Economic Development

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A key part of our overall community revitalization strategy is to promote economic development. AWF uses a multi-pronged approach in our efforts to develop the economic base of our neighborhood. Guided by the finding of our recently-completed neighborhood plan, our strategy is to focus on:

  • Development of residential, commercial and industrial properties
  • Improvement of public transportation hubs in our community
  • Creation of an actively involved community member and business owner base
  • Creation of employment opportunities
  • Physical improvement of buildings and streets

North 22nd Street: Much of AWF’s economic development work focuses on the continued revitalization of our neighborhood’s major commercial center on North 22nd Street.

Transportation Planning: Because of its central location, Allegheny West has access to several major transportation lines. To help build on this important community asset, in 2003 we received funding from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation and Community Development Initiative to complete a comprehensive transportation plan with the following components:
  • Public Transit: Identifying and linking bus, rail, subway and major industrial and commercial activity areas, plus new service and station improvements.
  • Transportation Infrastructure: Improving surface streets, traffic patterns, highways and street signage.
  • Streetscape and Parking Improvement: Improving lighting, combining smaller industrial parcels and improving streets, sidewalks and public spaces.

The planning project was completed in August 2004. (Click here to download the Transportation Plan) Out of this planning process, we identified three new development priorities:

Urban Industry Initiative: In 2002, we teamed with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation to target the concerns of existing industrial businesses and enlist the industrial community as an agent for constructive neighborhood change.

Through our work with the local business association, and feedback gathered from individual business owners, an inventory of local business information was compiled to develop a broader range of appropriate services.

Allegheny West Commercial and Industrial Corridors Clean-up Program: AWF is currently planning operations to clean, upgrade, and maintain streets and curbs in hopes of improving the Commercial Corridor’s aesthetic and to attract potential consumers and investors.

Our plan is to use employees of Connection Training Services (a local business that hires unemployed, underemployed and formerly incarcerated individuals and trains them in the demolition trades) to provide street-cleaning services in the targeted commercial and industrial districts. The clean-up project will focus on the following areas:

  • 2800-3000 blocks of North 22nd Street
  • Allegheny Avenue between Fox Street and 17th Street
  • Lehigh Avenue between 22nd Street and 19th Street