Curbed Philly - Rail Park CoverageLove where you live2018-02-07T09:00:05-05:00http://philly.curbed.com/rss/stream/139766172018-02-07T09:00:05-05:002018-02-07T09:00:05-05:00Rail Park opening delayed until spring 2018
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<figcaption>The bridge at the 13th Street entrance to the Rail Park (shown here in 2016) has to be replaced. | Photo by Melissa Romero</figcaption>
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<p>A very old bridge is to blame </p> <p id="5nlvJX">Due to structural issues, Philly will have to wait a few months longer for the opening of the Rail Park.</p>
<p id="Ph3vxd">Center City District announced Tuesday that the first phase of the quarter-mile-long, elevated park will not open in February as expected. The opening date has been pushed back to spring 2018.</p>
<p id="bS6l2s">Why the delay? Blame a 130-year-old bridge. Located above 13th Street, it was supposed to serve as the main pedestrian entrance to the park. But construction crews discovered that the structural beams were rusted and corroded beneath a foot of earth. The Philadelphia Streets Department determined that they needed to be replaced. </p>
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<cite>Rendering by Studio Bryan Hanes</cite>
<figcaption>The 13th Street pedestrian bridge will be considered the primary gateway to the Rail Park. </figcaption>
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<p id="uZOQTy">As a result, portions of the bridge must be removed and replaced entirely or restored. The beams will be replaced and concrete decking will be placed on top of the already existing stone walls. The goal is to reinstall some parts that are salvageable so that the bridge is in keeping with the original design by Studio Bryan Hanes. </p>
<p id="p67X0N">The CCD has a construction bid out and plans to hire a contractor in late February. </p>
<p id="yzEvwG">“Our original construction schedule had the work being completed in February, when little would be green in the park,” said Center City District president and CEO Paul R. Levy in a statement. “Spring, however, is the perfect time to open a space for the public to enjoy.”</p>
<p id="ZmSuMD">It’s been a long time coming for the Rail Park, which <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/11/1/13481160/rail-park-1st-phase-groundbreaking">broke ground in October 2016</a> after about a decade or so of planning to turn the old Reading Viaduct rail line into an elevated park. Now, we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. </p>
https://philly.curbed.com/2018/2/7/16980774/rail-park-philadelphia-opening-dateMelissa Romero2017-12-12T13:30:02-05:002017-12-12T13:30:02-05:00New video shows Rail Park’s finish line is in sight
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<figcaption>The first phase of the Rail Park is nearing the finish line. | Video by Philly by Drone</figcaption>
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<p>Those newly installed swings look pretty sweet</p> <p id="Er3o0x">The <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/13/16469414/rail-park-philadelphia-tree-planting-photos">trees have been planted</a> and the benches and oversized swings have been installed. As the year comes to a close, the first phase of the Rail Park is close to the finish line, still eyeing a spring 2018 opening. </p>
<p id="neiJTq">That’s the <a href="http://centercityphila.org/foundation/our-work/rail-park">latest update</a> from Center City District (CCD), which just released a new drone video of the elevated park. In the minute-long video, CCD says that most of the steel structure has been renovated, <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/9/1/16240598/philadelphia-rail-park-construction-concrete-pour">concrete surfaces have been poured</a>, the trees have been planted, and pavers are being installed. </p>
<p id="mvY6wA">The installation of the 13th Street Bridge is set to begin soon. This will be one of the three entrances to the Rail Park, along with one at Noble Street and another West Entrance at Callowhill Street. </p>
<p id="8F2PV5">Still, CCD is still looking to close its funding gap for the $10.3 million project before the Rail Park officially opens its 25,000-square-foot trail next year. Currently, it needs to raise $180,000 more. </p>
<p id="KHaP44">When the Rail Park does open in spring 2018, it will stretch for a quarter mile from Callowhill to North Broad at Noble Street. </p>
<p id="4rBrmy">Watch the new drone video below, along with some additional photos of the future park. </p>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/12/16767414/rail-park-drone-video-december-2017Melissa Romero2017-10-13T14:33:20-04:002017-10-13T14:33:20-04:00The Rail Park just got spruced up with 1,100 new trees, plants
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<figcaption>One hundred volunteers planted more than 1,000 trees and shrubs at the Rail Park. | Photos by Melissa Romero</figcaption>
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<p>100 volunteers just made the future Rail Park a whole lot greener</p> <p id="lkA2Hz">A portion of the future Rail Park just got a whole lot greener. </p>
<p id="xWGduZ">Today, 100 volunteers took to a portion of the Rail Park at 12th and Noble streets and planted 1,100 trees and shrubs and shoveled mounds of dirt along the former abandoned rail line. </p>
