Of the 30 "Great Places in America" for 2014 selected by the American Planners Association (APA), only one has a roof over it: Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market.
Except for the RTM, all the other "places" are public parks, streets, neighborhoods, scenic vistas and other outdoor entities.
Even the incoming president of the planner's group was unaware of the RTM's uniqueness as the only interior space among this year's "great places".
At this morning's celebratory news conference at the market's center court, Carol Rhea, president-elect of the APA, had to check with a staff aide when I asked her to confirm the RTM was the only interior space on this year's list.
Rhea praised the "authenticity" of the market. "You won't see a Spataro's at the airport," she told me after the event.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Alan Greenberger and Brent Cossrow, vice chair of the Reading Terminal Market Corporation also spoke at the ceremony led by Paul Steinke, market general manager.
The APA designated 10 public spaces, 10 streets and 10 neighborhoods for its 2014 awards. Sharing the public space honors with the Reading Terminal are: Bayliss Park In Council Bluffs, Iowa; Cliff
Walk In Newport, Rhode Island; Delaware Park In Buffalo, New York;
Great Plains Trails Network In Lincoln, Nebraska; Lake Mirror Park In
Lakeland, Florida; Lithia Park In Ashland, Oregon; Point State Park In
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rainier Vista In Seattle, Washington; and The
Lawn At The University Of Virginia In Charlottesville, Virginia.
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