My name is Charity Frye and I am the new team member here at Germantown United CDC! My role here is as Business Support Coordinator, so I am so elated to get to introduce myself to you all here and in person as I stop by in the coming weeks to see how we can support your businesses and work to better Germantown together!
I am writing to share some exciting news regarding our upcoming “Second Saturday” event series, held in partnership with Historic Germantown! Attached are flyers and more information that you are encouraged to share with your customers on social media. I have attached a few flyer options, and we also have postcard style cards we’ve been dropping off around the area – feel free to reach out if you want some for your business!
As we prepare for these community events, we are reaching out to local businesses to encourage your participation. This is a wonderful opportunity to draw in neighbors and visitors alike and turn them into new customers for your business! We would to help create a festive atmosphere love to see our local establishments offer event-day specials throughout the corridor. Please feel free to get creative!
For example, you might consider running deals such as:
– Special themed items such as a “Second Saturday Sweet Tea”
– Specially priced offerings such as platters, or limited-time products
– Discounted bundles or “buy one, get one” offers
If you plan to run a special or promotion during an upcoming Second Saturday, please let us know HERE , or email [email protected] so that we can help spread the word!
Weavers Way Co-Op is gearing up to open a new location right here in Germantown! This exciting venture promises to bring an array of benefits, including increased access to quality local food options, a boost in economic growth, and fresh employment opportunities that promise to invigorate the community.
Open House Success Sets the Stage
The recent Open House held at the soon-to-be Weavers Way Co-Op Germantown location, situated at 328 W Chelten Avenue, witnessed an incredible turnout of over 150 eager participants. Enthusiastic attendees had the unique opportunity to explore the space before the commencement of construction, gaining insights into the store’s plans and the cooperative philosophy driving it forward.
An Investment in Germantown’s Future
While at the Open House, Philadelphia Department of Commerce Director Anne Nadol, alongside Councilmember Cindy Bass, unveiled a $1 million city investment earmarked for the new Germantown location. This strategic move, backed by the efforts of Commerce’s Office of Neighborhood Economic Development team, reflects a commitment to fostering local businesses and propelling our community toward a brighter future.
Left to right: Anne Nadol (Philadelphia Department of Commerce Director), Emaleigh Doley (Germantown United CDC Executive Director), James Onofrio (Senior Director CDC Programs, Office of Neighborhood Economic Development), Karen Fegely (Deputy Commerce Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives), Yvonne Boye (Deputy Commerce Director, Office of Neighborhood Economic Development).
Anticipation is building as the construction phase readies to kick off in the upcoming months. Following suit, the recruitment process for pivotal management positions will be in full swing, paving the way for meaningful employment avenues within the community. Germantown United CDC will also play a key role, hosting informative sessions for local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs keen on stocking their products on the store’s shelves.
The new market is located at the corner of Chelten and Morris. The property was an Acme market until the 1970s. It was last occupied by the JEVS Human Services, and has sat vacant for many years. The new store expects to bring more than 40 jobs to the neighborhood.
While supply chain considerations impact construction timelines, the opening date is yet to be determined. Early 2024 seems likely. (Fingers crossed!) Meanwhile, the adjoining Weavers Way Outreach Office at 326B W Chelten Avenue is buzzing with activity, hosting events and workshops and offering space for community engagement.
Left to right:Councilmember Cindy Bass (8th Council District), Rep. Darisha Parker (198th Legislative District), Philadelphia Department of Commerce Director Anne Nadol, Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd)
Germantown United CDC invites you to participate in our Fall Garden Plant Day on Saturday, November 4, from 11 am to 2 pm. This event is an opportunity for community members to come together and help beautify our neighborhood by planting perennial plants and preparing the gardens for the upcoming season.
The meeting point for the event will be at the top of Maplewood Mall, at the intersection of Greene and Armat Streets. All skill levels are welcome, so whether you’re an experienced gardener or just looking to lend a helping hand, we’d love to have you join us.
This event is made possible with support from the City of Philadelphia and the Department of Commerce, and through the dedicated efforts of Candice Price Garden Design and the Germantown Garden Guild.
Let’s make our neighborhood bloom together! If you plan on attending, please let us know you’re coming by registering here >>
We look forward to seeing you there and working together to create a more beautiful Germantown!
Join us at The Braid Mill (441 High St) on Thursday, November 30, 6-8pm for the Germantown United CDC Get to Know Us Pep Rally & Tailgate! This in-person community networking event is all about celebrating our beloved Germantown. We’re inviting neighborhood residents, local business owners, community organizations, and those who simply love Germantown to come together, make meaningful connections, exchange ideas, and discover new resources within our neighborhood.
At the event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and hear from Germantown United CDC’s staff, board members, and organizational partners as they share insights about our initiatives. Get ready to meet some new faces! Rest assured, the presentations will be brief. This social gathering is all about community connections and getting to know your neighbors.
Save the date, sport your team gear, and prep for an evening of community connections.
DJ Jazzy JoeYoung American Hard Cider & Tasting Room (6350 Germantown Ave)Attic Brewing Co. (137 Berkley St)
Featuring:
Music by DJ Jazzy Joe
Serving drinks made in Germantown by Attic Brewing Co. and Young American Cider
Lite bites from our favorite Germantown spots
GU resource table offering valuable information about our services
Community information table for attendees to share Germantown-focused announcements and neighborhood news. Bring your own flyers!
Your ticket registration constitutes a donation to Germantown United CDC and is tax-deductible, excluding processing fees. Additionally, half of all proceeds from the Community Champion ticket option will benefit Germantown United’s Fund for Germantown – Projects for Progress micro-grant program.
Braid Millis a collaborative home for creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses located in the heart of Germantown, Philadelphia. By weaving together functional workspaces, high-quality resources, and carefully curated events and programs, we provide a holistic approach to growth and development that redefines the traditional workplace experience. Learn more at braidmill.com.
As a result of our annual Board Retreat in October of this past year, Germantown United CDC (GUCDC) decided to adopt the National Main Street model as a way to guide our work as the commercial corridor manager. The Main Street Approach, a 4 point strategy to revitalize commercial corridors through community input and collaboration, was developed by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The meeting, held on Saturday, February 7, was facilitated by Donna Ann Harris, a nationally recognized Community district revitalization and Historic Preservation consultant. Ms. Harris guided the meeting of 25 community leaders and GUCDC Board members and volunteers through the Main Street Approach, and how it can be utilized in Germantown. GUCDC has established four committees to guide our work going forward. Those committees are: Promotions, Design, Organization, Economic Restructuring.
The Main Street ApproachTM is fundamentally a self-help program, that uses every kind of local asset—be they historic buildings, community organizations, and talented local residents who all join together to create events and projects make their downtown better. Local Main Street programs foster the creativity of community residents through committee work. Committees devise local projects to bring people back to shop and dine; ensure the district is clean, safe and attractive for shoppers; help existing business expand and recruit new, complementary business and finally create a management organization to raise funds, recruit partners, and communicate to the public about its work. Local Main Street programs are driven by volunteers, who learn about the market realities and make incremental change in the district over time. GUCDC welcomes volunteers from the community to join these committees. Organizations that are already doing projects in the committee areas are also welcome to join,and/or include and inform GUCDC of their projects.
Germantown United CDC (GUCDC) is seeking art and craft vendors to participate in the Art & Craft Marketplace at the Germantown Second Saturday Festival, presented by GUCDC and Historic Germantown.
The Festival will be held at Market Square Park, located at 5501 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144 on Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.
We have two available vendor spaces:
$30 for (1) 6 foot x 6 foot space includes (1) 6ft table provided as part of vendor price
$55 for (1) 12 foot x 12 foot space
includes (2) 6ft tables provided as part of vendor price
Tents (bring your own) are available for use in the 12ft x 12ft space only.
Please consider signing up to vend, sharing this information with your creative and entrepreneurial friends, and attending!
For additional questions about vending at the Germantown Second Saturday Festival, or to submit a completed application contact [email protected].
Vendor Application & Agreement
Follow the instructions below to complete your application.
Fill out/print page 6 of the Application, or submit Part 1 online today right here (it’s quick): http://goo.gl/forms/a8IthSaLdd
Submit payment (see below for online payment options; see the application for Money Order or Cash payments)
Sign the Memorandum of Agreement (page 7)
Return pages 6 & 7 of the Application to GUCDC by May 1, 2016
Your completed application, signed Memorandum of Agreement, and vending fee must be received by May 1st, 2016 in order to vend at this event. Advance registration and payment is required.
More detailed information about vending at the Festival is provided in the full Vendor Application & Agreement. Additional instructions on vendor load-in, setup, and breakdown will be provided after you have submitted your Application.
Make Your Payment Online:
Anticipated Attendance:
Germantown United CDC’s Reimagining Maplewood Mall Festival in 2015 attracted 1,000 guests; because we have ramped up programming and partnered with Historic Germantown this year, we anticipate the same or more participation this year. View the Facebook event listing here. As of 4/10, 1.7K have expressed interest in the event on Facebook alone with nearly 500 already confirming attendance.
For the Love of Germantown! is an annual fundraiser suporting our important work to revitalize Germantown. Following the tremendous success of the inaugural For the Love of Germantown! event held in 2014, the second annual For the Love of Germantown! event proves to be even bigger and better than the first.
The event is held at the Oaks Cloisters, a lavish and truly unique landmark in Germantown. More than 250 attendees are expected to attend, representing Germantown and its surrounding neighborhoods such as Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, and East Falls.
Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D., President of Philadelphia University and Co-Founder and previous owner of Jiffy Lube International is the keynote speaker for this year’s event. Join us on Thursday, May 7th from 6-9pm to celebrate and support our work with food, music, and history.
