September 15, 1999
"At the request of City Councilman Darrell Clarke, Temple University will request that 13th Street be reopened to vehicular traffic on Monday, September 20.
"Councilman Clarke and others have made clear the need for further dialogue between Temple University and the leadership of neighboring communities on the University's request for a permanent closure of 13th Street. The closure would lead to creation of an exciting 'grand, green promenade' envisioned for Temple's future, fully accessible to our neighbors. It is also needed for the exciting move of the Tyler School of Art from its suburban Elkins Park campus to the University's Main Campus.
"We believe the best way to symbolize our sincerity and commitment to that process is to reopen 13th Street now. We can then come together and listen to our respective hopes, concerns and needs.
"We thank Councilman Darrell Clarke, Senator Shirley Kitchen, State Representative W. Curtis Thomas, Councilwoman Augusta Clark, the leadership of the Yorktown Community, Norris Homes Community, Jefferson Manor Community, People's Village and Nelson-Brown Homes as well as the Temple University students, faculty, and staff for their patience and advice during the two-year construction of the Tuttleman Learning Center and the installation of new steam lines at the intersections of 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue and Norris Street, respectively."
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By way of background: the City of Philadelphia closed three blocks of 13th Street in October 1997 for construction of the new Tuttleman Learning Center, which recently opened its doors for the start of fall classes. During the work on Tuttleman, Temple requested an extension of the closure in order to replace steam lines at Montgomery Avenue and Norris Street.
Jay Falkenstein, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, said September 30 had been a target date for completion of the steam lines, but the project was accelerated at the request of President Liacouras.
With the new Tuttleman Learning Center, the planned relocation of the Tyler School of Art from Elkins Park to east of 13th Street, conversion of the Bell Building, and all the other projects currently under construction, transportation engineers estimate that there will be some 30,000 pedestrian crossings on 13th street each weekday.
This is an important safety issue for Temple students, faculty, staff, and the public. The closing of 13th Street is also an opportunity to improve the environment and appearance of Main Campus at a time when "quality of life" is very important to Temple's continued ability to attract students and insure its future.
Rather than retreat from North Philadelphia, as many business and institutions have done, Temple is investing in North Philadelphia and strengthening the Main Campus. Moving Tyler School of Art, for example, will represent the first relocation of a "business" from the near suburbs to North Philadelphia in 45 years.
Temple students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community residents would be able to enjoy a safe, tree-lined, landscaped promenade along one of the major north-south corridors on Main Campus. With this street closing, the intersection of Berks and 13th Street would be transformed into a completely protected pedestrian plaza.
Thirteenth Street has been closed for two years, and there have been no reported problems. Also, 13th Street already ends 10 blocks north of Temple's Main Campus, at Glenwood Avenue.
Traffic studies indicate that two-thirds of the northbound traffic now using 13th Street could be expected to use Broad Street as an alternative, and the remaining one-third would use 11th Street. Both Broad and 11th have sufficient capacity to accommodate the additional volume, according to traffic engineers.
Under the plan, Montgomery Avenue would continue to be open to eastbound traffic, Norris Street would continue to be open to westbound traffic, and Cecil B. Moore would remain open. Emergency vehicles, including police, fire, and ambulance, will have continued access to 13th Street. Incidentally, this proposal has the full support of the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments.
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