Finding the Right Mix of Uses for Former Industrial Sites

Philadelphia councilmembers Mark Squilla and Kenyatta Johnson "are proposing changes to a new zoning classification that’s meant to encourage the redevelopment of former industrial sites into mixed-use residential projects," reports Jared Brey.

The Industrial-Residential Mixed-use (IRMX) category was enabled as part of Philadelphia's 2012 Zoning Code update, but has yet to be mapped into neighborhoods. "The changes would require IRMX projects to include non-residential uses, incentivize artisan or light-industrial uses, reduce the maximum lot coverage, and ease parking and loading regulations."

Matt Ruben wrote in July 2014 of the potential pitfalls of the IRMX use as originally written. The bill by councilmembers Squilla and Johnson address those issues. For instance, Councilmember Squilla "said he’d heard proposals from developers who wanted to build strictly-residential projects in IRMX zones," reports Brey, "and he wanted to figure out a way to prevent the new classification from being used that way."

Brey adds that Councilmember Squilla "wants the category to be used for active mixed-use projects, live-work spaces, artists’ studios and things of that nature."