Since the resurrection of the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce–also known as the ‘DEC Center’–Philadelphia University has been itching to bring more additions to its notoriously green campus. The university is no stranger to change in location and name: from the Philadelphia Textile School on Spring Garden Street, then Buttonwood Street, to Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science in East Falls and then to its present title.
In its journey in becoming the private institution it is today, PhilaU has expanded in the East Falls area and grown to a beautiful, lush campus with around 3,500 students. Since the DEC Center, PhilaU has been working on a 30-year plan that would change the entire campus ecosystem and impact the East Falls community.
In February, representatives from PhilaU presented this plan to members of the East Falls area and since then have been gathering feedback through public forums. From articles in The Fallser, the East Falls newspaper, and various other online publications, it seems as though the iitial plan was met with immediate push back. It’s hard to blame the people of East Falls since this plan involved at least 21 new buildings and about three new sports fields. From clips found online of the town hall-esque meetings, the atmosphere could be described as tense, with members of the East Falls community candidly expressing their distaste for the 30 Year Master Plan.
Since then, PhilaU has altered their plan with community guidance. The updated plan, featured on the Physical Plant section of the PhilaU homepage, features nine new buildings with only one new sport’s field. Still, there are critics who believe the placement and size of these buildings will negatively affect the green space and overall inviting atmosphere that East Falls is known for.
Of those criticisms, the five floor garage, with a walking bridge extending over Henry Avenue, is highlighted most often. However, most students on campus agree that this addition would greatly improve the parking problem at PhilaU.
Further, we cannot overlook the main reason why PhilaU wants more university buildings in East Falls, it continues to accept more students. With retention rates around 75-79%, the institution would do well to grow its campus in time with increasing rates. This then bears the question of whether or not East Falls can become a college town. Many institutions such as Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania continue to buy, convert or construct buildings. It seems PhilaU is on its way to following these schools’ footsteps–whether by force or not.