L&I/Streets Departments and City Shops, Restaurants Cooperate to Ensure Safe, Walkable Sidewalks for DNC Visitors
PHILADELPHIA – Today Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) Commissioner David Perri released the results of an initiative to improve conditions for pedestrians on crowded city sidewalks. The initiative, a joint effort of L&I and the City Streets Department, was a part of preparations for an expected influx of visitors due to the Democratic National Convention, to be held this in Philadelphia this week.
Earlier in July, L&I inspectors distributed written and verbal notices informing businesses to expect heightened enforcement of Philadelphia Code provisions relating to sidewalks as the DNC approached. Under these provisions, licensed sidewalks are preserved for use by pedestrians, except that a business can operate on a portion of the sidewalk with a Sidewalk Café License from L&I. Notices were given to businesses in Greater Center City, from South Street north to Spring Garden Street, and between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and along South Broad Street to the stadium complex, within which the bulk of the convention itself will take place.
L&I and Streets Department inspectors followed up on the notices last week, finding that many businesses had already removed unauthorized items from the sidewalk. Inspectors reported that the vast majority of shop and business owners were pleasant and cooperative and that they had not found it necessary to conduct confiscations.
L&I Commissioner Perri was unsurprised. “Philadelphia’s shop owners and restauranteurs know that many of their patrons are pedestrians, so it’s in their best interests when it is easy to get around on City sidewalks,” he said. “And as proud Philadelphians excited to show off our great City, they know how great a place it is to experience on foot.”
In addition to working with businesses to improve sidewalk conditions, inspectors removed 297 unsecured “honor boxes” that were impeding pedestrian flow. They are in storage and can be reclaimed after the DNC, although L&I expects that many will not be, as they are broken and/or their owners are no longer in business. Contractors were required to reopen sidewalks that they had blocked off without permits.