Cottman Avenue between Roosevelt Boulevard and Castor Avenue is about to get greener, brighter, and safer thanks to a big investment from the City of Philadelphia. But first, the team of departments designing the project wants ideas and input from residents and others who use the Avenue at a December 4 open house:
When: Tuesday, December 4, 2018 from 3:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Where: Northeast Regional Library 2228 Cottman Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19149
Details: There will be no formal presentation, just come to the lower level meeting room anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Cottman Avenue is served by the SEPTA Route 70 bus.
Check Out the Flyer
On Facebook? Invite neighbors!
All are encouraged to attend: plans for the improvements are being developed now, and community input is needed.
The Cottman Avenue Streetscape project effort grew out of the Philadelphia2035: Central Northeast District Plan, itself the result of community forums held locally over the last four years. Similar district plans are coming together citywide.
While the work is being managed by the Streets Department and is funded by Commerce Department, we will be improving local stormwater management and adding landscaped green tools to the area as part of our Green City, Clean Waters investments.
The Philadelphia Water Department program may ring a bell with many Northeast residents; green stormwater infrastructure projects are underway in Wissinoming, Castor Gardens, Oxford Circle, and Holmesburg.
For the Cottman Avenue work, we are developing a series of new green tools that will soak up more than a quarter million gallons of runoff during a 1-inch rainstorm. More green will pop up on privately owned lots along the avenue as we work with store owners and others to fund sustainable stormwater improvements through our Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP).
In a first, we are offering a special disconnection grant for adjacent properties. Interested property owners will get help with designing stormwater improvements that allow runoff to be managed with green tools on-site, rather than diverting it to sewers, where overwhelmed pipes can overflow and pollute nearby waterways. The program also helps coordinate construction and allows commercial properties to get either reduced stormwater fees or a one-time grant to help with costs.
Watch: Animation Shows How Philly's Green Tools Work
The overall Cottman Avenue upgrades to lighting, bus shelters, crosswalks, curb ramps, stormwater infrastructure, and landscaping are all part of the City’s efforts to improve streets in a way that improves traffic and safety (under the Vision Zero goals) as well as environmental conditions and economic opportunities.
