On January 27, 2017, at the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s (DRWC) board meeting, Tom Corcoran, the organization’s current President, announced his intention to retire at the end of June 2017. This left the position open and at the same meeting, the board unanimously appointed Joe Forkin, DRWC’s current Executive Vice President for Development and Operations, to the role of President upon Corcoran’s retirement, starting on July 1st, 2017.

  “It’s an honor to take the helm of an organization that’s working hard to effect positive change for Philadelphia and the surrounding region by returning one of Philadelphia’s greatest assets – the river and the surrounding waterfront – to the city’s residents and visitors. I have the privilege of working with a tremendously dedicated board of directors and talented staff,” newly appointed President Joe Forkins told Spirit News.

  Founded in 2009, the DRWC is a non-profit organization with a clear agenda to bring back the waterfront to its former glory, turning into a truly valued asset for the community.

  According to the DRWC website, the fundamental purpose of the organization is “to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues. DRWC intends to transform the central Delaware River waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia. DRWC will serve as a catalyst for high-quality investment in public parks, trails, maritime, residential, retail, hotel and other improvements that create a vibrant amenity, extending Philadelphia to the river’s edge.”

  Since the DRWC’s creation in 2009, they have already headed many successful initiatives that have brought life back to the once declining Delaware waterfront. For example, they completed the Spring Garden Connector Project that incorporated new sidewalk and streetscape improvements alongside a dynamic lighting installation; they completed the Penn Street Trail, the first segment of the Delaware River Trail; they completed the design of the North Delaware River Trail segment from Sugarhouse to Penn Treaty Park; they initiated new private development (such as the Fillmore and Penn Treaty Village), adaptively reusing former waterfront industrial buildings; and they have started redevelopment of the Festival Pier Site.

  With the appointment of Joe Forkin as the new President, he seeks to carry on the successful work that the DRWC has been doing over the past eight years while bringing something new to the role.

  “DRWC, with the support and engagement of city officials, partners and residents, created the award-winning Master Plan for the Central Delaware that was adopted by the City and codified into law. This adaptable document provides a long-term framework for accomplishing the community-driven principles captured in the Plan,” Forkins told Spirit News. “The future plans are to continue the positive momentum that we’ve started, and to strategically take advantage of opportunities, both big and small, to further the transformation of the waterfront.”

  Having once been a hub for industry and business, the Delaware River waterfront fell into disarray after the I-95 interstate highway was constructed next to the river in 1957. I-95 provided a new and cheaper way for goods to flow in and out of Philadelphia, leaving many factories and docks abandoned in the process.

  The DRWC is revitalizing the waterfront, and although they can’t bring the once thriving business and industry back, they are working hard to utilize the waterfront in a different way to make it a valued aspect of Philadephia once more.

  “The development of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware has led to the momentum we have established today. The perception now is that the revitalization of the waterfront is a real thing that is happening and will continue to happen,” Forkin said.

  It is essential that the DRWC has support from outside bodies in order to make the projects sustainable, successful and affordable.

  “We need to continue to have good partners, private and public, driven to achieve DRWC’s mission. Consensus leads to collaboration and the necessary resources for continued success,” Forkins told Spirit News.

  Since the DRWC’s creation, the results have been completely positive with the organization breathing life back into the waterfront. The DRWC is important to all residents of the area as they directly benefit from the organization’s projects.

  “DRWC is specific in its purview. Our mission is to revitalize and return the waterfront to the public for all to enjoy, which has great benefits for the city’s residents and the region,” Forkin said.

  He added: “The importance is multi-faceted: we create recreational opportunities through the development of public parks and trails, develop transportation connections for ease of access, promote water health through environmentally friendly and sustainable construction, increase the tax base by attracting high-quality private development and provide free programming to connect the community. DRWC’s work is concentrated solely on how to provide these benefits to the city and its residents.”

  With newly appointed President Joe Forkin heading the DRWC with an optimistic outlook for the future, it is in everyone’s best interest to see the the organization continue their great work in developing the waterfront into a place that the community can use and enjoy. •