Germantown, Philadelphia, PA (May 13, 2015) The 3rd annual spring Re-imagine Maplewood Mall Festival will take place on Maplewood Mall (between Germantown Avenue and Greene Streets) on Saturday, May 30th (rain date June 6th), from 12pm to 5:00pm. This free event will offer live music, fo
od from restaurants in and around the Mall (Flower Café, K&J Caribbean, and Little Jimmies), locally made arts and crafts vendors, and entertainment for children. This year’s festival features a solid musical lineup, with a special performance by Kùlú Mèlé African Dance and Drum Ensemble, one of the City’s oldest and most well-regarded dance companies.
Building on the immense successes of the last three Re-imagining Maplewood Mall Festivals, Germantown United CDC is working with community stakeholders and local businesses to host this year’s Festival. Last year’s event drew hundreds of local residents, showcasing local talent and providing free family-friendly activities. The year’s event theme, “Germantown Renaissance”, is an opportunity to re-imagine Germantown, and Maplewood Mall, as an epicenter for creativity, music, food, literature, poetry and art.
“We want to not only showcase the brilliance of our own community”, said Germantown United CDC Executive Director Andy Trackman, “but demonstrate to Philadelphia that Germantown is a gathering place for the cutting edge in art and culture.”
In addition to Kulu Mele, the musical lineup also includes:
Jim Dragoni, a composer, guitarist and teacher with performance areas in blues, jazz and his own fiery original brand of hybridized cross genre art-music.
Bethlehem and Sad Patrick a vocal and guitar duo who specialize in songs of love, love lost, and love that would be better off lost. The duo recently released their first full-length CD, Did You Ever Do?
Live from NYC DreamWolf viaawQward talent – Jendog Lonewolf & Yalini Dream joined forces in 2011 to commemorate lives lost to police brutality. Rooted in ending the full continuum of violence and exploitation from the intimate to the global, from the street to the state, DreamWolf invokes a masterful collision of Hip Hop, poetry, theater & dance in their collaborative work, Above Street Level.
Rhenda Fearrington a Philadelphia jazz legend. She delivers an authentic and warm presentation of Jazz standards mixed with Soulful originals. This well established jazz vocalist has a history of working with artists such as Roberta Flack and MTUME and kicked off the 2014 Center City Jazz Festival.
Yolanda Wisher & The Quick Fixx the group features Germantown born and Philadelphia- based poet, singer, musician, and educator Yolanda Wisher
The Re-imagining Maplewood Mall Festivals started in 2013 as an open-air café/block party, and to engage with residents to re‐imagine what the Maplewood Mall could be: a space for families and neighbors to enjoy a nice afternoon out in Germantown. Since then, the event has grown to become an annual much-anticipated community festival.
“These festivals are an opportunity to bring the entire Germantown community together and support our locally based economy while helping to create the vibrancy that once used to exist in Germantown’s commercial district”, said Germantown United CDC Board President Garlen Capita. “Since the festivals started we have had a number of people recall their fond memories of shopping in Maplewood Mall. It is our hope that we can again make our corridors vibrant community spaces. ”
“Re-imagining Maplewood Mall is a labor of love and a chance for the community to show up and show out for each other. It is a true display of Germantown at its best and a reflection of how much this community cares”, said Event Coordinator Amelia Carter.
“The festival embodies our hopes and dreams for Maplewood Mall so get ready for a great day of fun and good food”, said Linda Samuel, owner of the Flower Café at Linda’s. “Our famous veggie burgers are just one of the many reasons to make it to the Re-imagining Maplewood Mall festival!”
Support for the event comes in part from this year’s sponsors: Philly Office Retail, Harvest Equities, Post Brothers Apartments, Loretta Witt at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Jeff King, The King Agency Inc., Allstate Insurance Co., and Germantown Friends School.
For more information about the Re-imagining Maplewood Mall Festival, and vending table registration please contact [email protected] or 215-856-4303.
Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is a three year-old community development corporation that is rapidly gaining momentum and building trust in the Germantown community over its short life. GUCDC’s mission is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. With the help of a new full-time Corridor Manager and host of volunteers, GUCDC is working to promote local businesses via an online business directory through a grant from the City’s Commerce Department; hosting bi-monthly Business Info Sessions to connect existing businesses to resources; cross promoting the businesses with the 16 designated historic sites in Germantown by partnering with Historic Germantown to promote their Second Saturday program; launching a Storefront Activation program and Street Tree planting program with a number of local partners.
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 to Germantown committed to fostering sustainable economic growth and development. www.germantownunitedcdc.org.
Update! The 9th annual Philly Spring Cleanup has been postponed until next Saturday, April 16th citywide due to weather. If you were planning on volunteering at one of the many Germantown-based cleanup projects check with the organizer to see if it’s being rescheduled. Germantown United CDC’s project, in collaboration with the Penn Knox Neighborhood Association has been moved to April 16. Read the full notice from the Streets Department >>
The 9th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup is set for Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rescheduled from April 9th)! This is a great way for you, your family, your friends and your neighbors to get involved and do your part to keep our City looking its best. Dedication like yours, along with the can-do attitude of thousands of volunteers all over the city, is exactly what we need to meet our goals.
In Germantown there will be a huge presence felt all over the neighborhood with over a dozen official projects registered! Can you feel it? It’s momentum. Keep up the sweep up!
Germantown United CDC has one big project planned for the big day – we’ll be partnering with the Penn Knox Neighborhood Association on a cleanup of the Lower Germantown Business District along Germantown Avenue.
See the full list of Philly Spring Cleanup projects in Germantown below and sign up to volunteer!
Lower Germantown Business District Cleanup with Germantown United CDC & Penn Knox Neighborhood Association
Cleanup Location: 5300 Germantown Avenue
Join Germantown United CDC and Penn Knox Neighborhood Association‘s cleanup of the lower Germantown business district. Volunteers will clean the grounds of the historic Trinity Lutheran Church at 5300 Germantown Avenue and the stretch of Germantown Avenue between Penn Street and Seymour Street (5300, 5200, 5100, 5000 blocks of Germantown Ave). Supplies will be available for cleanup participants! This is a family-friendly volunteer group.
Questions for GUCDC or Penn Knox Neighborhood Association? Contact Germantown United CDC at [email protected] or 215-856-4303. Contact Penn Knox Neighborhood Assoc. at [email protected] or 215-833-3483.
Volunteer for one of many other Philly Spring Cleanup project sites in Germantown!
1. 5200 Knox Street Block Clean Up
Location: 5200 Knox Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
2. Baynton Hill Clean Up
Location: Wister Train Station, Wister Station, Rufe St., E Penn St., Baynton St., Philadelphia, PA, 19144
3. 4800 Germantown Avenue Block Clean Up
4800 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19144 – Activities: clean up and bag trash and recyclables
4. Chew & Belfield Neighbors,Inc.
Location: 6211 W. Chew Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19138 – Activities: Clean empty lots, Prune And cut down trees, Paint curbs, Remove debris, Teach how to keep community clean & safe, Clean yards and alleys
5. Clean lot on Manheim and Tocoma St.
Southside Church, 5058 Wayne Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19120
6. Duval Improvement Association Neighborhoold Cleanup
Sherman & Pomona Streets (6328 Sherman), Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: Cleanup various areas including under the railroad bridge at Pomona and Sherman Streets.
7. Educators and field Study Instructors Partner with Philly Spring Clean Up Volunteers at Awbury Arboretum
Location: Agricultural Village at Awbury Arboretum, Across from Septa’s Washington Lane Train Station, 901 E. washington Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19138
Activities: Digging, cutting and pulling invasive plants
8. Germantown Ave. and Wayne Junction Clean Up
Location: Germantown Ave. and Stenton Ave., 4518 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: Cleaning up from Manheim and Germantown south to Stenton Ave. and Germantown Ave. and the Wayne Junction area.
9. Hood Cemetery Clean Up
Location: The Hood Cemetery, 4901 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: Street clean up down historic E Logan St, from Wakefield St to Germantown Ave, and along Germantown Ave from the corner of E Logan to New Germantown Pizza (4923 Germantown Ave).
10. Keep Lingelbach Community Clean
Location: Lingelbach Elementary School, 6340 Wayne Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: Clean area surrounding Lingelbach Elementary School that is most widely traveled by our students as they walk to and from school.
11. Let’s Get These lots clean!
Location: 126 E Herman St , Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: Help clean up abandon lots in Germantown! We need help removing trash and cutting down over grown grass and bushes.
12. Lower Germantown Business District Cleanup with Germantown United CDC and Penn Knox Neighborhood Association
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church, 5300 Germantown Avenue, Between Penn St and Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
Activities: sweeping and bagging up litter/trash along the sidewalk and street of the Germantown Avenue business corridor (5300, 5200, 5100, 5000 blocks); raking leaves, picking up sticks, general cleanup and maintenance of Trinity Lutheran Church grounds (5300 Germantown Avenue)
Germantown United CDC gets tough love from community rejuvenators
MARCH 1, 2012 | By AMY Z. QUINN
Photos Courtesy of WHYY
The community development experts who came to Northwest Philadelphia on Wednesday to meet with Germantown United Community Development Corp. and offer advice didn’t pull any punches in talking about the challenges ahead.
Everyone in the community won’t agree with what you’re doing — and they don’t have to, one advised.
Be willing to go to great lengths to get people involved — even if it means sometimes playing on their fears, another said.
Understand that gentrification will mean that some people will leave — and that’s not always a bad thing, yet another said.
And most of all, they offered, be ready to fight against low expectations — from within and without.
“People have low expectations, and it gives them an excuse not to engage,” said Colvin W. Grannum, president of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corp., which began revitalization efforts in New York City in 1967.
Similar challenges
At the panel discussion, held on the Germantown Friends School campus, Grannum talked about some of the challenges the nation’s first community development corporation has faced in the 45 years since it was started by U.S. Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Jacob Javits.
