WHEREAS, It is recognized that commercial corridors are vital to neighborhood development and that such development must involve not only the residents of a neighborhood, but also it’s local businesses; and
WHEREAS, Retail corridors, distressed or otherwise, deserve the support of both public and private dollars; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of redeveloping commercial corridors is to create economic development which in turn can increase employment and business growth and improve on the quality of life; and
WHEREAS, To properly redevelop a commercial corridor there has to be a balance between public spaces, transportation and pedestrian activity; and
WHEREAS, Despite retail corridors, such as the ones located at 60th Street and Baltimore Avenue, 52nd & Market and 40th & Market Streets, suffering population loss, there has always been a significant amount of buying power that continues to exists in these areas; and
WHEREAS, Public, private and quasi-public agencies have made efforts to enhance the current progress in these commercial corridors. These efforts should be commended; and
WHEREAS, The efforts of the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC) should be commended for its overall efforts, however, PCDC’s activities in West Philadelphia have made the residents concerned as to the interaction of newly formed organizations with those already in existence; and
WHEREAS, It is recognized that any revitalization efforts should be coordinated with major councilmanic plans; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to conduct hearings on the revitalization efforts of the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation in West Philadelphia.
End