2008.02.01 - DAG CHAIR ALAN GREENBERGER APPOINTED TO PLANNING COMMISSION

At its regular meeting on January 30, 2008, the Steering Committee of the Design Advocacy Group voted unanimously to commend Mayor Michael Nutter and to congratulate DAG chair Alan Greenberger on his appointment to the City Planning Commission. Greenberger's appointment helps to realize the first recommendation of the DAG Reform Agenda, to "appoint experts to the boards and commissions that work in the areas of planning and design."

The Steering Committee also voted unanimously to endorse Greenberger's continuing service as DAG chair. Appointment to the Planning Commission creates no systemic conflict of interest, and special arrangements can be made to avoid such conflict or the appearance of conflict on the rare occasions when they may arise.

DVRPC Report on Civic Design Excellence

This report, funded by the William Penn Foundation, and developed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, looks at the state of civic design in Philadelphia in 2007 and makes recommendations as to how the City can strengthen its own functions to improve the quality of civic design that defines our urban landscape. Topics covered include elements of civic design, design review, design guidelines, design education and advocacy, and best practices from across the country.

Click here to see the report.

2008.01.07 - DEAL WAS BROKEN, HISTORY DEFILED:
Ed Bronstein and George Claflen Op Ed piece from the Monday, January 7th, 2008 Inquirer regarding the proposed demolition of PLICO building.  Click here to read.

2007.08.04 - INGA SAFFRON PRESENTATION:
Inga Saffron, architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer,  spoke at the DAG meeting on August 2, 2007.  Click here to read the entirety of her presentation.

NEW ADVOCACY PROJECT - REFORM AGENDA:
A DAG taskforce has developed a Reform Agenda for Philadelphia's decentralized government planning and design agencies. Click here to read the agenda.

NEW ADVOCACY PROJECT - URBAN DESIGN EVALUATION TOOL:
The Urban Design Evaluation Tool was developed by DAG as a resource to help Philadelphians analyze the multitude of new development projects going up around the city. Also included is a listing of current and proposed development in Center City. Click here

DAG LETTER OF OPPOSITION:
DAG formally opposes Senate Bill 881 that prohibits the use of eminent domain for private development. Click here

DAG NABS IT!: On May 15, all of the Charter change measures recommended by DAG passed. We were successful by partnering with numerous advocacy groups throughout the city who share our interest in zoning and planning reform. Congratulations to all. The real work, especially on the writing of a new zoning code, lies ahead.

DAG RECOGNITION: DAG is pleased to announce that in its Philadelphia 2007: Prospects and Challenges report, the Pew Charitable Trusts has cited DAG as an example of one of the Philadelphia organizations "that represent the ferment of the new leadership climate".  In the subsection entitled "Public policy networks" the report says "the Design Advocacy Group meets monthly as a voluntary think-tank to discuss and respond to the need for urban planning and design."  Click here to read this section of the report.  If you would like to download the entire report, please visit http://www.pewtrusts.org/pubs

AWARDS FOR DAG: DAG is the proud recipient of Young Involved Philadelphia's 2005 Thomas Holme Award for its dedication to civic design excellence and education.  The award was presented at YIP's annual Membership Party on February 23. The award is named in honor of William Penn's surveyor and Philadelphia's first urban designer.

In December 2004, AIA Philadelphia presented DAG with the annual Lewis Mumford Award for Journalism, in recognition of our efforts to promote good design through print and broadcast media. A number of DAG members were on hand to accept the award at AIA Philadelphia's annual and awards ceremony.

The Design Advocacy Group was among those honored with a 2003 AIA Pennsylvania Design Award for its participation in the Penn's Landing Forums. DAG organized a charrette as part of an extensive public planning process led by Penn Praxis, Graduate School of Fine Arts and the Center for School Study Councils, Graduate School of Education, both at the University of Pennsylvania, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.