Great Expectations

Was anyone else completely appalled by the presence of Bart Blatstein?
I mean, has anyone else done more to destroy the waterfront and act in ways diametrically opposed to the Penn Praxis vision than Blatstein and Tower Investments? He's the man who pioneered blacktopped strip malls along Delaware Ave and landbanked the Foxwoods slots parlor property for more than a decade in anticipation of GAMBLING and then sold it for $65 million to casino interests.
Why was he even a part of tonight's event? What has he ever done to advance the ideas and goals of the Great Expectations program?
Was it a deal with Mayor Street? And is this what we can expect from Penn Praxis going forward?
I certainly hope not.

Blatstein put in the Ikea, which is not on the waterfront. While it is technically a "box store," I fought to get the politicians to stop trying to shake him down for money for their pet charities (Fumo), and supported the Ikea in South Philly.

The community had to complain to get that store here. That's just one example of grocery stores, discount stores, things people need, that are not on the water front, but are visible from Delaware Ave.

Blatstein is a player. He gave money to Street when Street made that a cost of doing business with his administration. But Blatstein also spoke out about that corruption, and at that time, under that administration, that risked his own business.

All the people who are so anti-casino that the demonize even someone who sold the land to them, I urge you to reflect on how that appears. Does it seem like you are committed to solutions for the whole city?

I'm just asking. I don't have a dog in that fight.

We are getting casinos, and no, I disagree with many aspects of how it was done, and even wrote letters about it. Now let's focus on making what results the most waterfront/community/Philly friendly thing it can be. Camden Yards was bitterly opposed by those next door, and their advocacy against was a blessing. It caused the proposal to be reworked many times, into an award winning architectural stadium.

I bought the beer of one guy that was disappointed, as he said, that "they lost." I told him that Camden Yards is a gem because of their efforts.

Blatstein is not a typical strip mall developer, and the Ikea mall with it's new playground in the Weccacoe area is a sign of that. Is it the PennPraxis vision? Not yet, but the Home Depot is at the end of its life, and Blatstein knows large scale vacant lot city properties and development. He's someone you want in, not out.

Please people, the casinos are, relative to the amount of land we are talking about, just one small part of the whole proposal. Let's not get "stuck" over casinos. BECAUSE we're getting casinos, we're getting positioned to get big concessions from the city and the owners on the very line items of the PennPraxis plan.

If anyone should be irate about someone being there, I would think that they would be irate about Street's presence. His own waterfront planner, Leonard Ross, is in prison for municipal corruption, and the years-long "planning" read kick-back arrangements for the waterfront were thrown out as a result of the FBI probe.

I hope you booed Street off the stage.

Street is the reason the waterfront has been in limbo for the time of his whole administration, and he's playing all peanutbutter hands about his very active role in getting casinos on the waterfront. He's just disappointed that his pals didn't get theirs.

Pals were the planet hollywood investors -- Sam Staten, West Insurance owners, and the Ron White set.

Street's chief strategist and financier, Ron White, was in on the South Philly casino while they weren't even sure if it would be a Racino or just slots. WAYYYYY back when. Philly Pacers and Trotters, LP, was a partnership of Street's most significant financial backers for his own campaign.

That you would cry and lament about casinos with Street on the podium ... it's absurdly comical. Not you, bless you good government people. But the situation. It's classic Philly.

So, getting all worked up about Blatstein, babe, that's kind of hard when he's standing next to John Street. Didn't anyone ask him "Where's Leonard Ross tonight? Couldn't make it? Prior engagement?"

"Didn't have anything to wear but an orange jumpsuit?"

"Wanted to come, but couldn't get out of the House?"

I had the pleasure of attending the presentation last night. The plan is a good one but, I think, will be very expensive. A point made was that zoning codes need to be changed (something endorsed by the voters in May) and that any development, casinos, housing and the like will need to meet the new codes. Another key to the presentation was the emphasis that automobiles should no longer be the focus of the river area (whether you call it Columbus or Delaware-the presenter said,"We need to make sure the place does not look like a parking lot.") but that all developers will need to follow new codes on parking and transportation. The emphasis on redeveloping Columbus Blvd. as a true Boulevard was also a focus. The plan calls for decreasing the size of the Blvd.(eventually two traffic lanes in each direction) and investing heavily on mass transit including a trolley that runs the length of the area, water taxi, ferry and the like. Again, all developers will be bound by the new codes if/when developed.

Let's get back to money. The city needs as the presenter said, to position itself for federal grants especially at a time when the feds are placing more emphasis on urban areas. But large sums of $$$ will not come to Philadelphia unless there is a viable plan in place and a friendly administration in D.C.

So let's get back to casinos. Let them be a major funding source for all of this. No matter where they end up being placed, they have a vested interest in a vibrant city.

It seems that anything proposed along this stretch (and yes I DO live there) meets with opposition. The "NO" group is a "No" group to all development down here and the result along the river is an embarrassing mess. I may not agree with their position on the development but I respect their opinion. I have also heard these same groups call for open space, access to the river and public parks and I strongly agree with them on this idea. So, let's ALL get to the table, bring in the casinos and have them be the big contributor to the PennPraxis ideas. The park proposals are outstanding and I also like the commitment to a viable port area staying in place. Perhaps if we all come to the table with the one common goal, a better Philadelphia, we can make this plan happen sooner then the stated projection of 30-40 years.