Reading Terminal Market Awarded Grant To Revamp Filbert Street
By Marcy Norton
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Reading Terminal Market is one of Philadelphia's most popular tourist attractions, but the entrance by the dark, dingy Filbert Street underpass is nothing to write about on postcards home.
"It's not particularly inviting," says Reading Terminal Market general manager Anuj Gupta. "It's not a good frontal presence for the country's greatest market."
Now, there are plans to change that.
ArtPlace America has awarded one of just 38 grants this year to Reading Terminal Market so it can spruce up the 1100 block of Filbert Street, which connects the market with the transit hub across the street. Gupta says the $160,000 grant will be used to hire a design firm.
"To come up with a design and plan that will ultimately transform it into an inviting public space and allow it to function at times as an extension of the market," he says. "That would include presumably, better lighting, hopefully some artistic installations, fixtures, places where people can sit down and enjoy themselves."
Gupta says his vision also includes a space for musical performances and craft vendors.
Art and craft vendors displaying their wares," he says, "musicians having a sort of formal place to play outside, or other types of arts or cultural performances."
Gupta says patrons won't notice any changes for about a year.
