Regionalism : Development News

After going on the market just four months ago, The Commonwealth luxury apartments at 12th and Chestnut Streets are rapidly being leased. In fact, three quarters of the apartments have now been signed for. This is despite its location on a stretch of Chestnut St that is known for abandoned storefronts, discount retail, and a constant feeling of being in the shadow of Walnut Street. Just a couple of weeks ago, a building smoldered at 12th and Chestnut.

Undeterred, SSH Realty is proud of what's been done with the old Commonwealth Title and Trust Building, which was built at the intersection of 12th St. in 1902. Carol Sano, the Senior Vice President of SSH's residential division, is in charge of the leasing push at the Commonwealth. She says the age of the building is a great thing for residents, since the "physical construction lends to what people call a quiet building." Sano says the building retains its old marble structure, which is useful to dull noise in an area that hears the din of ambulances heading to Jefferson Hospital.

One walk inside an apartment, and it's clear that luxury is not dead on Chestnut St. Apartments feature granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, capacious rooms, double paned windows, and hardwood floors. The lobby has an art deco theme, and denizens can use a state-of-the-art fitness facility. For the peace-of-mind of residents, there is a security guard stationed in the lobby 24 hours a day.

The Commonwealth is 15 stories tall, and features apartments that range in size from 524 to 1,065 feet. There are a mixture of one and two-bedroom and one and two-bathroom apartments. Despite what some people think about Chestnut St., Sano points to convenience and location as the Commonwealth's two greatest attributes. She boasts that the apartments are in close walking distance to Jefferson Hospital, universities, and SEPTA's Market East Station. In addition, Sano points to the Avenue of the Arts, bistros, and "funky boutiques" as also being within convenient ambling distance.

While the luxurious features and convenient location of The Commonwealth are two perks, Sano says the community within is what makes it such a nice place to live. Residents hail from across the country and throughout the world, and consist of medical students at Jefferson and young professionals who work in nearby office buildings. A recent trip to The Commonwealth found a nice camaraderie between residents, their dogs, building security, and management.

Source: Carol Sano, SSH Realty
Writer: Andy Sharpe

The Bucks County Children’s Museum opens a new world of whimsy for kids in New Hope this week. The museum was created to give children ages 8 and under an interactive space to explore the culture and history of Bucks County. It is the first youth-themed museum in Bucks County, and one of few in the Philadelphia-area. The opening marks a re-birth for the space that used to house the New Hope branch of the James A. Michener Art Museum.

The museum has a motley assortment of interactive exhibits, all intended to teach young children about Bucks County. One such exhibit is a “replica of a vintage Bucks County train,” where young kids can pretend to “serve (food) in the gallery kitchen,” exclaims Mandee Kuenzle, communications director at the museum. Sticking with transportation, the museum also allows visitors to walk through a 12-foot long replica of a Bucks County covered bridge. Kids can also take advantage of a locally themed archeological dig space, a tree house with science lessons, and a spot to build and race K’nex cars.

Kuenzle vows that local teachers had a sizable role in the creation of each exhibit. Earlier this year, a group of 20 Bucks County teachers took their own field trip to the museum to create curriculum germane to young children. These educators represented some of the biggest school districts in the county, including Central Bucks, Council Rock, New Hope-Solebury, and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. Kuenzle is quick to add that the assistant superintendent for elementary education at the populous Central Bucks School District serves on the museum’s Board of Directors.

Children should now have more of a place to call home in artsy New Hope, thanks to the museum. Kuenzle cited New Hope’s vibrant arts and culture scene as one reason why the museum decided to hold class in the borough. Kuenzle also expressed a desire to tap into New Hope’s tourist culture, making it clear that her exhibits aren’t merely open for local youth. Other children’s themed activities in and near New Hope, such as the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad and Peddler’s Village should also jive well. New Hope is an interesting location, as it is not centrally located in the county, and is actually closer to parts of New Jersey than some corners of Bucks. 

It is remarkable that the children’s museum is able to open such a comprehensive set of displays in the middle of a recession. Both private citizens and corporate sponsors played a big role in financing. The automotive giant Subaru and Teva Pharmaceuticals both sponsored, while the Bucks/Montgomery Counties chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry donated a whole exhibit. Finally, K’nex gave a large donation towards their exhibit.  

