From blight to bright?

A handful of Point Breeze neighbors can still remember when the area was an attractive mix of commercial and residential property.

Now the community is looking to reclaim its once-proud reputation.

Last Thursday, 150 residents heard about a plan to transform Point Breeze’s blighted conditions into a thriving epicenter of activity.

The proposal is a revamped version of a 1997 blueprint. Subsidized with $40,000 from the Reinvestment Fund – an organization that aids community development – the amended version reflects the potential of the city’s ever-evolving housing market.

"This plan is looking to recognize and capitalize on these changes," said Scott Page, cofounder of Interface Studio, the planning firm hired by the Point Breeze Community Development Coalition to formulate the project. "We needed it updated to reflect today’s conditions and think about the future of Point Breeze."

With the help of University of Pennsylvania students, Page, a Penn professor, defined the study area as Washington Avenue to Snyder and 25th Street to Broad.

During last week’s meeting at St. Thomas Aquinas Church hall, 1719 Morris St., Page presented preliminary recommendations, including a gateway into Point Breeze and the transformation of dilapidated housing and vacant lots into mixed-use facilities.

The plan also includes a new building for the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, 1717-21 Point Breeze Ave.

Other "key issues" of the plan include technological, commercial, economic and brownfield development, said Page.

A gateway district on South 20th Street would create a new access to the neighborhood, while a refurbished Point Breeze Avenue could potentially revitalize the community, he said.

"To bring back the amount of retail to Point Breeze Avenue, there has to be people coming to the avenue from outside of the neighborhood as well as the inside," Page said.

The area can benefit from its architecturally rich buildings and prime location in the city, said Page, who added that the coalition will seek funding from various state and local agencies.

"Point Breeze is a very well-located neighborhood," he said. "Everyone knows this except the people outside of the area."

Rita Butler, of the 1100 block of South Mole Street, said neighbors should become involved in any transformation.

"Residents need to realize that South Philly is going forward whether they give their input or not," said Butler, 57.

Everyone who attended last week’s meeting received a two-page questionnaire to return to the coalition.

LIKE SOME OTHER portions of the city, Point Breeze has suffered from declining population, which added to its deterioration, Page said. The neighborhood lost 7 percent of its residents over the last decade.

But Page pointed out that the southeast portion of the study area actually has experienced population growth and said the project will "reinforce these positive trends."

The plan also will address ways to reduce crime, said Claudia Sherrod, president of the Point Breeze Community Development Coalition.

"The crime comes because the place looks like a disaster," said Sherrod, who also is executive director of South Philadelphia Housing Opportunities Means Everybody Shares, or H.O.M.E.S. "But it doesn’t have to continue to be that way."

Other project recommendations include a neighborhood pride-and-awareness campaign that reinforces community involvement and provides forums to discuss progress.

An emphasis on Point Breeze’s rich history is also important, noted Page.

"There’s a lot of history in the neighborhood that young people or new residents may not know much about," the planner said.

Page suggested the coalition could do inexpensive publicity about the project through creating a Web site and radio station and using bulletin boards. Once the coalition secures funding, the money will be earmarked for specific projects and a newly formed zoning committee will work to expedite development, Page said.

"Changing zoning isn’t going to change the market," he said. "But having a revamped zoning committee gives the community some power."

In June, Page’s firm will draft a final report on the plan, complete with recommendations from residents.

Sometime next month, the coalition will show a video that highlights the goals of the proposal through the window of a vacant building at 1204 Point Breeze Ave.

In the meantime, the avenue will benefit from a new neighbor. Sherrod’s South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S. will open its location at 1444 Point Breeze Ave. next week. The move will provide additional space for the group to service the community, she said.

Robert Sharp, of 20th and Morris streets, called the meeting "extensive" and said homeowners need to invest their own dollars to maintain their property and their community.

His wife, Martha, had other concerns.

"The presentation was good but they also needed to address those older people and what will happen to them after the development," said Martha, 65. "I hope they won’t tax people out."

Sherrod urged the community to stay united.

"Being scattered in our thinking and not being able to work together will not accomplish anything," she said.