Beautifying Central Germantown is the focus of a Thursday meeting

Central Germantown has a makeover in the works by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC).

Originally called the Chelten Avenue Corridor Plan, it has been redubbed the Central Germantown Beautification Plan.

A community meeting will be held Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 35 West Chelten Ave., to showcase drafts for its implementation.

The meeting will also highlight community feedback from an initial meeting held last November.

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Ideas already bandied about

Matt Wysong, Northwest Philadelphia community planner for the PCPC, recalled that people liked the idea of representing the history of Germantown and using local artists to help design components of the plan.

“We asked, if Chelten Ave. got a new streetscape treatment, what physical amenities would you like to see? What styles, whether they be historical or artistic themes? Should it have a green/sustainable bend to it?” said Wysong.

He said the plan includes things like rainwater management, cleaning up the Maplewood Mall and sprucing up around SEPTA’s Chelten Avenue and Germantown Stations.

“We’re basically looking at ways to improve the curb appeal of the commercial district in Germantown,” said Wysong.

Short- and long-term projects

The plan will include a series of small projects like pocket greening and more long-term projects like implementing architectural lighting on buildings.

The PCPC will set up displays of the project at the meeting and is asking for further input from Germantown residents.

“We’re looking to get feedback,” said Wysong. “There will be opportunities for people to tell us what they think.”

Wysong said the plan will go before a PCPC hearing committee sometime in July.

He estimated starting the project before year’s end, saying “we’d like to show people some progress.”

The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with an open-house format, so people can come and go at any time.

Contact Matt Wysong at matt.wysong@phila.gov or (215) 683-4650 for more information.

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