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Planning & Economic Development

  • December 20, 2024

Germantown Community Identity Project Announcement

DEC 2024 UPDATE: After gathering over 500 survey responses from neighbors and business owners, Germantown United CDC is thrilled to have kicked off the design process with Pixel Parlor! This initiative is the start of a bold journey to translate Germantown’s unique character into a vibrant and cohesive visual identity that honors our past and envisions a bright future. Designs are anticipated to be completed by early 2025, with street banners and other visual elements set to debut later in the year.

Germantown United CDC is thrilled to announce the launch of an innovative initiative aimed at translating the essence of Germantown into a dynamic, cohesive visual identity. Through the creation of new logos, color palettes, and taglines, we plan to harness the power of place to align vision and message and foster a sense of unity in the community. This project will bring the neighborhood together and connect Germantown’s commercial corridors through a visual identity that respects Germantown’s enduring character, and celebrates its rich history and promising future.

This initiative is specially crafted to uplift Germantown’s small business community. Our aim with this project is to not only spotlight the invaluable contributions of our local entrepreneurs but also to boost visibility and foot traffic to their establishments. By creating a vibrant and unified identity for Germantown, we aspire to enhance the local business landscape and improve the overall economic vitality of our community.

To make this project a reality, Germantown United CDC has partnered with Pixel Parlor, a creative agency known for its expertise in helping communities express their unique character. Pixel Parlor has a proven track record of collaborating with CDCs, local groups, businesses, and community organizations, assisting them in discovering and expressing the distinctive identity of their locations.

We’ll be working on this project throughout the fall and into the winter, and we invite you to be part of this exciting transformation. Read on for more project details.

Project Overview

PHASE 1: CAPTURING YOUR VOICE AND VISION
Our collaborative discovery and visioning process will lay the groundwork for this project. We’re kicking things off with a community survey. We aim to hear from a minimum of 500 residents, business owners, and neighborhood stakeholders.

To ensure that your perspectives guide this initiative, take the survey today. It will only take about 7-10 minutes to complete, and all responses are kept strictly confidential. For those who prefer paper surveys, printed copies are available at Germantown United CDC’s office, with additional distribution locations to be announced soon. Please call (215) 856-4303 to confirm availability.

Community Survey

We’re also exploring alternative outreach methods, including in-person surveys at community gatherings and high-traffic areas. We’re enlisting Community Connectors like you to help spread the word to your friends, family, and neighbors in Germantown. You can assist by sharing the survey link on social media, distributing flyers in your neighborhood, sharing it within your civic association email list, or including it in your church bulletin. If you’re interested in supporting our outreach efforts, please contact us, and we’ll provide all the necessary resources!

PHASE 2: CRAFTING OUR IDENTITY
A community identity is more than just symbols and logos. Our goal is to celebrate our community—the unique streetscapes, defining businesses, and the residents who contribute to its vibrant character, making it an exceptional place to call home.

Visual design elements celebrating Philadelphia’s East Falls, Chestnut Hill and Old City neighborhoods.

PHASE 3: STREET BANNERS
Imagine Germantown’s streets adorned with banners celebrating our neighborhood! During this phase, we’ll bring our design concepts to life and collaborate with expert partners for production. These banners will enhance Germantown’s visual landscape and are scheduled for installation in early 2024. While exact locations are yet to be determined, we’re considering Chelten Avenue, Germantown Avenue, Maplewood Mall, and sections of Wayne Avenue.

Banners promoting the Baltimore Avenue commercial corridor in West Philly, a project of University City District and the Baltimore Avenue Business Association. Learn more.
Define Germantown together. Take the survey.

PHASE 4: CELEBRATING LOCAL ARTISTRY
Germantown boasts an incredibly talented and creative community, and we’re excited to showcase their creativity as never before. We’ll be hosting a design competition for a series of Artist Banners and BigBelly Wraps (large trash compactors used by the city). Local artists are invited to infuse the new community identity into their designs.

Example of an artist designed BigBelly litter basket

GET INVOLVED
Throughout this journey, your voice remains invaluable. We encourage you to engage, participate in meetings, and share your feedback. Together, we’ll craft a community identity that reflects the energy, vibrancy, and aspirations that define Germantown.

