BPN News | Germantown Town Hall Clears PCPC, Tacony Waterfront Rezoned — April 16 Meeting Recap
A report on the Planning Commission's April 16th meeting
(Source: Philadelphia.TODAY)
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission met Thursday at 1515 Arch Street, working through a packed agenda that included a contentious property transfer in Germantown, a pair of school rezonings in West Philadelphia, a federally owned VA site whose redevelopment plans are now in question, a University of Pennsylvania master plan amendment, a rezoning tied to an affordable housing project in North Philadelphia, and a long-awaited waterfront activation in Tacony.
Zoning Bill 260298, covering Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, was flagged for 45-day review with staff reports due in May. Co-introduced by Councilmembers Jones Jr., Thomas, and Ahmad, the bill would rezone the area from RSD-3 to SP-CIV. There have been complications with exact property boundaries. You may have seen coverage of the School District’s plans to close Lankenau in the Inquirer. Streets Bill 260267, a staircase encroachment at 611 S. 7th Street, was approved administratively.
Property Bill 260242: Town Hall on Germantown Avenue — Approved, With Community Pushback
Source: (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu, Resolve Philly)
The longest item by far. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Bass, authorizes conveying a tract of city-owned land at 5928–30 Germantown Ave to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), which would work with West Powelton Development — holder of an MOU since 2022 — to restore the historic Germantown Town Hall. The plan has shifted from senior housing to a charter school anchor tenant targeting Q3 2028 occupancy, a commercial kitchen and restaurant incubator, and historic exterior preservation. The Commission’s role here wasn’t to weigh in on the sale terms, but on whether the disposition aligns with the City’s planning goals. The Upper Northwest District Plan does prioritize preservation and reuse of architecturally significant or historic buildings.
