The Rail Park in Philadelphia is one of a cohort of adaptive reuse park projects around the country that rose into national consciousness with the development of New York City’s High Line—which has become a symbol of economic success as well as urban inequality. With Phase 1 of Philadelphia’s three-mile elevated Rail Park complete in the Chinatown neighborhood, future development phases will cut through other neighborhoods and have implications across the city, such as potential displacement and disenfranchisement of economically vulnerable residents, businesses, and institutions.
The Chinatown’s Futures Histories Project resulted in a clear, actionable set of recommendations for an equitable development model in Chinatown that can be replicated in other neighborhoods and cities. In collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Planning and Development, members of City Council, the Chinatown community, Friends of the Rail Park, PolicyLink, Center City District, area developers, and thought leaders and advocates for equitable development, The Intersect provided project management, strategy development, and community engagement for this initiative.
Read this report about the Chinatown Future Histories project.