<p id="hLbLkE">“It’s just thrilling that we’re building this park and providing green space in a community that didn’t have any green space,” said Nancy Goldenberg, the vice president of planning and development and executive director of the Center City District Foundation.</p>
<p id="m4ClGY">The planting of more than 1,000 shrubs and trees was an co-effort between Center City District and Timberland, the outdoor lifestyle brand that has its own goal of planting 10 million trees by 2020. It decided to add Philly’s Rail Park to the list this year. </p>
<p id="ysvDH6">“They came down and visited and loved the project—it’s authentic and gritty and fits with their brand,” said Goldenberg.</p>
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<figcaption>Sarah McEneaney, who has been working on the Rail Park for 14 years, was one of the volunteers planting shrubs and plants along the trail.</figcaption>
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<p id="hMKNz8">One of today’s volunteers, Sarah McEneaney, was all smiles as she enthusiastically shoveled dirt on the site. “It’s amazing, it’s wonderful,” she said.</p>
<p id="CIXL7e">Fourteen years ago, McEneaney and John Struble started the grassroots campaign to turn the former Reading Rail Line into the three-mile Rail Park, a public space somewhat inspired by the High Line in New York City. After years of volunteer efforts, the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/building/friends-of-the-rail-park">Friends of the Rail Park</a> partnered with the city and Center City District, which took over the capital campaign fundraising. </p>
<p id="C8jEYT">Phase 1 <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/11/1/13481160/rail-park-1st-phase-groundbreaking">broke ground in November</a> to much fanfare, and <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/9/1/16240598/philadelphia-rail-park-construction-concrete-pour">construction has forged ahead</a> on the quarter-mile portion ever since. </p>
<p id="U6UVHa">The planting today marked another major milestone for McEneaney. “I love seeing so many people coming out. There’s a woman who just moved into the neighborhood a month ago and she saw people here and she came over and joined.” </p>
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<figcaption>Concrete has been poured and waterproofed along the first phase of the Rail Park.</figcaption>
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<p id="ioLapQ">Goldenberg says the Rail Park is still on track to open in early 2018. Meanwhile, <a href="http://supportccdf.org/railpark">fundraising is still underway</a> to meet phase 1’s $10.3 million budget. She’s confident CCD will meet its goal soon, especially as the neighborhood continues to witness Phase 1 get to the finish line. </p>
<p id="9QIyxt">“I have no doubt that with the momentum we have, and now that people can see it happening, that we’re going to meet our goals soon,” she said while looking over the sea of hardhats and plants. “We’re almost there.”</p>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/13/16469414/rail-park-philadelphia-tree-planting-photosMelissa Romero2017-09-28T08:04:04-04:002017-09-28T08:04:04-04:00Mapping Callowhill’s development boom
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<figcaption>Photos by Philly by Drone for Lawn and Garden Landscaping</figcaption>
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<p>Apartments, retail, and parks are on the way</p> <p id="ccbk5J">All eyes seem to be on <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/building/callowhill">Callowhill</a> these days. Developers are buying properties in this neighborhood just north of Center City left and right, getting in while they can before the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/1/9/14212576/rail-park-coverage">highly-anticipated Rail Park</a> opens in early 2018. </p>
<p id="FdHTrL">It’s a big change for the long-blighted neighborhood that served as inspiration for former resident David Lynch’s cult classic <em>Eraserhead. (</em>That’s why the area is still called “Eraserhood” by locals. It’s also referred to by developers as the Spring Arts District.)</p>
<p id="mS54Zf">But Callowhill is <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/6/22/15846412/callowhill-neighborhood-to-watch-philadelphia">changing before our eyes</a>. Rents—both residential and commercial—are still affordable here compared to the rest of Greater Center City, and there’s still plenty of property available for potential development or adaptive reuse. That all may change once the Rail Park opens. Here, we present major projects currently in the works (and at various development stages). </p>
<p id="V1mrzu">We should note that because Philly doesn’t have strictly defined neighborhood boundaries, for this map’s purposes, Callowhill is roughly defined as the area north of Vine Street, south of Spring Garden, east of Broad Street, and west of 7th Street. </p>
<p id="2Cumtn"><em>Know of another Callowhill project that should be on this list? </em><a href="mailto:philly@curbed.com"><em>Send us a tip</em></a><em>! </em></p>
https://philly.curbed.com/maps/callowhill-development-projectsMelissa Romero2017-09-01T14:00:04-04:002017-09-01T14:00:04-04:00Rail Park hits construction milestone with first concrete pour
