Isaacson announces more than $4.5 million in grant funding for six Philadelphia redevelopment projects

Philadelphia County Delegation    December 7, 2021 | 3:33 PM

HARRISBURG, Dec. 7 – State Rep. Mary Isaacson, D-Phila., announced today that more than $4.5 million in grant funding has been awarded for six redevelopment projects in her district. 

“The grant funding for these redevelopment projects is sure to go further than the face value of the funding through the creation of jobs and improvements to key projects in our city,” Isaacson said. “I’m glad to see this funding return to our district and I look forward to seeing this money be put to great use for the betterment of our city.” 

The six grant awards for projects in Isaacson’s district are: 

  • $500,000 for Jewelers’ Row/Independence Hall District for a project to add new pedestrian and animated architectural lighting and landscaping to create a safe and attractive environment for thousands of workers, residents and shoppers; provide new gateway signage and lighting; create a connection between lab spaces at the Curtis Center and the life sciences research and commercialization efforts at Thomas Jefferson University, and will add new, unifying public amenities to support the conversion of a vacant historic building. 
  • $500,000 for the Pennsylvania Ballet Association for a project to expand and complete the Center for Dance, which will provide rehearsal, performance and administrative space; complete the facility renovation and new construction, including a black box theater with dynamic functions and a performance, rehearsal and events venue; a gathering space; a dancer wellness center; additional rehearsal studios; a costume shop; and additional administrative spaces. 
  • $500,000 for the Walnut Street Theatre for a project to construct an addition on the adjacent parking lot. The new facility will connect to the current theatre and add seats to expand audience capacity, include a restaurant, public lobbies to serve both theatres, a new box office, and two rehearsal halls. The expansion will allow the Walnut Street Theatre to offer increased educational space and to diversify its work and its audiences. 
  • $1.5 million for Wills Eye for a project to renovate both the 9th floor and the 15th floor to accommodate the influx of patients in both the cornea wing and the neuro-ophthalmology wing. The project for both floors will include selective demolition, mill work, installation of new doors, windows and other openings, new drywall, ceramics, ceilings, flooring, wall covering, panels and paint; and updates to the fire suppression, HVAC, plumbing, electrical work and mechanical work will also be essential. 
  • $501,740 for the Fishtown Library for a project that will construct a new facility that combines the Fishtown Library and the Fishtown Recreation Center, which includes site improvements, new steel fence and entrance gate, fence curbing, new sidewalk and ADA ramps, and an allowance for site stormwater improvements related to full site drainage and plumbing infrastructure upgrades. 
  • $1 million for the National Constitution Center for a project that has three phases that address the exterior, infrastructure and interior upgrades of the facility. The exterior addresses the replacement of vestibule glass, and a new roof. The infrastructure will relocate the Aerco Boiler and add another one. The interior renovations focus on updating and renovating the Core Exhibit, and the demolition, removal and reimaging the exiting ticketing desk. 

The grant awards were made through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is a grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. 

RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenue or other measures of economic activity.