PhillyDeals: Planners to review three City Council proposals

Philadelphia Planning Commission's 1 p.m. meeting Tuesday, upstairs at 1515 Race St., will review three City Council proposals that need a little decoding:

No dollar stores: Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller's plan would ban "variety/general merchandise stores of less than 7,500 square feet" in areas along Germantown Avenue, where residents have been agitating for more expensive shopping choices.

No Temple students: A proposal by Councilman Darrell Clark would "expand the North Philadelphia Community Special District Controls," effectively banning all new multifamily housing, from Ninth to 19th streets and Cecil B. Moore to Lehigh avenues, after residents complained about rowdy students. To avoid stalling the North Philly construction boom, planners may seek a less-restrictive "three strikes and you're out" off-campus housing district, like the one in Overbrook around St. Joseph's University.

Yes to wall-wrap ads: Councilman Frank DiCicco's proposal would allow "non-accessory outdoor advertising signs" by Electric Factory, along Spring Garden Street between Sixth and Seventh over to Willow Street.

Planners also will hear construction proposals: a 17-story office tower at 3400 Market St. by the University City Science Center; a 16-story, 122-unit apartment tower at 205 Race St. by Brown-Hill Development Co.; an apartment building up to seven stories at 521-31 S. Broad St., by Carl Dranoff. All on an "information-only basis" (no action, no public comment).

Slowing

It's not that Lowe's doesn't have the money to grow - the company is spending $5 billion buying back its own stock to prop up share prices, notes bond analyst Carol Levenson, of Gimme Credit L.L.C. It's that Lowe's believes the "slump" won't end soon, she says.

The chain also says it's laying off about 1,950 workers at 20 "underperforming" stores it will close, mostly in New England and the Midwest, none in metro Philadelphia.