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.
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.
April 4, 2009
RVP participates with Callowhill Neighborhood Association in the second annual Philadelphia City-Wide Clean-up
June 2, 2009
RVP meets with PECO representatives to walk the PECO substation and Reading Viaduct area to discuss PECO’s role in community efforts.
August 14, 2009
RVP walks the Viaduct with Laura Spina and others from the City of Philadelphia Planning Commission
August 28, 2009
RVP meets with Justin DiBerardinis, aide to Councilwoman Sanchez
September 3, 2009
RVP attends Design Advocacy Group meeting to advocate for the green remediation of the Reading Viaduct
September 8, 2009
RVP Viaduct walk with students from Drexel University
October 20, 2009
RVP Viaduct walk with students from University of Pennsylvania
December 19, 2009
The Viaduct’s potential, cross country ski trail
January 4, 2010
RVP Viaduct walk with Alan Greenberger, City Planning and Mark Focht, Fairmount Park.
April 28, 2010
RVP assists Urban Engineers in taking soil samples for study of the Reading Viaduct
October 7, 2010
Reading Viaduct Project and Callowhill Neighborhood Association hold a Town Hall public neighborhood meeting.
Paul Levy, The Center City District, presents an analysis of existing conditions and development options of the Reading Viaduct and adjacent parcels of land, identifying a range of management and maintenance models for the neighborhood. The study was funded with support from the William Penn Foundation and the Poor Richard’s Charitable Trust.
October, 2010
RVP meets Paul van Meter and Liz Maillie, founders of Viaduct Greene. They begin planning a design ideas competition for the Reading Viaduct and the City Branch which goes, below grade, from Broad and Noble Streets west to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For more Info: www.viaductgreene.org.
October 8, 2010
Neighborhood Association, Reading Viaduct and neighbors begin discussion of a Neighborhood Improvement District, NID
December 16, 2010
Town Hall meeting to discuss formation of NID. Councilman Frank DiCicco and Paul Levy attend, speak and answer questions.
December 15, 2010
RVP walks viaduct with Jamie Moffett, Philadelphia film maker. Jamie begins work on a book and documentary film on the Viaduct. RVP welcomes this new effort in promoting the green remediation of the Reading Viaduct. For more info: www.jamiemoffett.com
January 12, 2011
NID steering committee begins meeting every other week. NID is named Callowhill Reading Viaduct Neighborhood Improvement District.