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WHAT DID PEC CDC WISH EXISTED?

A vibrant public space. 
LoLa 38​

In 2016, Tabb Management was hired by People’s Emergency Center CDC, in partnership with the Lindy Institute of Urban Innovation at Drexel University, and Wexford Science + Technology as the project manager for LoLa 38, a creative placemaking project in West Philadelphia. 

 

LoLa 38 used arts and community programming as a strategy for community engagement and a tool to gather community input. Programming occurred on and around the 14-acre former University City High School (UCHS) construction site and at the former United Bank building. Drexel University and Wexford Science + Technology are co-owners and co-developers of the 14-acre UCHS site and the former United Bank building site is owned by PECCDC.

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Informed by previous neighborhood plans and by collaborating with members of the community Working Group, local arts organizations, Drexel students and community volunteers, the project team:

  • transformed a portion of the United Bank parking lot into a parklet

  • planned 26 arts & community events

  • produced 1 community festival

  • hosted 6 workshops 

  • displayed 9 works of public art from local artists

 

...to encourage participation and inclusivity to extend beyond the project and fold into the long-term development of the community.

WHAT DID WE DO?

  • Project Planning

  • Program Development

  • Vendor Management

  • Budget Management

  • Communications

  • Community Engagement

  • Website Management

 

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Producing the Soul Farm Community Festival 

  • Giving residents a "new way to walk" by painting a colorful, geometric sidewalk mural outside The Bank

  • Listening to artists pitch their art to community members to choose which public art they wanted to see in their neighborhood

  • Watching my mother sing Destiny's Child with strangers during Sip N' Sang karaoke night

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