The Northern Liberties Streetscape Vision Plan transforms the vehicular-dominated N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia into a pedestrian-focused corridor anchored by nearly 2-acres of newly created accessible urban public space.
Philadelphia, PA
Northern Liberties Business Improvement District
The Northern Liberties Streetscape Vision Plan reimagines N. 2nd Street, a major corridor in Philadelphia, as a pedestrian-friendly, community-centered space. Located between Old City and Kensington, Northern Liberties is a dense urban neighborhood poised for rapid growth, yet underserved by green spaces and cohesive public amenities.
PORT’s design for the 8,000-foot-long corridor prioritizes walkability and ecological vitality while addressing Northern Liberties’ evolving needs. The plan reduces vehicular traffic to a single lane, introduces a protected bike lane, and creates an 80,000-square-foot woonerf that fosters safe, shared use. The centerpiece of the vision, “Market Green,” transforms the widest section of 2nd Street into an urban park, doubling the area of public space in the neighborhood. Key design elements include:
By planting the seeds for future vitality, the Vision Plan balances the competing demands of Northern Liberties’ streetscape to meet the needs of both residents and visitors.
SERVICES
Landscape Planning + Design
COLLABORATORS
Architect: KieranTimberlake
Cost Estimator: Dharam Consulting
From block to block, the character and scale of North 2nd Street changes significantly. To consider the opportunities and constraints across the length of the corridor, the design team analyzed the street in four distinct segments (three shown here).
The proposal achieves almost 2 acres of new public surface and adds 100 new trees, 425 linear feet of benches, 3,300 square feet of understory planting, and 4,300 square feet of canopy structure.
