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When analyzing communal residential opportunities last year, Josephine Fulginiti knew she needed to find a place that would accentuate her sociability and with assistance from the St. Maron Community Development Corp., the seeker secured space earlier this spring at Cedars Village, 921-31 Ellsworth St.
She, fellow residents and personnel from the nonprofit united May 10 to mark the Passyunk Square location’s grand opening, the culmination of a vision by a neighboring parish’s former pastor.
“So far I have enjoyed exploring our commonalities and witnessing how pleasant everyone is,” Fulginiti said Friday, two weeks after her move to the five-story, 22,000-square-foot quarters. “The inhabitants take pride in themselves, which means they will do the same with where they live.”
She and the 64-room destination’s other dwellers are bonding thanks to the late Monsignor Sharbel Lischaa, who helmed St. Maron’s Catholic Church, 1013 Ellsworth St., for 36 years and who responded to aging parishioners’ concerns about remaining safely in their homes by courting partners to build a facility. Having established a nonprofit, community members, including representatives from the South Ninth Street Businessmen’s Association, teamed with city, state and federal figures to fund construction.
“We are endeavoring to be a great resource for those 55 years of age and older,” corporation board member and parishioner Joseph Katter said of marketing the one-time Philadelphia Parking Authority lot, whose transformation began March 29, 2012. “We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had the chance to help many from that population to remain close to their original residences.”
The inhabitant of the 1000 block of Ellsworth Street noted the expanse, whose earliest lodgers signed leases May 1, has filled 42 of its slots, with roughly 60 percent of tenants hailing from South Philly. He and his peers aligned with New Jersey-based Ingerman and Haley Donovan Architecture and Paoli-situated BCM Affordable Housing to erect the project, whose amenities include 28 parking spaces; a rooftop garden assisting in 100 percent stormwater retention; a community room; a social services suite; and apartments endowed with washer/dryer condensing units and handicap accessible showers.
“We have more women than men, but no matter the gender, we are working to keep everyone in their comfort zone so that they don’t feel as if they are going through that much of a change,” corporation board presence Denise Eddis said.
The resident of the 900 block of Annin Street has overseen the application process, which has involved helping potential renters to understand income requirements, among other aspects. She has observed their receptivity to their new environs, with property manager Dena Stills-Todd likewise picking up positive feedback.
“They love it,” the Ingerman employee, hard at work in preparing social events calendars, said from a deck, a feature on every floor. “They are desiring comfort and to make their apartments seem like their own homes. We’re happy so many of them can stay within walking distance of transportation, stores, worship sites and family, and we’re all about promoting long, healthy lives.”
Though a separate entity, the development corporation has striven to benefit St. Maron’s, the nation’s second oldest Maronite church. Its constituents had diligently looked to honor the spiritual haven’s need to keep its flock thriving, and with the grand opening behind them, they feel they have partially completed their mission.
“Monsignor Sharbel was such a wonderful person,” corporation president and South Ninth Street vice president Lee Esposito said. “He was a regular guy who had this amazing ability to connect with people and understand their situations.”
The resident of the 800 block of Carpenter Street recalls the first sermon he heard from the religious leader, who died of kidney disease in August ’11. In it, he advised people not to complain about having problems because needing to face dilemmas means that God has remembered them. The talk hooked Esposito immediately and led to his enhanced involvement in the construction.
As far back as ’07, with former 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco as a supporter, the endeavor looked as if it could occupy the old American Ice and Coal Co., 1101-33 S. Ninth St., Katter said. The site’s demolition occurred a year later, and the corporation soon after learned from the then-politician that he had another developer interested in the land. Offered the parking authority property, the entity accepted and set itself to fostering partnerships with backers.
“Overall, everything has moved along smoothly,” Esposito said, adding that Cedars Village rises only three stories along Ellsworth Street to have it comply with the aesthetics of neighboring rowhouses.
The Bella Vista inhabitant delivered remarks at the dedication, with DiCicco, his 1st District successor Mark Squilla, state Sen. Larry Farnese, Mayor Michael Nutter and Rev. Vincent Farhat, St. Maron’s current pastor, also addressing the crowd, which witnessed a ribbon-cutting and enjoyed inspecting the building, which includes artwork and vintage South Philly-based photos.
“We’ve had many positive reactions, and we’re confident we can provide ample ways for the residents to enjoy their surroundings,” Katter said, with last weekend’s Ninth Street Italian Market Festival and June 14 to 16’s Lebanese Festival at St. Maron’s as cited boons.
“I feel they have done a great job putting everything together,” Fulginiti, hopeful that the overseers’ plans will yield trips and other non-facility-situated types of diversions, added. “When I heard of my approval, I had a great feeling that I would be among fantastic individuals, and I’ve not been disappointed.
For more information, call 215-391-4089, or visit ingerman.com.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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