Nearly half of the 12 million square feet of building space that the city manages is in disrepair, according to a citywide survey. That means that those buildings and spaces like libraries, playgrounds and prisons need more than just routine maintenance. Some will remain open, but some will have to be closed or replaced with newer buildings.
The city has turned to mapping software to tackle the problem, PlanPhilly reported.
The Capital Facility Planning Database project shows the location of city facilities – buildings, but also things like baseball fields, basketball courts and stables – and also the year they were built, the square footage of any buildings, the acreage of the property, and which departments are occupying the property.
Overall the city likely has more facilities than its current population warrants, City Planner Mark Wheeler told the Philadelphia City Planning Commission at its September meeting. But because of population shifts, the facilities aren’t always located where they are most needed; some neighborhoods are over served while others are going without services.
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