Construction on South Broad Street's Avenue of the Arts is set to kick off this month, with a $150 million investment aimed at revamping the 10-block stretch into a tourist destination. The project, dubbed "AveArts 2.0," promises to transform the area into a vibrant public space with lush greenery on its medians and sidewalks, expanded pedestrian areas, and public art installations.
The first phase of the project is expected to begin on January 30th and will include installing raised, landscaped medians, rainwater collection cisterns, and lighting. The next phase, slated for 2027, will see widening of sidewalks into drop-off lanes, installation of raised planting beds, public art, seating areas, signage, and banners.
The ultimate goal is to attract more stores, restaurants, museums, and housing developers to the area, with developers hoping to create a thriving hub for creative expression. Avenue of the Arts Inc.'s executive director, Desaree Jones, described the project as "AveArts 2.0," which aims to pay homage to the area's history as an arts hub by incorporating outdoor performance spaces.
The design upgrades will prioritize pedestrian use and aim to make the street more attractive for residents and future residents. This may involve eliminating some parking spaces in favor of beautiful shrubs and planters, allowing for outdoor cafes and pop-up performance spaces to flourish.
State Rep. Jordan Harris has pledged an additional $500,000 to support the operational needs of the Avenue of the Arts, bringing the total investment to $150 million. The project's timeline was originally set for 2025 but was delayed due to permitting issues and rising construction costs.
The future of the area is seen as a key part of Philadelphia's vision for its cultural landscape, with chair Carl Dranoff describing AveArts 2.0 as "Philadelphia claiming its future." The project aims to create one of those rare, magical streets that the world talks about – a true gem of public space that will showcase the city's commitment to culture and creativity.
The first phase of the project is expected to begin on January 30th and will include installing raised, landscaped medians, rainwater collection cisterns, and lighting. The next phase, slated for 2027, will see widening of sidewalks into drop-off lanes, installation of raised planting beds, public art, seating areas, signage, and banners.
The ultimate goal is to attract more stores, restaurants, museums, and housing developers to the area, with developers hoping to create a thriving hub for creative expression. Avenue of the Arts Inc.'s executive director, Desaree Jones, described the project as "AveArts 2.0," which aims to pay homage to the area's history as an arts hub by incorporating outdoor performance spaces.
The design upgrades will prioritize pedestrian use and aim to make the street more attractive for residents and future residents. This may involve eliminating some parking spaces in favor of beautiful shrubs and planters, allowing for outdoor cafes and pop-up performance spaces to flourish.
State Rep. Jordan Harris has pledged an additional $500,000 to support the operational needs of the Avenue of the Arts, bringing the total investment to $150 million. The project's timeline was originally set for 2025 but was delayed due to permitting issues and rising construction costs.
The future of the area is seen as a key part of Philadelphia's vision for its cultural landscape, with chair Carl Dranoff describing AveArts 2.0 as "Philadelphia claiming its future." The project aims to create one of those rare, magical streets that the world talks about – a true gem of public space that will showcase the city's commitment to culture and creativity.
It's like they're taking care of this iconic street and making it a hub for art and creativity again. I love the idea of outdoor performance spaces and pop-up shops - it'll bring so much life to the area! 
And yeah, prioritizing pedestrian use is awesome, more people will feel safe and happy strolling down South Broad Street 
. The fact that they're not just throwing money at it but really putting thought into making it a community space is what I love about this project 
This whole thing sounds like such an exciting revamp! I'm definitely in favor of more greenery on Broad Street, it's gonna be lovely for people walking around. Can't wait to see what kind of amazing public art installations they come up with. And yay for making the street more pedestrian-friendly - we should all try to spend more time outside and soaking up the atmosphere! The idea of having outdoor cafes and pop-up performance spaces sounds like a dream 
i mean, we need more green areas in philly already, its kinda sad that some ppl think outdoor cafes & pop up performances are luxuries 
what i do like tho is the idea of "AveArts 2.0" paying homage to philly's artsy past 
and having state rep jordan harris support this project with an extra $500k is a huge win 
fingers crossed it comes together as planned, cant wait to see how its all gonna look 
. $150 million is a pretty penny, but if it brings in more stores, restaurants, and museums, it could be worth it for the city. The idea of having outdoor performance spaces sounds awesome, especially with the rainwater collection cisterns 
. I'm not sure about eliminating parking spaces, though - what's up with that? 
Also, what's with the $500k from Rep. Harris? Is that just a drop in the bucket for a $150 million project?
. I've lived in Philly for years and it's always been a bit of a mess, but if they can turn AveArts into a tourist destination, that'd be a huge win 
. And I'm glad Rep. Jordan Harris is chipping in with some extra cash 
. The idea of prioritizing pedestrian use is genius 
!
I gotta say, $150 mil for a street? That's like, crazy! I get it, they wanna make it a tourist spot and all, but can't they just leave some parking spaces alone? 
I mean, what about all the locals who need to park their cars?! It's gonna be a madhouse with all these new shops and restaurants popping up. And don't even get me started on the noise from outdoor concerts and performances... 
Can you imagine having to live in a neighborhood that's always rocking out? 
I guess it's all about what Philly wants to be, but can they balance progress with preserving some character?