Economic Redevelopment Through Green Initiatives

By Author: Jason Delmar
Total Articles: 335
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Taking steps to help the environment has become a popular theme in many industries. The concept has taken on a life of its own and now everyone is getting in on the concept or is at least attempting to sound green. It's an initiative that is long over due and it is finally taking hold in the American conscious. In the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, the Green Corridor is slowly becoming a reality.

Roxborough is an eclectic blend of twenty and thirty something's mixed with the locals who have been here for generations. This neighborhood with its safe streets, friendly people and the lowest crime rate in the city is within walking distance of the popular nighttime destination known as Manayunk. As the neighborhood of Manayunk increased in popularity, so did the home values, this made way for Roxborough to step in and fill the need for more affordable housing. Fast forward a few years and gone are the days of bargain house prices, but in turn, the Roxborough neighborhood has developed into a great area to live, work, and enjoy life.

The most aspiring aspect is that Roxborough is within steps of Fairmount ...
... Park. Miles and miles of trails, woods, streams, and free outdoor activities are minutes from your door step. So it was a natural fit when the Green Corridor became a reality. The project is a one-stop shop for greens goods and services. Atlantic States Realty and its partners are already redeveloping parts of the area and are constantly looking for environmentally friendly ideas. Right now there are green tenants and interest from a green printing company, a sustainable furniture store, an eco-friendly food company and the management company of Roxborough Real Estate has already landed GreenLife, a yoga studio dedicated to health, innovative techniques, and general wellness.

Another Roxborough based company that is starting to do its part in the green initiative is the RTA Cabinet Store. Being cognizant of shipping costs and spacing needs lead the RTA Cabinet Store to find better, more efficient ways to ship its product. All of their products are shipped in an RTA fashion. RTA means ready to assemble. Since these cabinets are shipped in a smaller, more efficient manner, more cabinets can be shipped on each load. This translates into a 62% reduction in space being used and thus less fuel per to ship the same product, plus less carbon emissions. This all leads to a smaller carbon foot print on the plant. So besides offering a great kitchen cabinet product at half the cost, the RTA guys are also doing their part to reduce carbon emissions.

With the Roxborough Development Corp's introduction of energy efficient electric gas lamps, planned modular, environmentally friendly condominiums and planned greening of the central corridor, you can see the area is moving in a positive direction. Roxborough is literally the city's greenest neighborhood, with Fairmount Park bordering the community to the northwest and multiple city parks like Gorgas Park and other green space areas the throughout the historic community. So to see new and established business picking up the on the green initiative is inspiring to all who look to this up and coming neighborhood.