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Housing/Community Development

Viola Street Residents Association

The street and sidewalks of the 4200 block of Viola Street in East Parkside are clean, a community garden thrives, and historic homes are well-kept. But there are troubling clusters of vacant homes and lots on Viola Street and nearby. Viola Street Residents Association asked the Collaborative to turn their positive vision for Viola Street and four adjacent blocks into a plan for neighborhood reinvestment.

Volunteer Design Team

Andrew Dobshinsky

/
Planner
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brian Johnson

/
Architect, Intern
Phildelphia, Pennsylvania

Christine Miller Cruiess

/
Preservationist
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dan Chong

/
Landscape Architect, Registered
Norristown, Pennsylvania

Joy Mariama Smith

/
Architectural Designer
Phildelphia, Pennsylvania

Kate Rutledge Gilbert

/
Architect, Intern
Phildelphia, Pennsylvania

Leah Rominger

/
Landscape Architectural Designer

“Sometimes it just takes one comment from a community member to help you think outside the box and change the course of the design for the better.”

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lou Johnson

/
Cost Estimator
International Consultants, Inc.
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Paul Vernon

/
Urban Designer
KSK Architects Planners Historians, Inc.
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Reflects volunteers' profession and firm at time of Design Grant
Project Title
Project Reclaim: Conceptual Design for Revitalization of Viola Street
Sponsoring Nonprofit
Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services
Address
4200 block of Viola Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Neighborhood
East Parkside
West Philadelphia
Volunteer Hours
688
Value of Pro Bono Services
$62,450
Design Grant Completed
May 24, 2013
Collaborative Honors, City Acceptance for Project Reclaim
  Every year, the Collaborative recognizes the volunteer team and client of one pro bono project for excellence in design, collaboration, and community impact with its...
See Article
Viola Street To Partner with Habitat for Humanity
  For years, the Viola Street Residents Association (VSRA) has worked to improve their neighborhood, organizing block clean-up days, maintaining a thriving community garden,...
See Article
Joyce Smith, Viola Street, a plan for reclaiming blocks
When you walk down the 4200 block of Viola Street in East Parkside, it’s clear that residents are taking care of the block. The street and sidewalks are clean, there’s a thriving...
See Article
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