On the Ground : Development News

In its first year, Flying Kite's On the Ground program has embedded the publication in four neighborhoods, occupying vacant storefronts for 90 days each. Community engagement, positive reporting and reimagining underutilized commercial spaces are pillars of the effort.
 
Now one of our On the Ground storefronts has landed a permanent tenant. After three months of events and outreach at 322 W. Chelten Avenue in Germantown, the folks at Philly Office Retail were able to rent the property to Rose Petals Café and Lounge, a BYOB concept new to the area.  
 
According to Noah Krey with Philly Office Retail, before Flying Kite's On the Ground program, there was no tenant expressing serious interest in the storefront (former home to a regional Obama campaign office). 
 
"Enlivening the space made it an easier sell to prospective tenants," says Krey. That new energy, coupled with Philly Office Retail's commitment to bringing a quality tenant to this stretch of Chelten Avenue, is what helped attract Rose Petals Café.
 
The space is now under construction. Owners Desmin and Jania Daniels, a Mt. Airy couple launching their first restaurant, hope to open by the end of July. 
 
The BYOB ("bring your own bottle"), which Krey calls "a great concept for this part of Germantown," will offer breakfast, lunch, pastries, specialty smoothies and 10 different waffle options. Dinner will be served Friday and Saturday evenings (6 - 10 p.m.) and feature a fusion of Latin and Soul cuisines.
 
The café and lounge will also feature wireless internet and a small stage for live music. The couple eventually hopes to renovate the backyard, adding additional seating and possibly a tiny dog park.
 
Source:  Noah Krey, Philly Office Retail
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Wednesday marks a major milestone for Camden's $90 million state-of-the-art Kroc Center  -- City officials and community leaders will gather for the project's official topping-out ceremony.
 
Seen as a key to revitalizing the city's underutilized waterfront in the Cramer Hill neighborhood, the new community center has been in the making for over 8 years. In 2004, the Salvation Army USA announced a $1.6 billion gift from the estate of Joan Kroc (her husband founded McDonald's).
 
Through a competitive process, $59 million of this funding went to Camden to build one of 27 Kroc Corps Community Centers in the country. The remaining $31 million has been raised through philanthropic efforts.
 
Tomorrow's topping-out ceremony hopes to garner even more excitement for the city's newest destination. Once complete, the new center will resemble one in Philadelphia's Nicetown neighborhood, which opened in 2010.
 
Camden's Center -- which Major Paul Cain with the Salvation Army calls "a super community center" -- will be a behemoth. The 120,000 square-foot facility will provide recreational, health, educational, cultural, family and spiritual programming for area residents. Members will enjoy an early-childhood education center, a food pantry, aquatic centers, a worship center, a black box movie theater and dance studios. The Center's grounds will also include a park, outdoor water facilities, sports fields and a playground.
 
"The program model is holistic," says Cain. "The Center will have amenities geared towards the mind, body and spirit."
 
The anticipated membership fee for a family of four is $200; however scholarships will be available for those who cannot afford the fee.
 
"Joan Kroc's purpose for each [Kroc Center] was to provide access to a state-of-the-art facility for underserved communities," adds Cain. "Camden's will live up to that legacy."     
 
For information about joining the new center, visit KrocCenter.org

Source:  Major Paul Cain, The Salvation Army
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Maplewood Mall, a historic shopping center in downtown Germantown, is set to receive $2.2 million in city funds for a complete redesign. Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Kevin Dow, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Commerce, made the announcement this past Saturday.
 
"In its current state, the Mall's design does not live up to its potential," explains Joseph Corrigan, director of communications for Cindy Bass’s Office. "The space could be a great urban place and an anchor for future redevelopment."
 
The redesign will build off the ideas summarized in the recently adopted Central Germantown Business District Beautification Plan, and input will be solicited through an aggressive community outreach process.
 
"The redesign will be driven by the community," adds Corrigan, explaining that once the vision is fleshed out, an official RFP will be released to hire a consulting firm. If all goes according to plan, final design work should be completed by fall 2014.
 
