South Street's Vacancy Dilemma Triggers Zoning Overhaul in Philly

Philadelphia’s South Street, once a magnet for shops and nightlife, now faces about a 30% storefront vacancy and nuisance businesses like smoke shops and hookah lounges. City planners are weighing a remapping to CMX-3 mixed-use zoning to enable taller buildings with first-floor retail, aiming to attract anchors and boost foot traffic, though the timeline is unclear and residents are divided on the approach. Proposals include a South Street Revitalization Corporation, temporary pedestrian blocks, and a creative district overlay, but effectiveness depends on ongoing neighborhood consensus and council action.