Ken Weinstein, a local developer who got his start rehabbing rowhomes and then renting them, is looking to make big changes in Northwest Philly in the coming year. His plans include partial conversion of an 1883 Gothic church, the first new residential building in lower Germantown for many years, and a potential job development center.
According to Weinstein, converting the Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church is a "win-win" because, though he'll turn part of the building into 20 condos, he'll lease the sanctuary to the congregation, which has become too small to occupy the entire church anyway. The conversion of the church might also include a theater.
Weinstein isn't just focused on condos, though: a project in lower Germantown will turn a six story building into one and two bedroom apartments. Though the design isn't finalized, Weinstein says he'd like to see a cafe move into a first floor commercial space.
What else is he up to? Weinstein says that he might be looking to create a massive job center. Of course, he'll continue working on the conversion of St. Peter's Episcopal Church into a new campus for the Waldorf School.
· Local developer Ken Weinstein discusses 2014 plans for NW Philadelphia [Newsworks]