Source: Mandee Kuenzle
Writer: Andy Sharpe

While the stagnant economy is hurting sales in many industries, it is likely contributing to a bonanza in multifamily building sales in the Philadelphia area this year. In fact, hopeful landlords seem to be gobbling up buildings to rent them as apartments or sell them as condominiums. This is evident both in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

According to Christine Espenshade, senior vice president for capital markets at Jones Lang LaSalle Realty, 2011 multifamily sales have already set a record in the Delaware Valley, with a couple of months left in the year. Espenshade reports that sales have already hit $410 million. Yet, with two months remaining in the year, she predicts sales will touch $500 million. Compared to these figures, the $150 million in multifamily sales in 2010 seems downright paltry.

There are a number of explanations for this explosion in multifamily sales. Espenshade cites a durable growth of rent in the Philadelphia-area, a glut of new supply of apartments and condos, and an educated buyer’s market. Additionally, “With the availability of financing to purchase assets through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, investors can borrow sufficient capital for good, long term investments,” says the senior vice president. Finally, one of the more sobering explanations is that more Philadelphians are renting because they can no longer afford to own a house.

Philadelphia’s recent uptick in population bodes well for multifamily sales in the city. Espenshade confirms that a growing number of people are looking to rent apartments or purchase condos in the city because of its retail scene, colleges and universities, and varied employment market. However, this exponential growth isn’t limited to the city. Interestingly, Jones Lang LaSalle says there have more multifamily purchases in the suburbs. A possible reason for this is the sheer size of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Camden and Wilmington.

The forecast for multifamily sales remains strong for 2012. Espenshade says rents will continue to rise next year, which should make multifamily investing more profitable. She also sees both private and institutional entities rushing to become involved in the multifamily market next year, which would be a repeat of this year. Most importantly, without any strong signs of economic improvement next year, more and more people likely won’t be able to afford to buy their own home.

Source: Christine Espenshade, Jones Lang LaSalle
Writer: Andy Sharpe

Artwork and firefighting certainly seem like odd bedfellows. That hasn't stopped Philadelphia's Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, along with the city fire department and other agencies, from striving to meld the two. This is evident in Tacony, where Suikang Zhao was recently chosen to design an art installation at the new Engine 38 fire station and community center.

The art installation will reflect Tacony's history and firefighting heritage. Margot Berg, a public art director in the Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, lists a number of elements that Zhao is expected to include. Among these works are two-dimensional bronze displays of antique fire engines, a historic fire alarm, representations of some of Tacony's most distinct buildings, and models of Tacony saw blades. The latter is paying homage to the Disston Saw Works, which at one time was the world's largest saw blade manufacturer, located in Tacony.

Zhao is an acclaimed artist whose work is recognized worldwide. "He has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, and has public art commissions in Phoenix and San Diego, among other cities," gleams Berg. Zhao's work, which ranges from sculptures, to paintings, to mobile image and sound installations, has also been featured in the New York Times.

Berg points out that this display is part of Philadelphia's "Percent for Art" program, which mandates that at least one percent of a city-financed project's budget go toward public art. What's so unique about this pubic project is that new firehouses don't often get built in the city.

The recollection and teaching of history is one of the overarching goals of this art installation. "The artwork will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the history of Tacony and of fire fighting, and to see a reflection of their history and community in the Engine 38 site," says the art director. Not surprisingly, the Tacony Historical Society was instrumental in deciding what kind of art would be featured.

Engine 38 is being rebuilt after it was displaced due to the I-95 reconstruction. The firehouse and community center combination will be a LEED-certified building in a neighborhood that doesn't have very many of those. There is still a while before Zhao's art is expected to be completed, as the Office of Arts is projecting completion by autumn, 2012.

Source: Margot Berg, Philadelphia's Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy
Writer: Andy Sharpe

If you're jonesing for a hamburger, you may soon have a new fix nearby. Jake's Wayback Burgers, which started in 1991 as a few ultra-popular burger shacks in Northern Delaware, recently opened locations in Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and plans to open its first location in Philadelphia soon.

These locations include Northeast Philadelphia, West Chester, and Chadds Ford. Northeast Philadelphia will be the business' first foray into the city, and will be located at Welsh Rd. and Roosevelt Boulevard. According to Jake's the target opening for the Northeast location will be in two to three weeks.

