Eastwick's History of Flooding

The City of Philadelphia's Redevelopment Authority is exploring the commercial development of some of the City's last remaining open space in the flood-prone Eastwick neighborhood.


For nearly a century, residents of the Eastwick neighborhood in South Philadelphia have struggled with catastrophic flooding. Much of Eastwick was built on thousand acres of land that was once a marsh making it vulnerable to flooding. Flooding occurs during major storms when water overflows from Darby and Cobbs creeks into Eastwick or from tidal surges from the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Poor planning and a failed urban renewal initiative have left residents underwater with few near-term solutions.


Today, persistent flooding in Eastwick stands as one of Philadelphia's most serious environmental justice issues.


Eastwick Flooding History Slideshow

flooding in Eastwick section of Philadelphia
eastwick neighborhood floods graphic

Is More Development a Solution to Flooding in Eastwick?

Residents of Eastwick have pleaded with political leaders and city, state and federal government agencies for many years for help and relief from flooding.


The City of Philadelphia controls about 180 acres of land, portions of which it would like to develop; this includes an undeveloped and mostly wooded 124.5-acre parcel (also referred to as "The 128") adjacent to Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. More than a decade ago residents of Eastwick recommended making the 124.5-acre parcel part of the Heinz Refuge.


In 2017 and 2018, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) conducted a series of community roundtables to determine what Eastwick residents desired if the land could be developed. The resulting "Lower Eastwick Land Planning Strategy" was published in 2019, focusing on the following properties:

  • (Site 1) A 124.5-acre (also known as "The 128") site roughly bounded by 84th Street, Lindbergh Boulevard, and Mario Lanza Boulevard, this parcel was formerly referred to as ‘Parcel A’
  • (Site 2) A 4.5-acre site at the southwest corner of 84th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard; and
  • (Site 3) A 58.6-acre site that includes the following properties:
  • The former Communications Technology High School (George Wolf School), owned by the School District of Philadelphia
  • The former Pepper Middle School site owned by the Philadelphia School District
  • PRA-owned lands located along and generally bounded by Mario Lanza Boulevard, between 81st & 84th Streets.

Commercial development in this 124.5 acre parcel should not be pursued, because it won't reduce flooding potential in Eastwick and will always be subject to future flooding. Commercial development would also be very risky, expensive and difficult for any investor or developer because of the high potential for future flooding.

Can Homes Be Developed and Residents Relocated?

A portion of the 124.5 parcel in the southwestern corner has a slightly higher elevation and may be suitable for some residential development. This could enable the relocation of Eastwick residents who are subject to losses from repetitive flooding. The Refuge is supportive of this concept and will work with the community to pursue this option if it is determined that the land is not subject to future flood risk. The map below shows (in orange) the land area that may be suitable for development of homes. The remaining area should be left to nature and used to reduce flooding.

How Can Nature Help Eastwick?

In February 2022, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority released the "Lower Eastwick Hydrologic & Hydraulic Study," which modeled different storm and tidal events and their potential impact on Eastwick. While most models suggest that development won’t make flooding worse, commercial development won't reduce flooding.


Only one model showed a reduction in flooding; that model is the one in which the 124.5-acre parcel adjacent to Heinz Refuge is restored as wetlands to receive floodwaters from Eastwick neighborhoods.

Only one model shows a reduction in flooding; that model is the one in which the 124.5-acre parcel  adjacent to Heinz Refuge is restored as wetlands to receive floodwaters from Eastwick's streets.

Eastwick Residents'

Responses

During the 2017-18 community meetings, this is what the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority heard from Eastwick residents:

  • Fix the flooding problem.
  • Make our community whole.
  • There should be no new development if it means additional flood risk.

While some residents want to see development, particularly if new homes can be provided, many participants expressed concerns* about flooding: 

  • "I am still uneasy about potential flooding with development behind my residence."

  • "Need to keep the community alive (mitigate the flood risk first to make area safe)."

  • No development, flood remediation and open space.

  • Flooding should be addressed before there is any development.


  • My concern for Eastwick is no increase in flooding, no net loss of flood storage, no change in flood elevations, no change in local flooding and no adverse impacts on adjoining communities including the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge."


*Source: Lower Eastwick Public Land Strategy

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