Plans to build homeless shelter in a vacant building at 45th and Chestnut streets have collapsed due to community opposition, but Penn has a new idea for the space.
City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell had proposed that the building, which has been unoccupied since 2000, be the new home for the Lutheran Settlement House, whose previous facility was damaged in 2004.
Local groups oppose the shelter on the basis that it would detract from the aneighborhood in terms of real estate value and attractiveness.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said that the School of Nursing is interested in using the space for its Living Independently For Elders Program, which provides nursing home care to elderly West Philadelphia residents.
"It would be an ideal location for the LIFE Program," Doyle said.
Blackwell said that she is aware of the school's interest, but said that instead of working with her, the University has "made it a public fight."
She said she has received no official documents from the University about using the building.
According to Betty Reavis -- president of the Walnut Hill Community Association, a group actively opposed to Blackwell's proposal -- community groups would favor University use of the space.
Reavis said that local groups had filled out surveys in December about possible uses for the building and that the results were recently collected and discussed at a public meeting.
Ninety percent of those surveyed opposed the shelter, she said.
Blackwell noted that many community members who have opposed the shelter were in favor of the Nursing School's initiative.
"I believe it was an orchestrated complaint from those who wanted the LIFE Program there," she said. "The opposition was organized by community groups who support the Penn agenda."
Reavis herself prefers Penn's plan.
She said the proposed shelter would hinder community efforts to increase the value of area and that homeowners would not "relish the idea of opening their back door and seeing a shelter."
She added that businesses have also shown concern over a pending shelter not because of potential crime increases, but rather because of "the idea of people standing in front of their businesses asking for money."
To complicate matters further, the building in question is directly across the street from West Philadelphia Catholic High School.
The school's president, Brother Tim Ahern, said he didn't think that a homeless shelter would cater to the best interests of the area.
"West Philadelphia is a tough neighborhood," he said. "There are already concerns about sending kids there."
The neighborhood is undergoing a rejuvenation, Ahern said, and the proposed shelter would indicate a "step backward."
In response to the large opposition, Blackwell said, "It's my job to support the majority," indicating that she would be willing to abandon her proposal.
Many community members seem more enthusiastic about the prospect of Penn's LIFE Program inhabiting the building.
Reavis called the program "ideal" for the space.
Ahern agreed, adding that he would "most definitely [like to] see Penn have a say about what goes in there."
While Blackwell said she didn't oppose this prospect, she added that she wished the University had notified her earlier to express interest in the site.
"I'm happy to work with all institutions, including Penn," she said.
Currently, the LIFE Program is housed at two locations, at 41st Street and Woodland Avenue and at 38th and Market streets.
Blackwell said she thought the program location would likely be well received by West Philadelphia residents, but emphasized that the School of Nursing must re-start the process of asking for community support and fielding questions and concerns from community members.
