West Philadelphia searches for a Market Street vision

Concerned community groups struggling to revive Market Street west of 40th Street say that in order to succeed, they need a detailed vision for one of the city's main thoroughfares.

Not having such a plan will mean that the condition of this gritty street, with its dollar stores, mattress outlets and fast food joints will not likely change.

"Without some kind of a grand vision, as a community association, Spruce Hill has to deal with episodic zoning issues -- a McDonald's here, a Pep Boys there -- because we couldn't fight against it by going down to the zoning board and saying, 'This is what the long term plan for the area is,'" said Barry Grossbach, executive vice president for the Spruce Hill Community Association, which has Market Street for its northern border.

With numerous neighborhood, city and state political boundaries converging on Market Street, getting all of the stakeholders to settle on one plan for the street has not been easy.

One group, the Market Street Development Corp., tried unsuccessfully to bring forth a plan several years ago. And the city's 1994 master plan for West Philadelphia is very broad and not specific to the needs of western Market Street.

In the absence of such a vision, those hoping to shape the future of the street's western stretch often voice concerns for some of the basic amenities it lacks.

Through retail studies, Blane Stoddart, director of the Partnership Community Development Corp., found that this part of West Philadelphia needs a sit-down restaurant like a Bennigan's or a TGI Friday's, a bakery, a flower shop and an electronics store that sells stereos and computers.

Market Street would be a good place to locate these businesses, Stoddart said. But he explained that broadening the store offerings and sprucing up the streetscape does not mean pushing people out of the community, a common fear among residents.

"There is no rule that says that improving a community has to lead to gentrification," he said. "Why should low- and moderate-income people be subjected to inferior products? That's the issue we're dealing with."

Despite very little agreement as to what western Market Street should look like, development continues as usual. David Adelman, president of Campus Apartments, will acquire the large vacant lot at 41st and Market streets this week, with plans for future retail and office development on the site.

And McDonald's is scheduled to resume construction on its controversial location at 43rd and Market streets in March.

"It's not the highest and best use of the space, but if the McDonald's development can spur other development along Market Street, besides fast food, so that other national retailers may begin to rethink their strategies... then it's a good thing," Stoddart said.

However, Bernadine Hawes, a board member of the West Philadelphia Partnership, said that a Kentucky Fried Chicken that has been at 44th and Market streets for several years has yet to attract other kinds of businesses.

City Deputy Commerce Director Dwane Bumb said that many factors work in favor of attracting more and better retailers to western Market Street, namely the thousands of workers and students at area institutions and its proximity to mass transit.

And although the powers that be have yet to arrive at their own vision for Market Street, Hawes has one.

"If I go to 40th and Walnut, I can go to the movies, I can go to the diner, I can go grocery shopping, the lighting is wonderful and it's vibrant," Hawes said. "It's wonderful. That's the way Market Street should be west of 40th."

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