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<p>It’s all happening</p> <p id="jgdVq6">The future Rail Park just hit a major construction milestone this week when crews made the first concrete pour along the quarter-mile trail. </p>
<p id="rt8jBn">On Thursday morning, construction crews took the latest step on the park project by pouring concrete onto the Rail Park site. The momentous—and always satisfying—occasion took place about nine months after the <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/11/1/13481160/rail-park-1st-phase-groundbreaking">first phase of the Rail Park officially broke ground</a>. </p>
<p id="ggYsp8">When we last checked in on progress—<a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/8/14/16142678/rail-park-aerial-drone-photos-video">thanks to this drone video</a>—things seemed to be moving along. Thanks to a lot of good weather, construction has gone along swimmingly and ahead of schedule. </p>
<p id="4n8fcl">According to Center City District, which is handling the project from start to finish, after the concrete pour the slab will be waterproofed, followed by landscaping. And come January 2018, the Rail Park should be open! </p>
<p id="0LKbyV">Can’t hardly wait? <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/build-the-rail-park-happy-hour-tickets-36894013989">A September 6 event</a> with the <em>Inquirer’s </em>Inga Saffron and the Rail Park’s landscape architect Studio Bryan Hanes should hold you over; the discussion will go over the future of the Rail Park.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big day today! Pouring concrete. <a href="https://t.co/05Kb3FRbj5">pic.twitter.com/05Kb3FRbj5</a></p>— The Rail Park (@TheRailPark) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRailPark/status/903229037065195520">August 31, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Like butter. <a href="https://t.co/AqqcDgl47U">pic.twitter.com/AqqcDgl47U</a></p>— The Rail Park (@TheRailPark) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRailPark/status/903241367618560001">August 31, 2017</a>
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https://philly.curbed.com/2017/9/1/16240598/philadelphia-rail-park-construction-concrete-pourMelissa Romero2017-08-14T12:00:00-04:002017-08-14T12:00:00-04:00Here’s what Philly’s Rail Park looks like from above
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<figcaption>Construction on the Rail Park is ahead of schedule. | All images credit of Christopher Kao, Phillybydrone.com for Lawn and Garden Landscaping</figcaption>
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<p>Drone footage shows the Rail Park coming along nicely</p> <p id="gmz71L">Construction on <a href="https://therailpark.org/">the Rail Park</a> is shaping up quite nicely, according to these new drone images and videos that captured the train line-turned-future-park from above. </p>
<p id="DEPmSe">Since <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/11/1/13481160/rail-park-1st-phase-groundbreaking">breaking ground in late 2016</a>, construction on the first phase of the Rail Park has moved along ahead of schedule, thanks to all the warm weather Philly has experienced since the spring. </p>
<p id="Shphfs">According to the last June update from Center City District, which is managing the 0.25-mile project, here’s where the project stands: </p>
<blockquote><p id="ezLFHT">The contractor is well along the way to installing all the support structures on the edges of the viaduct that will enable the surface area to be expanded with boardwalks and viewing platforms.</p></blockquote>
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<cite>All images credit of Christopher Kao, Phillybydrone.com for Lawn and Garden Landscaping</cite>
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<p id="KhP8Vh">In addition, prep for landscaping, led by <a href="https://www.manta.com/c/mm0d07m/lawn-garden-landscaping-llc">Lawn and Garden Landscaping LLC</a>, is underway. </p>
<blockquote><p id="gU5iqj">The contractor will install structural bases for the swings, lights and benches. Waterproofing of the slab will also occur after the pour but prior to the landscape installation. By the end of the summer, the team will be preparing for landscape installation and many of the final finishes.</p></blockquote>
<p id="rlP04b">We’re also told that by mid-October, hundreds of trees will be planted along the Rail Park. The first phase is expected to open in early 2018. </p>
<p id="khu3Vu">For a true birds-eye view of how things are shaping up along the Rail Park, check out this footage from a drone that flew over the construction site on August 1. </p>
<div id="wVKzHy"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/229423158" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/8/14/16142678/rail-park-aerial-drone-photos-videoMelissa Romero2017-05-03T13:30:02-04:002017-05-03T13:30:02-04:00Abandoned diner car to become Rail Park’s welcome center
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<figcaption>Funds raised from Cities Project will be used to turn an abandoned rail car on North Broad into the Rail Park’s Welcome Center. | Rendering by Studio Bryan Hanes</figcaption>
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<p>With help from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Bruno Mars, and Heineken </p> <p id="Z75nyZ">With help from an unlikely trio, an abandoned rail car that sits forlornly on North Broad is set to become the official welcome center for the Rail Park. </p>
