U. moves toward more control of retail on Walnut St. in 'rehumanizing' effort

The plans include taking over leasing at 3401 Walnut and centralizing food trucks near Van Pelt. In conjunction with a plan to enhance, renovate and improve current facilities on the north end of campus, the administration plans to "rehumanize" the area by overhauling local retail space. "Right now, the only thing you want to do on Walnut Street is to speed up and get through those lights," Executive Vice President John Fry said. "We want to slow traffic down and get people to say, 'Wow, this is really cool'." The administration is now working with urban planners, a traffic consultant and the Division of Public Safety to redevelop the area, Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina said. And the University hopes to hire a retail consultant to survey the condition of retail across campus, he added. As part of the retail overhaul initiatives, the University is moving to acquire full control of leasing responsibilities within the 3401 Walnut shopping complex. A Philadelphia-based leasing company now manages the space. Assuming responsibility for the center would enable the University to control the vendors in the Food Court and the store fronts at 34th and Walnut streets. "We want to change the feel of Walnut so it doesn't seem like you're crossing a great chasm," Gravina said. Fry said his first priority is to fill the Italian Bistro space, which has been empty for two and a half years. He also wants to fill any vacancies in the food court. Over time, he added that he would like to conduct a store by store analysis, examining the "mixed bag of tenants." On the other side of Walnut Street, Fry said he would like to tear down the wall that backs Van Pelt Library, making room for a vending court for food trucks on campus. "Right now you have a brick wall that serves no particular purpose," he said. "And we need a place to put vendors that is prominent, because vending is part of the culture of the campus." Fry said he also wants to demolish the Franklin Annex at 36th and Sansom streets and reexamine the use of the Mellon Bank Building at 36th and Walnut streets. "The Franklin Annex does not need to be where it is, and the Mellon Bank is not a particularly functional building," Fry said. He said he would like to find places to relocate offices currently in those buildings and make room for mixed use retail and residence space, continuing "the vocabulary of Walnut Street we started off on 34th." He added that this space is critical for "Sansom Commons" -- a project to revitalize the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Sansom Street. University President Judith Rodin said the soon-to-be-built Barnes & Noble bookstore on 36th and Walnut streets will serve as a hub for a commercial district she hopes will resemble popular Manayunk, Pa. "We want to create a vibrant, 'round-the-clock, exciting destination," Rodin said. She added that she would like to extend the type of successful retail and restaurants currently located on Sansom Row between 34th and 36th streets. "The bookstore annex should be an incredible anchor for well-respected merchants," Gravina said. The Penn Inn -- a University-built and -operated hotel to be located next to the new bookstore -- will also draw merchants to the area, administrators said. "The Inn will have a distinctive feel -- like one of the great Penn buildings, not like a chain hotel," Fry said. He added that the University is working with a planning commission to close 36th Street between Walnut and Chestnut streets, which would allow for the creation of an "urban park" with a plaza and outdoor cafes. "Closing off the street is not necessary to begin the project, but it is important for establishing the ambiance of the area," Fry said. To finance the project, Fry said he intends to solicit private investment from outside companies.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.