Development News

Architects, designers, community leaders and affordable housing advocates take note: On Tuesday, June 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Architecture, the Community Design Collaborative (CDC) and Habitat for Humanity are holding a local launch for the acclaimed book Designed for Habitat.
 
The book profiles 13 smartly designed Habitat housing projects.

"Taken together, the projects illustrate that high quality designs are possible with Habitat Homes," says David Hinson, author and current head of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at Auburn University. "Current conventional thinking in the design industry often assumes otherwise."
 
The 13 projects were chosen not just because they feature innovative design choices, but because of their collaborative nature. "Affordable housing in this country can always be improved upon and good design alone isn’t enough," adds Hinson. "Smart collaboration is key."
 
Located across the country, the homes represent a wide range of Habitat projects, from large and urban to small and rural. Two of them are local -- one in North Philadelphia, the other in West Philly. Hinson, a former Philadelphian himself, is quite familiar with both buildings.
 
The first, Project 1800, delivered a new dwelling and site design prototype for a post-industrial neighborhood in North Philly. The project's 15 new homes and five rehabilitated row homes provide an effective solution in a blight-ridden urban district.

The other project, the Stiles Street Homes, brought nine new-construction Habitat units to Parkside in West Philly. According to Hinson, this project shows how advocates can navigate the waters of community resistance and NIMBY-ism. Through a collaborative process and community outreach, they managed to deliver a context-sensitive solution.

At the event, Hinson will talk about these two projects in detail, as well as the 11 others outlined in Designed for Habitat. CDC board member Daryn Edwards will then moderate a panel featuring Hinson, Jon Mussleman, Maarten Pesch, Megan McGinley and Sally Harrison.

Source: David Hinson, author & head of the School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture at Auburn University
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

The Camden Business Façade Improvement Program has been up and running for almost two years, and helped nearly a dozen business owners finance the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their facades with $25,000 grants. In the next few weeks, the program is getting a big push across the city -- an additional 40 to 50 storefronts are expected to undergo renovations in the next calendar year.
 
"Expect to see a lot of dramatic changes in Camden," says Vince Basara, coordinator of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program in Camden. "The most noticeable improvements will happen on the 200 block of Market Street in Downtown Camden."
 
That stretch -- just a few short blocks from Flying Kite's On the Ground space -- is almost entirely owned by a single entity, making it easier to move forward. Basara expects to start the renovation process in the next two weeks
 
The program benefits UEZ business members who have participated in the city's energy-efficiency retrofit program, Camden POWER (Program Offering Widespread Energy Recovery), for commercial buildings. Most properties taking part in the program are along commercial corridors, though neighborhood and corner stores throughout the city will also be improved. 
 
Grantees have already installed new roofs and awnings, completed brick and masonry repair, replaced windows, improved signage, and added other historically sensitive treatments that conform to overlying design standards for the neighborhood.

"So far, there's been a lot of positive reaction to the completed storefront's improvements," says Basara. "With so many other storefronts in the pipeline, we’re expecting to make a big difference [over the coming year]."   

Source:  Vince Basara, Urban Enterprize Zone Program Coordinator, City of Camden
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

On June 17 at the Center for Architecture, representatives from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) will be joined by the Citizens Planning Institute, local developers and public officials to discuss "Visions for our Metropolitan Center."
 
A large portion of the conversation will center on the recently completed Central and University Southwest District Plans, which cover the area between the Delaware River and 40th Street, and from Girard Avenue to Washington Avenue. With 335,000 jobs and 120,000 residents, it's the largest job center in the region and the third-largest residential downtown in the country.
 
With 18 district plans in some stage of development as part of the Philadelphia 2035 comprehensive planning process, planners were looking for a chance to highlight their latest ideas. 

"The [district plan roll-out] process can get a bit repetitive," says Laura Spina, Center City Planner for PCPC. "For the Central and University Southwest District plans, we wanted to make the presentation a little more lively."

The program also includes a talk by Pearl Properties’ Jim Pearlstein and the graduation of another class of Citizens Planning Institute students, the education and outreach entity of the PCPC.
 
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.; the program begins at 6 p.m. Click here to secure your ticket.

Source:  Laura Spina, Center City Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Design work is moving forward on the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation's (DRWC) latest streetscape project along Spring Garden Street. Late last month, DRWC and project designer RBA Group held a public open house to showcase the team's progress.
 
The presentation focused on two key improvement areas: streetscape enhancements along Spring Garden Street between Columbus Boulevard and 2nd Street, and a new lighting and public art installation by artist Leni Schwendinger under the I-95 overpass and Spring Garden transit stop.
 
