Reuse / Rebuild : In The News

Like Flying Kite, the New York Times was intrigued by the concept behind Oxford Mills, a mixed-used development dedicated to organizations and people who work in education.

Two redbrick buildings in the up-and-coming but still gritty South Kensington section of Philadelphia are being converted into apartments and offices intended to house teachers and nonprofit educational organizations in what the developers hope will become a cohesive community.

When the renovation is complete, 60 percent of the buildings’ 114 apartments will be reserved for teachers, who will be offered a 25 percent discount on market rent — paying about $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit in a neighborhood where they typically rent for $1,300.

Original source: The New York Times
Read the complete story here.

The Atlantic Cities asks one of the big questions about the scheduled school closings: What happens to the buildings? Philadelphia is closing 23 schools.

One of the thorniest issues (in what is a veritable forest of mess) is what to do with those school buildings once they're empty. Often, the facilities are in poor shape, with promised renovations put off quasi-indefinitely. Many are located in depressed neighborhoods. And there are only so many developers with the know-how and resources to convert classrooms into condos or a community center.

Then, there are often complex laws that limit who may or may not take over city-owned property. Some cities ban charter schools from moving into empty traditional schools (officials know that moving a new school into an old school can foment frustration with the district); others require time-consuming input from the community. Laws like these can tie school districts' hands and slow re-development.

Original source: The Atlantic Cities
Read the complete story here.

Curbed Philly put together this great compilation of the city's most intriguing and breathtaking vacant landmarks. The Divine Lorraine was robbed.

Check out photographer Laura Kicey's amazing shots of the Beury Building:

Dubbed “North Philadelphia’s Skyscraper,” it’s more well-known locally as “Boner Forever,” thanks to the graffiti on its north and south faces. Its art deco beauty is falling apart in front of our eyes despite its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Original source: Curbed Philly
Check out the complete list here.

Bilenky Cycle Works, the legendary Olney custom bike builders headed up by Steve Bilenky (and his beard), is the subject of a wonderful short film by Bicycling magazine, directed by Andrew David Watson.

Long before the resurgence of "handmade everything" Stephen Bilenky started a career as a custom bicycle builder. 30 years later, Stephen is still creating works of art in his gritty north philadelphia workshop.

Original source: Bicycling magazine
Click here to watch the mini-documentary.

According to Redfin, the next hot neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area will be...drumroll...Phoenixville, Brewerytown and our very own #ontheground home West Germantown.

West Germantown is a historic neighborhood that went from riches to rags. It was once the sought after destination by aristocrats, but its large stone homes sat dilapidated for years when the money left. Now these beautiful dwellings on both sides of Johnson Street are slowly and steadily being renovated.

Original Source: Redfin (via Curbed Philly)
To see the complete list, click here. 

PlanPhilly has launched a new website. They hope the fresh, innovative platform will help them better connect to the city's community of planners, designers, developers and residents.

Original source: PlanPhilly
To visit their new site, click here.

The closure of the infamous Forum Theater opens up a world of development possibilities on an underserved stretch of Market Street.

"Those [2100 and 2200] blocks of Market Street are kind of one of the last significant gaps in the quality of the streetscape," said Alan Greenberger, the city's commerce director. Drexel University's eastward expansion and the transformation of the west side of the city near the Schuylkill from industrial to commercial and recreational uses are "all suggesting that there is a wave that is going to happen to get the west side to meet the east side" of the city, Greenberger said.

Original source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

A recent study found that community development corporations have had a $3.3 billion impact on the Philadelphia economy over the last two decades.

The research found that the money CDCs have spent over that period has added $28 million to the city’s tax base, created 12,000 jobs and increased wealth for neighborhood property owners by $680 million by transforming blight. The report shows roughly $2.2 billion of the $3.3 billion affected neighborhoods through new construction and rehabilitation of homes and commercial and public spaces. In addition, the research found that CDCs have added $5.1 billion to the state’s economy during the last 20 years, generated 37,100 jobs and brought in $118 million in state tax revenue.

Original source: The Philadelphia Business Journal
Read the full story here. 

Tom Marchetty and his team are creating a mecca for creative types in the old Collingswood Theater in Collingswood, NJ. When complete, "The Factory" will feature tools for woodworking, jewelry-making, ceramics, metalworking and other DIY ventures. Locals can either rent studio space or pay a monthly rate to use the over $200,000 worth of equiptment.

"So I started thinking, what if I put all of this equipment into a location for people that don’t have a garage or basement? They don’t have a place to build and create, and now they can come here and actually make their dreams into reality.
“That’s why I call it The Factory," [Marchetty] said. "We produce and make whatever we want. Anything you want to make or build, you can do it here.” 

Original Source: CollingswoodPatch
Read the full story here. 

Plans are beginning to take shape for a Philadelphia land bank, a development that would make it easier for the city to deal with vacant and blighted properites. Council is likely to start considering the bill in the new year.

The rest of the properties are in private hands—about 17,000 of them are tax delinquent, according to a 2010 consultant's report. In many cases, the properties have been vacant so long the listed owners are dead or virtually impossible to find.

Anyone wanting to assemble vacant parcels—developers, nonprofits, and even neighbors who want to start a community garden—have to navigate the maze of ownership.

About a decade ago, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia needed three years to assemble 20 parcels in the 1800 block of North 18th Street—a project that eventually yielded 14 new houses.

Original Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
For the full story, click here.

The New York Times Magazine takes a ride on Amtrak along the northeast corridor and surveys the ghosts of our industrial past.