Take the survey here. It should take around 7-10 minutes to complete. All responses will be confidential.

Community Survey
  • April 22, 2024

New Stop Signs and Crosswalks Installed on Lower Germantown Avenue

Exciting changes are happening on lower Germantown Avenue! If you’ve recently traveled along this stretch, you may have noticed the installation of new stop signs and crosswalks at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and W/E Penn Street. This is a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issues of speeding and accidents in the area, particularly between Coulter Street and Wister Street.

These enhancements prioritize the safety of our community and follow the successful addition of a stop sign at Queen Lane and Germantown Avenue. To further raise awareness about these changes, the Streets Department will bring a mobile trailer to alert drivers when it is available.

This monumental achievement is the result of years-long citizen-driven advocacy efforts in response to numerous car wrecks and multiple tragic pedestrian fatalities. Germantown United CDC’s storefront office, situated at this intersection, has been inquiring about this stretch for over five years. We extend a heartfelt shout-out to all the dedicated residents, business owners, and concerned pedestrians who passionately pushed for these crucial traffic safety measures. Your voice has a significant impact and is actively contributing to a safer and more secure community. A very loud and unrelenting chorus of advocates made this accomplishment possible. Go, Germantown!

If you’re in the area, please stop by our office (open Monday, Thursday, and Friday) to say hello and learn more about our ongoing efforts to improve the neighborhood.

  • August 16, 2023

Priorities for Germantown United CDC take shape

Repost from Flying Kite

Priorities for Germantown United CDC take shape, include business corridor and historic preservation

MARCH 6, 2012 | By ANDY SHARPE

Germantown is a neighborhood that is characterized by the remnants of its past colliding with the challenges of its present. It is definitely one of the most famous historic sections of Philly, right behind Old City in the eyes of many. Yet, this storied history comes with the backdrop of crime, poverty, trash, and neighborhood division on many blocks. This neighborhood division has been manifested by the corrupt Germantown Settlement, which was a social service and community development agency that ran out of money, and a tiff over retail development on Chelten Avenue. 

It’s why Germantown residents are even more motivated to redevelop and cultivate a sense of community. In fact, the Germantown United CDC (GUCDC) was formed toward the end of last year to reinstate transparency to the neighborhood. The CDC is currently in the process of selecting its Board, and serves the racially, economically, and religiously diverse area from Chew Ave. to the north, Wissahickon Ave. to the south, Wayne Junction Station to the east, and Johnson St. to the west. 

Photo Courtesy of Dana Scherer

John Churchville, the president of GUCDC, is passionate about making a difference. “I’d have to say that our first priority is to establish our trustworthiness as an organization in Germantown,” says a motivated Churchville. He says this means reaching out to local businesses, residents, civic associations, and developers. The president also detects a hardy sense of optimism among those who are interested in serving on GUCDC’s Board. 

Once GUCDC becomes more entrenched in the neighborhood, one of its priorities will be re-utilizing the historic Germantown Town Hall. Churchville says that the re-use of Town Hall will be a personal commitment of his. He wants to take advantage of the Civil War-era building’s location across from Germantown High School by turning it into a building of learning that will feature post-secondary level science, technology, and math and high-school level “green entrepreneur” training. The building is up for sale by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). 

Another GUCDC priority will be to clean up the Chelten and Germantown Ave business corridors. The corridors form perpendicular Main Streets feature a diverse selection of small businesses, but are pockmarked by trash and other quality-of-life problems. The CDC has already held clean-ups along Chelten, and has proven its intimate concern with the avenue since its days speaking out against the new shopping center at Chelten and Pulaski. 

It’s not hard to guess that GUCDC sees Germantown’s history playing a vital role in the area’s future. Barbara Hogue, the executive director at Historic Germantown, is hoping to assist in this effort. She says her organization has submitted a grant application to the Pew Charitable Trust for “the interpretation of the enduring search for freedom in Germantown.” If they receive the grant, Hogue foresees Historic Germantown working setting up pop-up exhibits at vacant storefronts and organizing lectures at local coffee shops in an event commemorating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

GUCDC held a forum last week to examine CDC best practices in Philadelphia and New York and strategize ways to make a community like Germantown more livable. The forum was keynoted by Colvin Grannum, president of Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. Other speakers were Econsult economist Steve Mullin, Rick Sauer with the Philadelphia Association of Economic Development Corporations, Historic Germantown’s Hogue, Sandy Salzman at New Kensington CDC, and Andy Frishkoff with Local Initiatives Support Corporation. 