The goal, according to DRWC's Karen Thompson, is to connect neighborhoods west of I-95 to the Delaware River. As part of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware adopted in 2012, similar efforts have been implemented on Race Street in Old City and Columbia Avenue in Fishtown.
 
Upwards of 40 people came out for the open house, which steered clear of design details and focused instead on the project's initial concepts.

"We had a good turnout and a positive response," says Thompson. "With the public on board, we can move forward on the project's next steps."
 
Those include developing an action plan to refine details of the $2 million streetscape project -- figuring out curb cuts concerns, identifying street trees and planting species, and developing a concise multi-modal connection.  
 
The team is also working to make sure their work goes hand-in-hand with the already-complete Spring Garden Street Greenway Plan set to run from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River.
 
For the lighting improvements, Schwendinger and DRWC will meet with SEPTA and PennDOT to nail down specifics. The design will have to take into account the fact that the overpass will be redone in 2018 as part of the Revive 95 project. Thompson anticipates that the installation will be taken off for the highway project and then reinstalled once work is completed.

Source:  Karen Thompson, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

When the Frankford Friends School decided to add seventh and eighth grade to their traditional Pre-K-through-sixth enrollment, they needed more space. They embarked on an ambitious expansion of their historic campus on Orthodox Street in Frankford. Following years of work and a $2 million capital fund campaign, that addition officially opened in 2012. One school year later, the building's unique design and modern aesthetic are a huge hit.
 
"When people walk into the light-filled multipurpose room, they’re amazed," says Amy O’Leary, director of development and alumni relations at the school. "The design of the space is exactly what we needed."

The building was designed by renowned local architecture firm DIGSAU. In addition to the large multipurpose room, the new 6,000-square-foot structure features a dedicated music room and three classrooms for grades seven and eight. The building also reduces energy use through a variety of innovative strategies and features teaching gardens on the southern side of the facility.

"Ultimately, we wanted to add something new and tie the existing buildings together," says James Unkefer with DIGSAU. "We wanted to reinforce the campus feel."

This was achieved by expressing the school's Quaker roots in modern ways -- they incorporated a generous amount of glass and steel, with an exposed wood skin.

Though striking, the new building isn't meant to stand out. "The design is simple and doesn’t compete with the neighboring Quaker meeting house," explains Unkefer. That traditional wood frame building is the centerpiece of the school's campus.

"The structure is also outward looking," adds Unkefer. "A lot of openness and natural light is utilized to make the space look and feel ‘social.'"

The school's 2012 enrollment of 142 students was the highest in its 179-year history. O’Leary says the new school has received so much buzz that enrollment is already up for next year. She is aware of a number of families that recently relocated to Frankford to be near the school.

Source:  James Unkefer, DIGSAU; Amy O'Leary, Frankford Friends School
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

On May 21, the People’s Emergency Center (PEC) officially accepted a $750,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation to help restore the legacy of West Philly's Lancaster Avenue as a thriving commercial corridor. First on the docket is the restoration of historic Hawthorne Hall.

The grant is the result of a year-long "Make Your Mark" neighborhood planning process facilitated by PEC. The program brought together stakeholders to discuss a vision for improving the community. The group agreed that it was important to revive the corridor as a cultural destination studded with restaurants and retail locations, fueling economic growth. The grant, part of nearly $1.5 million in total funding to support PEC, is the latest step towards that goal.

"We're very grateful for the investment," says Farah Jimenez, president and CEO of PEC. "It's the culmination of various communities working together for a common purpose."

The redevelopment of historic Hawthorne Hall is a priority project (as identified by the planning process) -- the building is seen as the gateway to the revamped corridor. PEC has purchased two major sections of the Hall for redevelopment. The first, 3849 Lancaster Avenue, has commercial space on the first floor and a theater space on the second.

PEC envisions a sit-down restaurant on the ground floor and a performing arts venue upstairs. For now, the theater will be a site for the Hidden City Festival, allowing visitors to explore the historic space before renovation.

The second section, 3859 - 61 Lancaster Avenue, will be used for two years by Mighty Writers for its afterschool program.  Four housing units on the second and third floors will be part of the future redevelopment.

In addition to these projects, Jimenez says the grant will help PEC hire additional staff to coordinate, organize and implement these exciting projects. 

