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First Look at New Neighborhood Website for Germantown

Germantown United CDC is excited to share the design drafts for the long-awaited online business directory and neighborhood website for Germantown, launching in early 2016.

GUCDC received a grant from the Philadelphia Commerce Department to develop the website, which will promote the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors by formally connecting businesses throughout the corridor and raising awareness and support in the community.

The new website will feature:

Business Directory will promote Germantown as a great place to shop and visit, and encourage future investment and revitalization of the commercial corridor; local businesses will have the opportunity to customize their listings!
Suggested Itineraries will guide residents and visitors to points of interest in the neighborhood and highlight nearby shops and places to eat within walking distance from these sites.
Events Calendar will provide a calendar feature for posting of community events and meetings.
Resources for Residents & Businesses will include information specific to businesses, and address the needs of community residents.
Maps will highlight destinations that may not be well-known currently in Germantown.

Participants at GU's website workshop helped to guide the look and feel of the site. — Participants at GU’s website workshop helped to guide the look and feel of the site.

The Philadelphia-based website development company P’unk Avenue was selected as the firm to assist in building the website.

As part of the research process, the development team toured Germantown, and interviewed residents, the owners of local businesses, and other stakeholders about amenities, attractions, and businesses in our community, and the potential needs of both residents and tourists when it comes to accessing information online. We also held a small workshop with prospective site users at the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust.

In the coming months, we’ll be working with Germantown businesses and attractions to get them listed in the business directory. If you have questions, or would like your business listed on Germantown’s new website, contact us.

Design Mockups of This Is Germantown

Please note, this is not the final design of the website. The text and photography included in these mockups may not appear on the final website; the images/text were used to help inform the design process and are placeholders for final images and text. We are looking forward to working with local photographers to source photos for the website and businesses & organizations to create original copy that is reflective of each individual business or organization.

(click to enlarge images or view in a separate window)

draft of the homepage

an example of how featured events & neighborhood news will be highlighted

draft of the business directory section

an example of how neighborhood itineraries will be featured – community members will have the opportunity to suggest an itinerary!

Seven Grassroots Community Improvement Projects Awarded “Fund for Germantown” Micro-grants by Germantown United CDC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Germantown, Philadelphia, PA (October 1, 2015): Germantown United CDC is proud to announce the next round of grantees for the Fund for Germantown, the organization’s micro-grant program supporting community-driven beautification projects in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood.

Since the program launched, 17 micro-grants have been awarded, with funds supporting a wide range of projects from greening to murals, neighborhood bulletin boards, cleanups and other community-building activities.

Through generous seed-funding by local real estate developers Howard Treatman and Ken Weinstein, Germantown United CDC distributes small grants ranging from $100 to $1000 to local organizations, civic associations, businesses, and individuals seeking to beautify the Germantown neighborhood. The grant program is part of Germantown United CDC’s ongoing efforts to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development.

The focus of the Fund for Germantown is to support projects that will have an immediate physical impact on the neighborhood. The fund provides grants for physical improvements across Germantown including, but not limited to, landscaping, signage, painting, reclaiming empty lots, and waste removal.

In October, the Germantown Artists Roundtable celebrated the installation of a new arts-focused community message board at the Chelten Avenue SEPTA station, located on Chelten Ave between Pulaski Ave and Morris St. The thematic board, created by the Artists Roundtable, is a Fund for Germantown project, supported by Germantown United CDC. Pictured: Emaleigh Doley, Commercial Corridor Manager, Germantown United CDC, and Paula Paul, Germantown Artists Roundtable.

The latest Fund for Germantown winning projects ideas are:

Artist and photographer Tieshka Smith will launch the Peaceful Places public signage project in Germantown’s storied Penn-Knox neighborhood, next to the Central Germantown business corridor
Fitler Academics Plus, a public elementary school in Germantown serving students in grades one through eight located at 140 W Seymour St (at Knox St) will paint ground murals and organized games in the school’s playground
West Central Germantown Neighbors civic association will enhance their community orchard and garden project at the Tulpehocken Train Station, a SEPTA Regional Rail station at 333 W Tulpehocken St (off Walnut Ln and Wayne Ave)
Support to sustain the ongoing streetscape beautification efforts of Men Who Care of Germantown around their headquarters at 180 East Tulpehocken St (at Morton St)
The Imperfect Gallery will install an interactive sidewalk mural outside of the gallery and community space at 5601 Greene St, adjacent to the Maplewood Mall pedestrian plaza and shopping corridor
Freedom Gardens, a project by Germantown resident Susan Guggenheim, will connect local gardeners who would like to share their crop free of charge with Germantown residents looking to improve their diets with home-grown produce; Freedom Gardens will be identified by lawn signs and online via Google Maps
Support to sustain Chew-Belfield Neighbors Club’s ongoing cleaning and beautification projects in East Germantown

“We are excited to support these small projects that have a big impact”, says funder Ken Weinstein. “These kinds of initiatives are exactly what we had in mind when we envisioned the Fund for Germantown”, said Howard Treatman. “It’s been great to see how Germantown United has been able to empower the community and leverage grassroots efforts.”

