Developers plan to restore, convert Mt. Airy 'treasures'
A preliminary proposal to convert historic buildings on West Johnson Street to market-rate apartments maximizes green space and includes on-site parking.
by ANDREW LAZOR
A community meeting held at Grace Baptist Church on Aug. 16 allowed two area developers to formally introduce the preliminary details of a proposal to convert several local historic properties into market-rate apartments.
Sean D. McDougall, who heads Wallingford, Pa.-based Visionary Development Company, and James A. Nolen IV, principal of Manayunk-based Nolen Properties, LLC, joined with City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller to address questions and concerns from Mt. Airy and Germantown residents.
The main purpose of the meeting was to establish a working dialogue that the developers hope will lead to a tangible strategy for the project.
The plan involves altering three buildings located on West Johnson Street in Mt. Airy: the former Presser Home for Retired Musicians, the former Nugent Baptist Home and an historic carriage house located on the premises. The developers also introduced the idea of constructing entirely new condominium units adjacent to the Presser and Nugent homes to offset building costs.
The team is currently in the process of officially purchasing the site; while Nolen is the primary financial backer, he mentioned that he is exploring possibilities in private equity financing.
McDougall and Nolen partnered with Washington, D.C.-based architect George Calomiris, whose firm provided some groundwork sketches and displays for the meeting. The development would feature on-site parking and a large “green space” that could be used for outdoor activities.
At the meeting, Calomiris explained that his stylistic choices would reflect “early 20th-century forms and techniques,” effectively returning the buildings to their original appearance. On a previous trip to Philadelphia, Calomiris took photographs of various residences and storefronts in Mt. Airy to cultivate a greater understanding of the area’s unique historical architecture.
The extremely vocal audience brought up a myriad of suggestions regarding the potential construction.
Several residents expressed concern about the orientation of the new complex; while original blueprints had the buildings perpendicular to Johnson Street, feedback led Calomiris to develop a model in which the buildings sit parallel to the road. This change would boost the amount of green space on the site, increasing its visual appeal. Other widespread topics of discussion included burdens on street parking, increased traffic flow on Johnson Street and the impact on property values.
Although the developers addressed each question, the fledgling status of the project left many more specific queries unanswered.
The developers also touched on the fact that the undertaking will be both creatively and financially challenging. Since Presser and Nugent were not intended to house residential units when they were first built, skilled craftsmen are required to ensure the building meets the standards of the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
“It’s not just the initial construction [that will be difficult]. It’s also the ongoing maintenance and care of historic buildings," McDougall said. "They’re more expensive to repair and more expensive to maintain.”
Additionally, the unorthodox design of both structures means that no two units will be the same: each individual apartment will have a specific and unique layout. While this detail would certainly extend the construction schedule, McDougall feels that the customized living spaces could be a major drawing point for potential renters. “People don’t want a generic drywall box,” he said. “They want to walk in and say, ‘Wow, this is a really nice apartment.’”
McDougall and Nolen consulted three community groups regarding their plans. They met with representatives of each group on two occasions prior to the Aug. 16 meeting.
Laura Morris Siena, interim executive director of West Mt. Airy Neighbors, thinks that the project has the potential to revitalize the area. “It’s a really great statement that we could have new market-rate rental housing coming to [the area],” she said. “It really says that Mt. Airy and Germantown are viable communities.”
While the developers suggested that the apartments might be marketed toward young professionals, Siena said that longtime residents could benefit as well. “I think this is going to be a great place for people who are retiring but want to stay in the neighborhood. It will keep people [here] who have always lived here. In that sense, it will strengthen the neighborhood.”
Both developers have a passion for historic preservation and expansion. Last July, McDougall’s company converted an historic 80,000-square foot industrial building at 30th and Cherry streets into loft-style apartments, a task that earned the firm historic tax credits. Nolen comes from a long line of Philadelphia builders, as his great-great-grandfather was a primary subcontractor on the Broad Street subway line.
While the precise details of the Presser-Nugent proposal are far from finalized, the meeting was a significant step toward eventually breaking ground. “This is an opportunity for both us and the community to restore these landmark historic buildings,” Nolen said. “These are national treasures. The success of this project will certainly mean a lot [to Mt. Airy]. If this is a success, it will certainly lead things in the right direction.”
