Germantown residents packed into the event room at Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library on March 11 to share their thoughts on SEPTA’s mixed-use development plan at Germantown station. 

The project aims to develop a 1.5-acre empty lot next to Germantown Station on Chelten Avenue into a transit-oriented, mixed-use development, bringing new housing and commercial spaces while generating much-needed revenue for the cash-strapped transit agency. SEPTA officials expect to select a developer by early 2026, with construction potentially beginning later that year, though no completion timeline has been announced.

The project represents one of the flagship efforts in SEPTA's Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program, launched in November 2023, and would be the first such project within Philadelphia city limits. A similar project is already underway at SEPTA's Ambler Station, which is currently accepting developer proposals.

SEPTA specifically chose this site for Philadelphia's first TOC project because of its excellent transit connectivity – it offers access to both Regional Rail through the Chestnut Hill East line and multiple bus routes (26, 41, and K) that run along Chelten Avenue, providing alternative transit options amid community concerns about the potential closure of the Chestnut Hill East line.

At the meeting, SEPTA set up a series of boards around the room with information on the project and space for attendees to leave feedback and suggestions. The room became packed before the meeting officially started, with local residents shoulder to shoulder reviewing the boards and leaving comments.

Jennifer Dougherty, manager of long-range planning at SEPTA and the project's manager, told the Local that public feedback was an important step for SEPTA to create a vision of what this project will look like. Going into the meeting, SEPTA did not have a specific outline for the type of housing, number of units or commercial spaces.

As attendees provided feedback, a common thread emerged – the growing need for housing in Germantown.

Suzanne Ponsen, president of West Central Germantown Neighbors, supports the project but emphasized the need for affordable housing. "It should be affordable and should reflect the actual income of the (Germantown zip codes)," Ponsen told the Local.

Ponsen would like to see 50% of the total units fall under affordable housing "in an effort to limit further gentrification and, in alignment with Mayor Parker's push for more affordable housing, this is what we should all be working towards."

They also liked the idea of new development clustered around public transit. 

"The idea of more transit oriented development is something that Philadelphia needs more of and Germantown needs more of,” said Robin Mohr, a 14-year Germantown resident. “The opportunity to have more amenities very close to the train station means it's going to be safer for people to use the train station. "I would love to see childcare available in the development. If you can walk out of your house, drop your kid off and get on the train, going to work, that is a functional system."

Bob Previdi, policy director for the Save the Train, a local advocacy group fighting to keep the Chestnut Hill West line open, was also enthusiastic about the project. "I think it's a fantastic, long overdue idea, and they're out here trying to get community input, which I think is great," he told the Local. "There's a lot of potential with the site, there's a lot of potential along Chelten Avenue to point things in the right direction."

"This site is so ideal for dense development, with all the bus routes and the train line," Previdi added. "Combined with the Chestnut Hill West Line, the corridor is ideally suited for growth. Why this hasn't happened sooner, I don't know."

Housing affordability also emerged as a key concern at SEPTA’s Ambler project, and the agency subsequently incorporated it into those plans.

State Rep. Andre Carroll, who represents Germantown, attended the meeting to hear constituent feedback. "I talked to several community members and I've heard those thoughts, and I'm always open to hearing more. I'm a big fan of SEPTA, and I believe we need to find a way to be able to invest in public transit," Carroll told the Local.

Talking with constituents, Carroll noted that "affordable housing is a need and safe spaces for young people."

Other suggestions included adding more green space, bike racks, cafes and public art. Some community members suggested additional potential sites for development, including a request for a project along the Chestnut Hill West Line.

Dougherty expressed satisfaction with the turnout and feedback SEPTA received at the meeting. "We've heard a lot of positivity and there's a lot of interest in terms of what we can place here," she said. "There's a lot of great ideas about gaps in what's already available in Germantown, whether that is providing more affordable housing options or new commercial spaces."