At an awards ceremony held in the state’s capitol, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania put smart development projects in the spotlight. The Commonwealth Design Awards were developed by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania to raise awareness of projects that successfully demonstrate sound land use principles around the Commonwealth – from urban and suburban to rural development and redevelopment projects. Submissions were received from 15 counties across the state and included a wide range of project types – urban infill, historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, brownfield redevelopment, revitalization plans, traditional neighborhood development, and others.
PNC Firstside Center
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Submitter: Astorino
Project type: Brownfield redevelopment
Description: The PNC Firstside Center is a commercial redevelopment of a brownfield in Pittsburgh’s Central Business District, incorporating green building techniques and over 33% open space. The project was instrumental in the development of a new light rail station and is adjacent to other public transportation systems and an existing bike trail. PNC Firstside Center represents an extraordinary example of integrating urban revitalization principles with strong public transportation conduits, existing infrastructure, site amenities, strong architectural design, materials and energy conservation, and augmentation of health for occupants.
Avenue of the Arts
Extending the Vision - South Broad Street, Building Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts in the 21st Century
Location: City Hall to Washington Avenue, Philadelphia
Submitter: Philadelphia City Planning Commission, which orchestrated work between the planning commission and Avenue of the Arts, Inc.
Project type: Urban Design Plan
Description: Avenue of the Arts is an urban design plan that supports mixed-use development and adaptive reuse and redevelopment of a commercial corridor, and is a key element to the city's strategy to strengthen Center City as a cultural destination, promoting more activity and use, and enhancing linkages. It is an excellent plan that is being implemented with success and is a great model for any community trying to build on its assets.
Susquehanna Commerce Center
Location: York, PA
Submitter: Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC
Project type: Commercial redevelopment of brownfield in historic district.
Description: Susquehanna Commerce Center is a tremendous example of successful investment in Pennsylvania’s struggling cities. The redevelopment of this brownfield site and historic building makes use of existing infrastructure and public transit, encourages employment to remain in the city, and helps to revitalize downtown York. The success of this project will encourage more redevelopment and economic growth in the area.
Marshall Square Park Residences
Location: West Chester, at Marshall, Matlock, and Fayette Streets, Chester County
Submitted by: Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.
Project type: Residential, urban redevelopment of outdated nursing home site, including a historic restoration.
Description: Marshall Square Park is the result of a series of creative land exchanges and mergers that benefited all participants – a new, modern nursing home was located within the borough, a historic structure was preserved, and the new development returned the site to owner-occupied residential use. It is a well-executed urban redevelopment project that respects the character of the existing neighborhood.
Millcreek
Location: 403 Bank Barn Lane, West Lampeter Township, Lancaster, PA
Submitter: Charter Homes
Project type: Traditional Neighborhood Development
Description: Millcreek is a mix of townhomes, carriage homes, and single-family homes developed so that the natural resources and characteristics that make Lancaster County special are retained. Landscape preservation and design are excellent at Millcreek. Both the developer and the township are commended for creating a new Neighborhood Design Option ordinance that can be replicated elsewhere.
Canal Basin Park and Reiser House Visitor Center
Location: Borough of Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA
Submitter: Allegheny Ridge Corporation/Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area
Project type: Innovative recreational development and adaptive re-use and redevelopment of a historic structure.
Description: The Canal Basin Park and Reiser House Visitor Center serve as a visitor orientation facility and trailhead for a continuous greenway connecting communities throughout the Allegheny Ridge heritage area. This project demonstrates an excellent, long-term commitment to revitalize an older community with heritage tourism, which encouraged additional river restoration, stream bank design, and watershed projects, and aided in the revitalization of the local commercial district.
SouthSide Works
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, South Side
Submitter: Soffer Organization
Project type: Urban infill, mixed use project on a brownfield site, including residential, retail, office, and open space.
Description: SouthSide Works helped to revitalize the historic South Side neighborhood and includes an excellent site plan that connects to the existing street grid and adds public green space to the community. The redevelopment of former steel mills is a continuing issue in Pennsylvania and the excellent stakeholder involvement and public and private partnerships that made this effort a success may be applied to other sites.
SEPTA's Historic Stations Rehabilitation
Location: Allen Lane Station, Philadelphia; Radnor Station; and Strafford Station.
Submitter: DPK&A Architects, LLP
Project type: Transportation, historic preservation, and commercial project.
Description: SEPTA’s Historic Stations Rehabilitation is a thoughtful, historic redevelopment that saved the cultural significance and revitalized stations along an existing rail corridor. This is a success that will lead to other successes; only viable transit stations can drive transit-oriented development.
The Left Bank
Location: Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Submitter: Dranoff Properties, Inc.
Project type: Mixed use redevelopment/preservation of abandoned, historically certified warehouse, including residential, retail, office, and day care facilities.
Description: The Left Bank is an outstanding urban renovation project and beautiful restoration of a historic building, which transformed a lifeless street corridor and became the gateway to the University of Pennsylvania. This very successful project is the result of an unusual partnership between business, academia, and labor that stimulated growth in the area.
Mooncrest Neighborhood Revitalization Plan
Location: Moon Township, Allegheny County, PA
Submitter: Hanson Design Group, Ltd.
Project type: Neighborhood Revitalization and Master Plan.
Description: The Mooncrest Neighborhood Revitalization Plan is a master plan for the revitalization of existing housing stock and infrastructure in a historic neighborhood of 400 households, with a focus on maintaining diversity, increasing opportunities for home ownership, and promoting environmental sensitivity throughout the community. The plan was developed through an innovative cooperation agreement between the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, Moon Township, and the Mooncrest Neighborhood Association. This is a very good example of master planning in a small community with an excellent public process.
The Residences at Hanover Shoe
Location: Hanover, PA
Submitter: Stuart & Associates Architects, Inc.
Project type: Mixed-use redevelopment of historic industrial building, including residential, municipal, and commercial.
Description: The Residences at Hanover Shoe is an excellent achievement for a small town – a proactive public/private partnership that turned a historic icon from an eyesore to anchor, which became a tipping point for that community. This initiative prevented demolition or collapse of an important building and satisfied a demand for housing that protected greenfields from development. This mixed-use development includes space for public uses and is close to downtown and all essential services.