Sources: John Churchville, Germantown United CDC and Barbara Hogue, Historic Germantown 

Permalink: https://www.flyingkitemedia.com/devnews/GUCDC3612.aspx

  • August 16, 2023

Development News: Community Meeting with Developer of Germantown High & Fulton School Campuses May 6

Join the Germantown and Fulton Campus Coalition for an update on the future of the former Germantown High School and Fulton Elementary School buildings. The property owner is CONFIRMED to be in attendance and will present about the redevelopment project. Attend the meeting to get accurate information, learn how you can participate, and have a say in what happens here. We, the Coalition, recognize this is VERY short notice but were not given much choice. Please spread the word.

Meeting Date: Monday, May 6, 6pm – 8pm
Location: 47 E Haines Street, Janes Memorial United Methodist Church

Meeting Agenda:

  1. Hear from the owner of the school buildings.
  2. Get to know the development team.
  3. Ask questions. Get answers. Clear the air.
  4. Hear from representatives of the Germantown and Fulton Campus Coalition and learn about the next steps for the community.

Stay informed.
Sign up to receive email announcements and news about the redevelopment of the former Germantown High School and Fulton Elementary School campuses. Register: bit.ly/ghsfultonupdates

This meeting is hosted by Germantown and Fulton Campus Coalition – A coalition with representatives from 25+ faith-based, community, and civic organizations.

More on this important development

What about the Sheriff’s Sale?
Regarding the previously announced Sheriff’s Sale of some of the parcels that make up the school campuses, our understanding is that the sale has been postponed. We expect to learn more about this at the May 6 meeting. Listings are searchable on this web app.

The parcels that were listed for the May 15, 2019 Sheriff’s Sale are:
5915-41 GERMANTOWN AVE, 19144
61-71 E HAINES ST, 19144
60-86 E HAINES ST, 19144

This parcel listed for the June 19, 2019 sale is:
56-58 E HAINES ST, 19144

Recent news about this issue

Development timeline (last updated Feb. 26) 

A comprehensive timeline and update on the proposed redevelopment project is available at germantownunitedcdc.org. For those who may not be aware of the recent news, or history of the properties, this will help bring you up to speed. Access additional images, learn about the school closures, and community engagement thus far.

  • August 16, 2023

Development News: Germantown YWCA Community Meeting May 8

Councilwoman Cindy Bass will be hosting a community meeting with KBK Enterprises, the developer working on the Germantown YWCA (5820 Germantown Ave) project, which was first announced in 2016. This meeting will include a status update on the project and presentation of plans for the historic building, which sits adjacent to Vernon Park.

Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 8, 6pm – 8pm
Location: 6153 Germantown Ave at New Bethel African Methodist Church

Past news about this project:

  • August 16, 2023

Response to Proposed Redevelopment of the Former Germantown High School and Fulton Elementary School Buildings

In my capacity as Board President of Germantown United Community Development Corporation, I have prepared this overview about the proposed redevelopment of the former Germantown High School and Robert Fulton Elementary School properties. For those who may not be aware of the history, this will help bring you up to speed.

In January 2019, a real estate listing surfaced promoting development of Germantown High School by a firm called MSC Realty. The listing depicted a suburban-style shopping center surrounded by parking lots on what is now the lawn of the high school property, fronting Germantown Avenue.

