Philadelphia is one of 45 cities that have been awarded planning and capital construction grants through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program: a federal program that strives to reconnect communities previously cut off from economic opportunities due to transportation infrastructure.
The current Vine Street Expressway acts as a dangerous crossing and physical barrier that isolates several neighborhoods. As the City plans for new ways to reconnect neighborhoods that have been impacted by the Expressway, this studio envisions a radically different Vine Street Corridor and proposes thought-provoking alternatives beyond what is possible through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. This series of interventions hopes to create new neighborhood and cultural nodes that improve accessibility, minimize environmental health disparities, and support long-term economic sustainability, all while catering to a large variety of household types and incomes.