Readers Write: Old White People With Big Cars Still Suck
You may have noticed the ongoing construction on South Broad Street, between Sansom and Walnut Streets.† As you are no doubt aware, this block is part of the Avenue of the Arts, one of the most successful adventures of the Rendell administration, and one of the most successful projects in Philadelphia’s recent history.† It included a multi-million dollar streetscape for a mile of South Broad Street which gave us the elegant lights, granite sidewalks, and urbane medians and crosswalks that now mark the Avenue as a premiere destination.
†It turns out that this construction is to remove the granite median and pave over this area to accomodate the parking of Union League limosines (I kid you not)†in the middle of Broad Street†- South Philly style.† It is being done by PennDOT, at the request of the Union League - apparently the Union League had gone to the Streets Department with this request†first, but was flatly denied.† Scarily, the Avenue of the Arts Inc, caretakers of the district, approved it - though this is no surprise as that organization is now†a shadow of its former self.
†Though it might not seem like the most pressing issue, it still presents several interesting angles from which a reporter could investigate.† First of all, this is the uncalled-for and dangerous destruction of Rendell’s medians by PennDOT - the same organization that attempted to remove the brick crosswalks on Broad Street last year until rebuked by the Governor.† Secondly, assuming that only the Union League will be allowed to park there, this†is clear privatisation of public space, probably being paid for with public money.† Thirdly,†it is being done by an elitist organization, one that already has†their own garage and is surrounded by streets and alleys with ample parking opportunities.† Finally, as we so often see in Philadelphia, the “broken windows” theory of city decay will certainly take hold - if the Union League is allowed to park in the median, soon the Kimmel, the Doubletree, the theatres, and the office buildings along Broad Street will too and our showpiece Avenue of the Arts will slide back into the ugly and dangerous†street it was 15 years ago.
And while we’re at it, Capital Grille? Overpriced, ugly and just fucking dork city.