Source:  Farah Jimenez, President and CEO, People's Emergency Center
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

The Lower Northeast District Plan was officially adopted by the Planning Commission last fall, and its designers are now turning their attention towards implementing its ideas. Working with the Mayor's Office of Grants, the Commission has developed a series of partnerships to secure funding -- they recently earned over $600,000 from federal agencies and private foundations.
 
"The Plan has been a guide for everything we do," explains Ian Litwin with the Planning Commission. "We are building on the strengths that Frankford already has which can catalyze future development."
 
The grants were awarded for three key initiatives: 

- A $75,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation and the Parks and Recreation Department will fund study of the options to return Frankford Creek to its natural state, connecting Frankford to the Delaware River and East Coast Greenway. A recommended trail alignment and suggested next steps will come from the study, which is already underway.

- A $200,000 EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant will fund a planning study and develop reuse alternatives for three catalyst industrial sites in Frankford and Bridesburg along the Frankford Creek. The plan will lead to recommended site designs and create the possibilities for myriad implementation grants.

- A $335,150 grant from ArtPlace America will support Destination Frankford, an initiative to improve Frankford's commercial corridor through artfully designed signage and street furniture; a Globe DyeWorks storefront for local artists; and an arts-focused marketing campaign and website. The initiative will also create art installations in Womrath Park. Of 1,200 submissions across the country, Destination Frankford was one of 40 to receive grants. The initiative will kick-off on June 1.

"It’s an exciting time in Frankford," says Litwin, an urban planner by trade. "With so much implementation happening, I feel like my new title should be 'doer.'"

Source:  Ian Litwin, City Planning Commission
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Over the next ten months, approximately 120 Youthbuild Philadelphia students will transform two vacant homes in Nicetown into models of sustainable living. The homes, located at 2006 and 2008 West Wingohocking Street, are the latest projects in a neighborhood experiencing a swell of investment.
 
The homes sit directly across the street from Wayne Junction Station, where SEPTA is investing $18 million in intermodal improvements. Down the street is Nicetown Court I, a mixed-use mixed-income project completed in 2011; Nicetown Court II, a 50-unit mixed-use development, is currently under construction.

Youthbuild Philadelphia, an offshoot of YouthBuild USA, is a charter school that gives students the opportunity to earn high school diplomas or GEDs while exposing them to real world trades such as construction.
 
For these homes, Youthbuild has partnered with the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, an arm of the world’s largest building materials company (their North American operations are based in Valley Forge), to ensure the structures are built with a sustainable, energy-efficient ethos.
 
"This project gives us the chance to pair young adults side-by-side with top-notch building scientists and experts," says Carmen Ferrigno, Saint-Gobain's vice president of communications. "It is a great opportunity for the kids to see people with careers in this field and see what it is like to have this type of job."
 
The Nicetown project will be the second completed by YouthBuild and Saint-Gobain as part of a three-year partnership. Accoding to Ferrigno, the first project -- located on Greene Street in Germantown -- "really surprised" his company with the impact it had on the young adults.
 
"We saw it was a very important experience for them to learn a new trade," says Ferrigno. "One student latched on to welding and has now earned an apprenticeship with a local union."
 
And ultimately, those stories are what the partnership is all about.

"These students go through a transformation," adds Ferrigno. "Using top-of-the-line building materials, we're pairing kids with experts to learn not just a new trade but the latest innovations in our industry."

Source:  Carmen Ferrigno, VP of communications, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Last September, a Delaware County-based grocery chain signed a letter of intent to open a new supermarket in Camden's Haddon Avenue Transit Village, signaling progress on the long-delayed project. Unfortunately, they've since backed out of the deal. Undeterred -- and with a potential $50 million in state tax credits in their pocket -- civic leaders and project boosters are moving forward.

The Transit Village is a passion project for its advocates, Grapevine Development, Cooper's Ferry Partnership, the City of Camden, Camden County, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA). The development's first phase calls for 30-to-40,000 square feet of office space (mostly for Our Lady of Lourdes),100 housing units, a 50,000-square-foot grocery and a parking garage.

"Once we get a grocery store committed -- and the retail plan largely complete -- we can move forward," says David Foster, president of the Cooper's Ferry Partnership. "We envision breaking ground later this year or early next year."

The site's 15 acres are in a prime location right between Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and the Ferry Avenue PATCO rail station, which connects directly to Center City. The plans include streetscape and pedestrian improvements to Haddon Avenue.

According to Foster, the roadway improvements will eventually tie into the area's trail system, including the Camden Greenway, making the Transit Village a focal point in the regional trails network.