While Bed-Stuy had riots that touched off its downward spiral, Germantown doesn’t have one signature traumatic event that spurred its decline. Decades of middle-class flight were worsened by Germantown Settlement’s corruption and neglect. However, many of the challenges are the same, Grannum said.
His group had success early on with residential development, but that alone won’t rebuild a community, panelists said.
“The easiest thing to do is build houses,” said Grannum, but the greater challenge is creating a mix of residential, commercial and community uses. Some startups will fail while others will thrive, but many different approaches should be tried.
In Bed-Stuy, the CDC has backed everything from a Pathmark supermarket to artist space and schools, aimed at keeping residents working and shopping in the neighborhood.
“People just got in the habit of going outside the community to shop,” he said. Then, they assumed that “if they put something here, it’s not going to be good anyway.”
That struck a chord with the audience in Germantown, where the desire for more upscale retail bumps against the reality of the lower-income shoppers who frequent the commercial corridors on Germantown and Chelten avenues.
A new direction ahead?
Still, there was acknowledgment that Germantown seems poised to make a change.
“Germantown has some real assets to build on, and there’s real potential to create an organization that has some lasting power,” said Rick Sauer, executive director of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations.
One thing Germantown has working for it is its history. Founded in 1683, the neighborhood is home to 15 historic sites, seven of which are National Historic Landmarks. Each year, more than 40,000 visitors and school children come to see the neighborhood’s offerings, said Barbara Hogue of Historic Germantown.
But despite being a Colonial Historic District, it’s difficult to draw outside tourists and even tougher to keep them in Germantown once they arrive. Hogue has applied for a grant through the Pew Charitable Trust’s Heritage Philadelphia Program, in hopes of creating a festival in 2013 around a theme of the struggle for freedom.
Stephen P. Mullin, a former finance and commerce director and now principal at Econsult, talked about the importance of controlling the real estate involved, whether through CDC ownership or in working with property owners who are also vested in the community.
Engage those who want to gripe
Some of the most practical advice came from Sandy Salzman of the New Kensington CDC, which has put in 27 tough years trying to craft new development and a renewed sense of identity in Fishtown, Kensington and Port Richmond.
“There are always people who are going to get involved when they have something to gripe against,” she said. Her message: Even if residents come to the table to fight against something — in her neighborhood, it was the SugarHouse Casino — seize the chance to keep them involved.
Salzman said when her group started to notice artists and other creative professionals moving northward from Old City and Northern Liberties, there was a concerted effort to court them.
“We decided that we could either capture them and try to get them to stay, or we could just watch them keep on moving along,” she said
So, they created the Frankford Avenue Arts District and events like the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. Now, they are now watching the neighborhood fashion itself a new identity.
An audience-submitted question asked what Germantown should do to attract better retailers in the face of proliferating nail salons and beauty shops. Salzman suggested creating a beauty and fashion district to encourage quality.
John Churchville, Germantown United CDC’s first president, called it the group’s “coming out party.”
Character, culture and competence will be the group’s touchstones, he said, pledging an environment of transparency and action.
“We’re not here to fight and to fuss and carry on,” he said. “We are here to get something done.”
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Please join the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability and Germantown United CDC on May 4th 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Horse Center at 5534 Pulaski Ave for a discussion about Greenworks and how Philadelphia’s sustainability plans can help improve your community quality of life.
Over the past eight years, Philadelphia’s Greenworks plan has set a path for Philadelphia to become a more sustainable, vibrant and healthy city to live work and play. As the plan was designed to expire in 2015, the Office of Sustainability is now beginning the process of updating the plan to set goals for the next eight years and beyond.
Join us to share your thoughts on how Greenworks can better meet the needs of your community, what issues are most pressing to you, and what programs or initiatives you’d like to see in the coming years.
Please RSVP and share this invitation with your members and other interested neighbors. If you are unable to attend you can also share your thoughts through this online survey, or join us for a Twitter chat on April 22nd from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Historic Germantown and Germantown United CDC present Germantown Second Saturday Festival, Saturday, May 14 Eat. Shop. Play. Learn. Experience Germantown!
WHAT: Germantown Second Saturday Festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United Community Development Corporation. Featuring: A pop-up dance performance by BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet; Art & Craft Marketplace; Live Music; Food Trucks; Historic Re-enactors; Family Friendly Programs; Free Bus Tours to Historic Germantown Sites; and more.
WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19144); Germantown Avenue between School House Lane and Coulter Street
Germantown, Philadelphia, PA – The Germantown Second Saturday Festival will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. The festival will take place along a one-block stretch of Germantown Avenue, between School House Lane and Coulter Street, and surround Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Avenue). Rain or shine.
The community festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United Community Development Corporation, invites the public to experience Germantown. The festival will celebrate the kick-off the Second Saturday series–when all 16 Historic Germantown sites are open monthly–and showcase the many thriving cultural, civic and business attractions and activities that make Germantown an exciting place to live and visit.
Throughout the day, musicians, poets, and creative performing artists will take to the main stage on Germantown Avenue. BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, will present a 45-minute pop-up dance performance from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.,thanks to generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. BalletX unites distinguished choreographers with an outstanding company of world-class dancers to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace.
Musical talent includes popular local artists: Amari Rebel, Bethleham and Sad Patrick, Clef Club Youth Jazz Ensemble, Jim Dragoni, and many others. Germantown resident Yolanda Wisher, the City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate, will host the festivities.
Visitors will learn about Historic Germantown’s 16 extraordinary historic houses, destinations, and museums at the festival, including Awbury Arboretum, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, Grumblethrope, and Wyck. The adventurous can board free bus tours to Historic Germantown sites, located throughout Germantown, departing from the Festival’s main area (register for bus tours in advance at freedomsbackyard.com). Throughout the day, historic reenactors will share neighborhood history.
Pictured: Market Square Park
Over 30 vendors will participate in the Art & Craft Marketplace, coordinated by Germantown United CDC. Local Germantown eateries and visiting food trucks including The Lunchbox, a specialty peanut butter and jelly food cart, will be on-site. Attendees can also get to know many of Germantown’s civic and community organizations, including Episcopal Youth Mission, Friends of Vernon Park, Germantown Artists Roundtable, and Germantown Life Enrichment Center. Alongside Germantown United CDC, city planners from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission will share development plans for key Germantown sites.
The Germantown Second Saturday Festival is a new venture, and combines Germantown United CDC’s Re-imagining Maplewood Mall Festival and Historic Germantown’s Second Saturday Season Opener. In an effort to bring renewed attention and interest to a little-used neighborhood park and public space and more broadly promote the Second Saturday series, Germantown United CDC relocated their annual spring festival to Market Square Park and joined forces with Historic Germantown.
Schedule of Live Music & Performances
Performance start times are approximate.
12:00 p.m.Festival Start Time 12:00 p.m.Welcome and Kick-off from Yolanda Wisher, City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate 12:10 p.m.Settlement Music School Adult Jazz Band 12:30 p.m. Wissahickon Dance Academy (modern and jazz) 1:00 p.m.BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet 1:45 p.m.Irma Gartner as “Dinah” (historical reenactor) 2:00 p.m. Bethlehem and Sad Patrick (singer/guitarist) 2:12 p.m. Adam Monoco (singer/mandolin) 2:25 p.m. Clef Club Youth Jazz Ensemble 2:43 p.m. Lillian Hightower (vocalist) 2:55 p.m. Yolanda Wisher and the Culture Keepers (poetry) 3:05 p.m. Wissahickon Dance Academy (tap and hiphop) 3:15 p.m. Jim Dragoni (musician) 3:30 p.m. Karen Smith (drummer) 3:50 p.m. Dominique London (poetry/vocalist) 4:05 p.m. Amari Rebel (singer/drummer – band) 4:20 p.m.Ashley Phillips (vocalist) 4:40 p.m.prod (drummers/band) 4:55 p.m. Yolanda Wisher (poet) 5:00 p.m.Festival End Time
Public Transit & Parking
The festival is accessible by SEPTA. Bus Routes: 23 Bus, XH Bus; Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail: Germantown Station (150 E Chelten Ave). Visit septa.org for schedules.
Street parking is available beyond the festival grounds. The 5400 block of Germantown Ave and the unit block of E Church Ln will be closed to all traffic from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. for the Festival.
Free off-street parking is available thanks to our generous community partners. Parking lots are located at:
Citizens Bank Lot 5500 Germantown Ave (enter lot from W Schoolhouse Ln)
Wells Fargo Lot 5500 Germantown Ave (enter lot from W Schoolhouse Ln)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church & Germantown Friends School Lot SE Corner of 5300 block of Germantown Ave & E Coulter St (enter lot from Germantown Ave or E Coulter St)
About
Historic Germantown Historic Germantown is a partnership organization serving historic sites in Philadelphia’s Old German Township that works collaboratively to preserve its extraordinary historic assets, increase access, interpret them to the public and raise their visibility. Learn more at freedomsbackyard.com.
Germantown United CDC The mission of Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of the business corridors in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. Learn more athttp://germantownunitedcdc.org.
BalletX BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, unites distinguished choreographers with an outstanding company of world-class dancers to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. Founded in 2005 by Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan, and now under the direction of Cox as Artistic & Executive Director, BalletX challenges the boundaries of classical ballet by encouraging formal experimentation while preserving rigorous technique. The company is committed to producing new works of the highest quality and integrity that bring the combined visions of choreographers and dancers to life and cultivate in audiences a collective appetite for bold, new dance.
With generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in its 10th Anniversary 2015-16 Season BalletX presents a series of 10 free pop-up performances around the Philadelphia community. Visit www.BalletX.org to find out where the company will be next!