The upcoming meeting that Councilwoman Cindy Bass is coordinating about this development will be an important opportunity for the community to share our thoughts about the project with the developer (meeting date to be announced). It is necessary that we, as a community, attend this meeting as prepared as possible, and with some shared vision for the space. If individuals would find a pre-meeting helpful, I’d be happy to coordinate that.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

2013

  • Germantown High School (GHS) opened its doors in the fall of 1914, built out of the community’s desire to have their own high school. Previously students had to travel across the city to go to high school, as they do today. The community itself pledged to raise $500,000 of the needed funds when the Philadelphia School District refused to do so.
  • GHS and Fulton Elementary School were selected for closure by Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) in the Spring of 2013 due to declining enrollment and lack of agency of the community.
  • While the Germantown High School Alumni Association and others put up a valiant effort to fight the closure they were ignored, and the school officially shut its doors in June of 2013.
Vera Primus, head of the alumni association. Photo via Germantown Beat.
  • An interesting footnote: one of the reasons given for the closure was that our students would receive a higher quality education elsewhere. I’ve been tracking test scores at the two feeder schools our students were sent to (Martin Luther King and Roxborough) and they remain consistently poor.

Suggested reading:
School Reform Commission votes to close 23 Philadelphia schools, sparking anger and despair for students, parents, teachers
Teachers, students and neighbors mourn the loss of Germantown’s Fulton Elementary School
On the scene for the last day of Germantown High School’s life (1914-2013)

THE BUILDING SALES 

2013-2017

  • In 2013, the school district closed 23 total schools and partnered with Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) to coordinate the sale of the properties. Because some properties were more attractive to private developers than others, PIDC bundled school buildings to sell off as package deals. In the offering, PIDC’s suggested sales price of GHS and Fulton was $4.55 million.
  • In September of 2014 GHS and Fulton were approved to be sold to the Maryland-based Concordia Group. Other schools in the portfolio included Charles Carroll High School in Port Richmond and Walter G. Smith and Abigail Vare Elementaries in South Philadelphia.
  • After closing their doors in 2013, the future of both Germantown school buildings remained in limbo. The sale was stalled because of a lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court by a grassroots community group in Point Breeze who opposed the closure of Smith. Because the school buildings were packaged in bundles, redevelopment of all the properties included in the sale came to a halt, while communities simultaneously grappled with the loss of their schools and effects of large vacant buildings (abandoned structures affect crime, property values and public health).
  • In March of 2017 a judge ruled that the sale should go through.
  • Though the suggested sales price of GHS and Fulton was $4.55 million, court documents show that Concordia bought Germantown High School for just $100,000 and Fulton for $500,000: “As an accommodation to [Concordia], and for purposes of consideration recited in each of the deeds (and for transfer tax purposes), the [District] acknowledges that [Concordia], for its purposes has allocated the Purchase Price amongst [the Properties] as follows: Property Allocated Purchase Price [Carroll] $700,000.00 [Fulton] $500,000.00 [Germantown] $100,000.00 [Smith] $3,100,000.00 [Vare] $2,400,000.00.”

More info:
SRC approves Germantown High School sale to Md. developers
Point Breeze activists feel blindsided by loss of prize charter
School District appeals decision blocking sale of five buildings to developer
Pa. court orders judge to OK controversial $6.8M sale of 5 closed Philly schools

CONCORDIA BACKS OUT

2017

  • Though Concordia first floated the idea of turning some of the buildings into apartments, it seems that the lengthy lawsuit and protests were enough to convince Concordia to cancel plans. It is believed the company flipped the two Germantown properties to a local developer named Jack Azran. I personally know of two individuals who have met with Azran regarding the properties, though clarity is needed as to who the owner is (in part due to dated online property records). Note here that no property taxes have been paid on either property since they were sold.
  • There is little information about Azran on the web although this article about a property in Old City is a helpful read (and red flag, perhaps). In 2017, Azran and his partner Eli Alon were Grand Jury Award Winners at the 2017 Preservation Achievement Award Winners for the redevelopment of of 135-137 N. 3rd Street (positive outcome).
  • And the other schools? Concordia sold Smith in Point Breeze and Vare in Pennsport to controversial developer Ori Feibush. High Top Real Estate & Development is redeveloping Carroll in Port Richmond

More info:
School sites sell after legal tussle, with Feibush to develop Smith Elementary building

