The Community Design Collaborative recently completed a master plan for the "re-imagining" of a vacant lot on Berks Street in Eastern North Philadelphia. Looking for "multi-generational living" community to be incorporated into the plan, nearly 50 designers, students and community members gathered back in November to develop uses for the site. Ultimately, through the help of partners Asociasion de Puertoriqquenos en Marcha (APM), LISC Philadelphia, and the Office of Housing and Community Development, five designs were boiled down one master plan — with the key features for the community being sustainable design elements, green space that acts as meeting space and storm water management and a "third place" that could make room for some sort of retail anchor. It's a key strategic location for the area, as it's close to Temple University and public transit. It's also a stone's throw from another one of APM's key developments, LEED Platinum Certified, mixed income Paseo Verdo located at 1900 North 9th Street.
·Re-Imagining 8th & Berks [Community Design Collaborative]
·The Very First Platinum LEED Neighborhood Development is Located in Philly, Dedicated Today [Curbed Philly]