“This is Germantown Heart & Soul” Winter Community Gatherings
Ask Residents to Guide Neighborhood Development in Northwest Philadelphia
Through Creative Participatory Planning Process, beginning November 19th
Germantown, Philadelphia, PA – This is Germantown Heart & Soul, a project of Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) and Just Act, will host a series of community gatherings throughout Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood this winter beginning on November 19, 2016. The Germantown community is invited to participate in a unique interactive group storytelling experience. Unlike traditional civic meetings and town halls, the events – called Story Circles – use theater as a planning tool and center on capturing the wishes, needs, and ideas of residents as they share personal stories of meaningful experiences in Germantown and what they view as essential for growth of the neighborhood’s vibrant but struggling shopping district. A calendar of events is included below, with additional dates to be announced.
Story Circles will be facilitated by a multigenerational “Storytelling Engagement Team” comprised of Germantown residents, with support from the Just Act Ensemble. The collected stories will guide Germantown United CDC’s future work and plans for successful, community-responsive business corridor revitalization and contribute to efforts underway to make the central business district a people-centered main street destination for the Germantown community and visitors from outside the immediate neighborhood.
“This is Germantown Heart & Soul aims to create a shared sense of belonging that ultimately improves local decision-making and strengthens social, cultural, and economic vibrancy,” said Emaleigh Doley, Commercial Corridor Manager at Germantown United CDC. “Germantown is one of the city’s largest neighborhoods, with a population of 44,000. It’s important to recognize that the immediate needs of residents living in the Chew and Belfield area of East Germantown might differ from those in West Germantown’s Penn-Knox section, for example. That doesn’t mean the Eastside and the Westside have nothing in common. We also all share the business district.”
A core goal of the project is to connect both the formal and informal networks contributing to community improvement efforts and operating at the micro level – from block captains to Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) and neighborhood civics with limited boundaries.
Scenes from the This is Heart & Soul pop-up story booth at the Friends of Vernon Park Spring Bazaar, October 8, 2016; Park(ing) Day Philadelphia installation, September 16, 2016; and Maple Village Story Gathering, October 18, 2016.
“These story sharing events build upon an interest and commitment in helping communities adapt and implement positive changes based upon the vision and experiences of all community members and create new opportunities for residents and community stakeholders to meet in-person,” said Lisa Jo Epstein, Executive Director of Just Act.
This is Germantown Heart & Soul made its public debut in the spring of 2016 through a series of successful pop-up story booths held along the business district at a variety of spaces, from the bustling intersection of Germantown and Chelten Avenues to the annual Juneteenth Celebration, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, organized by the Johnson House Historic Site. The Story Engagement Team was formed in the summer and fall of 2016 and has been meeting regularly to train for and plan the upcoming Story Circles events. The Germantown Life Enrichment Center, a community-oriented recreational and educational facility in the heart of Germantown at 5722 Greene Street, generously donated meeting space for the team and is one of several This is Germantown Heart & Soul sponsoring organizations.
Story Engagement Team training sessions.
With the addition of the more intimate Story Circles series, This is Germantown Heart & Soul will:
Build, diversify, and strengthen resident engagement with and collective participation in civic process to increase impact and positively affect neighborhood-wide planning decisions;
Strengthen resident readiness for, and engagement in the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s “Philadelphia2035” District Planning process for the Upper Northwest, slated for 2017-2018;
Expand who participates in public processes related to real estate development and neighborhood revitalization by engaging isolated and diverse resident groups;
Cultivate and/or improve relationships, social community cohesion and stewardship of place.
The collected data will also become the highlight of “Community Cataloguing Data Jams” – events in January 2017 where participants will listen to transcripts of stories from their neighbors to collectively identify and catalogue shared visions for what the community values.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The current calendar of events is included below. Additional dates will be added. All Germantown residents and community stakeholders are invited. Events are open to the public. Food and refreshments will be provided, along with live music and good cheer. Attend one or attend them all. For an up-to-date program calendar visit facebook.com/thisisgermantownheartandsoul. Contact Germantown United CDC at 215-856-4303 or [email protected].
Saturday, November 19 from 4 – 6 p.m. Location: Providence Baptist Church, 87 E. Haines Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Sponsoring Community Organization: Providence Baptist Church
Monday, December 5 from 7 – 9 p.m. Location: Awbury Arboreteum, 1 Awbury Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19138 Sponsoring Community Organization: Awbury Arboretum Neighbors, Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club, and Awbury Arboreteum
Tuesday, December 13 from 7 – 9 p.m. Location: Germantown Mennonite Church, 21 W Washington Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Sponsoring Community Organization: Pastorius Community Garden, Men Who Care of Germantown, Germantown Mennonite Church, and Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust
About Germantown United Community Development Corporation
Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is a community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of the business district in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. Vibrant commercial corridors or “Main Streets” contribute to strong neighborhoods. They provide a place to work, shop, and meet your neighbors. Through our Targeted Corridor Management Program contract with the city’s Commerce Department, Germantown United CDC provides assistance to businesses, brings planning and resources to the corridor, oversees activities to make the corridor clean and safe, and works to attract new businesses to the area. We are actively working to bolster and reinforce the vibrancy of the business district to meet the needs of the surrounding community and attract visitors from outside the immediate neighborhood. Germantown United CDC is also exploring opportunities to strengthen and diversify the mix of commercial uses in the business district, the potential to reuse vacant or underutilized properties, business and job attraction strategies, and available sources of funding to support recommended revitalization strategies.
Just Act is a distinctive hybrid of artistic and community engagement committed to social justice. Our Ensemble of artist-educators facilitate unique theatre-based programs with non-actors that activate and nurture meaningful dialogue, reflection, healing and action around complex, often divisive social issues. Just Act is committed to building and fortifying inclusive, restorative civic engagement through partnerships across sectors and differences. Informed by Theatre of the Oppressed and other art and activist strategies, our work is a creative catalyst for community activism and personal change. In all we undertake, Just Act renews and deepens the capacity of social change seekers and makers to stand up for justice on personal, inter-group and systemic levels with compassion and renewed courage. In these times of anxiety, bustle and disconnection, Just Act offers refreshing, participatory “refuel zones” to creatively pause and attend to tension and fractured relations – particularly around race, culture, and socio-economic disparities – to reweave connections and grow empathy, understanding and action plans.
Like each of the Philadelphia2035 District Plans, The Upper Northwest Plan is informed by a series of public meetings to ensure that the plan’s goals are compatible with community needs. Meetings will be held on weekday evenings in the District at transit-accessible locations. Explore the Upper Northwest District website.
The first public meetingwill be:
Monday January 8, 2018, 6:30pm 7301 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119 Brossman Center, Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia
In the event of snow: If the School District of Philadelphia is closed or has early dismissal on January 8th, the meeting will be cancelled. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will send an email when the meeting is rescheduled (Germantown United CDC will forward this to our subscribers).
How to get there:
Bus Route 23
Regional Rail Chestnut Hill West: Allen Lane Station
Regional Rail Chestnut Hill East: Sedgwick Station
Parking lot and accessible entrance available
How do you want to see Germantown grow and prosper? Be there to share your vision.
The plan will address topics like:
Housing
Jobs and businesses
Zoning (regulates what can be built where and what a property can be used for)
Transportation
Rec centers, parks, other city-owned properties
Protecting historic buildings and sites
And more!
At this first meeting, representatives from City Planning will present a summary of the information gathered so far about:
What each property is being used for (commercial, residential, single-family/multi-family, etc.)
The current zoning for every property
Information on District’s population and economy, including residents’ race, age, level of education, how many work within the district vs. outside, and more.
Then we’ll break into small groups to hear from attendees about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and barriers.
The Upper Northwest district, oriented around the Germantown Avenue commercial corridor, is known for its historic homes, tree-lined streets, and excellent public transportation. The district is situated to the east of Wissahickon Park. Key issues are revitalizing greater Germantown, supporting historic preservation efforts throughout the district, planning for transit-oriented development along the Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West rail lines and at Wayne Junction Station, improving the pedestrian-oriented Germantown and Chelten commercial corridors, and retrofitting an historically and architecturally significant housing stock to meet the needs of contemporary households.
The Germantown Second Saturday Festival will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 12pm to 5pm in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. The community festival invites the public to experience Germantown, celebrates the kick-off the Second Saturday series–when all 16 Historic Germantown sites are open monthly–and showcases the many thriving cultural, civic, and business attractions and activities that make Germantown an exciting place to live and visit.
Presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United CDC, the festival will take place along a one-block stretch of Germantown Avenue, between School House Ln and Coulter St, and surround Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Ave). Featuring: Live Music & Performance, Food Trucks, Art & Craft Marketplace, Historic Re-enactors, Family Friendly Programs, Free Bus & Walking Tours of Historic Germantown Sites.
Do you #LoveGermantown? Join us April 26, 2018 for the 5th Annual “For the Love of Germantown” FUNdraiser! Enjoy delicious food and drinks, dancing to DJ Prime, silent auction, and networking with your neighbors. We’ll also honor this year’s Pillars of the Community awardees (to be announced) and get a peek inside the historic Cunningham Piano Showroom Building, located at 5427 Germantown Avenue, now slated for redevelopment. But wait, there’s more! »»»
Germantown United CDC and Historic Germantown are currently seeking community organizations, food vendors, art, craft, and other merchants to participate in the Vendor Marketplace at the 4th annual festival Germantown Second Saturday Festival.
The Germantown Second Saturday Festival will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 12pm to 5pm in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. The festival will take place at Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Avenue) and along Germantown Avenue, between School House Lane and Coulter Street, which will be closed to traffic. Rain or shine.
The community festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United Community Development Corporation, invites the public to experience Germantown. The festival celebrates the kick-off the Second Saturday series–when all 16 Historic Germantown sites are open monthly–and showcases the many thriving cultural, civic, and business attractions and activities that make Germantown an exciting place to live and visit.