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

2018 – TODAY

  • In January 2019, a real estate listing surfaced promoting development of the lawn of the high school property, fronting Germantown Avenue, by a firm called MSC Realty. The listing depicted a suburban-style shopping center surrounded by parking lots.
  • The Germantown community got wind about the proposed plans after the listing was shared on neighborhood Facebook groups, sparking much discussion.
  • In an email exchange with MSC, they indicated they are the brokers for the owner and are not involved in the design or build. The listing appears to have been removed from the MSC Realty website, as of this posting. The images below are from a brochure from MSC (download PDF) which show what the full listing promoted.
Download PDF of brochure published by MSC Realty
  • The above proposal presented by MSC Realty is very different from the vision promoted by the City’s Philadelphia 2035 plan seen below, which was created with community input.
Download PDF of this section from the Upper Northwest District Plan
  • The above vision included in the Upper Northwest District Plan, adopted in October 2018, incorporates elements identified by stakeholders as desired assets in the neighborhood – retaining the historic auditorium and gymnasium for public use, with a mix of residential, educational, and live/work space filling the balance of the complex, with an open front promenade.
  • If you are not familiar, Philadelphia 2035 is the comprehensive plan for managing growth and development in the City of Philadelphia. The staff of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission creates the plans through a well-informed and open process that includes outreach to citizens, business associations, institutions and other city agencies. The Commission itself then adopts the Plan. Once adopted, government agencies, elected officials, and community partners put the plan into action. View the full Upper Northwest District Plan here, which covers Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill.
  • In late January of 2019, I received a call from the legal representatives of the owner who assured me the owner was interested in engaging with the community after the site design was finished. I urged him to meet with the community first as the community has put a lot of thought into development ideas for the property. He informed me that Jack Azran is not forward facing on this project (why he never returned any of the emails I sent him over the years) but that High Top Real Estate & Development is taking the lead. High Top are also the developers who control the property at 156 W School House Lane that is seeking a variance for three apartment buildings, and the developers of Carroll in Port Richmond, which was part of the bundled sale.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SINCE CLOSURE

  • Immediately following the 2013 closure of the school a meeting was convened at Janes Memorial United Methodist Church to discuss ideas for re-use. Many ideas were discussed including senior and/or affordable housing, artist space, co-working and educational space.
  • The Alumni Association along with a group of individuals and representatives from Germantown-wide organizations began meeting around the idea of re-installing a school. This group also included architects. Kim Douglas, a Landscape Architecture Professor at Philadelphia University had adopted the school property to teach a field course creating adaptive re-uses for the school.
  • In November 2014 the coalition submitted an application to open a charter high school in the building focused on the building trades, historic preservation, and the hospitality industry. View the group’s presentation to the SRC.
  • The application was rejected for political reasons but there is still interest in reestablishing a neighborhood high school.
Supporters of Germantown Community Charter School attend a meeting of the School Reform Commission. Photo from Facebook.

More info:
Germantown Community Charter School presents to SRC
What’s next for germantown high school?
The Death of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

NEXT STEPS

In accordance with our mission, vision, and values, Germantown United CDC will remain vigilant in following the development of these and other large vacant properties in Germantown. Councilwoman Bass is finalizing a March date for the community meeting with the developer, stay tuned for date. Until then, if there is interest in a pre-meeting to share ideas, please let us know.

Yours for Germantown,

Julie Stapleton Carroll
Board President
Germantown United CDC
[email protected]

  • August 16, 2023

CliffsNotes: An Overview of GU’s Five-Year Plan

Germantown United CDC released the organization’s five-year strategic plan in September 2018. This new plan will help prioritize and advance our work in Germantown now through the year 2023.

We encourage all our partners, neighborhood advocates, and community stakeholders to give the full plan a looksee. We also know 36 pages is a lot to take in 🙂 So if you’re looking for a quick overview of what’s changed, read on!

Biggest Update: Expanding Our Mission

GU has expanded its focus on commercial corridor revitalization and role representing businesses to representing the entire Germantown community. We are increasing our investment in community building, outreach and engagement. The issues prompting this shift are documented in the full plan. The organization’s mission statement now reads:

To promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown and its business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development.

OUR MISSION
Recommitment to Core Values

Core values are the fundamental beliefs of an organization, and help us to determine if we are on the right path and fulfilling our mission by creating an unwavering guide.