Source:  David Foster; President, Cooper's Ferry Partnership
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

On May 22 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Philadelphia skating community will converge on brand new Paine's Park for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The park, which incorporates sustainable design elements while accommodating both pedestrians and skaters, is already garnering national attention as the first -- and largest -- open space in the country designed specifically for skateboarders.

Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund Executive Director Claire Laver says the ceremony is particularly significant considering the project's long history.

"It's a momentous occasion," she says. "After nearly a decade of planning and fundraising, we’re finally opening the park."
 
The park cost $4.5 million to build; the money was raised through a variety of funding sources. To help with the finishing touches, the Fund launched a Kickstarter campaign earlier this year, earning over $10,000.

The design also accommodates pedestrians and other uses; it features pedestrian seating areas, a 360-degree observation deck, an amphitheater for outdoor events, and connections to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Schuylkill Banks. In a nod to other public spaces popular among skateboarders, the design incorporated reclaimed granite slabs from LOVE Park and eight benches from Dilworth Plaza.

A number of events are already lined up for the space. On Go Skateboarding Day (June 21), the Zumiez Couch Tour will swing through Paine’s Park as part of their nine-city tour; in October, the park will host the finale of the second annual Philly Cup Skateboard Series.

Source:  Claire Laver, Executive Director, Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

A large-scale condominium project is set to break ground early next year in Ardmore on the Main Line. The $20 million development is being built by Cornerstone Communities and the Provco Group, and will replace the existing Main Line YMCA on St. George's Road, a facility that's been there for 57 years.
 
Once complete, the project will feature 32 condos in a four-story development. The site is across from shopping mecca Suburban Square and adjacent to a SEPTA rail station, a carrot for this sort of high-density transit-oriented development.
 
The Y will vacate their current digs at the beginning of October for greener pastures in Haverford. With that move in the works, the parent organization, the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, approached SSH Real Estate to find a suitable buyer.

"Immediately, we had a lot of interest," explains SSH's Adam Gillespie. "It's right at the doorstep of one of the Main Line’s best retail complexes and transit is close by."

In all, the firm received 13 offers -- some for residential projects, others from those looking to reuse the Y as a community center and health complex.

"After the property was on the market for two months, we decided to go with the offer that had the best terms and best chance of coming to fruition," explains Gillespie.

The Lower Merion Planning Commission agrees with Gillespie, and recently gave their stamp of approval for the project. While some zoning hurdles still remain, the development team is looking to break ground early next year. 

Source:  Adam Gillespie, SSH Real Estate
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

On the heels of South Philadelphia High School's crowdsourced fundraising campaign for its Greening Master Plan and rooftop farm, Lauren Mandel, one of the project’s landscape designers, has released EAT UP.

The first full-length book about rooftop food production, EAT UP was published internationally by New Society Publishers, a carbon-neutral publishing house.

Mandel divides the book into three sections: one for small-scale rooftop gardeners, one for large-scale farmers, and one for urban planners and designers interested in implementing rooftop farming on a neighborhood scale.

The book is the culmination of three-and-a-half years of research for Mandel, who works as a project manager and rooftop agriculture specialist at the local green roof firm Roofmeadow. She started the book while still studying landscape architecture at Penn.

"EAT UP started as an academic exercise, asking 'Is rooftop agriculture viable?'" explains Mandel. "After quickly learning it was, I realized that what people need is an accessible, comprehensive resource on the matter."

In an increasingly urban America, more and more people are turning to their roofs as platforms for growing local, sustainable food. Places like New York, Portland and Chicago all have burgeoning rooftop agriculture communities. In Philly, the movement is just taking off.

"Small-scale home gardens are popular here," says Mandel. "For large-scale projects, we’re not quite there -- but we're on the cusp.”
  
EAT UP is available in print and ebook from New Society Publishers, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and local book stores.
 
Source:  Lauren Mandel, project manager and rooftop agriculture specialist, Roofmeadow
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

When Respond Bakery opened its doors at 9th and Pearl Streets in North Camden, it was the first full-service bakery in the neighborhood in nearly 50 years. After three months -- and enough bread and pastries to serve a small army -- it's clear the new business is a big hit.

The bakery is an extension of the nonprofit Respond Inc., an organization that, among other services, provides a 16-week Culinary Arts Job Training Program. Overseen by Chef Kendall Elliott, the course is free for all students, who typically range in age from 17 to 25.

"Many of these kids dropped out of high school or were recently incarcerated," explains Wilbert Mitchell, executive director of Respond Inc.. "This program gives them marketable skills to take into the marketplace."

In addition to employing seven local people, the bakery, which officially opened February 14 of this year, is an opportunity for students to put their skills to use in a real world setting. 

