Casi “No” Turning Back?

This Week’s NutterButter:

There are a lot of rumors going around about the Philadelphia casinos, especially with the most recent development of Ed Rendell getting involved. I had almost given up hope, but it seems that there may be a chance that those opposed might get their wish. There is little to no chance of Foxwoods and Sugarhouse abandoning the project completely, but with some enticement they may re-site their projects to other areas in Philadelphia such as the airport or the old PECO power station.
The following link will take you to Plan Philly’s website where you can get the most recent developments as well as more info on the Delaware Waterfront Plans….

http://www.planphilly.com/node/3120

What’s your take on the whole Casino issue? (Feedback and comments encouraged below…)

Rachel Lipton
REALTOR, Certified EcoBroker
RE/MAX City Space
direct: 215-625-7940
cell: 215-868-5972
email: rlipton@phillycityspace.com
website: www.livegreeninphilly.com

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“Water” We Waiting For? A Shared Vision for Philadelphia’s Delaware River Waterfront

There are 7 miles of blighted waterfront property just east of our beloved center city Philadelphia. On Thursday, hundreds of citizens and advocates joined together at the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing to listen to speakers on the redevelopment of this property including representatives from Penn Praxis, the Next Great City, the Central Delaware Advocacy Group, the PA Horticultural Society, the Del. Valley Planning Commission, Andy Altman, Frank DiCicco, and Mayor Michael Nutter (If you are reading this mayor, I was the one giving you the “standing o”).

10 Action Plan For The Waterfront

Our representatives have been working together and set out a 10 Action Plan in order for us as a city to realize this new shared vision of a beautiful, usable, people friendly, wildlife friendly, sustainable, accessible waterfront that will replace the run down, industrial looking, littered, squandered land that is now at the water’s edge.

The actions are as follows:

1. Appoint an open, accountable, effective waterfront manager
2. Adopt clear zoning, a detailed master plan and a coordinated regulatory policy
3. Build a continuous, 7-mile trail along the waterfront
4. Create new parks and improve the 2 existing parks
5. Guarantee public access to the riverfront and make it easier for residents to walk and bike to the waterfront
6. Extend transit to the river
7. Extend key streets to the river (Tasker, Reed, Pier 70 Blvd, Washington, Brown, Shackamaxon, Beach, and Lehigh)
8. Manage traffic and parking in the area
9. Create a 100 foot greenway along the water’s edge
10.Create a natural river’s edge and restore habitat

Execution of Philadelphia’s Delaware Waterfront Plan

The best part about this plan is that people are already working on execution- especially Mayor Nutter. If I have learned anything about the man, it’s that he sticks to his word and makes the changes he proposes. He stated in that auditorium that this is not a plan that will be put upon the shelf and forgotten about. He pledged to take this proposal out of the planning phase and into the execution phase- effective immediately. One of the highlights to a lot of attendees was his acknowledgement that the casino’s do not fit into this plan, but the truth is that we may not be able to stop them from building….but we must not let them come in the way of the total vision.

Here’s a look at Mayor Nutter’s speech on Brightcove.com:

What Can We Take From All This Delaware Waterfront Planning?

I must take the opportunity now to say, it’s time to purchase property near the waterfront NOW. This plan will happen, and those property values will continue to soar as the plan nears completion.

Go to my website www.livegreeninphilly.com to look at properties up an down Delaware Avenue / Columbus BLVD and other spot near the water, as well as all other real estate in Philly.

Rachel Lipton
REALTOR, Certified EcoBroker
RE/MAX City Space
direct: 215-625-7940
cell: 215-868-5972
email: rlipton@phillycityspace.com
website: www.livegreeninphilly.com

Nutter Butter — New Sustainability Director Eyes PlaNYC

[IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE, PLEASE CHECK OUT RACHEL'S NEW "PHILADELPHIA ECO FRIENDLY HOUSING MAP" ]

Did you know that Philadelphia’s population peaked in the 1950’s at 2 million people? Did you know that since then we have dropped to about 1 ½ million? That’s a loss of 500,000 people when the nation’s population since then has grown exponentially! To top off that astounding fact, in the 50’s there were enough homes built to house 2 ½ million people in Philadelphia, and so that is why as Dr. Mark Alan Hughes (“Call me Mark,” he says,) explains, there seems to be about a million too few people walking the streets when you look around. What does that have to do with Michael Nutter or Sustainability (my two favorite things to blog about), and who is this Mark guy? Read on…