As part of the outreach process, Germantown United CDC and G-Town Radio are hosting a Re-Imagining Maplewood Mall Night Café and Block Party. The free event will take place on Saturday, June 22, 4 to 8:30 p.m. (a rain date is scheduled for June 29). Expect live music, activities for children and food from area restaurants.
 
Through Re-Imagining Maplewood Mall, the CDC hopes to reintroduce citizens to the area as a place to shop and socialize while garnering new ideas for the big makeover.

Source:  Joseph Corrigan, Director of Communications for Councilwoman Cindy Bass
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

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

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

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

If you’re a Northwest Philly resident looking to be a bit more green in your daily life, you're in luck. On Wednesday, May 8, the Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is hosting a community forum -- entitled "It IS Easy Being Green" -- focused on how residents and businesses can have a positive environmental and economic impact on their community.

The event is the second annual community forum sponsored by GUCDC, a relatively new organization dedicated to the well-being of Germantown.

"We planned the first forum specifically to introduce GUCDC to the community," explains GUCDC's Garlen Capita. "We wanted to answer the question, 'What does a CDC do?'"
 
According to Capita, that event was so successful that they decided to use the same format this year while shifting the focus to sustainability. Like last year's forum, this gathering is all about educating and disseminating information to the community.

"We want everyone who lives and works in Germantown to know that they have the power and the tools to improve the quality of life in their community," says Capita. "Hence the title, ‘It IS Easy Being Green.'"

The forum will begin at 6 p.m. with a "trade show" of organizations involved in sustainability and community issues. Participants include Awbury Arboretum, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Friends of Vernon Park, Kelly Green, PhilaNOMA, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, the Sustainable Business Network, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed, and Wyck Historic House and Garden.
 
At 7 p.m., a panel will foster a community discussion on the sustainability issues confronting Germantown. The moderator will be Robert Fleming, associate professor of sustainable design at Philadelphia University. Other panel members include Dwayne Wharton, director of external affairs at the Food Trust, representatives from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Christine Knapp from the Philadelphia Water Department.

Also on the panel will be Aine and Emaleigh Doley, sisters and co-organizers of the West Rockland Street Project. They are working with neighbors to revitalize their block using nothing but dedication, plants and trees, and some serious elbow grease.

"We want people to know that if Aine and Emaleigh can do it, they too can turn their neighborhood around," says Capita.

The event is free and open to all. It will be held at the Flying Horse Center (312-316 W. Chelten Avenue). Please RSVP to [email protected].

Source:  Garlen Capita, GUCDC
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

In an effort to soften the sometimes hectic Chelten Avenue commercial corridor, the business district is getting a makeover.

In March, we reported that the City Planning Commission (CPC), led by Northwest Community Planner Matt Wysong, was working to improve Germantown's primary business district. The planning staff completed the Central Germantown Business District Beautification Plan last September and now implementation details are emerging.

"We’re starting with a model block," explains Wysong. "It will be Chelten Avenue between Greene Street and Germantown Avenue."

First up will be the planting of mature street trees, a project run by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department -- and coming out of their operating budget.

"The beautification improvements of the model block are meant to be the connector between Maplewood Mall and Vernon Park," explains Wysong, referencing two major neighborhood landmarks.

Street trees will also be planted along Greene Street this fall; that project is being managed by Germantown Tree Tenders.

Then, in spring 2014, the City will shift its focus directly to the Chelten and Greene intersection. The Department of Public Property will work with the Coleman Library to enhance its corner entrance.

"We want the library to be an example of what an open and transparent building is meant to be along the model block," says Wysong. "We’ll remove the existing fence and improve its curb appeal so people are more aware it's open."

The plan's most ambitious project also focuses on the Chelten and Greene intersection -- at the northwest corner, immediately adjacent to Vernon Park, CPC plans to renovate the outdated bus plaza. Due to its complexity, Wysong is saving this improvement for last (Summer 2014) and, because of cost restraints, CPC is hoping to turn the project into a DIY effort of sorts.

Parks and Rec will be tapped to supply soil and materials, and CPC is currently looking for partners to either donate funds or dedicate time and labor to help construct the new platforms. The new plaza will act as a gateway to Vernon Park (Mural Arts is also being enlisted in this effort) while providing a needed transit improvement and public space amenity for Chelten Avenue.