<p id="WU32Am">The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Bruno Mars, and Heineken have teamed up for the <a href="https://enterprise.indiegogo.com/heinekencities/">Cities Project</a>, a crowd-sourced fundraising initiative that aims to help improve 10 cities around the country. Folks who contribute at least $150 to one of the city projects will automatically receive two tickets to a Bruno Mars concert in the city of their choosing this summer. </p>
<p id="zt0i0x">Philly’s Rail Park, which is <a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/3/16/14944756/rail-park-construction-update-march">currently under construction</a>, was selected as one of the 10 projects, along with D.C.’s Union Station restoration project, LA’s Triforium, and other preservation-minded efforts. </p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTkNKPMluXv/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Inside the 1920s diner car at Broad and Noble, #therailpark is working to make it into a space for staff, community engagement and programming.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by The Rail Park (@therailpark) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-05-01T22:00:23+00:00">May 1, 2017 at 3:00pm PDT</time></p>
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<p id="PB5WsT">Funds raised from the crowd-sourcing campaign will go toward the design elements of the Rail Park, as well as the restoration of the abandoned Reading Railroad dining car. Friends of the Rail Park plans to turn the icon into the Rail Park’s welcome center. </p>
<p id="MYoqYV">This rail car, officially named the Reading Railroad Car 1186, sits overgrown with weeds and such at North Broad and Noble streets. It <a href="http://hiddencityphila.org/2015/11/indestructible-at-broad-and-callowhill/">dates back to the 1920s</a> when it served as a luxury dining car for the rail line. </p>
<p id="iNDGyb">When Reading sold the rail car in the 1970s, it set up permanent shop on North Broad, where it continued operations as a diner. It’s been vacant since 2012 after its last tenant, the Philly Express Steak and Bagel Train, moved out. </p>
<p id="hXzW9l">Like the rest of the Cities Project campaigns, the Rail Park has a $15,000 fundraising goal. At the time this article was published, $1,350 had been raised.</p>
<p id="KIFUON">According to Center City District’s latest construction update, a little less than $300,000 is still needed to meet the first phase’s $10.3 million budget. The first phase is still on track to finish construction by January 2018. </p>
<ul><li id="klZQSf">
<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiegogo.com%2Fprojects%2Fbring-philadelphia-s-rail-park-to-life%23%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fphilly.curbed.com%2F2017%2F5%2F3%2F15530568%2Frail-park-welcome-center-diner-car-restoration-cities-project" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bring Philadelphia's Rail Park to Life</a> [The Cities Project]</li></ul>
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/5/3/15530568/rail-park-welcome-center-diner-car-restoration-cities-projectMelissa Romero2017-03-16T12:00:10-04:002017-03-16T12:00:10-04:00Demolition work is nearly finished at the Rail Park
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<p>Construction is on track</p> <p id="PoiH5F">Construction is on track and moving along swimmingly over at phase 1 of the Rail Park, with demolition nearly complete, according to a recent update. </p>
<p id="ZyVXF0">The Rail Park <a href="https://www.therailpark.org/news/2017/3/14/construction-is-on-track">shared a construction update</a> today, stating that demolition on the quarter-mile-long stretch of the Rail Park is about 80 percent finished. The update comes about four months after the <a href="http://philly.curbed.com/2016/11/1/13481160/rail-park-1st-phase-groundbreaking">park’s groundbreaking</a> in October 2016. </p>
<p id="BeAKJL">Given the history of the site, a lot of soil remediation, lead paint abatement, and demolition were of first priority to AP Construction in the immediate months after the groundbreaking. In January, <a href="http://philly.curbed.com/2017/1/9/14212336/rail-park-construction-photos">they began major construction</a>, jackhammering away at an 18-inch deep earthen fill, which served as a base for the original rail track.</p>
<p id="VJWJt8">They’ve also been working with landscape architect Studio Bryan Hanes to restore the site’s stone walls. </p>
<p id="k8IKXF">Next up, work will begin on building a foundation for a staircase at 13th and Noble Streets. Some more structural work will take place on the rail line, too. Specifically, they’ll be installing metal railings along the line. </p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPpqj3oh4Wh/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Rail Park (@therailpark)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-24T14:47:55+00:00">Jan 24, 2017 at 6:47am PST</time></p>
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<p id="2NTs9e">And in case you were wondering, there will still be spring tours of the Rail Park amid the construction. Stay tuned. </p>
<ul><li id="nHNizQ">
<a href="https://www.therailpark.org/news/2017/3/14/construction-is-on-track">Construction is on track</a> [Rail Park]</li></ul>
https://philly.curbed.com/2017/3/16/14944756/rail-park-construction-update-marchMelissa Romero