West Powelton is a neighborhood at a tipping point. Once a vibrant retail corridor and residential neighborhood along Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia that boomed with the introduction of the electrified trolley car line in the late 1800s, the neighborhood was hit hard by economic downturn and the social and political tensions of the mid- to late- 20th century.
The West Powelton studio team explored and documented the neighborhood's historic development and current conditions in historical archives, on foot, and by talking to its residents and community leaders. The neighborhood faces a number of challenges, including high levels of vacancy, a struggling commercial corridor, and tension between long-time residents and newcomers. However, it also has many strong assets: impressive commercial buildings from the heyday of Lancaster Avenue, a relatively intact late 19th-century brick, rowhouse building stock, active community organizations, and committed residents who have invested in their neighborhood through public art and community gardens.
Though many challenges face West Powelton, growing interest in the area-including Drexel's emerging campus plans-has provided an opportunity for the various community organizations, institutions, and invested individuals who live and work in the neighborhood to push for community development that emphasizes economic inclusiveness and social equity. To contribute to this effort, the studio team proposed a Preservation Approach that recognizes the value of West Powelton's deeply-rooted community, its built assets, and the complex historical narrative they embody.
