter in March, 2008. She is responsible for the coordination and oversight of all transportation functions in the City of Philadelphia. In addition, Ms. Cutler oversees the operations of a variety of City agencies including the Streets Department, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Philadelphia International Airport, and the City’s interests with a variety of transportation agencies including SEPTA, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

Prior to returning to Philadelphia, Ms. Cutler was the Deputy Secretary for Administration at PennDOT since 2003. In addition, Ms. Cutler served for almost 2 years as the Acting District Executive at PennDOT for the 5 county Philadelphia region. Her prior experience includes Transportation Commissioner for the City of Boston, the Director of Parking and Traffic for the City of San Francisco and the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

The subscribers of American City & County submit nominations for the Public Works Leader of the Year Award. The magazine’s editorial staff selects the award’s recipient each year.

American City & County has been the voice of state and local governments since 1909. The magazine serves a nationwide audience of city, county and state officials who are charged with developing and implementing local government policy, programs, and projects. American City & County is published monthly by Penton. For more information about the magazine, visit www.americancityandcounty.com