"The purpose of the bakery is to sell the students' goods made in the program," says Mitchell. "Plus, the bakery serves the neighborhood. It’s hard to get fresh bread in North Camden."

The bakery also serves various pastries, muffins, cakes, healthy snacks and the Camden Cookie, a signature item that has already become synonymous with the bakery. In addition to participating in local farmers' markets, the bakery also caters large events, makes custom cakes and bakes enough bread to feed 800 kids per day at Respond Inc.'s childcare facility. Flying Kite served their delicious sourcream pound cake at our recent Camden kick-off meeting.

Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., closed Sunday. 

Source:  Wilbert Mitchell, Executive Director, Respond, Inc. 
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

With two new projects -- one in Fishtown and one in South Philly -- the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is taking big (and small) steps towards making the waterfront more functional, accessible and pedestrian-friendly.
 
In Fishtown, DRWC's board recently approved a $290,000 contract with artist Donald Lipski to install a piece honoring the legendary treaty between William Penn and the Lenni Lenape Native American Tribe at Penn Treaty Park. Sculptures of five bronze turtles, a lit-up fiberglass turkey and a wolf will be installed along Columbia Avenue east of I-95. Evoking the symbols of the three Lenni Lenape clans, the project has also received a $60,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant.

When complete, the public art installation will join a streetscaping design by landscape architect Bryan Haynes in a coordinated effort to connect the waterfront to Fishtown via Columbia Avenue. The streetscaping plan includes new street trees, rain gardens for stormwater management and underpass lighting, among other elements.

Further south, DRWC is turning Pier 53 at Washington Avenue into the next Race Street Pier, with an ecologically-minded twist. The land at the foot of the historic pier is already a park -- the recently completed Washington Avenue Green. The Pier's new design (just unveiled by DRWC and lead designer Applied Ecological Services) is Washington Avenue Green's Phase II.

"The design was influenced by four goals," says DRWC's Lizzie Woods, restoring the health of the river through ecological uplift, historical sensitivity, providing public access and providing a place where people can touch the water."

Pier 53 served as an immigration station for Philadelphia between 1873 and 1915. In addition to elements reflecting this unique history, other aspects of the $1.5 million project include native gardens, floating wetlands, rain gardens, gathering areas and rubble meadows.

According to Woods, three elements of the park's design are currently unfunded: the boardwalk, a "welcome spire" at the Washington Avenue Green entrance and a "Land Buoy" sculpture at the water's end of the pier. DRWC is currently conducting a cost analysis for these improvements and hopes to identify funding soon.

The goal is to start construction on Pier 53 within six months. Currently, DRWC is seeking a slew of permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward. The open space should be ready for public enjoyment in early summer 2014. 

Source:  Karen Thompson and Lizzie Woods, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

The stretch of North 5th Street that runs through Olney is brimming with over 200 businesses and situated in the heart of one of the city's most diverse neighborhoods. For business owners there, it's imperative to stand out in the crowd. Now, help is on the way -- during the month of May, the North Fifth Street Revitalization Project (N5SRP) is partnering with Drexel's Design and Merchandising Program to completely revamp storefront windows.
 
Since its inception in 2005, N5SRP has been dedicated to improving the physical environment and increasing economic activity along North 5th Street. The Drexel partnership -- now in its second iteration -- is an exciting tool, offering fresh ideas to help beautify the corridor and directly assist merchants in the process.
 
One of the college’s longest-running community engagement programs, the visual merchandising studio has provided students the opportunity to design window displays for more than a decade.

"In the recent past, similar projects took place in Old City and Northern Liberties," explains Philip Green, interim director of N5SRP. "It's exciting to once again bring the project up north."   

Olney's initiative will officially kick-off on May 14 with a background presentation to the participating Drexel students on the corridor and businesses. "From there, student groups are responsible for contacting their assigned businesses and setting up a meeting to discuss the window concepts," explains Green.
 
The four participating businesses -- T-House (a t-shirt shop), 5th Street Furniture Outlet, Advanced Family Dentistry and Gibson School of Music and Arts -- are a varied bunch. "We're very excited to see what the students come up with," says Green. "We're hopeful the ideas are as diverse as the businesses participating."

After the students have developed sketches and identified the materials necessary to make their designs a reality, installation will begin on May 28. Students, businesses owners, N5SRP staff and community members will then meet on-site to give a final critique.

Source:  Philip Green, Interim Director, North Fifth Street Revitalization Project
Writer: Greg Meckstroth