Source:  Matt Wysong, Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Flying Kite has been 'On the Ground' in Germantown for three months now, capturing a fluid snapshot of the neighborhood’s development scene. To put it simply, change is happening. Fast. Historic (often vacant) properties are being redeveloped, the area's rich housing stock continues to be refurbished and the commercial corridors are getting a facelift. 

"The neighborhood has come a long way in the past 20 years," says Noah Krey with Philly Office Retail, a local community-minded developer and Flying Kite's landlord in Germantown. "We’ve made leaps and bounds."

The proof is apparent -- we’ve covered a number of impressive projects changing the face of Germantown.

- The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is taking over the long-abandoned St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Wayne Avenue and Harvey Street.
 
- Germantown’s long-vacant YWCA site might finally be coming back to life as a mixed-use senior housing project.

- The Kendrick Mill building at 6139 Germantown Avenue has been rehabbed and now enjoys high occupancy rates -- tenants include local artists and designers.
 
- GreatnessIsInYou!, a local non-profit, is moving into the chapel at the abandoned Germantown Settlement Charter School on Germantown Avenue, with plans to utilize the space as a performing arts venue.
 
- The City of Philadelphia is actively implementing a series of beautification and streetscape improvements along Chelten and Germantown Avenues.

Krey believes these projects and many others (both private and public) are occurring all at once because of the neighborhood’s location -- investment on all sides of the area in the past 10 years is finally converging on Germantown. With the $33 million Wayne Junction SEPTA Station renovation underway, Krey thinks the neighborhood might get the push it needs to pass the tipping point.

Flying Kite’s current space at 322 W. Chelten is being shopped around to restaurant tenants (along with a space at 6734 Germantown Avenue). According to Krey, both locations have received a significant amount of interest.

Meanwhile, in Lower Germantown, Philly Office Retail is in negotiations with a major national tenant, hoping they'll move into 5847 Germantown Avenue, a 30,000-square-foot facility. "We’re a long way away -- and unable to divulge details -- but we hope to have a tenant for the property," says Krey. "It would be a major boon to Germantown."

These developments fit the development patterns taking hold in the neighborhood. Lower Germantown around Wayne Junction, with its large stock of warehouses and industrial buildings, is looking to become an office, industrial, medical and residential hub. Meanwhile, Chelten and Germantown Avenues are aiming for an entertainment district feel, complete with restaurants, arts venues and commercial properties.

"We’ll always invest in Germantown," says Krey. "There’s tremendous opportunity for growth." 
 
Source: Noah Krey, Philly Office Retail
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

Already home to a growing stable of neighborhood favorites, Chelten Avenue recently welcomed another small business to the fold. Founded by Germantown resident and retired Philadelphia police officer Rita Butler, Chocolates by Esonkee is a gourmet chocolate and cupcake company.
 
Butler began making her specialty chocolates in 2005, starting with her signature "naughty nibbles" for bachelor and bachelorette parties (sold in partnership with her daughter’s company Riselng Events, LLC).
 
Over the next couple of years, the nibbles quickly became popular and demand for Butler's recipes increased.
 
"People started asking about her chocolates for other events," explains Risè Gravely, Butler's daughter and head baker at Chocolates by Esonkee. "She expanded to birthdays and celebratory occasions. Eventually, she became certified as a cake decorator and began offering those services as well."
 
In 2012, Butler successfully expanded the business to include themed cupcakes and mini cupcakes. About 6 months ago, Butler and Gravely decided it was time to put some permanence behind their business by opening a storefront.
 
"We scouted several locations along Chelten Avenue," says Gravely. "We wanted to be close to home and in a spot that fed off the high foot traffic along the corridor."
 
Eventually, the mother-daughter duo found their sweet spot, 245 Chelten Avenue -- a bus stop and several neighborhood institutions attract energy and customers. The bakery opened in early March. "It couldn't be a better location," says Gravely. "It’s just big enough and in the heart Germantown."
 
All goods at Chocolates by Esonkee are made with premium ingredients. Gluten and sugar-free sweets are available on request.

"So far, the response and support from the community has been really great," explains Gravely, adding that both she and her mother are particularly proud to add an African-American/women owned enterprise to Germantown’s local business arsenal. 