This is the third round of giving for the Fund for Germantown, which launched in the summer of 2014 and features two grant cycles per calendar year. The deadline for the next Fund for Germantown grant cycle is December 31, 2015. Funding guidelines may be found on Germantown United’s website at www.germantownunitedcdc.org. To request an application, email [email protected].

ABOUT

Germantown United Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)3 organization that was created to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. Founded in 2011, Germantown United CDC’s focus is to work with residents, businesses and community organizations to create an inspirational vision of Germantown’s business corridors and surrounding neighborhoods, create innovative case studies and sustainable business models to attract green-oriented developers, and recruit forward-thinking investors committed to fostering sustainable economic growth and development for all Germantown residents.

A Message from Our Board President for 2015

Over the last week, there has been a lot of dialogue, with the community voicing concerns over developments along Germantown’s business corridors. Germantown United CDC (“GU” or “GUCDC”) has received a number of inquiries asking what GUCDC is doing to address these concerns. Given our focus on promoting and facilitating the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors, we have been engaged in developing a comprehensive and incremental approach that strengthens our ability to lead successful corridor revitalization. We will be utilizing the time-proven, “Main Street Four-Point Approach” economic development tool that focuses on Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Based on our current capacity, we will be focusing on these three key strategic focus areas over the next year:

1. Supporting and developing the business community
This includes bringing on a full-time Corridor Manager; developing an online business directory; continuing our quarterly business info sessions to link business to resources; promotion and activation activities that leverage our district’s unique historic, cultural, and architectural history; and collaborating on corridor beautification and safety efforts. Included in these efforts are the annual Reimagining Maplewood Mall Street Festival, vacant storefront activation via artists’ displays and popup retail, and further promoting Historic Germantown’s Second Saturdays Program.

2. Creating substantial and sustainable revenue streams
Right now, we have a part-time Executive Director and a hardworking base of volunteers. We are dependent on individual contributions and small foundation and government grants for all of our income. We need significantly more resources to do this work that would provide more staff and enable us to have a permanent office to serve as the base for our work.

3. Building the organizational infrastructure
We are continually working to diversify our Board of Directors, increase our volunteer base and develop strategic partnerships with existing Germantown organizations. One example of how we are moving in this direction is our collaboration with Germantown Community Connection, G’Town Restoration, and Historic Germantown to secure funds for a neighborhood planning and visioning process.

How will we work moving forward?

By increasing communication and collaboration
We will strengthen our communication, both by using traditional means, such as community conversations and workshops, as well as online and social media. We plan soon to convene and host a community meeting with representatives of all interested community organizations to discuss how we communicate, collaborate and share in our efforts to build a stronger community.

By developing a clear and consistent policy on corridor development
Germantown has an extensive base of RCO’s (Registered Community Organizations) with the role of providing input on development projects. We have made it a point NOT to send GUCDC to RCO meetings, specifically because we view this community process as one that is traditionally managed by civic associations who are not engaged in development (such as what CDCs are organized to do) and we did not want to be perceived as stepping on the toes of the involved RCO. Just recently, given the tension regarding social services agencies and Board Member discussions during our October strategic planning retreat, we decided that GUCDC should reach Board consensus and share our views on development that occurs on the commercial corridors. We are still in the process of developing what this should look like, but it is our goal that we will have a clearly stated policy that defines the types of development that we will support along the corridor and the criteria that informs what we endorse or oppose.

By continuing to be transparent in acknowledging our funding sources
In 2014, we received funding from the following sources: Citibank Foundation, Samuel Fels Fund, Allen Hilles Fund, City of Philadelphia Office of Urban Mechanics, Philadelphia Activities Fund, Howard Treatman, Ken Weinstein, contributions from Board members and individuals.

By building a strong positive image of our corridors
We share community concerns raised about whether a proliferation of social services in Germantown is helpful and appropriate for community needs or harmful and/or an oversaturation in certain areas. We want to develop a strong neighborhood plan to actively work to increase community engagement, to recruit community-supported uses that build and sustain Germantown’s economy, and to invite and participate in development opportunities that strengthen and diversify the uses that focus on revitalizing the business and customer mix on the corridors.

