Conceptual design of the Greenway Viaduct north end looking towards Fairmount Avenue. (Credit: Center City District)
In the early 1980s, an elevated viaduct – which spans 6/10th of a mile from Vine Street to Fairmont Avenue – in North Philadelphia discontinued operations. Over the years, the area has become overgrown with weeds.
The Center City District now plans to convert the area into the Viaduct Greenway, a project that is projected to cost over $100 million.
The Viaduct Greenway will be a walking and biking path that connects to The Rail Park. The overall project will “include environmental remediation, structural repairs, a linear trail with basic lighting and safety elements, and multiple points of access, with more amenities designed in partnership with adjacent community groups,” according to the Center City website.
Completing the Viaduct Greenway project would allow adding residential and commercial development along the vacant land that surrounds the currently vacant viaduct.
Conceptual design of south end looking towards Vine street On January 9th, the Center City District announced that the U.S. The Department of Transportation awarded it a $2 million capital redevelopment grant for the Viaduct Greenway project.
In the past the city has been denied the effort to acquire the property by Reading International, the current owner of the property.
According to public documents, the city is currently planning to take over the viaduct by condemnation.
Pennsylvania has the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, which establishes that qualified individuals and nonprofits have the right to petition to become conservators of abandoned properties and rehabilitate them for use.
Philadelphia claims that Reading International is not a rail carrier and therefore, should not be exempt from the act. According to its website, it is “focused on the development of, ownership and operation of entertainment and real property assets.”
However, Reading International argued that the viaduct is not abandoned and can still operate as a rail carrier in the future.
The Surface Transportation Board, which oversees the regulation of railways, is responsible for the decision made regarding the property. If the STB sides with Reading International, the company will maintain ownership of the viaduct, making the city's plans much less likely and much harder to implement by condemnation.
City council member Mark Squilla, who represents the district in which the viaduct is located, wrote in a letter to the STB. He claimed that Reading International has neglected the viaduct for more than four decades.
The city is continuing to explore the legal options pending the decision of the petition.
Axios Philadelphia contacted the head of the Center City District board, Paul Levy, who informed them that the design work on the Viaduct Greenway has been delayed.
The Philly Daily has made multiple attempts to reach the City of Philadelphia and Reading International for comments about the Greenway Viaduct; however, all attempts have gone radio silent.