Jake's Burgers has been a staple in New Castle County, Delaware, consistently garnering local awards. As Gillian Maffeo, the marketing director at Jake's, puts it, the restaurant has a "cult following" in the First State. The original location in Newark hasn't changed very much, as it still has just four tables inside, picnic tables outside, and the original hand-made burgers and milkshakes. These burgers and milkshakes have attracted the accolades of Delawareans, as they have repeatedly been voted the "best burger" and  "best milkshake" in the state by Delaware Today and Delaware News Journal readers. This is despite stiff competition from another old-fashioned burger joint, The Charcoal Pit.  

The restaurant is currently flipping burgers in Wayne, Willow Grove, Springfield (Delaware County), Exton, Kennett Square, and Pottstown. Some of these locations have only been open a few months, while others have been open for a couple of years. With this in mind, there are a number of locations that will be opening in the coming months.

Maffeo is most enthusiastic about the role Jake's plays in the surrounding communities. Individual restaurants do everything from "fundraising events to cancer and diabetes walks," said Maffeo. The marketing director added that some Jake's locations will be serving turkey burger dinners at local homeless shelters for Thanksgiving. She was also especially proud of the diabetes walk that employees at the Exton location participated in.

To emphasize the popularity of Jake's burgers and milkshakes, the restaurant has begun to feature a "burger of the month" and a "milkshake of the month." While hamburgers and milkshakes will always be Jake's most notable offerings, the restaurant has expanded its menu beyond just those. The burger joint now sells all-beef hotdogs, turkey burgers, various sandwiches, and salads.

Source: Gillian Maffeo, Jake's Wayback Burgers
Writer: Andy Sharpe

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is planning to conduct a blight recertification of the Germantown Avenue corridor between 2nd and Oxford Streets in South Kensington, but not everybody is thrilled about it. One group that is skeptical of the recertification is the Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Counsel, which composed a “letter of non-support” to the Planning Commission.

The NAC is especially concerned that the blight declaration will enable developers to ignore community input and act heavy-handedly. One of the community group’s greatest fears is that this could lead the way to eminent domain. “The American Street Empowerment Zone in its heyday used blight recertification to enact eminent domain,” mentioned Erika Tapp, the director of the Kensington South NAC.

The Counsel is also rankled that two historically significant buildings were not included in the recertification. One factory is the Pieri Factory, which manufactured lamps from the intersection of Front and Oxford Streets. The other building is the Gretz Brewery at the corner of Germantown Avenue and Oxford Street. Tapp is especially enamored of the latter, calling it a “really cool older building.” Also, the neighborhood group frets about unforeseen consequences for community gardens, which are a source of pride for South Kensington.

Yet, the City Planning Commission counters that blight recertification is necessary to encourage development around the corridor. At last month’s planning commission meeting, planner David Fecteau bemoaned that 43 percent of the properties in the affected area are vacant.

Tapp said that Fecteau has done a good job of discussing the recertification with her group. She said he made it clear that the review process for blight recertification would be much stricter and firmer than previous ones, including the American Street Empowerment Zone.

Despite the efforts of the City Planning Commission to assuage neighborhood concerns, Tapp summed up why so many residents are skeptical about the blight recertification. “It’s a mistrust of the political system,” relayed Tapp.

Unfortunately, people in this community have seen similar situations in the past, and are not happy with how they turned out.

Source: Erika Tapp, South Kensington Neighborhood Advisory Counsel
Writer: Andy Sharpe

It's a park that fits in a pickup truck. Philadelphia's newest public space initiative, The Parklet, made its debut on Aug. 4 in University City. Flanking the sidewalk on 43rd Street at Baltimore Avenue, the 40-foot long decked platform functions as a highly flexible seating area that takes the place of about three parked cars. The seasonal structure, made of Trex, steel and wood, can be disassembled into its 4'x6' component parts and loaded into the back of a University City District truck.

"West Philadelphia in general is open to innovation and new ideas," remarked State Representative James Roebuck, on hand for the dedication. The Parklet experiment is slated to continue, with three more planned in spaces to be determined. According to designer Jules Dingle of the Center City firm DIGSAU, the next one will be on Lancaster Avenue, but the others have not yet been sited.