In the end, I am committed to our finding a way that we, as a community, including all the various Germantown-based organizations, can work together to have a common vision for the corridor and be able to establish trust and work collaboratively to implement that vision. We are looking for Board members, volunteers, partners and advisors who can roll up their sleeves and help us develop and implement a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to business and economic development.

Thanks,
Garlen Capita
Board President, Germantown United CDC
Associate Urban Designer, Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC

For the Doers: A Guide to Germantown United CDC

Thanks to everyone who came out to GU’s For The Doers: Build A Better Germantown, our volunteer info session held on July 30, 2015. If you couldn’t be there but would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities and our work in general, you can now view a digital version of our presentation right here on our site.

The presentation includes an overview of GU’s strategic priorities, past accomplishments, and objectives for 2015/2016.

Download the presentation online as a PDF >>

In the guide, you can learn more about the organization’s four committees and their functions:

Fundraising
Planning & Design
Programs & Promotions
Economic Development

Committee roles include:

Co-Chairs
Organizers
Day-of Volunteers
Community Connectors

Worth a look for anyone interested in keeping up-to-date with GU and getting involved!

The volunteer session was held at the Germantown Mennonite Meeting House, built in 1770. Learn more about the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust. — The volunteer session was held at the Germantown Mennonite Meeting House, built in 1770.

Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 7

Germantown is one of 25 historic Main Street districts across the country participating in the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend. To celebrate, Germantown United CDC will host an Open House on Saturday, October 7 from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the organization’s first storefront office, located at 5320 Germantown Avenue, at the corner of W Penn Street. We invite you to come by and see our new headquarters. The Open House will also coincide with the Revolutionary Germantown Festival, a neighborhood-wide event honoring the legacy of the Battle of Germantown. We’ll have some light bites, activities, and a voting booth for you to place your daily “Vote Your Main Street” votes for Germantown. RSVP on Facebook >>

Reminder! Give a boost to local businesses. #VoteGermantown daily five times a day now through October 31 via VoteYourMainStreet.Org/Germantown. Tell your friends! Vote today (and every day) >>

Germantown Market Square Pop-Up Farmers Market, Sunday, Oct. 8

The Germantown Market Square Pop-Up Farmers Market will be held on Sunday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Market Square Park, located at 5501 Germantown Ave (between School House Ln and Church Ln). The market will feature goods from Wild Flour Bakery, Sweet LadyBug Gluten Free Bakery, Weavers Way Co-op, Lancaster Hummus Company, Germantown Kitchen Garden, and more.

Why a pop-up farmers market? Germantown United CDC, Weavers Way Co-op, and Greener Pastures are assessing the level of interest of consumers in the community for a permanent weekly farmers market. Come experience the pop-up! For more information: 215-856-4303 or [email protected].

Can’t attend? Take this short survey and help us gather information and build a market that provides the products and services you desire. Survey >>

Germantown United CDC is pleased to announce the second annual recipients of the organization’s Pillar of the Community award are civic advocate Reverend Chester Williams of the Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club and business leader Suzanne Quinn of Bargain Thrift Center.

With this award Germantown United CDC acknowledges those among us who have significantly contributed to the betterment of our community. Rev. Chester Williams is a dedicated roll-up your sleeves guy doing everything from networking with politicos to tutoring adults, to cleaning up the neighborhood and running Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club. Bargain Thrift Center is a stalwart mainstay in our community, thanks to owner Suzanne Quinn. The second-hand shop opened in 1985, and remains one of Philadelphia’s favorite thrift stores. Bargain Thrift is a buzz with shoppers and activity day in and day out, and is an important and positive part of Germantown’s business community.

As dedicated and steadfast champions for Germantown the award recipients embody the values of GUCDC. Toast the honorees with us at For the Love Of Germantown! Fundraiser on Thursday, April 27th at Rittenhouse Soundworks. Tickets are now on sale >>

About the Award Recipients

Suzanne Quinn
Bargain Thrift Center

“I love being a part of such a tight knit, vibrant, and historic neighborhood. The best part of my job is the people, and I’m so grateful for the relationships I’ve developed over so many years with customers and staff.” – Suzanne Quinn

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Suzanne Quinn graduated from Temple University (1992) with BA in Economics & International Business. Her father, George Chase, opened his first resale business in Germantown in 1977. Quinn began working in the shop at Germantown Avenue & Queen Lane in 1985 during summer breaks. Suzanne is married (Bill) with two teenage daughters (Brooke and Devon).

