Community Corner
Be A Part of the Solution
Are you looking for ways to get involved in making Germantown an even better place to live and/or work? Whatever your interests or gifts, FPCG can most likely help you connect with community organizations that can make use of them!
In recent months Germantown Community Connection (GCC) has been in the news as the organization engaged in conversation with the developer of the Chelten Plaza on the former Fresh Grocer site in order to bring about positive design changes and commitments to the community. However, GCC’s mission extends well beyond this project:
GCC was instrumental in garnering the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s designation of Germantown as a “Classic Town.” As such, Germantown’s profile has become heightened for development, tourism, and other economic investment.
GCC’s Artists’ Roundtable has caught the attention of several city agencies including the Planning Commission and the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy—both of which have recognized this grass-roots organization of artists as a vital resource in improving the quality of life in Germantown.
GCC has been a founding member in the coalition of community stakeholders spearheaded by the Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF). As such, GCC has been hosting meetings for the community to provide input into the design and implementation of water gardens, infrastructure, and programming in Vernon Park.
GCC’s meetings (usually the second and fourth Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. at FPCG) have become the primary venue to hear about civic initiatives ranging from changes in the zoning code, energy-saving and greening programs, the city’s planning process, and the latest developments in promoting Historic Germantown.
In other words, in a matter of months, GCC is well on its way to realizing its vision of becoming a “bridge and a voice” for greater Germantown’s many neighborhood groups, institutions and residents.