Thinking about buying your own home in Germantown? Germantown United CDC now offers FREE monthly first-time homebuyer workshops right here in Germantown through a partnership with Mt. Airy CDC. The full schedule for 2019 follows below.
first-time homebuyer workshop
Learn everything you need to know to become a successful first-time homebuyer! In this three-hour workshop, our experienced and HUD-certified housing counseling staff will cover:
How to improve your credit scores and prepare a spending plan
The mortgage lending process
What’s in a sales agreement
Inspections, insurance, and why you need them
Available assistance for down payment and closing costs
Schedule
Workshops are Tuesdays at 5:30pm at GUCDC’s office, located at 5320 Germantown Ave (at the corner of W Penn St). All workshops are approximately 3 hours, please plan accordingly.
TUESDAYS
January 22
February 26
March 26
April 30
May 28
June 25
July 23
August 27
September 24
October 22
November 19
December 10
Are you interested in what Germantown United CDC is working on?
Want to learn about future projects and activities? We’re hosting an interactive Town Hall on Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 6–7:30pm. This is an opportunity to hear from GU’s staff and connect with neighborhood residents, local businesses, and community stakeholders. The Town Hall will include a brief presentation by GU staff and Q&A session. This is a virtual event with three ways to participate! Attend online with Zoom, call in by phone, or stream on Facebook Live.
Register in advance for the meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting by Zoom and by phone. Tips for participating are included below.
Please share info about this event with your friends, family, and neighbors living and working in Germantown. Download this flyer. We are looking forward to connecting with you!
Submit questions and comments in advance
There will be opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and share ideas during the meeting, but you can also submit questions and comments in advance here. We’ll make every effort to have them answered during the event.
How to access the meeting
Attend online with Zoom
Zoom is the best way to participate in the meeting. Register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Download the Zoom app on your laptop, tablet or smartphone prior to the date of the event.
Please join the event 15 minutes early. By joining early, you will have time to test your audio, video, and internet settings. If you have trouble logging in, please visit the Zoom help center.
The Town Hall will be streamed on our Facebook timeline. Viewers can watch and comment on Facebook Live. The stream will go live at facebook.com/germantowncdc when the meeting starts.
Clogged drains, leaky roofs, drafty windows, crumbling bricks… While being a homeowner is wonderful in many ways, it comes with its own set of responsibilities and headaches. Join Germantown United CDC (GU) and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) for a presentation and Q&A about common home repair issues, what you can do yourself, and when/how to hire a professional. RTP provides health, safety, and energy efficiency repairs to 125+ houses each year and understands the issues facing Philadelphia’s aging housing stock. GU will also review resources for home repairs.
Thursday, March 2, 2023 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Location: VIRTUAL This event has passed.
This event is part of Germantown United CDC’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) Program, supported by the City of Philadelphia Division of Housing & Community Development.
A diverse panel of local innovators shared details of their eco-friendly urban projects at Germantown United Community Development Corp.’s second annual community forum on Wednesday night.
The “It IS Easy Being Green” event drew a large crowd to the Flying Horse Center on Pulaski Street near Chelten Ave. in Germantown.
Before the panel discussion, attendees perused a “trade show” of tables from groups including Awbury Arboretum, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the John B. Kelly School’s “Kelly Green” grounds initiative, the Philadelphia Streets Department and the Sustainable Business Network.
Molly Finch, an educator with the Tookany-Tacony-Frankford Watershed, passed out small packets of sunflower seeds and suggested “guerrilla planting” for those without their own gardens.
“Stuff like this,” she said of the forum, “should be happening more often.”
The keynote address
GUCDC Board President Andy Trackman introduced moderator and keynote speaker Robert Fleming, associate professor of sustainable design at Philadelphia University.
Fleming, who co-founded the university’s Engineering and Design Institute and its sustainable-design Master’s degree program, led his remarks with childhood memories of Maplewood Mall and Mt. Airy.
Fleming, who also works as an LEED-accredited consultant to firms designing green buildings, showcased real-life statements he encountered from business owners in the nineties.
Vignettes included statements like “the Internet is too slow; it’ll never catch on,” and firms that insisted they didn’t need e-mail or websites because they had telephones and fax machines.
He compared those to naysayers claiming that “green” buildings will never catch on.
Greening strategies
Fleming then referenced a series of events that have left people with a fearful eye for the future, environmental or otherwise. Those included Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the BP oil spill, the Fukushima nuclear disaster and Hurricane Sandy.
Fleming said those pressing problems leave him wanting “a more holistic view of what sustainability can be,” noting that AbrahamMaslow’s hierarchy of needs should be a model for viable greening efforts.
Specifically, he said that clean air, water and good food should underlie diverse and inclusive communities with strong economies. To top it all off, “green” efforts must be artfully crafted, to satisfy a human need for beauty, Fleming maintained.
Panelists speak
Seven panelists then shared a range of projects with the crowd.
Christine Knapp, director of strategic partnerships at the Philadelphia Water Department, spoke about the problem of urban storm-water management.
She explained the difference between “combined” sewer systems (comprising 60 percent of Philadelphia’s sewers) which cause dangerous overflow when sewage and stormwaters mingle, and “separate” ones, which help prevent flooding by giving sewage and storm-water different underground pathways.
Knapp touted solutions like rain barrels, rain gardens, roof plantings, porous pavement and increasing the number of trees planted in the city as efforts that would beautify as well as tackle sewer woes.
Obesity and re-entry
Representing the Food Trust, Dwayne Wharton pointed to a small drop in the obesity rates of city youth.
That reduction followed a range of healthy food-access initiatives like eliminating soda drinks and fryers in school cafeterias and a proliferation of city farmers’ markets that accept SNAP benefits.
The purpose of those moves was to “make the healthy choice the easy choice,” Wharton said.
Kelly Maillie, an AmeriCorps intern with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, described a program called “Roots to Re-Entry” which trains Philadelphia Prison System inmates in food growing and landscape management.
The program, which also helps with former inmates’ job placement, was sparked by PHS’ City Harvest and currently helps to feed about 1,200 needy families per week.
Rockland Street, graffiti and storefronts
From there, Germantown sisters Aine and Emaleigh Doley spoke about their “West Rockland Street Project” which, without the help of any official structure or umbrella supporter, has revitalized a block of Southwest Germantown.
The neighborhood activists spoke about their successful efforts to remove blighted buildings, reduce dumping, build gardens, foster community engagement and even increase voter registration through a string of targeted events and initiatives.
Germantown artist and muralist Zack Bird shared his efforts to cover rampant graffiti on the Wissahickon’s stately stonework.
His before-and-after photos demonstrated that a sealed faux-finish, done with discarded house paints, can restore the appearance of stone without the costly and damaging removal work of sand-blasting.
Vivian Nabeta, who serves as New Haven, Ct. director of arts, culture and tourism, shared that city’s successful “Project Storefront” program, which livens up corridors by helping artists and entrepreneurs get into formerly vacant retail spaces.
Panelists at GUCDC’s “It IS Easy Being Green” forum spoke in Germantown about eco-friendly accomplishments. (Alaina Mabaso/for NewsWorks)
Come celebrate Germantown’s four centuries of rich
history along with live music
and tour of the beautiful Oaks Cloister.
Named as one of the Seven Community Forces That Gets Things Done in Northwest Philadelphia by WHYY’s Newsworks Neighborhoods, Germantown United CDC is a 2 year-old mostly-volunteer organization, whose mission is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown’s business corridors through a sustainable, creative and community-driven approach to economic development.
Nothing daunts the poets in Germantown where, for a second consecutive year, one parking spot wasn’t nearly enough space for the Artists Roundtable to celebrate Park(ing) Day.
Friday’s festivities took over the sidewalk and an empty storefront’s grate as a proud crop of local writers read their work aloud despite the mid-afternoon racket of Chelten Avenue traffic.
For this year’s annual celebration of the possibilities of parking spaces — from mini-parks to the art exhibitions and beyond — the Roundtable and Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) each claimed spots on the Chelten Avenue business corridor near Greene Street. Philadelphia University shared some space with G-Town Radio a few blocks north of that.
Roundtable festivities
An African drumming circle at the Roundtable’s space drew nearly 30 people in the early afternoon.
There, multimedia work from local artists Tieshka Smith, Susan Mangan, Terisita Stidem, Jill Saull, Gary Reed, Ife Iwoo, Adrienne Morrison and Rocio Cabello decorated every available space.
Roundtable organizer Paula Paul said she appreciated the generosity of artists who trusted their work to the public outdoor setting.
The poetry readers had a respectable audience despite many necessary pauses while SEPTA buses rumbled past.
“The keys in this pocket lead to Germantown,” poet Nzadi Keita read in a literary tribute to the neighborhood’s racially diverse residents that also touched on the region’s economic troubles. “Checks and food stamps cost a day of day of waiting.”
YahNe Ndgo, a writer and Friends of Vernon Park leader, read from her story titled “Five Minutes,” an unflinching look at the experience of abortion “at my request and his insistence.”
“Hopefully, the human element will transcend the subject matter, no matter how you relate to it,” she said, prefacing the work.
Art in the streets
The parking space itself was given over to “Broadway Boogie,” a street installation by iMPeRFeCT Gallery co-owner Renny Molenaar featuring salvaged car mufflers and tailpipes stitched tight into luxurious corduroy, lace and velvet covers.
“I’m a garbage guy,” Molenaar said when NewsWorks caught up with him at his Maplewood Mall gallery.
He said he was squatting in the South Bronx years ago when a big truck pulled up and dumped a load of “couture” fabrics right on the street.
“I thought, I can do something with this,” he said of Broadway Boogie’s inspiration.
On a whim, he began to stitch the fancy fabrics over the rusty car parts.
“It totally became sensual; they became like a body,” he said of how the metal objects were transformed by the cloth.