As a family-owned business, the core tenants of Bargain Thrift Center are a sense of community and family. Bargain Thrift Center is a place where many of the staff know customers by name and where everyone is welcome to shop in a clean, comfortable atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to snag a unique piece of home decor, a great pair of name brand jeans, or just need a practical kitchen item, Bargain Thrift Center is your source for affordable, quality goods and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. From the Premium Goods Pop-Up Shop, to the $1 or less clothing section at Bargain Thrift Warehouse Outlet, the store has something for everyone.

Stop by one of Quinn’s two retail locations on Germantown Avenue and see for yourself why Bargain Thrift Center continues to be one of Philadelphia’s leading thrift stores.

BARGAIN THRIFT CENTER
5261 Germantown Avenue (at Queen Lane)
Open Monday-Saturday
10:00am-5:45pm
p: 215.849.3225

What you’ll find here: Brand name clothing and accessories, jewelry, housewares, linens, toys, games, books, artwork, vintage and collectibles.

BARGAIN THRIFT OUTLET WAREHOUSE
4530 Germantown Avenue (at Berkley Street)
Open Wednesday-Saturday
10:00am-5:00pm
p: 215.843.1300

What you’ll find here: All clothing, accessories, small housewares, and bric-a-brac for $1 per piece or less.

Reverend Chester Williams
Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club

Rev. Chester Harold Williams works tirelessly to help his community, located in the Northwest section of Philadelphia. While “pastoring” is his number one calling, Rev. Williams wears many hats. He has served for over 30 consecutive years as Block Captain for the 6200 Block of Chew Avenue in East Germantown. Established in 1981, Rev. Williams is Founder and President of the Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club, Inc., serves as the Committee Person representing constituents residing in the 59th Ward, 10th Division, and works on countless issues that impact his community. He partners with neighboring civic groups, and works diligently to get the voices of his homeowner and renting neighbors heard and their needs addressed.

Recent issues he has represented his community on include: the replacement of SEPTA’s ailing Chew Avenue Bridge (at Walnut Lane) and improved safety measures at the SEPTA’s Washington Lane Regional Train Station; flooding in area homes and streets; identifying greening opportunities in the neighborhood; job opportunities, including for ex-offenders; rallying the community about the dangers of drugs; promoting exercise thru Happy Hollow’s boxing program; working within the area’s business corridor; and helping the Homeless.

Rev. Williams was the 5th child of 10 children, born to Tal and Florence Williams. He was born on December 24, 1946 on an Army Base in Pittsburg, California. He became an Ordained Minister during his high school tenure. Respectfully known as Rev. Williams, he served his nation in the Vietnam War from 1967-1969 as a Combat Medic in the Big Red 1/18th Infantry of the United States Army. He received numerous medals, among them, the United States Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged. In 1970, shortly after his return home from the war, he was called to the position of Ruling Elder, under the direction of Bishop H.D Wilson, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Rev. Williams worked the majority of his professional career as a Custodian and was later promoted to the position of Acting Supervisor of Mail Handlers for the U.S. Postal Service.

In serving both his nation and community, Rev. Williams has received numerous forms of recognition for acts of bravery, outstanding leadership, and community service.

Rev. Williams’ life Moto is, “You have not, because you ask not.”

He is on a continuous journey to better himself spiritually and encourages others to do the same. Rev. Williams is always concerned with spreading good news throughout his community. He considers himself simply as, “One crying in the wilderness, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.” He is the proud father of Bryan Williams and Dontay Williams, ages 26 and 22.

Celebrate with us.

Join us at Germantown United CDC’s annual fundraiser For the Love of Germantown! on Thursday, April 27 from 6 – 9 p.m.

This year’s party will be held at Rittenhouse Soundworks (219 W Rittenhouse St), a hub for live music housed in a former Chrysler automotive shop turned recording studio. Come out and socialize with your neighbors and supporters of this artistic, historic, and diverse neighborhood, bid on one of a kind auction items, and enjoy good music, food, and cheer! Tickets are now on sale >>

Show your support for the Pillar of the Community participants.
Use Code: PILLAR to receive 33% off your ticket purchase.

Event registration is $75.00.
First-time attendee tickets available for $35.

Save the Date: Germantown Second Saturday Festival is May 13

The third annual Germantown Second Saturday Festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United CDC, will be held at Market Square Park on Saturday, May 13, 2017. We will be seeking performers, vendors and community organizations to table at the event.

More information will be posted at germantownunitedcdc.org as it becomes available. Got questions? Email [email protected] today.

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First Look at New Neighborhood Website for Germantown