Mark Alan Hughes, if you haven’t heard or read any of my recent blog posts, is Nutter’s newly appointed Director of Sustainability. He comes to us from UPENN and the Philly Daily News, as well as others, and is the man in charge of bringing Nutter’s goal of being the greenest city in the country to fruition. Last night I had the honor of attending his first public appearance since being hired by Nutter at the Academy of Natural Sciences. After a panel of experts who are scientifically studying our city’s water, parks, buildings, etc explained their findings in a language that I hope most of the people in the room didn’t understand (because I couldn’t make any sense of it) Hughes stepped up and spoke to the rest of us in common English. He discusses in brief, a green space plan, community involvement in land use, zoning updates, local food policy, alternative fuel specifications, and improving use of Fairmount Park to name a few. The idea is simply for Philadelphia to evolve into city that’s economy and community work to improve quality of life and the environment by combined efforts and reciprocation of all local residents and businesses. As a leader in sustainable cities we will hopefully have a huge draw for new residents as well as the infrastructure support them, which will in turn keep our economy strong and our city growing.

Hughes want to build on an existing green plan, developed by some planners in a well known neighboring city which will remain anonymous. The strategy is called PlaNYC. Whoops! Think I just gave it away. You can actually order your own copy for free (plus shipping) or download the plan online (save some trees!) . Hughes claims that is by far the best plan of it’s kind by far, but don’t take his word for it. Take a look for yourself and you will see the challenges that they are dealing with and their solutions. Although our cities are similar, keep in mind we have a lot more in our favor as we are not an island and have space to spread out a bit more as well as the fact that we are not expecting to have a population around 9 ¼ million by 2030. We have an edge. Let’s use it!

Anyway, in closing let me just say,
Good hire, Mayor Nutter, and thanks to Mark Hughes for stepping up an taking on the Dragon. (Had to be there…)

Rachel Lipton
REALTOR, Certified EcoBroker
RE/MAX City Space
direct: 215-625-7940
cell: 215-868-5972
email: rlipton@phillycityspace.com
website: www.livegreeninphilly.com

It IS Green to watch TV some times!

Hello Philadelphia. When you think about the changes that you can make in your life to realize your more sustainable self and reduce your carbon footprint, one of the first and easiest things to do is use less electricity.  In my own home, I let that be the straw that broke my inner camel’s back and convinced myself to stop watching so much television (as well as some other energy saving habits.  It’s easy to do in the summer time, but last night as I folded the laundry I let myself indulge a bit to watch the Phillies shut out the Marlins! Anyway, as I channel surfed during commercials I came upon Planet Green, Discovery’s new (semi new) network dedicated to greening the planet in almost every facet. The program I caught was Renovation Nation hosted by Steve Thomas, formerly of This Old House.

Thomas visits individuals all over the country (and perhaps planet- not sure yet- I have only seen one episode) that are renovating their homes green, using simple techniques from recycling old building material and using non-toxic paints and finishes to more complicated geothermal and solar power, as well as green roofs and rain water recycling.
This show is awesome, because even if you don’t have the money to renovate your whole house, you can use most of what you learn to make small changes that all add up to less of an impact on our planet.
Click here http://planetgreen.discovery.com/

To find out which channel to find this network from your cable provider, and email me if you want to look into all the green developments for sale in Philly rlipton@Phillycityspace.com

-Rachel Lipton

(Get To Know Rachel A Little Better @ LiveGreenInPhilly.Com)

Johnny Brenda’s Forum Features Mayor Nutter’s New Deputy, Andrew Altman

NUTTER BUTTER AUDIO BONUS! Click to listen to the first 30 Minutes of last nights presentation which kicks off with RBM, (the PhillySkyline guy) introducing the panel…

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From Re/Max City Space Eco-Broker Rachel Lipton…

Last night I attended what I can only describe as a truly inspiring event. Andy Altman, who is the newest addition to Nutter cabinet wearing the various hats of Director of Commerce and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic development, was the featured guest speaker. Further info about Mr. Altman at this PlanPhilly.Com page.

Andy Altman downs a brew and reveals details about a short-lived childhood maritime club and prospect’s for Philly’s Waterfront.

He sat on a panel with three representatives of my favorite architectural and design firm, Onion Flats, who are putting the first LEED Platinum Certified Homes (definition- the greenest, most sustainable homes around) on the market in Philadelphia.

Altman took time to talk about growing up in Germantown, why he became a city planner, and now why he has finally brought his expertise back to his hometown after spending his professional years cleaning up other major cities- and had the audience laughing the whole time. His concentration has been on waterfronts, and he spoke about the great potential our Delaware river waterfront has despite the obstacles of I95 and the casinos. He seems to be not just a guy who will help meet the goals that Michael Nutter has layed out for us, but an approachable guy as well, who wasn’t afraid of some tough questions shot at him.

