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 The
Friends Rehabilitation Program, of West Philadelphia is working
with organizations and community members of the Bellmont Neighborhood
to establish redevelopment strategies for the neighborhood. Among
the initiatives and interests of this collaboration are establishing
affordable housing and social services for community members.
Over the past year, the FRP expressed interest in expanding their
role in these initiatives, through the development of a community
services center and neighborhood park. In the fall of 2001, the
FRP contacted the Hamer Center to assist with further development
of this initiative.
During the fall of 2001, Hamer Center staff worked closely with
representatives from the FRP, the Bellmont Neighborhood, and the
Sara Allen Homes to organize activities around a design charrette,
to be sponsored by the Hamer Center. In January 2002, a team of
faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in architecture and
landscape architecture held an intensive workshop, or charrette
in the neighborhood. Activities during this charrette focused
around physical site analysis, interviews with citizens and representatives
of neighborhood organizations. The charrette culminated with an
afternoon workshop, in which community members and youth worked
with the team members to develop some visions for the community
center and neighborhood park.
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