Sacred Places Spring 2010 | Page 19

The Commercial Corridors Project BALTIMORE AVENUE VENUE MENU The historic houses of worship along Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia anchor their broader community, reflecting the neighborhood’s history, development and present identity. As part of Partners’ pilot Commercial Corridors Project, a coalition of congregations and neighborhood groups joined with University City District, the local special services district, to design the Baltimore Avenue Venue Menu, a brochure that graphically illustrates that the Avenue’s historic sacred places are open and available for public use. In May 2009, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Preservation Project gave the Baltimore Avenue coalition a $1,000 seed grant to support the production of the brochure — one of only four groups to receive an award. Design services for the brochure were donated by the University City District, and each coalition member contributed toward printing costs. The Venue Menu, printed and distributed this past February, will promote these neighborhood landmarks to new audiences, thereby building a broader base of support for the preservation and active use of West Philadelphia’s community-serving sacred places. Map places each site within the context of Baltimore Avenue and correlates to each building’s listing inside the brochure Text gives a brief history of the neighborhood and suggests creative ways to use these sacred places Graphic icons show amenities of each site and capacity of each rental space Photos highlight the architecture of each building Testimonial from current building tenant Contact information specifically for arranging building rental Sacred Places • Spring 2010 • 18