The one-day park
Two blocks north, Germantown Park(ing) Day organizer Megan Fitzpatrick, GUCDC board members Andy Trackman and Yvonne Haskins and others turned a parking spot into a woodsy garden.
Paved with wood chips, the spot featured potted plants sprouting from hollowed tree-trunk pieces and colorful repurposed wood pallets housing more blooms.
After an online crowd funded a shoestring budget for last June’s block party, photographer and event planner Gary Reed said that GUDCD has secured a $5,000 grant from Urban Mechanics toward the upcoming festival.
GUCDC is seeking arts-and-crafts vendors and live performers to participate in the festivities, which will also feature goodies from local restaurants.
For more information on participating as an artist, vendor or performer, e-mail[email protected]. GUCDC leader Garlen Capita is also looking for more volunteers for the event; anyone interested in lending a hand should visit the organization’s website or e-mail [email protected].
Pathmark reaches out
GUCDC’s Haskins also told passersby about an upcoming meeting regarding the future of the Germantown Pathmark grocery store.
She said she hopes the meeting — scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Flying Horse Center’s Pegasus Room (5534 Pulaski Ave.) — will raise concerns about the appearance of the market’s parking lot and adjacent sidewalks, and the many habitual loiterers who often contribute to an unpleasant, sometimes-threatening environment.
“The fact that he asked for this meeting is exciting,” Haskins said of the store’s new manager, Jeff Kelly.
“We want to get the word out that Pathmark has a new manager who is receptive to community concerns,” she added, urging community members to attend with questions, suggestions and an appreciation for Kelly’s positive gesture.
Germantown Park(ing) Day to bring the arts and forward-thinking students to Chelten Ave. on Friday
September 18, 2013
By Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, @AlainaMabaso
As SEPTA offers up a possible “doomsday” plan that would eliminate nine of its 13 regional rail lines in the next 10 years, threatening to send 40 million riders back to their cars, some Northwest Philadelphians are still imagining a future of repurposed parking spaces.
Along West Chelten Avenue on Friday, the Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC), the Germantown Artists Roundtable and Philadelphia University will celebrate Park(ing) Day, an annual worldwide event dedicated to transforming cities’ metered spaces from parking spots into public mini-parks.
Artists, activists and eco-entrepreneurs worldwide use Park(ing) Day to share their message with the public and imagine something other than asphalt covering the world’s parking lots. Locally, there are more than 40 locations beyond Germantown, viewable on this interactive map.
Imagining a different world
“We’re going to be making our spot into a little outdoor park,” GUCDC Park(ing) Day organizer Megan Fitzpatrick told NewsWorks this week. “What would happen to the spots if more citizens used public transit, and didn’t depend on cars so much?”
GUCDC members will talk to locals about the fate of the old Germantown Town Hall. They will also pass out menus from nearby cafes in an effort to promote local dining.
A trip to a Fairmount Park recycling center netted the planners a large cherry tree trunk that they hollowed out and cut into planters.
With some pallets donated from Killian’s Hardware of Chestnut Hill, these are becoming a vertical garden with the help of GUCDC board member Sarah Endriss’ Philadelphia University landscape-architecture students.
“After Park(ing) Day is over, we’re going to march these little planters and little garden installations over to Maplewood Mall, to beautify the space in preparation for the Re-Imagining Maplewood MallFestival in October,” Fitzpatrick said.
Arts in the parking mix
Germantown Artists Roundtable organizer Paula Paul is helping spearhead that group’s (Park)ing Day spot at Chelten Avenue and Greene St., modeling it after their successful street-arts extravaganza last year.
“The highlight is an attempt to pull from each of the arts: Visual, performing and literary, and somehow transform a parking spot for a day into a place where all those things can happen at once,” Paul said.
The day will include an outdoor art salon, with a special street installation from iMPeRFeCT Gallery co-founder Renny Molenaar.
The window grate of the deserted store behind the parking spot will become an impromptu gallery, including a photo display from Germantown photographer Tieshka Smith and a showcase of this summer’s “Photographing Germantown’s Human Assets” project. African drummers, a poetry circle and a yarn-bombing will round out the day.
Germantown in 3D
Philadelphia University will also have its own Chelten Avenue spot.
Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture Kim Douglas said it is an opportunity for students to prepare for a studio-course project focused on Germantown revitalization.
Fifth-year landscape-architecture and architecture students, along with masters’ students in GeoDesign, are developing a virtual 3D “ecodistrict framework plan” for the Germantown business corridor. Students will be on the scene to get community input on Park(ing) Day.
“The students will set up easels and pads and chalk on the parking area to record what the community envisions, so we hope people will stop by to talk, draw and record their dreams,” Douglas explained.
The Germantown spots will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday along Chelten Avenue between Germantown Ave. and Greene St
On October 19, with your help, Maplewood Mall becomes a block party and craft fair Fall Celebration for the whole community
The residents, businesses, and friends of Maplewood Mall invite you to Re-imagine Maplewood Mall in the Fall. Our June 22 night cafe and block party was so successful, thanks to all of our donors and supporters. We showed how Maplewood Mall could be a thriving place to shop and socialize. We want to keep the momentum going! On Saturday, October 19 we’ll turn the mall into open air cafe/block party for the entire family. This free event will offer live music, food to purchase and some type of entertainment for children. This time, we will host artists and craftspeople to set up their tables. A perfect time to do some early holiday shopping! It will run from mid-morning to late afternoon. Our mission is twofold. We want to create a space for families and neighbors to enjoy a nice afternoon out in Germantown. We also want to engage with residents to re-imagine what the Maplewood Mall could be, and continue the momentum from our June 22 event. To make this event truly successful we are asking you to help with a modest donation. A lot of people have stepped forward to freely give their time and energy for this event. The reality is we still need to raise some money to pay for necessities. We are recommending a $25 donation but any size gift will will be greatly appreciated. Support us today and be sure to join us on October 19. Thank you.
June 25, 2013 By Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, @AlainaMabaso “Everybody has a different take. People who have been here longer are jaded. I can understand why people do stop believing.” –Rocio Cabello, co-founder, iMPeRFeCT Gallery”What I’d like to…
June 3, 2013 By Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, @AlainaMabaso Location of Germantown Town Hall, which the city shuttered in 1997 “Germantown Town Hall is so symbolic, and there’s a lot of meaning in it for the neighborhood.We want to be a part of the history, but also part of the future.” –Andy Trackman…
The 1st in 5 series of Movies Shown Under the Stars
We are going all out this year! We will have live music, 1940s inspired dress and a red carpet in Vernon Park. Bring your own chairs, blanket, favorite movie snacks as we watch this classic under the stars.
JULY 11. Plan to arrive at 7pm to walk the red carpet and get your picture taken before showtime. Look for updated information on exact location.
On June 22 we’ll turn Maplewood Mall into a Night Café and Block Party. We welcome the community to bring energy and ideas to the Mall!
G-town Radio, Germantown United CDC, businesses, and friends of Maplewood Mall invite you to re-imagine Maplewood Mall as a thriving place to shop and socialize. On Saturday, June 22 we’ll turn the mall into open air cafe/block party for the entire family. This free event will offer live music, food to purchase and some type of entertainment for children. It will run from 4pm to 8:30pm. Our mission is two-fold. We want to create a space for families and neighbors to enjoy a nice night out in Germantown. We also want to engage with residents to re-imagine what the Maplewood Mall could be. Displays will be set up featuring plans for a mall re-design. Attendees will be asked what types of businesses, activities or improvements they would like to see. To emphasize the theme of re-imagining we are working with several local artists to transform what we see and how we think about the space. The festive environment will create an atmosphere not seen in Maplewood Mall for a very long time.
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.'”
We would like to thank the community, Brian Abernathy from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA), Councilwoman Cindy Bass, and all the presenters including those from members of the community, Center in the Park, Mission First Housing, and Philly Office Retail.
From the meeting, we learned that an expedited L&I building inspection was being requested by PRA and the Councilwoman’s office. As soon as we learn the results we will publish it on this site. Watch complete video of the community meeting below.
III. Brief Historical Overview of Germantown YWCA Dr. Craig Stutman, Assistant Professor of History and Policy Studies Delaware Valley College
IV. Personal Reflections-The Y and its Place in Germantown’s Collective Memory Ann (Herbert) Perrone, daughter of Clarice Herbert – YWCA first Black Executive Director
Lisa Hopkins daughter of Ingrid Catlin who was hired by Clarice Herbert from 1968-1971 as the Children and Youth Program Director
V. Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) RFP Process Brian Abernathy, Executive Director, PRA
VI. Overview of the Mission First Housing Group Project Proposal (Who they are, What is their role, What is the project proposal submitted to the PRA)
Mission First Housing Group – Mark Deitcher, Director of Business Development
Philly Office Retail – Ken Weinstein, President Philly Office Retail
Center In the Park – Lynn Fields Harris, Executive Director
VII. Statement from Councilwoman Cindy Bass
VIII. Q&A/Facilitated Discussion All participants will have an opportunity to pose questions to presenters.
Moderated by Andy Trackman, GUCDC Executive Director
IX. Closing: How can we work to Save the YWCA Building Garlen Capita, GUCDC
When Germantown United Community Development Corp. launched two years ago, the organization’s officers and board members knew it would take time for residents to not only embrace, but also have faith in its mission to improve the neighborhood’s trash…
It can happen. Over and over, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell stressed that simple, but important, phrase as he spoke Thursday night to a room filled with Germantown residents who desperately want to turn the neighborhood’s fortunes around. “Anything…
“The Big G: Gentrification in Germantown: How it works, and for whom?”
