Proposed 5 Point Beautification Plan forDevon Village Wall and SEPTA’s 7100 Block Sprague Street Field

Kelly O’Day6/6/11

The Devon Village Wall along the R7 line has been an eyesore for many years. SEPTA‘s 7100 block Sprague Street Field on the outbound side of the R7 has been a maintenance challenge for a number of years, including:

1. Dumping of trash, debris along 7100 block of Sprague Street in the past2. Neighbors trespassing onto SEPTA’s 7100 block Sprague Street property to plant trees, bushes to

hide the ugly Devon Village Wall3. Graffiti on Devon Village Wall that makes the eyesore even worse and presents a safety problem

for those trying to paint over the graffiti4. Trash and debris accumulation in Sprague Field, not removed by SEPTA contractors

This Proposed 5 Point Plan anticipates that SEPTA, Devon Village Builder and Sedgwick Station Neighbors work together to solve the Devon Village Wall and Sprague Field problems.

1. SEPTA To Erect New Safety Zone Iron Fence Along Track to Secure Track from Trespassing

SEPTA staff has indicated that neighbors have trespassed onto SEPTA property to plant trees and shrubs in the Sprague Field to hide the ugly Devon Village Wall. Several of these neighbor plantings have been too close to the tracks and SEPTA has had to remove them, re-exposing the ugly wall.

SEPTA can solve this long term problem by adding a new fence along the tracks at a sufficient distance from the tracks to provide a safe zone between the new fence and the existing fence along the street. This new fence would:

Assure that SEPTA maintains its safety zone Continue to prevent dumping in Sprague Field Provide neighbors the opportunity to plant SEPTA approved trees and other plantings inside a

Sprague Field Safe Zone

This new fence will provide a win-win solution for both SEPTA and the neighbors

2. SEPTA To Replace Old Chain Link Fence – Gate with Proper Iron Gate

SEPTA now has an attractive iron fence along the 7100 block of Sprague Street which includes a short stretch of taller chain link fence with barbed wire. The mix of iron fence and taller chain link fence with barbed wire detracts from the iron fence appearance.

1

May 18, 2011: Shows SEPTA Crew removeing 1 of 3 trees in Sprague Field, further exposing the Devon Village Wall

These next three (3) photos provide views of the SEPTA’s unsightly mix of chain link fence and iron fence on the 7100 block of Sprague Street.

E Durham – Sprague Street neighbors request that SEPTA remove the chain link fencing, remove the 2 bollards and the jog in the fence line and install iron fencing and iron gate that matches the remainder of SEPTA’s 7100 block of Sprague Street fencing.

2

Chain link fence with barbed wire in 7100 block Sprague Street

Bollards and chain link fence left from previous Verizon sub-station removed in 2010

Mix of iron fence on left and chain link fence with barbed wire on right

3. Devon Village Builder to Repair, Paint Wall and Plant Wall Covering

Sedgwick Station Neighbors are requesting that the Devon Village Builder repair and paint the Devon Village wall along SEPTA’s R7 track and to plant a wall covering to discourage graffiti.

SEPTA will need to be involved in any Devon Village Wall beautification efforts from both construction permit review and coordination standpoints as well as any graffiti response. We request that SEPTA actively work with the Sedgwick Station Neighbors, Devon Village’s Builder and EMAN to improve, beautify this long term eyesore.

The bottom photo, taken on April 12, 2010, shows that the 450 foot Devon Village Wall has been a graffiti target in the past. This graffiti invasion occurred on one Sunday night by multiple graffiti taggers acting at the same time.

Sedgwick Station Neighbors request that once the Devon Village wall has been repaired and painted, the Devon Village Builder plant an appropriate wall covering like Boston Ivy or Virginia Creeper to beautify the wall and discourage future graffiti on this 450 foot long wall.

SEPTA, the Devon Village Builder and Sedgwick Station Neighbors need to clarify how wall maintenance and graffiti removal is to be handled in the future since the wall will be the responsibility of a home owners association once the Builder sells the homes.

3

April 12, 2010 Graffiti Attack on Devon Village Wall

Devon Village Wall area in need of serious repair before painting

Devon Village Wall on left, R7 Inbound tracks on right

4. Neighbors To Plant Wall Covering To Beautify E Mt Airy Ave Bridge Wall

The E Mt Airy Ave Bridge wall on the 7100 block of Sprague Street side is an unnecessary eyesore.

Since access to the 7100 block of Sprague Street side of the E Mt Airy Ave Bridge wall is restricted by SEPTA’s fence, neighbors have not been able to plant wall coverings to beautify this wall.

The photo to the right is the E Mt Airy Ave Bridge from the 7200 block Sprague Street side. The differences between the 7100 and 7200 block sides are striking.

Sedgwick Station Neighbors would like to beautify the 7100 block side just like neighbors have done on the 7200 block side.

5. SEPTA Grant Limited Neighbor Access to Sprague Field Safe Zone for Planting and Liter Removal

In the past, neighbors have trespassed into Sprague Field to plant trees and bushes, some within SEPTA’s track safety zone. Once the new Safety Zone iron fence has been installed (Point 1), Neighbors request that SEPTA allow limited access to the Sprague Field Safe Zone to beautify the large unsightly E Mt Airy Ave Bridge structure on the 7100 block side of Sprague Street, plant and tend other plantings approved by SEPTA and to remove liter and debris. This approach provides assurances to SEPTA about track safety and dumping prevention while providing Neighbors limited access to beautify Sprague Field and E Mt Airy Ave Bridge wall.

4

7100 Block Sprague Street View of E Mt Airy Ave Bridge. Neighbors restricted from accessing wall to plant wall covering

7200 block Sprague Street view of E Mt Airy Ave Bridge. Neighbors have access to wall to plant wall coverings.