Lower Northwest District Plan Calls for Transit-Oriented Development

The draft of the Lower Northwest District Plan of the Philadelphia 2035 planning process describes an area that is flush with natural and economic advantages.

Its poverty rate is half the city average. Median income and college attainment are nearly double the rest of the city, and commercial corridors such as Main Street in Manayunk and Ridge Avenue in Roxborough have become destinations for visitors and nearby residents alike.

The district is also wedged directly between two of the city’s greatest natural assets: Wissahickon Valley Park and the Schuylkill River.

These advantages, however, do not reduce the need for planning. The first draft of the Lower Northwest District Plan contains a number of recommendations for how the district can improve. It was released last week on October 21, beginning a 30-day public comment period.

Neighborhoods of the Lower Northwest:

• East Falls
• Wissahickon
• Manayunk
• Central Roxborough
• Upper Roxborough
• Andorra
• Shawmont Valley

One notable challenge for the district is high car-ownership and lower pedestrian, transit and cycling rates than the rest of the city. The plan recommends transit-oriented development in multiple locations as one way to reduce dependency on cars and improve transit, pedestrian and cyclist access.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a broad term but it “is often defined as higher-density mixed-use development within walking distance – or a half mile – of transit stations,” according to the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, a national nonprofit that advocates for the spread of TOD around the country.

Some recent examples of TOD elsewhere in the city include Paseo Verde, which is located just off the Regional Rail, and the JBJ Soul Homes, an affordable housing development nearby the Broad Street Subway Line.

The draft plan recommends TOD around the Ivy Ridge Station at the north end of Manayunk, and near the Wissahickon Gateway, a congested transit hub and an entry way to the vast network of trails within the Wissahickon Valley Park.

These two areas are identified as the “focus areas” of the plan, though it contains a number of additional recommendations. Generally, they are suggestions for zoning changes or small infrastructure improvements, such as adding street lighting or digital displays at bus stops. They are addressed to a number of city agencies, from the City Council to SEPTA to the Commerce Department.

The 97-page draft is a dense read, but it’s organized into sections for different topics like housing, commercial corridors and transportation for those seeking specific information.

Read the full draft here.