At the southeast corner of JFK Blvd and 17th St there is an inordinate and unnecessary amount of standing taking place these days. Food stand patrons eat while standing, Septa employees take extended breaks while standing and impatient passengers wait, yes, while standing. All the while a perfectly good sitting ledge (pictured) stands idle just feet away.
Crowning the top of this ledge, however, are long, narrow, metal rails challenging passersby to sit at their own risk. This almost-waiting area is located at the base of a Center City office building adjacent to one of Septa's Suburban Station sidewalk elevator entrances. These rails render the ledge useless turning a possible bench into a ... ledge ... with rails.
"It's almost like they put them there on purpose or maybe they didn't. I can sit on them for maybe ten minutes at the most then I begin to lose the feeling in my legs," said Dan Roth, a Septa engineer.
Roth claimed that he was late for a shift several months ago after his legs fell asleep trying to sit on the ledge. The engineer had to be helped to his post by two coworkers.
Other prospective sitters feel that the building's management has no idea of the potential the ledge holds as a resting place. A Cooper-Sinclair survey shows that 5 out of 10 ledges, if given backs, would make great benches.
"I think they put the bars there for an artsy look. It's a good look. I mean I would sit on that ledge and eat my lunch if it wasn't for those metal bars and someone should tell them that," said Center City office worker Betsy Carmen.
Hot dog vendor Jim Selonski, who operates a stand yards from the ledge, feels that sales would increase 50-60% if the rails were removed. He claims that having his own "dining area" would set his stand apart from his competitors.
The building's management said they are considering removing the rails from 2-3pm, Monday through Friday and during random times over the weekend.
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