The intersection of 43rd and Baltimore is heavy with pedestrian traffic, thanks to Clark Park. The popular Green Line Cafe, with its own outdoor seating, is at the same southeast corner as the Parklet, and  the new seating appears to be an extension of the cafe, but officials were quick to point out that the Parklet is open to the public. "It really is a front porch in many ways," said Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler. The design quotes elements of the new Race Street Pier, added Prema Katari Gupta, UCD Director of Planning and Economic Development. The Parklet idea originated in San Francisco and New York, and UCD put a Philadelphia spin on an imported idea, according to Gupta.

At a cost of $10,000 in materials and a design fee that adds about 10 percent to the total, the Parklet is a quick and easy way to create convivial space. Designer Dingle explained that while the configuration of the present parklet is meant for cafe tables and chairs, potential add-ons include bike racks and fixed tables and benches, which may figure in to future versions.

Source: James Roebuck, Rina Cutler, Prema Katari Gupta, Jules Dingle, UC Parklet
Writer: Sue Spolan

PHOTOS by Ryan Collerd

Consider it crowdsourced city planning. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation's Master Plan is open for public comment until August 26. Since June 13, when the summary report was released, Master Planning Manager Sarah Thorpe says about a hundred comments have come in, and the entire effort has been a significant public process. "Urban planning has changed a lot over last 30 years," says Thorpe. "Today, people are very interested in how the environment develops. We are addressing different problems and a different demographic."

Essential to the new master plan is access. It's not your 18th century waterfront model. When I-95 was built, the Philadelphia stretch of the Delaware river was an aesthetically bereft industrial zone best left to longshoremen. Interstate 95 is a huge barrier, says Thorpe of the 1960s era public works project that was once considered a beneficial rampart. "People didn't want to live next to a sugar factory or a coal yard." Now, she says, the highway keeps residents from what they want. The main point of the DRWC's master plan is to make 95 less of an impedance.

Philadelphia 2035, the citywide planning effort, is underway, but Thorpe says the waterfront couldn't wait. While there are actually 47 streets that cross over or under the interstate, "it's more of a perceived barrier in peoples' minds."

The new plan creates connections in two ways, says Thorpe: by adding destinations to  the riverbank, and by making connections more attractive through lighting and landscaping. Several early action projects, the Race Street Pier and Washington Avenue Green, were completed during the Master Plan design phase as a way to give the public a glimpse of the future.

As far as feedback, Thorpe says comments have ranged from overarching issues like density, boat access and parking, to small problems like typos in the document. After the August 26 deadline, Thorpe and team will compile public input, make judgement calls on priority, and expect to release the final revised version in October. But, stresses Thorpe, it will be a living document, subject to accommodation and change.

Source: Sarah Thorpe, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Writer: Sue Spolan

You can't argue with this one: Real estate agents have it tough these days. Buyers do too, of course. But when your very livelihood is dependent upon the whims of a mortgage broker and the all-around insecurity of banks these days, making an honest buck isn't easy.

Consider, as an example, the precarious situation of MM Partners, a small real estate development firm whose business involves the construction, the design, and the sale of modern apartments in Brewerytown, of all places.

"Something we talk about a lot," says Jacob Roller, MM Partners' co-founder, "is that the neighborhood needs more exposure, and in a positive way. People may not know about Brewerytown, or they may have just heard its name in a negative way, and that's not really the case. But perception is reality. So you have to work on that."

And work on that he did. Along with his partner, David Waxman, Roller came up with the idea for BrewerytownLiving.com, a well-designed blog that advertises the free cultural events that Roller and his co-workers are organizing in Brewerytown. Recent events have included a Doggie Yappy Hour, during which dogs and their humans meet in a park for socialization and snacks. There are also jazz concerts, clothing swaps, art shows, and food festivals.

"We'd been doing a little bit of this on our own," says Roller. "So we said, 'Let's do it in a more comprehensive way, and in a more organized way.' And that led us to Brewerytown Living."

Roller, by the way, is insistent that Brewerytown Living isn't a mere marketing ploy. "We don't want to use (the website) to try and sell people a house," he adds. 'It's really all about community building, you know? Getting people together, and having a good time."

Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Jacob Roller, MM Partners LLC

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There's certainly nothing new or unusual about major universities that seem to insatiably gobble up various plots of real estate surrounding their respective campuses. And while it may appear that Drexel, the country's 14th-largest private university, is no different, the reality of the school's most recent real estate acquisition may come as a surprise. That's because Drexel's latest $21.8 million land purchase--a 3.6 acre former public parking lot that sits just east of the school--promises to take the campus in a whole new direction, quite literally.

