Finding a bathroom in the middle of the city is not always easy in the middle of the city of Philadelphia. That’s about to change, thanks to the city’s Health and Human Services program installing so-called “Portland Loo” toilets at strategic points around the city.
“Public restrooms are a great way to improve quality of life and protect public health, and like many cities in the US, Philadelphia needs more,” the chief of staff for the Director’s Office told NBC10 last summer. General, Kathleen Grady. “We are excited to install a free-standing public restroom in the city center next year, after receiving valuable input from individuals, businesses, and civic groups.
On the other hand, this project is part of the five-year project in Philadelphia. As part of a pilot plan, they will be financing six public restrooms in different neighborhoods, as stated in a publication of the city’s Health and Human Services program.
“The goal of the public restroom pilot is to provide a permanent option that is more attractive to a broad group of people, including families, tourists, businesses, and underserved individuals,” the HHS news release said.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced that they are still searching for a good name for the restrooms. So they released a list of final names.
“As Philadelphians, we take pride in everything we do, including installing restrooms,” the health department’s poll page says. “But they will never be ours with a name like ‘Portland Loo.’ So we need your help naming them!”
The final three names are somewhat funny, “Phlush”; “Philly Loo”; and the quite literal “Philadelphia Public Toilet” went to a popular vote on the social network Twitter.
Voting closes Thursday, June 29 at 5:00 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development.
The first bathroom (these freestanding units look like tall, oval-shaped metal pods with open shutters at the top) will be placed at City Hall at 15th Street and Arch Street in Center City sometime in 2023.
“The location of 15th and Arch was reviewed to ensure it meets the technical constraints for the Portland Loo facility, including the size of available space, land ownership, proximity to intersections and sidewalks, and connections to utilities. water, sewage and electricity,” they said in a statement last year.
Portland Loo says “the proof is in the urinal” when it comes to crime prevention, maintenance and ease of installation.
The city explained why they chose the Portland Loo model:
“The Portland Loo model is known for being durable, easy to clean and having crime-preventing design features like graffiti-proof wall panels. The unit is ADA accessible and can fit a bicycle, a stroller or two adults and one child.”
