
“Council President Darrell L. Clarke’s controversial plan to create a new city Department of Planning and Development is likely to get even more controversial.” | Photo: David Maialetti, for The Inquirer
- City Council President Darrell Clarke has significantly altered his controversial bill—up for the Committee on Law and Government’s consideration tomorrow—to create a cabinet-level Department of Planning and Development, reports The Inquirer. Scrapping plans to transfer to it several duties of the beleaguered Department of Licenses and Inspections, Clarke has now taken to ruffling a different set of municipal feathers altogether, as it would further erode mayoral prerogative by granting him and his colleagues veto-power over that proposed department’s appointed head. Such a change would constitute a fundamental break from the underlying philosophy behind the 1951 City Charter, conceived to address widespread concerns of machine-politicians’ hold on City Hall. In a letter to fellow council members this weekend, Clarke framed his proposal as a means of ensuring “a 21st-century organization structure that would greatly enhance our city’s ability to plan and support development.”
- The Mural Arts Program is looking for a Bella Vista façade on which to feature artist James Burns’s next mural. The 40’ wide by 55’ tall design “is based on the Enso circle, a form of active meditation that involves clarity of mind and movement of the hand,” says the Bella Vista Neighbors Association. “Overall, the Wellness mural and its circular design represent the communal and cyclical process of seeking wholeness and wellness in our own lives and within our communities.”
- CBS Philly speaks with the pastor Charles App Jr. of the Burholme Baptist Church at 905 Cottman Avenue, whose 115-year old steeple neatly parked in a side alley on Sunday after it was toppled by gale force winds. App doubts his congregation will have the funds to re-erect the 70-foot structure, though concedes that he wants “people to be reached, not monuments to be made.”
- NewsWorks explores the confluence of art and science that is the “forcing” of plants to artificially bloom on schedule for The Philadelphia Flower Show. This year’s exhibition, celebrating the world of cinema, will run from February 28 through March 8 at the Convention Center.
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
Demolition Proposal For Chinatown Landmark Triggers Public Outcry
A demolition permit application for the former Chinese Cultural and Community Center on 10th Street provokes confusion and anger. Michael Bixler has the news > more
Sharswood Tour Spotlights African American Landmark
Efforts to save the former home and studio of Philadelphia Black Renaissance artist Dox Thrash will take center stage with a neighborhood tour and discussion. Kessler Thibert has the story > more
Exhuming A Pyramid Of Petrol Along The “Golden Mile”
Greg Prichard takes us on a suburban expedition to find Vincent Kling's lost, modernist gas station on City Avenue > more
Conkling-Armstrong House & Jewelers Row District Go Before Designation Committee
Starr Herr-Cardillo has this roundup of local register nominations on the agenda at the February meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission's Designation Committee > more
Under Construction: Charles Library At Temple University
Something Snøhetta this ways comes. Michael Bixler takes us to the quad at Temple University where its new library is currently taking shape > more
A Life Of Community Service For Theaters In North Philly
The legendary Uptown Theater is gearing up for its 90th anniversary this month with a new fundraising campaign and the lighting of its original marquee. To mark the occasion, cinema scholar Joan McGettigan gives us a social history lesson on the neighborhood movie houses near North Broad Street > more