The thin but long track of land--sandwiched between JFK Boulevard to the south, and the 30th Street Station train tracks to the north--was purchased by the university with the intention of creating a new eastern gateway-style entrance to the Drexel campus, says Bob Francis, Drexel's head of university facilities.

The purchase certainly reflects Drexel's current mission of continuing to grow and expand. But as Francis explains, the strategic purchase was actually much more community-minded than it might have at first appeared.

"When (a school) grows," Francis says, "you don't just grow academics. And it turns out that the direction Drexel has traditionally gone, which is to the north, pressing up against the Powelton Village and Mantua communities, is probably not the way to go in the future, because we've put a lot of stress on those neighborhoods."

It was with exactly that sort of community-focused attitude in mind that the eastward-facing lot was purchased. And what's more, Drexel intends to rely heavily on community input during the year-long planning phase for the new eastern campus entrance.

The school's current plans for the land include developing a number of residential, retail, and mixed use spaces. "We plan to consult with all the partners who have an interest in this," adds Francis, and bring them and the community along with us."

Source: Bob Francis, Drexel University
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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It's probably safe to say that most of the regular Flying Kite readers among you are by now familiar with Philadelphia2035--the comprehensive plan to create a blueprint for the city's future development. But you're probably not yet familiar with the recent plan to do something relatively similar--albeit on a much smaller scale, and without a catchy name--in five different West Philly neighborhoods.

Early last week, the People's Emergency Center held a kick-off event to celebrate the upcoming year-long process, which is known simply as the Neighborhood Plan, and which will focus on the Belmont, Mantua, Mill Creek, Saunders Park, and West Powelton neighborhoods. "Make Your Mark," as the party was called, was organized as a way to give area residents a chance to do just that: West Philly locals, for instance, scribbled various suggestions for area development and community-growth facilitation on a giant banner. ("More affordable housing!" "Jobs!") According to the PEC's Kira Strong, the banner will be traveling to all the planning meetings and public events that the PEC plans to host over the course of the year.

As for the $100,000 that will actually fund the year-long planning process, it came from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, whose mission involves improving the quality of life for those living in low-income areas.

And now? The real work of urban planning begins: There will be door-to-door resident surveys, Strong says, but also a listening booth where residents can leave audio comments and feedback for the planners. (Look for it at the Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival on July 16.)

Once the year of planning is over, of course, a significantly larger chunk of funds will be needed to actually implement the plan. But in the meantime, says Strong, "We're really trying to engage residents and other stakeholders, to make sure this is an exciting planning process with some real energy."

Source: Kira Strong, People's Emergency Center CDC
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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Here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at least, those of us who care deeply about things like regional bicycle trails have been talking (and talking, and talking for years) about someday completing a trail -- or perhaps even a series of trails -- which connect one part of our region to another. And on June 23, as it happens, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the DVRPC joined forces here in Philadelphia to host the Active Transportation Summit, a day-long conference during which the ultimate goal of creating a regional trail network for the Delaware Valley was discussed and debated by a seriously impressive group of both local and out-of-town trail enthusiasts.

One of the main goals of the summit, says the Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Spencer Finch, was to "reinforce the partnerships" among the various agencies that have the power to make a regional trail network a reality. "The picture of the jurisdictions is so fragmented," Finch explains. "There's so many different state, federal, and county agencies just here in the metropolitan Philadelphia region, so completing a regional trail network is a challenge."

A number of guests who've successfully tackled that challenge elsewhere, however -- including the former Portland, Ore., Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator Mia Birk -- shared stories about how they managed to complete regional trail networks in their own section of the country.

The second major goal of the summit, Finch adds, was to celebrate and promote the good news that regional cyclists may not be aware of.

"There's over $76 million of funding already dedicated to construction of multiple trail segments around the region," he says. "In the next two years, you're going to start seeing groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings (for new regional trail segments) almost every month. You're going to start seeing the city and the region transformed before your eyes."

Source: Spencer Finch, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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According to Ori Feibush, a local real estate entrepreneur and the founder of South Street's OCF Realty, the process of finding a house to buy in Philadelphia--or anywhere else in the country, for that matter--is exponentially harder and more complicated than it actually needs to be. Partially, says Feibush, that's due to the fact that for most prospective buyers these days, the process generally begins with a search on a website that is incredibly difficult to navigate. "I liken them to Craigslist," Feibush adds. "They're often used, but they generally just create frustration for the end-user."

