The Delaware River waterfront was a development nightmare for decades, but Joe Forkin has a major plan that will make Penn’s Landing thrive, writes David Murrell for Philadelphia Magazine.

The City of Philadelphia’s original plans to redevelop the land into office space including a 30-story tower and science research park failed when no developer materialized. The city tried again a decade later, once more without follow-through.

In 1986, the city erected the Great Plaza as a gathering place. However, urban planners and public officials continued to advocate for something more from Penn’s Landing. After several more failed attempts and two major corruption scandals, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

Joe Forkin, president of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, is working on turning the Great Plaza into Penn’s Landing Park.

The $440 million project is one of the largest public infrastructure projects in Philadelphia in the last six decades.

“I can’t believe it’s happening,” said Forkin.

Forkin and DRWC, the city-affiliated nonprofit in charge of Penn’s Landing, have been on a quest to remake the Delaware waterfront for over a decade. Now, it is finally happening.

Forkin believes that the new park, which will cover 12 acres, “should count as the sixth square of Philadelphia.”

Read more about Joe Forkin and his grand plan in Philadelphia Magazine.

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