GU subscribes to the following core values:

  • Integrity in the performance of service to our community
  • Transparency in communicating with our clients, customers, and constituents
  • Accountability in our stewardship of resources entrusted to GU by funders and stakeholders
GU board members Umi Howard and Guthrie Ramsey talk at ‘For the Love of Germantown’ FUNdraiser 2018 (photo: Jill Saull)
New Activities to Look Out For

A key part of the planning process was identifying opportunities to enhance programming and activities, service delivery, outcomes, and impact. Here are a few things to look out for from Germantown United CDC in the coming years:

More Convening & Civic Engagement

  • Expanded reach into underserved areas of Germantown
  • Facilitation of more community and public service meetings, allowing community members to share concerns, opinions, and ideas while giving GU a platform to be fully transparent about program results, strategies, issues, opportunities, and any other information that may be relevant to the people we serve

Stronger Leadership & Advocacy

GU will exercise more leadership in:

  • Land use, planning, and zoning
  • Redeveloping vacant properties
  • Supporting and attracting investors committed to equitable development
  • Strengthening working relationships with state and city agencies

Improvements You Can See

  • Cohesive branding of Germantown’s commercial corridors, and promotion of the community more broadly
  • Boost Germantown’s commercial corridors with a renewed focus on:
    • Improving city services within Germantown, with special attention to issues that impact quality-of-life, including lighting, sanitation, signage, and human services
    • Physical improvements and development (including use of façade design guidelines to encourage renovations of commercial and key historic buildings, and attacking blight block-by-block)
    • Small business development and attraction
    • Economic development (supporting business growth, workforce development, entrepreneurs)
  • Greater investment in neighborhood stabilization efforts and community wealth-building (promotion and facilitation of affordable housing and homeownership in Germantown, housing counseling services for residents, supporting entrepreneurs and neighborhood-oriented businesses)
Read the plan
Rose Petals Cafe & Lounge – 322 W Chelten Ave (photo: Monique Brand)
Draft designs for 5026-28 Germantown Avenue, created with support from the Community Design Collaborative and Germantown United CDC
Artists Emily Birdie Busch and Alison Dilworth work on a new storefront window display at Bargain Thrift Center – 5261 Germantown Ave., supported by a GU micro-grant. (photo: Emaleigh Doley)
  • August 16, 2023

Germantown United CDC Announces Organizational Strategic Plan

Germantown United CDC released the organization’s five-year strategic plan in September 2018. This new plan will serve as a roadmap and tool for assessing progress, and will help prioritize and advance the organization’s work in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood now through the year 2023.

The year-long planning process helped Germantown United CDC’s leadership to step back and examine where we are, where we want to go, and how to get there.

We have sharpened the organization’s mission, assessed program activities, and looked for opportunities to enhance our community and economic development work.

The planning process was led by V. Lamar Wilson Associates, a private consulting firm specializing in community development contracted to examine GU’s program operations, and solicit different points of view and critiques of the organization—internal and external. This comprehensive process was made possible by the generous support of The Philadelphia Foundation.

View/download the full plan here.

For a quick overview of what’s changed, click here.

  • August 16, 2023

Speak Up, Speak Out for Germantown at District Plan Meeting January 8th

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 meeting will 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.

Download a flyer to share with your neighbors >>

Can’t make it to the public meeting? Visit the Upper Northwest District page to participate online.

About the district

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.

  • August 16, 2023

RES to complete Chelten Avenue Commercial Corridor Market Study and Revitalization Strategy

res-logo_9-24Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) has retained Real Estate Strategies, Inc. (RES) to conduct a market study and develop a revitalization strategy for the Chelten Avenue commercial corridor in Germantown. GUCDC is actively working to bolster and reinforce the vibrancy of Chelten Avenue to meet the needs of the surrounding community, attract visitors from outside the immediate neighborhood, and provide employment opportunities for neighborhood residents. Building on these efforts, 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.

GUCDC_Corridor_0057_Monique_Brand copy

RES provides advisory services in real estate and economic development and has extensive experience in preparing market analyses and developing revitalization strategies for commercial corridors and neighborhoods in Philadelphia and throughout the greater mid-Atlantic region. Additionally, RES principals have over 25 years of experience working on development plans and initiatives in the Germantown neighborhood. Careful market research underpins all RES engagements, with the understanding that the best business attraction and economic development strategies begin with a realistic understanding of market dynamics.

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 at www.germantownunitedcdc.org.