Wasn't the world's largest surgar refinery located on top of this exact location and alleged fort? Wasn't all evidence on recent indian inhabitations lost when all the soils were remmoved to fill the Conhocksink Creek. Isn't one of the City's largest combined sewer outfalls located at the center of this site and aren't local basements flooded after each storm because this outfall isn't big enough to handle the flows? Hasn't this site been vacant for over 10 years without providing any employment opportunities? What do you want to see here, more million dollar condos that exclude inner city residents from the waterfront and new jobs?
To answer your lengthy list of questions....NO! NO on every question, except one.
NO, it wasn't the world's largest surgar refinery that was located on top of this exact location. It was a sugar refinery.
No, it is not an alleged fort, the fort was quite real with many documents still surviving to support the claim and no archaeological investigations conducted in the correct places in find it.
No, all evidence on recent indian inhabitations was not lost when all the soils were removed to fill the Conhocksink Creek, Marble & Co., the archaeoloy firm found many American Indian artifacts, some 3500 years old and buried only 4 inches under the soil. Also, all the soil was not removed to fill the Cohocksink. That is what we call heresay. Who are you quoting?
No, there is not one of the City's largest combined sewer outfalls in the center of this lot. I have the engineers plans, there is not major sewer outlet in the middle of the site. What plans are you looking at?
No, the local basements are not flooded because of the sewer outlet in the middle of the Sugarhouse site, since there is no "largest combined sewer outfalls" in the middle of the site. Who are you quoting? Did they ever have their basements cemented?
You are correct on one point. The site has been vacant for 10 years without providing any employment opportunities? This might possibly be due to speculators land banking the riverfront, waiting for development opportunities....hey wait a minute, that is the casino right? You'll have to ask those folks why they let the property sit vacant for so long.
Your last point, "What do you want to see more million dollar condos that exclude inner city residents from the waterfront and new jobs?" This is debatable. I never remember reading that building million dollar condos requires hiring 75 extra police officers and creating a special policing district of upwards of 140 officiers, to control the residents of the million dollar condos. Tell me, if building casinos does not cause the rise in crime, why is it then that a special police district needs to be created? Why do we need to hire 75 new officers and have a special140 police officer unit to patrol the area?
1. What are the Laurel Street and Shackamaxon Street Combined Sewer Outfalls then? Doesn't the former Conhocksink Creek now discharge through the Laurel Street CSO outfall? Doesn't this sewer system backup during rainfalls and flood local homes? Isn't the City under a Consent Order to replace this CSO discharge?
2. The reason for the large police substation is the same reason why local community groups want "Deleveoper Agreements" and an annual payoff from the Developers. To shift these costs from the residential taxpayers to businesses and corporations.
There is no proof that such a large police presence is necessary, other than fact that the City can't afford to provide the residence of Fishtown with adequate police protection now.
Really interesting questions and discussion. Is the heart of the matter asking how this land is going to be best honored if it is to be used to support the people who live near it and around it, as well as recognize a past that represents important values that we would benefit from acknowledging?
Okay Jim, I'll concede that there is a sewer that runs through the middle of the Sugarhouse site, so why doesn't the city simply fix the sewer? Why should fixing a sewer that backs up, be related to a casino? Your right, the old Cohocksink Creek does run into the river still, but that is well below the SugarHouse site, that is at the southern end of the Waterfront Square development and thus has nothing to do with the Sugarhouse site. If water backs up when it rains, then that is why you call a Philadelphia Water Department problem, not a problem that should be solved by out of state casino developers? Geezzz! And your suggestions about the extra police just being a payoff, what studies are you citing? You seem to making this stuff up as you go along?
Forget the sugarhouse casino;Penn Treaty Park needs our help to preserve the historical significance and serenity of that beloved park,and not let it be turned into a "farmers market/floating pool/marina".There is someting to be said and appreciated in coming to the park and just enjoying the peacefullness of the site.Also some of the plans want to remove William Penn from the park.PLEASE VOTE NO!!!
Well councilwoman J.K. removed bill #090380 from the floor,but this should be a wake up call for the people that love and respect what Penn Treaty Park stands for.This park deserves the same protection as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Betsy Ross house. If park land can be taken or proposed to be taken on a whim; this park will not be protected until it is declared a historical site, which it truly is.
I've been asked to provide a First Day School lesson that features Quakers and Native Americans. This episode in our history looks ideal. Do you have a lesson plan, some kind of activity, etc. that would be suitable for 5 to 10 years olds? I'd be really grateful for any help/materials you could provide or direct me too. I live in Baltimore, so nipping down to the Arch St. Meeting house would be difficult but e-mail, snail mail would work well.
Thanks,
Anna Brown
Gunpowder Friends Meeting
Sparks, MD
NO, it wasn't the world's largest surgar refinery that was located on top of this exact location. It was a sugar refinery.
No, it is not an alleged fort, the fort was quite real with many documents still surviving to support the claim and no archaeological investigations conducted in the correct places in find it.
No, all evidence on recent indian inhabitations was not lost when all the soils were removed to fill the Conhocksink Creek, Marble & Co., the archaeoloy firm found many American Indian artifacts, some 3500 years old and buried only 4 inches under the soil. Also, all the soil was not removed to fill the Cohocksink. That is what we call heresay. Who are you quoting?
No, there is not one of the City's largest combined sewer outfalls in the center of this lot. I have the engineers plans, there is not major sewer outlet in the middle of the site. What plans are you looking at?
No, the local basements are not flooded because of the sewer outlet in the middle of the Sugarhouse site, since there is no "largest combined sewer outfalls" in the middle of the site. Who are you quoting? Did they ever have their basements cemented?
You are correct on one point. The site has been vacant for 10 years without providing any employment opportunities? This might possibly be due to speculators land banking the riverfront, waiting for development opportunities....hey wait a minute, that is the casino right? You'll have to ask those folks why they let the property sit vacant for so long.
Your last point, "What do you want to see more million dollar condos that exclude inner city residents from the waterfront and new jobs?" This is debatable. I never remember reading that building million dollar condos requires hiring 75 extra police officers and creating a special policing district of upwards of 140 officiers, to control the residents of the million dollar condos. Tell me, if building casinos does not cause the rise in crime, why is it then that a special police district needs to be created? Why do we need to hire 75 new officers and have a special140 police officer unit to patrol the area?
2. The reason for the large police substation is the same reason why local community groups want "Deleveoper Agreements" and an annual payoff from the Developers. To shift these costs from the residential taxpayers to businesses and corporations.
There is no proof that such a large police presence is necessary, other than fact that the City can't afford to provide the residence of Fishtown with adequate police protection now.
Thanks,
Anna Brown
Gunpowder Friends Meeting
Sparks, MD