The free panel discussion took place at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19 at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church’s Sanctuary, Columbus Blvd. and Christian St. It was co-sponsored by Queen Village Neighbors Association and the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation (HGDPC).
The panel included these veterans of the Crosstown Expressway fight:
- Paul Levy, founding CEO of the extremely successful Center City District and author of “Queen Village: The Eclipse of a Community.”
- Marge Schernecke, a community organizer and leader in Queen Village whose family has lived in the area for five generations.
- David Auspitz, former owner of Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen and Famous Fourth Street Cookie Company, and former chairman of the Philadelphia Zoning Board.
- Rick Snyderman, co-founder of The Works Gallery, and a key player in organizing the “South Street Renaissance.”
- John Coates, former housing development leader and Executive Director for SCPAC, a coalition of river-to-river community groups.
- Conrad Weiler, former national activist preventing displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods and Temple University political science faculty member since 1968.
- Joel Spivak, architect, artist, former owner of Rocketships & Accessories and originator of Philadelphia’s National Hot Dog Month Celebration.
The panelists described the strategies and tactics they used to fight City Hall, derail the ill-fated Crosstown Expressway and help keep nearby neighborhoods intact.