Untitled Document

Land Use Plan for West Philadelphia: Reuse of Vacant and Open Land

The development of the current land use plan was based on an assessment that the existing site suitability maps were created with insufficient criteria. For example, the original suitability maps did not account for the space occupied by existing buildings and were therefore unrealistic. In addition, the new analysis was guided by the principle of reuse of spaces and recycling of buildings and materials.

The land uses to be sited are gardens, playgrounds, recycling centers, and fairways. Vacant lots were the primary sites for these operations. In addition, abandoned and/or vacant buildings were mapped and included as a factor in reuse. We saw this redefinition of land use as a catalyst for community-wide change. Instead of a typically hermetically sealed golf course, our proposed fairway weaves together these new land uses with the existing fabric of schools, residential areas, and commercial districts. The fairway provides a locus for an annual community-wide event--a golf tournament--in which the street is appropriated and its ordinary functions temporarily transformed for play.

Determining Site Suitability

Gardens

Criteria:

Vacant lots near residential buildings

Level topography

Away from sewer lines/flood zones

Method:

Garden sites were selected from the total pool of vacant lots after applying topographic and hydrologic criteria.

Playgrounds

Criteria:

Vacant lots close to schools

Flood-prone areas acceptable as sites for stormwater capture and reuse

Methods:

Playground sites were chosen from the vacant lots remaining after selection of garden sites.

Recycling Centers

Criteria:

Vacant lots accessible to transportation (bus routes, streets)

Method:

Recycling sites were chosen from the vacant lots remaining after selection of gardens and playgrounds.

Buildings for Reuse

Criteria:

Buildings determined by site visits to be abandoned or vacant

Near to other sites

Method:

Mapped buildings based on established criteria

Fairways

Criteria:

Streets and adjacent large open areas

	*Gardens* Criteria: Vacant lots near residential buildings Level topography Away from sewer lines/flood zones Method: Garden sites were selected from the total pool of vacant lots after applying topographic and hydrologic criteria.
	*Playgrounds* Criteria: Vacant lots close to schools Flood-prone areas acceptable as sites for stormwater capture and reuse Methods: Playground sites were chosen from the vacant lots remaining after selection of garden sites.
	*Recycling Centers* Criteria: Vacant lots accessible to transportation (bus routes, streets) Method: Recycling sites were chosen from the vacant lots remaining after selection of gardens and playgrounds.
	*Buildings for Reuse* Criteria: Buildings determined by site visits to be abandoned or vacant Near to other sites Method: Mapped buildings based on established criteria
	*Fairways* Criteria: Streets and adjacent large open areas