Source: Risè Gravely, Riselng Events,LLC; Chocolates by Esonkee
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

A historical society satellite office - brewery combo, a showcase for incremental stormwater strategies, an opportunity for façade renovations for small businesses -- these are just a few of the many ideas generated at last weekend's urban design charrette, co-hosted by Flying Kite at the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust.

Flying Kite partnered with the Young Architects Forum (YAF), the Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) and Philly Office Retail to make the charrette a reality. Over 40 designers and community members came together to generate ideas for improving the 6100 and 6200 blocks of Germantown Avenue -- a stretch of Germantown's commerical corridor that borders Mt. Airy.

"Even though I know YAF has a talented group of designers to pull from, the level of ideas attained in a few short hours still amazes me," says YAF's Jeffrey Pastva. "The group was able to quickly assess the state of the area and offered multiple ideas on how to engage the community on a path forward."

Solutions ranged from grand schemes to small fixes. It was the small ideas -- those that can easily overcome traditional barriers such as cost, implementation and community buy-in -- that particularly interested folks from GUCDC.
 
"There were great ideas for short-term uses -- gardens, temporary plazas for outdoor movies -- and creative, art-focused uses, like an art/bus stop with a green roof that could bring energy and vitality to the area," says Garlen Capita with GUCDC. "Those ideas can definitely gather enough momentum to become real projects."
 
Capita was also impressed with the designers' focus on transit and sustainability. "There was a strong push to have a more green, sustainable approach to redevelopment that was more sensitive to the needs of walkers and transit users, and not just focused on more parking and auto-oriented users,” she explains.

The energy and enthusiasm in the room during the charrette was palpable. "It got a lot of people talking," says Liz Einsig Wise, executive director of the Mennonite Historic Trust. "It encouraged folks to meet new neighbors, strengthened partnerships with institutions like Settlement Music School, and [pushed people] to have more conversations towards wherever this takes us." 

"Our next step is to present some of the initial concepts to members of the local business alliance, historical organizations and faith-based organizations, and to meet individually with the business owners and organizational leaders," says Capita. "We’ll discuss the vision for the corridor, priorities and action items that we can work to support and eventually implement."

Source: Jeffrey Pastva, Young Architects Forum; Garlen Capita, Germantown United CDC; Liz Einsig Wise, Executive Director of the Mennonite Historic Trust
Writer: Greg Meckstroth

With support from local developers, community groups, residents and now the zoning board, the Waldorf School of Philadelphia is picking up and moving. They are taking over the long-abandoned St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Wayne Avenue and Harvey Street, right in the heart of Germantown.

The move has been a long time coming. The 16-year-old school outgrew their New Covenant campus and is in need of more space.
 
"The church had been on our minds for a few years," says Cristina Shiffman, School Chair of Waldorf. "We researched a number of ways to acquire it, but found we couldn't purchase and renovate the property ourselves."
 
The school approached Ken Weinstein's Philly Office Retail, hoping they would buy the property and then lease it back to Waldorf. A major developer and stakeholder in Germantown, Weinstein and his company obliged.

"It's a Frank Furness design," exclaims Weinstein. "If we didn’t do something the buildings would have to be torn down in five years."

After a few years of negotiating and planning -- including an application for a special use zoning exemption (the property was zoned for residential use only; the exemption is now in place) -- Weinstein will purchase the church for $435,000.

Plans for the four buildings on the historic church's two-acre site include extensive renovations to add classrooms, redoing the aging roofs and adding floors inside the sanctuary. The building's façade will be entirely preserved. Weinstein says the project's cost will hover around $4 million. They expect to break ground this fall.

Shiffman says initial reception from the community has been encouraging. The school is already working with the Friends of the Wissahickon to take stewardship of a portion of the park adjacent to the new school grounds. They hope to use the green space for nature walks and educational activities.

In the years to come, Shiffman expects other adult education activities and community events to become the norm on school grounds. "We’re really pleased with how everything has come together so far," says Shiffman. "We’re excited to see what’s possible in Germantown."

Source: Cristina Shiffman, School Chair, Waldorf School of Philadelphia
Writer: Greg Meckstroth