A blue-ribbon panel will be moderated by Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development for the City of Philadelphia. The panel includes:
Colvin W. Grannum, President & Chief Executive Officer Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation;
Betty Turner Co-Founder, President at Germantown Community Connection
Nora Lichtash, Executive Director Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP)
Steve Mullin, President and Principal of Econsult Solutions.
The Forum this year has expanded from past Forums to become an all-day event, in that there will be a morning panel discussion followed by four facilitated roundtable discussions in the afternoon. The roundtable discussions will permit community engagement in a conversation in order to promote awareness, solutions, and actions. Registration for the event starts at 8:30 am, and the panel discussion starts at 9:00am. After lunch, the workshops will be facilitated for an hour and a half, with report-outs to the general group beginning at 3 pm. Topics for the roundtable discussions are: Sustainable Development of Vacant Property, Commercial Corridor Economic Development, Preserving Housing Affordability, Human Capital and Building Community Capacity. The roundtable facilitators are Kimberlee Douglas, Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture Program, Philadelphia University; Robert Fleming, Associate Professor and Director MS in Sustainable Design Program, Philadelphia University; Ingrid R. Shepard, Founder and Executive Director, The One Less Foundation; and Garlen Capita, Senior Urban Designer / Associate, Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC; and Nora Lichtash, Executive Director, WCRP.
The event will wrap up at 4 pm.
In addition to the presentations and discussions, a Resource Fair, comprised of community organizations, will have tables set up for attendees to mingle among, network with and continue the conversation.
Our Third Annual Community Forum is Free and Open to the public but you mustregister as seating is limited.
For some Philadelphians, gentrification is a dirty word or — at the very least — an eyebrow raiser.
As they watch their namesake neighborhood creep towards becoming a “choice” spot for newcomers, the folks over at Germantown United CDC decided they want to help prepare residents for change.
Event specifics
On Saturday, GUCDC will host a free, all-day community forum on gentrification inside Mastery Charter’s Pickett Campus, 5700 Wayne Ave.
“The Big G” will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s the elephant in the room,” said board member Yvonne Haskins of gentrification. “It’s something that we need to talk about and figure out if there are ways to manage it.”
Preserving affordability and protecting homeowners and renters from potential bumps in real-estate prices will be a major focus of the forum.
The speakers
Weighing in on those topics and more will be Colvin W. Grannum (president and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation), Nora Lichtash, (executive director of the Women’s Community Revitalization Project), Steve Mullin(president of Consult Solutions) and Betty Turner (co-founder of Germantown Community Connection).
In the morning, Alan Greenberger, the city’s deputy mayor for economic development, will moderate a roundtable “Meet the Press” style discussion.
After lunch, participants will break into four groups that will each tackle a different topic connected to gentrification with an eye on possible solutions. Each workshop will be led by one of the four panelists.
Financial literacy, affordable housing and the impact of the city’s new Land Bankwill be among the subjects up for debate.
Participants will end the day by coming together to hear about each workshop’s discoveries.
“We feel the winds of change from the energy that people are showing in their attention to all of these various projects in the community,” said Haskins. “Sooner or later, Germantown is going to be a choice neighborhood. It’s going to be a neighborhood that people want to live in more and more.”
STONE SOUP; a cross cultural folk tale about collaboration In the story, villagers learn that when everyone contributes just a little of what they have, a greater good is achieved for all.
Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) presents STONE SOUP SATURDAYS, a resident-driven series of beautification projects to be completed in 2014. GUCDC will award grants to Germantown artists, gardeners and creative citizens for the implementation of projects designed to beautify and enliven a handful of key locations. This program was made possible by a grant from the Samuel Fels Fund; grants of up to $1500 will be awarded. Priority will be given to projects that have the potential to foster community ownership and build a framework for future enhancements to take place at the project sites. The beautification project locations identified by GUCDC are:
• Unit block of West Rockland Street-vacant lot
• Unit block of West Haines Street (garden space on south side of Germantown Town Hall)
• The wall at the southwest corner of Chelten and Greene (Bus stop at Greene and Chelten, traveling southbound)
• 5722 Greene Street (parking lot entryway of the Germantown Life Enrichment Center)
GUCDC is looking for ideas with the potential to do the following:
• Create a catalyst for future beautification and development in the neighborhood
• Foster community ownership of public spaces and increase community pride
• Attract new businesses to move into vacancies
• Attract more shoppers to the area as to increase business revenue on the Avenue
Deadline for submission is June 7 2014. To request an application, or for questions, please contact GUCDC directly at [email protected]
Winning designs will be on display at GUCDC’s table at the Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2014.
If you were not able to attend our 2014 Community Forum on Gentrification, you can watch a Video with Opening Remarks by Garlen Capita, GU Board Chair Followed by the Keynote address by Colvin Grannum, Executive Director of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. We were happy to have Colvin return to this year’s community forum as Bedford Stuyvesant has experienced
Excerpt from Colvin Grannum:
“The only thing that is constant is change.” Heraclitus
By starting this conversation before Gentrification is underway we have the opportunity to institutionalize the “Arts and Culture” of Germantown before it gets diminished by new residents.
In Bed Stuy one way this was done was by “Glory in a Snapshot” a program that took historical photos and agree with new business owners such as “Super Foodtown” a grocery store to permanently display these blown up photos as decorative and informative Art.
Spike Lee in his “I’m gonna kill you now” infamous response to “Gentrification being a good thing” was speaking about culture unique to place being taken out of a place when newcomers can’t relate because it’s not their own experience.
Steve Mullin stated that “Open Markets do what they do; Do we interfere with it?” and spoke of the 1896 “Separate but Equal” Supreme Court Ruling that no longer exists but it is seen in today’s schools by the tax base funding the schools and poorer neighborhoods have schools primarily composed of black students.
Steve Mullin stated “Duh” to the argument that Public Schools are what stops urban neighborhoods from being diverse and economically sustainable. He stated the solution to this lies not in the schools but in Encouraging the government to change policy to create a demand for employment and to not tax businesses that operate in the city so that those businesses move to first ring suburbs.
Nora Lichtash spoke of the need for inclusionary zoning and how at WCRP she figured out the 1 of every 4 pieces of land in her jurisdiction was vacant or abandoned. By utilizing a “Listening Project” she worked with 325 residences to create the idea of a Community Land Trust. This Trust was the idea of taking any publically owned land revitalizing it with new homes that could be purchased by citizens but at time of sale the community gets it back in order to sell it again at an affordable price. The Mayor signed the Land Bank Bill and it is in effect today.
This Land Bank Idea gives GUCDC the example that if one plans ahead they can ultilize public owned property to meet the needs of the community rather than developers “driving the open market”. Three prime commercial buildings that could impact the community and institutionalize the “Arts and Culture” we want to instill in the community are YMCA, Germantown High School, and Town Hall.
Betty Turner, a long time Germantown resident, spoke of the ebbs and flows of Germantown and how she lived in Germantown when it was a thriving clean, active community in the 50s and how she stayed through the bad times and wants to be able stay once it gets revitalized and not get pushed out.
One Community member who is new to the GU board stated in one workshop group, “Don’t Move; Improve.”
Allan Greenberger made an anecdotal example about how government work by talking about how the Streets Department has a limited yearly budget for the city and how this year they are spending 70% of it redoing the corner ADA accessible ramps to meet new standards and applications. He said that even though only a small percentage of the population will be affected by these changes they have the loudest voice so we are complying with their requests.
Meg Sowell, an attendee, stated that when she’s done work with Germantown there are so many loud and disparate voices that it’s hard to get things done because they’re no clear objective due to so many voices speaking at once. She stated that when she did work near LaSalle there was one group that she worked with that got a lot done in part because they used two “Americacore volunteers to do the legwork.” She stated that Germantown United needs to help touch citizens to come together to compromise and rally their voices to meet a few most important issues/wants by not working in silos but working together. She stated GU needs to get Ameriacore volunteers or the like, right away, to help better the independent RCOs to work better and rally together.
Community Meeting on the YWCA Building Thursday, January 22, 6:30pm, at First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), 6001 Germantown Avenue at High Street.
Germantown United CDC (“GU”) recently learned that the old YWCA building on Germantown Avenue, adjacent to Vernon Park, may be threatened with demolition.
Please join us and other community groups, including Germantown Community Connection, for a meeting at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown (“FUMCOG”) on January 22, 2015, 6:30pm, to hear about the threat to this significant historic centerpiece in Germantown’s “Town Center” and the proposal on the table that may save it.
Here’s what we know at this point:
The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (“PRA”) owns the Old YWCA after it foreclosed against Germantown Settlement four years ago. Last Fall (September 2014), the PRA put out a Request for Proposals for competitive bids from developers to purchase and rehabilitate the structure at 5820-24 Germantown Avenue. Given the historic nature and significance of the building, the RFP stated that the “City may be willing to subsidize masonry and structural improvements in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.” Following the release of the RFP, a site visit was led by the PRA for interested developers to have an opportunity to tour the building.The site is in a significant state of disrepair resulting from eight plus years of vacancy, two fires, and multiple acts of vandalism. Despite considerable developer interest initially, only one developer submitted a proposal to the PRA.
A proposal by Mission First Housing Group, to acquire and develop 50 one bedroom senior apartments for low and moderate income older adults (62 and older), was submitted. While Mission First Housing Group will work closely with Philly Office Retail and Center in the Park, Mission First will be the sole developer of the site. Seniors will have access to on-site programming provided by Center in the Park. Philly Office Retail owns the remainder of the block along Germantown Avenue, up to West Rittenhouse Street, and plans to construct market rate residential and commercial uses, concurrently with this project. Mission First proposes utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing similar to what was used for the Presser-Nugent properties on Johnson Street that served to save those buildings.
