Along with Alan Greenberger and George L. Claflen Jr., principals of the locally based architectural firms of MGA Partners and Claflen Associates, respectively, he discussed the agenda and reasoning behind it with GlobeSt.com. All three say the agenda is not designed to criticize or place blame. It is the result of a consensus among DAG members and others, including other design organizations.

Becker cited two examples of recent "ad hoc" design and planning decisions. "Development that lacks planning for the public good will be difficult to overcome," says Claflen. "Without a plan, the value of the waterfront is being lost to the public."

"Philadelphia accidentally preserved itself for decades, because there was little development," Greenberger adds. "That era's over. Planning was once a boring issue, now developers want a plan. Casinos," he suggests, "have become like a celebrity who raises awareness of a disease. Casinos are a 'star' that has brought design and planning into the public consciousness."

The DAG agenda begins with a call for changes in the way building projects are submitted for approval and in how approval agencies are constituted. "There are five schools of architecture and design here, yet no one with a planning background is on the planning commission," Becker notes. The agenda calls for a standard in how the commission recruits and for a process "that is thorough, open and predictable."

Secondly, it calls for a focus on structure that addresses mass transit, vehicular and pedestrian traffic systems and consolidation of housing-related agencies. "Philadelphia is the only city of its size that does not have a department of transportation," notes Claflen. There should also be a civic design review commission that enlists professional resources to review all major projects.

The outdated and cumbersome zoning code, which, they say is piecemeal and riddled with one-spot waivers and amendments, should be reworked into fewer levels. And the levels should be developed according to a comprehensive framework that takes the entire city, including its less prosperous neighborhoods, into account.

Finally, the agenda calls for "raising the bar for quality and diversity in design in every aspect of building throughout the city. "There is a perception that design is elitist," says Greenberger. The men point to Chicago as a US city that respects design and design planning. Greenberger also points to Vancouver and Barcelona, "both similar to Philadelphia in size. We should embody a Philadelphia sense of design that includes our own depth of history and diversity."