Onion Flat’s Guys May Have Been Responsible for Maritime Club’s Demise?

The turnout was awesome and I felt the event was held in the perfect venue- upstairs at Johnny Brenda’s- which bridges the gap between Northern Liberties and Fishtown, Hipster and Yuppie, good beer and good music, and much more. For more info on Altman or to find out about Onion Flats’ new green homes, email me at rlipton@phillycityspace.com or search online for them at www.livegreeninphilly.com.

-Rachel Lipton

(Get To Know Rachel A Little Better @ LiveGreenInPhilly.Com)

766-68 E Passyunk Ave

Award winning contemporary home with Garage Parking on an awesome Queen Village Corner. Three story atrium styled living room, three bedrooms (two with fireplaces), 3 1/2 bathrooms. Designer kitchen with Sub Zero refrigerator, Viking oven/stove, hardwood flooring, modern staircases, den/office and dining room that overlook living area, and tons of windows and light. Outdoor space includes a huge patio with lots of entertaining space and a brand new bi-level roofdeck which was just installed on top of the brand new roof (May- 2008). 360 views of the city.

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT RACHEL LIPTON

Offered at $1,200,000

The Man With a (Green) Plan

Michael Nutter has named Philadelphia’s first Director of Sustainability and he didn’t have to go far to find him. You might recognize Mark Alan Hughes’s name from his column in the Daily news or his face from UPENN’s campus or any of the plethora of impressive positions he has held in the region and around the country. For a full resume check out Mr Hughes’s website bio here

It seems that the concentration in his career has been in policy and planning, which is probably why he will double as one of Nutter’s senior advisors. More recently, though, he enrolled in the professional architecture degree program in the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania- which we hope will translate into city council concentrating on Energy Star and LEED Certified homes. For more information on sustainable homes on the market, visit www.livegreeninphilly.com. With Mayor Nutter’s “Let’s be the Greenest” goal, though, I am sure that is on the agenda.

It’s also good to see we are promoting from within! Seems that Michael Nutter likes to “Buy Fresh Buy Local”, but this guy will cost him- Hughes salary starts at $150K!

-Rachel Lipton

(Get To Know Rachel A Little Better @ LiveGreenInPhilly.Com)

Nutter Confronts Cop Killer

Late, Wednesday evening, Eric DeShawn Floyd was brought in for the murder of Philadelphia Police Sgt Stephen Liczbinski. He and his girlfriend had been hiding out at a boarded up rowhouse in Southwest Philadelphia with no running water and no electricity for the last few days. The whole city breathed a sigh of relief as the goal was to bring in Floyd by the time the funeral processions began, which were Thursday morning. The most impressive and profound piece of this story, though, was that when Floyd arrived at police Headquarters shortly after midnight, Mayor Nutter was there waiting for him, only to greet him with one sentiment, “How disappointed I was in him.”
Folks, we- all residents of Philadelphia- have a new parent to answer to when we are not behaving in such a way to better ourselves and our city. Now it’s time to shape up.

-Rachel Lipton

(Get To Know Rachel A Little Better @ LiveGreenInPhilly.Com)

Nutter Butter: How Green Are Philadelphia’s Dollars?

We have all heard that Mayor Michael Nutter wants Philadelphia to emerge in coming years as The Green City in America. If you are not on the band wagon yet, it’s time to jump aboard! One of the great aspects of this goal is that he actually has a plan, and a realistic one at that!

The Mayor wants to throw some $6 million in the next year, and $25 million over the next five years at recycling. Currently, as a city, we are at the low, low collection rate of 6%. With this added money in the budget, Nutter aims to start collecting on a weekly basis instead of every other week, and make the system more user friendly to participation. In addition, he wants to implement a city-wide litter prevention strategy based on the prior effort of Councilman Frank DiCicco.

Another effort will be directed at Fairmount Park. He wants to raise it’s budget, plant more trees, and really focus on making it an epicenter of the city, drawing more visitors and residents.
Finally, and here is the big Kahuna, Nutter is aiming to get an energy audit for the city, get all existing city buildings to qualify for LEED certification, and develop a Sustainable Building Code for all future new construction. Whether this will be just for city owned buildings are all new commercial buildings downtown is not know yet at this time. We do know the new Comcast Center, though, will be a fantastic sustainable model for all things to come!
He may be our superhero Mayor, but he knows that he cannot accomplish all aforementioned goals alone. He is now in the market to name a Director to a new Office of Sustainability and establish a Cabinet for this Director. So, if you know anyone…

-Rachel Lipton

(Get To Know Rachel A Little Better @ LiveGreenInPhilly.Com)

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