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Nearly 20 residents gathered at a conference room inside the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care, 1930 S. Broad St., Jan. 29 to get a glimpse at the future of the space where East Passyunk Avenue meets South Broad Street. The Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation (PARC) conducted the meeting that entailed a reveal of the renderings for what it’s calling the “East Passyunk Gateway.”
An empty triangular space that juts out from the doors of the United Savings Bank, 1945 E. Passyunk Ave., the underused space is what leaders from PARC and the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID), along with the lead architect, Bryan Hanes of Studio Bryan Hanes, decided would be the most ripe for transformation.
With a $500,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation, the project was gifted the necessary resources to get the renovation off the ground.
“We were approached by PARC and asked to think about the numerous bits and pieces of odd and left-over spaces along the Avenue,” Hanes said. “As we worked through each of these areas, the Gateway at Broad Street began to emerge as a significant, though small, opportunity along the corridor.”
The space, as designed, is set to include a water feature, benches, chairs and tables, much more greenery, a potential for Philadelphia’s first Bike Share pilot program and a multi-use pergola.
Perhaps one of the most exciting bits of news to emerge from the meeting was Sam Sherman, PARC’s executive director, revealing that his organization’s been putting a “full-court press” to renovate and reactivate the space known as Colombo’s, 1934 E. Passyunk Ave., within sight lines of the “Gateway.”
At the meeting, it was revealed that they will “maintain the awning and café seating,” and that “it will not be a cheesesteak joint or a burger spot,” but “a restaurant that will reference old Philadelphia but [it will] also be something hip enough” to excite new residents, he said.
On the space, Sherman expressed excitement with the design and its future usages.
“It is flexible and will bring different groups to the space,” he said. “The water feature will attract families with children, the bike share will generate traffic, the tables and benches will encourage people to sit and linger and the flexspace (pergola) will accommodate various users, depending on the need.”
To be noted, the “Gateway” does fall into the purview of a great number of civic associations: East Passyunk Crossing Civic, Newbold Civic and Newbold Neighbors, Passyunk Square Civic, Lower Moyamensing Civic, Broad Street West Civic and South Broad Street Neighborhood. Seemingly, all of these groups will have access to the space.
With an ambitious May starting point, Sherman and Hanes are hoping for a six-month buildout with an eye on September or October for its big debut.
Renee Gilinger, the executive director of the EPABID, expressed excitement about the way the “Gateway” will greet first-timers and lifelong residents alike.
“Yes, we are all very excited about it!” she said. “We want it to be representative of the lovely corridor we have all collectively built and maintained.”
Contact Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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