New Plans for Fifth Street

On Nov. 28 in a small room on the top floor of the Olney branch of the Philadelphia Library the North 5th Street Revitalization Project hosted Temple University and its updated plan for Olney’s 5th street corridor.

Beside colorful children posters that called out for “respect” “responsibility” “citizenship” “caring” and ”fairness” trash prevention, better transportation, economic development issues and advertising possibilities were presented before the North 5th Street Revitalization Project and 14 concerned Olney residents.

Temple’s community and regional planning program from the Ambler campus presented the project they had started in the beginning of the fall 2011 semester. The students’ presentation called for litter prevention by reducing trash and unsanitary practices.

“Restaurants are dumping cooking oil in back alleys,” said Steve Mottershead a presenter from Temple University.

The brief sanitation presentation suggested stores give less plastic bags to customers, add cigarette receptacles, practice proper garbage disposal and designate that stretch of 5th street a litter free zone through Philadelphia’s Unlitter Us program.

Mottershead suggested a storm well for storm water management that would stop water from ending up in sewers and reusing it. The presenters said that sanitation and litter management issues make it harder for local businesses to succeed because people do not want to shop at places that appear dirty.

“I’m not motivated to shop here,” said Charlene Samuels who attended the meeting. “Some of the businesses don’t seem attractive to me.”

Temple students also found that there were not enough bus shelters, bike lanes and adequate lighting while passing through. The Temple students suggested contacting Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and other city departments for pedestrian friendly sidewalks and repainting bicycling lanes.