READING VIADUCT TIMELINE
December 16, 2003
Reading Viaduct Project (RVP) holds first meeting with 25 neighbors and concerned citizens.
photo:john struble
WINTER – SPRING 2004
RVP works with Harris Steinberg, Penn Praxis, and Kyle Gradinger, University of Pennsylvania on a Design Charrette for the Reading Viaduct. RVP works with Brian Phillip’s architectural class at Drexel University on a semester long project on the Viaduct.
RVP meets with Tom Sexton Northeast Regional Director Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Neighbor Travis Skidmore + Max, Tom Sexton (Northeast Regional Director of Rails to Trails Conservancy), neighbor Sierra Skidmore, and co-founder of RVP, John Struble.
JULY 2004
RVP organized an exhibition of the top designs from the Penn Praxis Charette and the Drexel architectural class at Cafe Lift in the Callowhill Neighborhood.
SUMMER 2004
RVP works with Urban Engineers on a City of Phila Commerce Dept. Environmental and Feasibility Study. (see about us for results of the study)
2004-2005
RVP participates in the 2004-2005 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Study for the Chinatown/Callowhill Neighborhood in Philadelphia.
FEBRUARY 4, 2005
Reading Viaduct Project meets with Mike DiBernardinis, (the Secretary of The Department of Conservation and Natural Resourses, Pennsylvania), his aides and Tom Sexton Northeast Regional Director Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Sarah McEneaney (co-founder), Don Gephart (DCNR), Greg Berman (RVP board president 2003-07), Michael DiBernandinis (secretary: Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources-DCNR), Tom Sexton (Northeast Regional Director Rails to Trails Conservancy), Cindi Dunn (DCNR), and Meridth Hill (DCNR).
MARCH 4, 2005
RVP meets with Joanne Denworth, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's Office of Policy.
DECEMBER 2005
RVP contacts Craig Tompkins, General Counsel for Reading International, Inc., about transferring title of the Viaduct to RVP
JUNE 10, 2006
RVP presents at Neighborhoods in Transition: Redevelopment and the Environment, An Introductory Community Workshop sponsored by the Center for Public Environmnetal Oversight (CPEO), Penn Future and the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association.
FALL 2006
RVP representatives participte in the City of Philadelphia’s Greenspace Plan For The City.
SPRING 2007
RVP representatives attend the Philadelphia Horticulral Society sponsored Mayoral Forum on Greening and present each of the five Democratic Primary candidates with a detailed package on RVP’s ideas of adaptive reuse of the Reading Viaduct.
SUMMER 2007
RVP representatives participate in the Philadelphia City Planning Commision’s North Broad Street Transportation and Access Study.
FALL 2007
Michael Nutter elected Philadelphia’s new mayor !
APRIL 2008
Callowhill Neighborhood Association Clean-Up coordinator and RVP Co-founder, Sarah McEneaney (seen here with Trixie McEneaney), meet Mayor Michael Nutter as he visits neighborhoods prior to the first City Wide Cleanup. After looking at the abandonded viaduct and briefly discussing RVP’s mission, Mayor Nutter says “Get in touch with me about this. “
JULY 24 2008
RVP Board members: Sarah McEneaney, John Struble and Ellen Somekawa, meet with Department of Commerce city officials, Jon Edelstein, (manager of Brownfield Development), Brian Flanagan, (Deputy Chief of Staff) and Elinor Haider, (Deputy Commerce Director) to discuss the future of the Reading Viaduct.
JULY 31
Follow up meeting with Brain Flanagan.
AUGUST 11, 2008
John Struble and Sarah McEneaney meet with Spencer Finch, Director of Sustainable Development for The Pennsylvania Environmental Council to discuss an Economic Development Study of The Reading Viaduct.