Philadelphia—June 23, 2017—The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation announced their plan to transform Philadelphia’s Municipal Pier 9 into the Cherry Street Pier, creating a multi-functional public community space for creative collaboration and civic engagement. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is investing $683,000 in the project to test a model for repurposing civic spaces to help cities increase economic opportunity and promote inclusion.
The approximately $4 million project will build on Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s successful track-record of activating underutilized public spaces. It aims to create a hub for skill-building and innovation, while connecting Philadelphia’s growing community of entrepreneurs, makers and artists. To this end, it will open opportunities for dialogue, learning, collaboration and engagement centered on community issues and opportunities.
Cherry Street Pier will feature four zones of activity: The Hub, a food and beverage venue at the entrance to the pier; The Garage, a collaborative working space featuring shared offices and studios built out of repurposed shipping containers; The Platform, an open programmable space for pop-up retail markets, art installations and public events; and The Garden, an open-air park and café with views of the Delaware River.
“To remain relevant, civic assets and public spaces need to be more than gathering spaces; they must create value and provide amenities that engage the community and advance economic opportunity. We hope the pier will help meet these goals, serving as a model for transforming public spaces to support up-and-coming entrepreneurs, makers and artists, while driving excitement and connection amongst diverse residents,” said Patrick Morgan, Knight Foundation program director for Philadelphia.
Municipal Pier 9, the 93-year old warehouse owned by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation features over 55,000 square feet of open space that has been vacant for decades. This unique, post-industrial site is conveniently located at Columbus Boulevard next to Race Street Pier, making it easily accessible to visitors who are taking public transportation, walking, biking or traveling by car.
The intention for the space, as articulated in the corporation’s Master Plan for Central Delaware, is for it to become a highly visible cultural and commercial anchor for the area. Rather than undertaking a complete renovation, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation has opted for a phased approach which will return the space to active use more quickly and build momentum for further investment as the project grows. The physical changes to the Pier structure and building shed were carefully chosen to be both economical and preserve its historical character.
“We’re thrilled to reintroduce this historic pier to active, public use, and to provide a unique resource for our city’s growing creative community,” said Joe Forkin, in-coming President of DRWC. “Cherry Street Pier is the latest example of the vision of the Master Plan coming to fruition, and will contribute to the ongoing resurgence of the Delaware River Waterfront.”
Support for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation forms part of Knight Foundations efforts to leverage public spaces and civic assets, such as parks, recreation centers, libraries and more, to promote inclusion and foster vibrant, connected communities. Knight has made several investments in this area including the national $40 million Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative, initially piloted in Philadelphia.
For more information on this exciting new project and the Delaware River Waterfront please visit www.delawareriverwaterfront.com.
About the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
DRWC is a 501(c)(3) created in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop, program and maintain public amenities such as permanent and seasonal parks, trails, and streetscape improvements to transform the waterfront into a vibrant destination for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia as is consistent with the goals of the Master Plan for Central Delaware. Daily programming throughout the entire year is changing the way Philadelphians see and converse about the waterfront, and is helping to create spaces and communities that connect residents and visitors to the waterfront.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy.
CONTACTS:
Jodie Milkman, Vice President for Communications, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
(o) 215 629-3216, (c) 267-228-2004, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, Knight Foundation
305-908-2646, [email protected]