City Hall: Rain, Rain Go Away

It's hard to appreciate City Hall on a day like this, when the calendar reads "Late May" but the weather is more like "Early March".  The building is grey and dull; the myriad people who make their way through its courtyard spend no time enjoying the sight.  Their umbrellas hide the view. When the sun shines and the massive flocks of those noisy birds start to sing, however, City Hall is something else entirely.

Though the building is currently undergoing lengthy renovations and its exterior is often obscured by scaffolding, its architectural appeal is fairly undeniable. Gargoyles, sun dials, murals and of course, William Penn, all distinguish the century-old building from the modern silhouttes along the city's skyline.

Inside this extravagant facade, Philadelphia's officials and staff deal with the much less extravagant minutiae of daily governance. Within City Hall, the laws, regulations and ordinances are passed that affect not only those who live in the neighborhoods in Philadelphia, but those who work, play and learn here, too.  City Hall is the hub of Philadelphia; the many neighborhoods spread throughout are its spokes.

By Michelle Welk and Manuel Agurto, Group 20: City Hall