As Corridor Manager, GU feels obligated to convene a meeting of stakeholders to hear all the facts, to understand the existing proposal, and to create a community coalition to save the Old YWCA. At this point, the only proposal legitimately before the PRA, based on response to the competitive RFP process, is the one submitted by Mission First. GU supports a fair and open process that allows community voices to be heard without advocating for a specific proposal. Our goal is to save the YWCA from demolition and ensure that this Germantown gem is preserved and put to productive use. So, who is Mission First (we all know Center in the Park)? What is the proposal? Is this something our community should support? These questions – and any that you wish to raise – are welcome at the meeting on January 22nd 6:30pm at FUMCOG.
PLEASE HELP SAVE THIS SIGNIFICANT BUILDING FROM THE WRECKING BALL!!
PLEASE JOIN US TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE AS A COMMUNITY WHAT IS BEST FOR GERMANTOWN’S COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
Germantown residents didn’t seem to mind giving up several parking spaces for some unorthodox temporary arts and community installations which were part of an international event which came to the neighborhood on Friday.
Germantown’s 2012 PARK(ing) Day participants said that their stations, set up in metered parking spaces commandeered worldwide for the day-long event, attracted many curious passersby.
On the 300 block of W. Chelten Ave., the Germantown United Community Development Corporation rolled several giant triangular boards into two parking spaces.
Germantown Second Saturday Festival is Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Eat, Shop, Play, Learn & Experience Germantown! Presented by Historic Germantown & Germantown United CDC
Germantown, Philadelphia, PA – The Germantown Second Saturday Festival will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. The festival will take place along a one-block stretch of Germantown Avenue, between School House Lane and Coulter Street, and surround Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Avenue). Rain or shine. (Event rescheduled from previous date of May 13 due to weather.)
The community festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United Community Development Corporation, invites the public to experience Germantown. The festival celebrates the kick-off the Second Saturday series–when all 16 Historic Germantown sites are open monthly–and showcases the many thriving cultural, civic, and business attractions and activities that make Germantown an exciting place to live and visit.
Scenes from the 2016 Germantown Second Saturday Festival.
Performance
Throughout the day, musicians, poets, and creative performing artists will take to the main stage on Germantown Avenue.
The headlining performance by The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble will close out the event with an hour-long show. The troupe is sensational and electrifying, and features amazing stilt walkers, dancers, drummers, and ground masquerades with an exciting acrobatic performance. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble represents the beauty of African culture and is considered one of the best of its kind by scholars and African Djelis (historians).
Musical talent includes popular local artists: Danie Ocean Band, Jim and Andrew Dragoni, and many others. Germantown resident Yolanda Wisher, the City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate, will host the festivities.
Pictured: 1. Yolanda Wisher, City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate
(Photo by Jill Saull); 2. & 3. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble; 4. Jim Dragoni; 5. Twin Poets Nnamdi Chukwuocha & Albert Mills (Photo by Cylinda McCloud-Keal); 6. Wissahickon Dance School (Photo by Jill Saull).
Thank You to Our Amazing Lineup!
Yolanda Wisher, Host, City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate
Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, Headliner
Danie Ocean and Band (neo soul singer/songwriter)
Jim and Andrew Dragoni (guitar & percussion organ)
The Twin Poets (Nnamdi Chukwuocha & Albert Mills, Delaware’s Poet Laureate)
Wissahickon Dance Academy (dance performance)
Karen Smith and Friends (percussionist)
The Tia McNeil Band (R&B)
The Kama-Sahlor Group (hip/hop & modern inspirational dance)
Bria Jordan (youth poet)
And more!
Family Fun
The family-friendly Festival will also feature a Kid Zone with moon bounce, face painting, and many art-fueled interactive activities. The Germantown Artists Roundtable will invite festival-goers to create a work of art they can take home at the Imagination Station. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Techmobile will be on-site with books and lots of learning opportunities.
History
Visitors will learn about Historic Germantown’s 16 extraordinary historic houses, destinations, and museums, including Awbury Arboretum, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, Grumblethrope, and Wyck.
The two sites located within the festival grounds, the Germantown Historical Society and Deshler-Morris House (The Germantown Whitehouse), will be open for tours. At the Historical Society, visitors can view the Elephants on the Avenue Gallery Show featuring work by Sonia Sanchez, Barbara Bullock, Benjamin Volta, Yolanda Wisher, Diane Pieri, Ife Nii Owoo and local community members. Learn more at freedomsbackyard.com.
PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON lived here twice, to seek refuge from the 1793 Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia and as a summer retreat for the First Family in 1794. This National Park Service site also interprets over three centuries of Germantown history, the 1777 Battle of Germantown and former owners of this historic house, including the Morris family.
Eat + Shop
Over 25 vendors will participate in the Art & Craft Vendor Marketplace, coordinated by Germantown United CDC. Local eateries and visiting food trucks including Uptown BBQ Grill, Sweet Lavender, Hardy Funnel Cakes, and The Lunchbox will be serving up good eats. Attendees can also get to know many of Germantown’s civic and community organizations, including Friends of Vernon Park, Germantown Life Enrichment Center, and others.
This is the second year Germantown United CDC and Historic Germantown have partnered on the Festival to bring renewed attention and interest to a little-used neighborhood park and public space, and kick-off Historic Germantown’s monthly Second Saturday series.
The festival will be held rain or shine!
Festival Parking, Public Transit, and Road Closures
The festival is accessible by SEPTA. Bus Routes: 23 Bus, XH Bus; Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail: Germantown Station (150 E Chelten Ave). Visit http://www.septa.org for schedules.
Street parking is available near the festival grounds.
Limited free off-street parking is also available. Festival parking is permissible at the Citizens Bank Lot at 5500 Germantown Ave (enter from W School House Ln).
Road closures: Germantown Avenue between School House Lane & Coulter Street, and the unit block of E Church Lane will be closed to all traffic from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
About
Historic Germantown Historic Germantown is a partnership organization serving historic sites in Philadelphia’s Old German Township that works collaboratively to preserve its extraordinary historic assets, increase access, interpret them to the public and raise their visibility. Learn more at freedomsbackyard.com.
Germantown United CDC The mission of Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of the business corridors in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. Learn more athttp://germantownunitedcdc.org.
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Press Contacts
To request interviews and high-resolution photos, please contact:
Germantown United CDC is receives year-round support by:
Philly Office Retail, Post Brothers Apartments, Harvest Equities, Bracken Leadership, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Berkshire Hathahway-Lorretta Witt, Pik-A-Panel True Value Hardware, Germantown Friends School, David Hamme, and the Drumcliff Foundation. Thanks also to PNC Regional Foundation, Allen Hilles Fund, 1772 Foundation, Philadelphia Activities Fund, Wells Fargo Corporate Foundation, Key Bank, and City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
We regret to inform the Germantown community that our annual For the Love of Germantown celebration has been postponed. Fear not: the fundraising event will be rescheduled in 2020. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause and look forward to celebrating Germantown with you next year. We hope that you will grace the occasion with your presence (or sponsorship) when it is held, date to be announced.
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 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 >>
Germantown United CDC’s next Germantown Business Info Session, organized in partnership with The Business Center, will be held on Wednesday, July 19 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Germantown Life Enrichment Center, located at 5722 Greene Street (across from Vernon Park). Start your day with us! Refreshments will be provided.
Meeting Topic
How to Define Your Target Market
Who are your customers in Germantown? Learn about the consumers living and shopping in Germantown, and define the target market for your business.
SPEAKERS: Rojer Kern, Philadelphia Department of Commerce; and Meg Sowell, Real Estate Strategies, Inc.*
***Germantown United CDC has been working with Real Estate Strategies, Inc. (RES) to conduct a market study and develop a revitalization strategy for the Chelten Avenue commercial corridor in Germantown. The purpose and objectives of this study are to explore opportunities to strengthen and diversify the mix of commercial uses in the corridor, the potential to reuse vacant or underutilized properties, business and job attraction strategies, and available sources of funding to support recommended revitalization strategies. At the Business Info Session on July 19, Meg Sowell will speak about her findings thus far.
Who can attend?
Anyone who owns a local business, or is interested in opening a business in Germantown is welcome to attend. This program is FREE. To RSVP call Germantown United CDC at 215-856-4303 or email [email protected].
About the series
Germantown Business Info Sessions are held bi-monthly and feature invited speakers who give brief presentations about resources that can benefit local businesses, and updates on GUCDC’s work as it relates to the local business community. All sessions include time for attendees to network, ask questions, and talk with Germantown United CDC staff members.
GU’s Germantown Business Info Session series is made possible with support from First Niagara Foundation.
Germantown United CDC’s next Germantown Business Info Session, organized in partnership with The Business Center, will be held on Wednesday, September 20 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Germantown Life Enrichment Center, located at 5722 Greene Street (across from Vernon Park). Start your day with us! Refreshments will be provided.
Meeting Topic
Activate Your Storefront, and Use Marketing & Social Media to Increase Business
Learn about the storefront improvement program and resources available to Germantown businesses to make façade renovations, and get tips on representing your business online.
Who can attend?
Anyone who owns a local business, or is interested in opening a business in Germantown is welcome to attend. This program is FREE. To RSVP call Germantown United CDC at 215-856-4303 or email [email protected].
About the series
Germantown Business Info Sessions are held bi-monthly and feature invited speakers who give brief presentations about resources that can benefit local businesses, and updates on GUCDC’s work as it relates to the local business community. All sessions include time for attendees to network, ask questions, and talk with Germantown United CDC staff members.
GU’s Germantown Business Info Session series is made possible with support from First Niagara Foundation.
The 9th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup is set for Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rescheduled from April 9th)! This is a great way for you, your family, your friends and your neighbors to get involved and do your part to keep our City looking its best. Dedication like yours, along with the can-do attitude of thousands of volunteers all over the city, is exactly what we need to meet our goals.
and build a framework for future enhancements to take place at the project sites. The beautification project locations identified by GUCDC are:
