Brief Description

In the mid 1800's, Philadelphia was one of the largest brewing cities in the country with numerous breweries clustered in 10 city blocks in an area that became known as Brewerytown. The close proximity to Center City and access to the rail lines and river enabled Brewerytown to prosper until the Prohibition in 1920. Through nearly 80 years, crime increased in Brewerytown and the area became blighted with abandoned warehouses situated on prime parcels of land with beautiful views of Fairmount Park and Center City. Seven years ago, John Westrum visualized transforming these under-utilized properties into a thriving residential urban community. As he surveyed the vast Brownfield site, John envisioned a rare opportunity to give the approximately 5,000 Philadelphia residents who leave the city annually an option to stay: new homes near public transportation that are affordable to the average city resident.

In May 2005, Westrum Development Company opened Brewerytown Square, the first phase of a larger master planned new home community that will eventually encompass 600-700 homes on 17 adjoining acres. Brewerytown Square boasts 144 market-rate stacked-designed townhomes with modern amenities, efficient systems, and rear, individual attached garages.

Designed to be transit-oriented, Brewerytown Square borders Girard Avenue/31st Street and Fairmount Park and is within close proximity public transportation - located approximately % mile from two SEPTA bus stops (three routes) and the recently reinstated Girard Avenue Route 15 trolley.

With no subsidies, and minimal financial support from the City, Westrum created a land plan for Brewerytown Square that enabled 38 units to the acre. This design permitted the project to be financially feasible for the company; which in turn, has made homeownership more attainable for many city residents. Brewerytown Square was purchased privately from P. Slavko. The project was funded through Wachovia Bank, who granted the Development and Construction loan for $10,100,000.00. Acquisition was financed through the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) for $1,100,000.00. The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) financed the subsurface demolition for $880,000.00.

Sustainability Narrative

Brewerytown Square is a high-quality, responsibly-designed community that is sensitive to the surrounding environment The project exemplifies how the adaptive re-use of a blighted urban property into a thriving new home community can improve the quality of life for the neighborhood by eliminating an eyesore while limiting demolition and construction waste.

Westrum strategically assembled 17 acres in Philadelphia's Breweytown section. Working closely with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), the RDA, and the city of Philadelphia, Westrum created a Brewerytown master plan that encompassed zoning, land use, ownership, building conditions, and the architectural character of the surrounding area. This master plan creates a transit-oriented community that encompasses a natural connection to open space. And with the re-birth of Brewerytown as a desired residence, Westrum has provided housing choices not available previously in this vicinity of the city.

Since opening in 2005, two-thirds of Brewerytown Square's 144 homes have sold. Equally important, is that the diverse group of new residents to Brewerytown have established the neighborhood as a true Philadelphia community, thus taking advantage of the restoration of this historic property and its convenient location to public transportation and resources.

To achieve success with this mission, the company implemented its Green Building program, "Westrum Green", through the following measures:

• Continuing to be on the cutting edge of innovative ideas to improve the quality in and around the homes. Utilizing a warehouse owned by Westrum to buildhousing panels which saved time and reduced waste, transportation costs, and subsequent emissions.
• The re-use of valuable city land through reclamation and restoration. A conscious effort was put forth to preserve three structures on the site (Acme, Red Bell, and Pyramid Buildings) that will be transformed into future housing units.
• Conserving open space to complement the natural surroundings. Creating a centre courtyard within the community enables a natural vegetative area with grass and plantings. Plus, the location of the project, near the city's largest public park, encourages the use of recreational resources, creating a human connection to natural resources.
• Preserving the natural resources through conservation, re-use and efficiency Natural resources were protected by recycling demolished masonry materials on-site (for fill, road subbase, foundation subbase, etc.) wherever possible creating an urban quarry. This action reduced costs, and eliminated manufacturing and transportation charges, such as asphalt, etc.

 

Results

Once a blighted Brownfield site, today Brewerytown Square is a prime example of improving the quality of life for the region and is environmentally sound. Brewerytown Square has had an impact in numerous ways, most notably protecting historic, natural, and recreational resources by restoring structures and reducing land, resource, and transportation consumption. Brewerytown Square provides modern homes with efficient systems at market rate pricing to a segment of the market that would otherwise be priced out of urban homeownership. Additionally, the retention of existing city residents, indirectly results in the preservation of suburban and rural farmland.