Design Advocacy Group of Philadelphia

As a voluntary coalition of concerned citizens, DAG relies on digital communication tools to inform and communicate among its members. This website was developed to further enhance that capacity. We wish to thank the William Penn Foundation without whom this online forum would not be possible.

NEXT AT DAG:

Thursday, July 3 at 8:00 a.m.
NEW VENUE at Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street.

An Action Plan for the Central Delaware - PennPraxis will present DAG with their recommendations for the waterfront developed in conjunction with the riverfront civic associations. Mayor Nutter, in his address to the Planning Commission on June 17, noted that "for years we've talked about the incredible opportunities that the waterfront offers. I want the Commission to take the thoughtful vision developed by PennPraxis and transform it into a practical framework for development." Come hear what form this might take.

LEARNING FROM PHILADELPHIA IN AUSTIN, TEXAS:

According to an article in The Austin Chronicle, "In the sparkling City of Brotherly Love, an outspoken coalition is successfully championing good design and planning." They’re referring to DAG. See what else they say here: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:640116

MAYOR NUTTER'S SPEECH

CLICK HERE to read the full text of Mayor Nutter's speech to the Planning Commission outlining his vision for restoring Philadelphia as a national leader in city planning. Note that DAG has long advocated for many of the items that the Mayor included in his address and we look forward to seeing them implemented.

New Leadership at DAG:

The Steering Committee of DAG is pleased to announce that effective June 1, 2008, Joanne Aitken AIA, will become the third Chair of DAG in the organization's six-year history. Co-founder William Becker served as Chair for five years. Co-founder Alan Greenberger was the second Chair and is stepping down after 18 months of service to allow him to focus on his new role as Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission under Mayor Michael Nutter.

Joanne Aitken was one of the earliest DAG members and has served on the DAG Steering Committee since its inception. An Associate at Kieran Timberlake Architects, Joanne is a committed civic activist and outspoken champion of design. A Past-President of AIA Philadelphia, Joanne assumes the Chair as Philadelphia embarks on a new era of design consciousness, fostered in part by DAG's advocacy. With nearly 1,000 members, DAG looks forward to strengthening its voice under Joanne's leadership.

George Claflen AIA and David Brownlee will continue to serve as Vice Chairs.

In addition, Ariel Ben-Amos and Andy Toy have agreed to join the Steering Committee.

Michael Sklaroff, attorney and former Chairman of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, offered his thoughts on historic preservation in Philadelphia at the May DAG meeting. To read his complete remarks, click here. DAG members are invited to post their thoughts at our online forum. To do so, simply log in at the top of this page using your email address.

City Council is seeking testimony on the issue of construction-related sidewalk closures. This is a key issue of DAG's Take Back Our Sidewalks initiative. George Claflen coordinated the preparation of a report on this subject incorporating the views of many DAG members and friends. The report has been submitted to Councilman DiCicco, chairman of the Committee on Streets and Services. You may view the report (PDF) HERE. To see other examples of blocked sidewalks, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
DAG meetings are held at 8 AM on the first Thursday of each month, at the Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street.