by KYW's Mike Dunn
A grand vision for the Delaware waterfront was being unveiled Wednesday night at the Convention Center. And it threatens to ignite a battle between private developers, and those who want the riverfront left for the public.
The Delaware master plan will suggest taking waterfront land that is now home to nightclubs and big box stores like Walmart, and using it instead for parks and new neighborhoods.
Harris Steinberg is director of the group that authored the plan, Penn Praxis. He says for too long, commercial developers have ruled the waterfront:
"Right now the scales are tipped toward the development world. We're trying to seek a balance where the public has access, the public has views, the public has the ability to get to the water's edge."
Already developers are up in arms. Attorney Michael Sklaroff, who represents some of them, says the needs of both sides must be met:
"It will be a balance between public interests and private interests."
The skirmishes are beginning as the plan is rolled out at the Convention Center.
As we first reported in October, the plan will include some daring ideas, like building new city streets to the water's edge, and placing part of I-95 underground (see previous story).
All this comes one day after a city council committee gave the go-ahead for Donald Trump's grand plan for a luxury high-rise condo on the Delaware at Spring Garden Street.
(Photo: Brad Maule)
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