Facelift underway for nearby streets

Nearby Baltimore and Lancaster avenues are progressing through the process of a costly facelift, bolstered recently by some additional funding.

Since an initial fund allocation of $440,000 was made to the University City District five months ago, the project to revitalize corridors on the two streets has begun to pick up speed.

UCD Executive Director Eric Goldstein said that although the project is still in its inception, it is beginning to fulfill its goals.

"I think that right now, for as early as the grant and initiative is for us, we're doing good," he said.

The UCD -- an organization which partners with other groups to help improve the quality of life in the University City area -- received the nearly half-million dollar grant from the William Penn Foundation in June. The money was designated to improve the appearance of and publicize parts of Baltimore and Lancaster avenues. Additional aid will be provided by the Penn and Citizen's Bank partnership made in October.

University Associate Vice-President Jack Shannon said that the inclusion of the partnership will provide "more funds to work with the current businesses and to offer to entrepreneurs."

"We believe that we will be able to accelerate even further the improvements to the corridors in a way that would benefit the entire University City area," he added.

Last month, the corridors received even more money -- $150,000 from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to the People's Emergency Center. The PEC is working to improve the area of Lancaster Avenue from 38th to 42nd street, while the UCD is currently working on the 34th to 38th Street area of Lancaster and the 45th to 52nd Street area of Baltimore.

The preliminary actions have consisted mainly of data collection. The UCD's newly appointed "corridor managers" have been actively seeking input from area residents. Surveys were sent to residents and business owners asking them about the usage, interest and attractiveness of the two streets to best judge the needs of the community.

"Right now, we're working on data gathering and the collection of information," Goldstein said. "We're also trying to meet and greet each of the business and property owners."

The Baltimore Avenue project was begun by the Baltimore Avenue Business Bureau two years ago and is in more advanced stages than the corridor at Lancaster Avenue.

"Right now on Baltimore, we're in a position to bring in some new businesses. We saw a lot of interest in doing so," Goldstein added. "One of the residents' frustrations was that there wasn't enough of a merchandise mix."

Two cafes will be among the first to open on the Baltimore corridor under the revitalization project. Owned by a local family, the Vientiane Cafe -- which will serve Laotian dishes -- will open at 4728 Baltimore later this month.

At 43rd and Baltimore, the Green Line Cafe is set to open in early December. The cafe is named for the "green line" SEPTA trolley through West Philadelphia, which makes a stop very close to the venue.

"We want to add new businesses and new blood," Goldstein said. "We're going to combine a lot of old businesses, ones that just need a lot of help, with some new ones."

"Now, it's more about marketing as well," he added. "We want to let people know what's out there and work with the businesses on better signage, storefronts and updated security."

Additionally, the Baltimore Avenue corridor will be seeing some improvements in its streetscape.

Twenty new steel trash cans will be placed along the corridor in early December. According to Goldstein, the UCD has also improved its street cleaning operations in the area. Later this month, 15 to 20 trees will be added to the corridor.

Work on the Lancaster Avenue corridor is still in the planning stages. Mokas, a new Greek restaurant, recently opened at 3505 Lancaster.

The Comet -- which closed its location at 41st and Walnut streets last spring -- will reopen at 201 N. 36th Street, near Powelton and Lancaster Avenues, later this year.

Although the corridor developments are still in the preliminary stages, UCD officials say they plan to further analyze and aid the areas.

"There's a lot of successful businesses and business people out there, and we're just trying to help them along," Goldstein said.

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