As it happens, Feibush thinks he's come up with a viable solution: An animated real estate-listings website that he likens to "a SimCity map of Philadelphia, and one that really tells the story of Philadelphia."

While that may indeed sound like a decidedly odd concept, consider the details: The website's map will feature precise boundaries for the city's neighborhoods, which will discourage crafty real estate agents from referring to a Strawberry Mansion property, for instance, as being located in the Art Museum District. As for the listings themselves, says Feibush, they'll be limited to price, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. "You don't need to have a thousand options," he insists.

And yet on the other hand, the city-specific real estate map will come complete with copious details in the form of content from Naked Philly, the real estate blog maintained by OCF. "We'll have certain bars highlighted, certain restaurants highlighted," says Feibush. "We're really just trying to simplify the process (of home-buying) in an almost fundamentally stupid kind of way."

Feibush also insists that the new website and its attendant map won't be used to give preference to his company's listings. The site, which will be located at http://nakedphilly.com/map, is scheduled to launch at the end of June.

Source: Ori Feibush, OCF Realty
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) has been working for quite some time now on what it's referring to as a "master plan" for the future of development along a six-mile stretch of the Central Delaware Riverfront, from Oregon to Allegheny avenues.

And now -- finally, after months of waiting -- the public is being invited to experience the final presentation of the plan at 6:30 p.m. on June 13, in the Pavilion at Festival Pier. "What we're going to be showing," says DRWC president Tom Corcoran, "is a plan that makes parcel-by-parcel recommendations as to what our consultants believe would be the best use of all that land."

Along with comments by Mayor Nutter and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Alan Greenberger, a 45-minute Power Point presentation will be revealing a host of hugely exciting potential plans for the riverfront, including a wetlands park with marshes and aquatic life in South Philly, somewhere between Mifflin Street and Washington Avenue. Other possibilities include an aquatic theme park at Penn's Landing, as well as a longer-term plan to complete a deck over I-95 from Front Street to the waterfront, in between Walnut and Chestnut streets.

"Part of what will make this plan achievable," says Corcoran," is that it's had a tremendous amount of citizen input, and it's not being done by a group of planners working in a vacuum."

This presentation, by the way, will be the last chance for the public to provide feedback. So in other words, if you have any interest whatsoever in the development that will soon be taking place along the Delaware -- and especially if you'd like your voice to be heard -- this is an event you really shouldn't miss.

Source: Tom Corcoran, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Writer: Dan Eldridge

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When Sara Hirschler was driving around Spring Garden a few years back on a house-hunting mission, it was her real estate agent who pointed out the embarrassing eyesore that was Roberto Clemente Park, at 19th and Wallace streets. "He was like, 'Don't look at this park--it's not a good place!'" Hirschler recalls. And at the time, that was certainly an accurate assessment. Roberto Clemente Park has long been seen as a hotbed of illicit drug and gang activity, regardless of the fact that much of the surrounding community is relatively upscale.

Hirschler nevertheless ended up purchasing a condo around the corner from the park, and she soon came to know Roberto Clemente as "this really amazing, central spot in the neighborhood," she says. "I definitely saw it as an opportunity, where I could have a place to get to know my neighbors."

At first, Hirschler organized a series of kickball games in the park, but they soon evolved into something bigger and better. "I went through the park," she says, "and created an action plan of all the needs the park had--basic things, like painting the playground equipment, and the field needing some grass."

Along with Justino Navarro, a Spring Garden CDC board member, Hirschler also launched Friends of Clemente, which has been working to revitalize the park since 2008. (The group is largely funded by donations.) The organization's latest initiative involves a complete overhaul of the park, which should be finished by the end of May. A fence that wraps around the park's field is also being painted, and on May 14 the group will be hosting the second installment of Clemente Fest, a sort of neighborhood get-together featuring food, music, and a handball tournament.

"It's such a beautiful neighborhood," Hirschler adds. "And (Clemente Fest) is a great opportunity to start to get to know everybody, and to really feel like a community."

Source: Sara Hirschler, Friends of Clemente
Writer: Dan Eldridge

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighborhood? Please send your Development News tips here.