Members of West Central Germantown Neighbors, the registered community organization for the area, have discussed the project with Iron Stone, but the company does not need the group’s approval to complete the project.
During a meeting in early June, residents raised concerns about the number of housing units proposed for the site, as well as a narrow driveway that 14th Precinct police use to exit the station when responding to emergency calls, said Zoning Chair Julie Stapleton Carroll. The proposed development’s proximity to a group of row houses on Harvey Street also raises concerns.
Across the street, on Germantown Avenue, developers are in the process of converting the former high school into a mixed-use building with about 240 apartments. The first 45 units are now available for lease.
“The question is, ‘What is the capacity in this area for additional units?'” Stapleton Carroll said. She said the project could also pose a safety issue if tenants block the driveway that officers use as an exit.
The proposal is part of a wave of housing construction in Germantown that is moving forward while the future of neighboring Germantown Town Hall remains uncertain.
West Powelton Development has access to the long-vacant property through a letter of intent the company signed with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. The company is required to submit a feasibility study to PIDC to determine whether its redevelopment plan is viable.
Anthony Fullard, president of West Powelton Development, told neighbors last February that he wants to convert the city hall building into a mixed-use development with apartments, event space and office space. A second phase will include a brand new apartment building directly behind Germantown City Hall.
PIDC spokesman Kevin Lessard said the letter of intent is currently set to expire in late winter.
“The redevelopment of City Hall presents significant logistical and financial challenges and therefore PIDC and the City want to ensure that the developer has sufficient time to further evaluate the full feasibility of the proposed project,” Lessard said in a statement.
