PhillySiteFinder Help
Index
Welcome to PhillySiteFinder, an interactive mapping application and database that catalogues
vacant and underutilized commercial and industrial sites in Kensington, Richmond,
Bridesburg and Fishtown in the City of Philadelphia.
I. Instructions for New Users
II. SiteFinder Functions
The toolbar on the left side of PhillySiteFinder Home lists all of PhillySiteFinder's
functions. Click on it to select one of the following functions:
III. Special Topics: Map Tools and Details Window
II. SiteFinder Functions
Search Sites
1. Click on the Search Sites
function in the left-hand toolbox to bring up the Search Site Database box.
2. Using a set of pull-down option boxes, you can search the sites database,
refining your search by one of the following criteria:
- Lot Size;
- Sale Price;
- Sale Year;
- Flags (for Keystone Opportunity Zone, Empowerment Zone and Renewal Community); and
- Availability (for sale and for lease); vacant land; vacant/underutilized building
3. Optionally, you can select a geographical area of the City to further
refine your search either by selecting one of six broad areas in the pull-down
box or clicking on an area of the map of Philadelphia. Hint: clicking on the map overrides
any selection made in the pull-down box.
4. Click on "Search for Sites" to see your results.
5. The Site Search Results window shows a map of the sites that meet your
criteria. Sites appear as orange boxes with unique identifying numbers
and a list of sites meeting your criteria appears to the right of the map.
Click on "Go to Site Search Summary" to see pictures and details of each
site. Or, click directly on the address link for a particular property. Select "Explore an Interactive Map" to see your site search
results on a customizable, printable map (see Interactive Map Tools).
Back to Index
Map Sites by Address
1. Click on "Map Sites by Address" to bring up a window of the
same name.
2. Type in a street address complete with street number, direction and street
name; e.g. 210 S 34th St or 1515 Arch St.
3. Click on "View Map." This will return a map zoomed into the area
with vacant and underutilized properties denoted by blue squares and your selected address
shown as a red
star.
4. Use the map tools defined below to zoom in or out, pan/recenter, identify
sites and see more details about them, and/or print the map (see Interactive
Map Tools).
5. Click on the "Add/Remove Layers" link to make changes to map
layers (see Interactive Map Tools).
Back to Index
SiteFinder Feedback
Click on Feedback to bring up a PhillySiteFinder Feedback form. Use
this form to report problems with the PhillySiteFinder application or make a comment or
suggestion. Please describe your operating system information and the nature of
your problem in as much detail as possible. The form can be sent online or
printed and faxed to the address listed.
Note: if you have a question about a specific site in the database, call the
City of Philadelphia Commerce Department
at (215) 683-2000.
About PhillySiteFinder
This document contains a more detailed description and background of
PhillySiteFinder. Partnering organizations and relevant web sites are listed.
Back to Index
III. Special Topics: Map Tools and Details Window
 zoom in: Click the zoom in button on the tool bar and move the mouse pointer
over the map display. Click once to zoom around a point. Alternatively, click
and drag a rectangle defining the area over which you want to zoom in.
 zoom out: Click the zoom out button on the tool bar and move the mouse
pointer over the map display. Click once to zoom around a point. Alternatively,
click and drag a rectangle defining the area over which you want to zoom out.
 move map: Click the move map button on the tool bar and click on a point in
the map to move or recenter it around this point. Alternatively, click and drag the mouse to move
the map around the display area.
 identify site: Click the identify site button on the tool bar and click on
the blue square that represents a site you'd like to learn more about. A
details window opens with more information about the site.
 Print: Click on the printer icon on the tool bar to generate a printable map
in a new window. Print to your locally installed printer.
 Add/Remove Layers: This tool allows you to turn on and off several different
map layers. A map layer is a level of information in a map, like major streets
or rivers. The layers are shown by clicking on the Add/Remove Layers button in
the left section of the screen which brings up a "Change Map Layers"
window. Examples of map layers include Sites with Photos, Parks, Water,
Streets, Councilmanic Districts, NIS Neighborhoods, Schools (public, private and
charter), and Recreation Centers. Some of these layers allow labels to be shown
as well. Clicking on the "show" box next to the layer name adds this
layer to your map. Click "Apply Changes" to see your selections.
Hint: Most layers are visible only at certain scales; for example, if you
have selected both public schools and their labels, the labels might not be
visible if you have zoomed out over a large area. Hint: Do not attempt to
display too many layers at one time as it will result in overcrowding of symbols
on the map.
Back to Index
Details Window
When you click on a specific site on either a list or a map using the
"identify site" tool, a new window will open that contains details
about that site. The details window includes a locator map thumbnail, photos
(if available) and two tabs: site and photo gallery. Click on a tab to activate
it.
Site Tab: This tab gives details about the individual site including property details
from the foot survey taken by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, sales information and assessment
data from the Board of Revision of Taxes.
Photo Gallery Tab: The photo gallery includes one or more photographs of the site. Click on the photo to see a larger view.
Back to Index
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This site is maintained by the Cartographic Modeling Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.
The NIS is currently made possible through the generous support of the William Penn Foundation and the City of Philadelphia.
Additional funds have been provided by Penn Facilities and Real Estate to further develop the NIS.
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In partnership with Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
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Copyright Notice: ©2003-2008 Cartographic Modeling Laboratory.
All rights reserved.
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