New Parkingโ Garage Plannedโค for West Philadelphia too Support police โForensics Lab
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Philadelphia will see a significant infrastructure addition in University City with the planned construction of a 495-space parkingโฃ garage at 17 N.41st Street. The project, spearheaded by University Place Associates, will also accommodateโค vehicles for the forthcoming police forensics laboratories housed in the adjacentโ 3.0 โขUniversityโข Place building.
Project Details and Design
Dubbed โ5.0 University Place,โค the garage’sโค design is the work โof Philadelphia-based ISA Architects. โ The development of โขbothโฃ 3.0 and 5.0 University Place isโฃ a collaborative effort between Silverstein properties and Cantor Fitzgerald. A significant portion of the parking will be available โto the publicโข for a fee, bolstering the area’s growing commercial and life science sectors between 39th and 42nd Streets on Market Street.
“With leasing at 3.0 University Place progressing,we’re excited to begin the 5.0 University place Parking Garage,” stated Anthony Maher, president of University โคPlace associates. “This project โคisn’t just about parking;โ it integratesโค green space, a community dog park, landscaped pedestrian โareas, and a planned โฃmural wall to deliverโข a more connectedโ and welcoming โexperience.”
The north side of the structure, facing Powelton Avenue,โข will feature manyโ of these amenities. Theโ mural will adorn the โfacade overlooking the dog โคpark and community garden.
Zoning and political Support
The project received crucial zoning approval in June, championed by councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who actively advocated for the new forensic laboratory in University City. โThisโฃ support underscores โthe city’s commitment to modernizing its criminal justice infrastructure. who fought for the new forensic laboratory to be housed in University City
.
The new crime lab will occupy 3.0 University โPlace at 4101 โฃMarket Street. The โขparking garage will reserve 29 spaces, totaling 10,400 square feet, specifically for city use.
Developers aim for a swift construction โคtimeline, recognizing the city’s urgent need for โtheโค facility. Ron Patterson, โขa zoning lawyerโฃ with Klehr Harrison representing the developer, explained, “It’s on a swift schedule as theโ city needs it.” He furtherโฃ clarified that a โขdedicated, secured entrance will be provided for lab vehicles, separated from public access.
Community Impact and Concerns
The site at 17 N. 41st Street is currentlyโ a surface parking lot. โคUniversity Place Associates has initiated engagement with the West Powelton โSaunders Park RCO, โคthough leadership was โnot immediately โavailable for comment.
The project has drawn scrutiny from urbanist groups like 5th Square,who argue that the area’s robust public transportation network-including multiple bus and trolley lines and the Market-Frankfordโฃ subway-elevated train-should prioritize pedestrianโค and transit-oriented development.
Pro Tip: โConsider the impact of parking โขinfrastructure on walkability and โpublic transit usageโ when โevaluating urban development projects.
Natasha Tabachnikoff, co-chair ofโฃ 5th Square’s Housingโค Committee, voiced concerns: “This is one of the most transit-rich areas of the city, and we should be doing more to encourage walking and public transit, notโ creating dead zones of parking structures.” 5th Square has previously opposed similar parking garage proposals, citing a 2023 Planning Commission report indicating that onlyโ three-quarters of existing University city parking capacityโค is currently utilized.
“There is already vacant parking in University City,” Tabachnikoff added,questioning the necessity of additional parking infrastructure.
Project Timeline and Future Outlook
Despite these concerns, the zoning overlay approval โคstreamlines the project’s regulatory path.โ The proposed structure will be reviewed โby the city’s Civic Design Review committee on September 2. Developers โemphasize the project’s alignment with the needs of the expanding life sciences ecosystem.
“We understand thatโฃ some may see adding structured parking as unnecessary in a transit-rich area,but 5.0 Universityโฃ Place was carefully designedโ to meet the unique needs of โPhiladelphia’s rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem,” Maher explained. “Our campus isโฃ bringing hundreds of new high-skill jobs โฃand an influx of researchers and companies to university City, many of whom require specialized, secure parking options – including fleet, service, and visitor needs.”
| project โขComponent | Details |
|---|---|
| Garage Name | 5.0 University Place |
| Location | 17 N. 41st Street, Philadelphia |
| Total Parking Spaces | 495 |
| Spaces for City use | 29 |
| Designโข Firm | ISAโค Architects |
| Civicโ Design Review Date | September 2 |
Did โYou Know? The newโฃ forensics lab is a key component of Philadelphia’s broader effortsโ to address crime andโ improve public safety through advanced scientific analysis.
How will this new parking garageโ impactโฃ traffic flowโข and accessibility in University City? What other infrastructure improvements are needed to support the area’s โcontinued growth?
The debate surroundingโ parking infrastructure in โขurban centers is a longstanding one, frequentlyโฃ enough pitting โขthe needs โof drivers against the goals of enduringโ transportation and walkable communities. Philadelphia’s โขexperience reflects a national trend of balancing economic developmentโฃ with environmental and social considerations. The rise โof โthe life sciences industry, withโฃ its specialized parking demands, presents a unique challenge for city planners. โฃ Moreover, the increasing adoptionโ of โขremote โขwork and option transportation options may reshape the future demand for parking inโ urban areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Whatโฃ is the primary purpose of the 5.0โ University Placeโ parkingโค garage? The garage is designed to support the new police forensics lab and the broader development of the University Place campus.
- How many โparking spaces will be available to the public? A โฃsubstantial portion of the 495 spaces will be available for paid public use.
- What concerns have been raised about the project? Critics โargue that the area is well-served byโฃ public transit and that additional parking could discourage sustainable transportation options.
- When is the Civic Design Review scheduled? The project will โbe โreviewed by the Civic design Review committee on September 2.
- Who are the key developers involved in the project? University Place โAssociates,โข Silverstein Properties, and Cantor Fitzgerald are collaborating on the development.
- What amenities will be included โin the garage design? The garage will incorporate green space, a community dog โpark, โlandscaped pedestrian areas, and a mural wall.
Disclaimer: This article provides data for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice.
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