WCGN

WCGN – West Central Germantown Neighbors

Welcome to West Central Germantown, a neighborhood situated within one of the oldest settlements in Pennsylvania and located in the northwest section of Philadelphia.

West Central Germantown Neighbors (WCGN) is an all-volunteer association dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life in a diverse neighborhood. WCGN works to limit expansion of institutional uses and supports historic preservation. Members initiate and encourage group projects to maintain a safe and beautiful place to live, including a garden on the grounds of the Tulpehocken Train Station. We are proud of the creativity and inclusiveness of the neighborhood culture, and sponsor social events to strengthen community bonds.

Help Needed! WCGN Newsletter, Website, Facebook
We need you to help us keep our communication systems fresh and relevant! Please step up and  ask Fairleigh Barnes, our Communications Committee Chair, how you can help.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Food & Other Resources

Please check out a special edition of the WCGN Newsletter here for information on donating and receiving food and other resources in our neighborhood.

Correction: Germantown Friends Meeting offers their food distribution on the 3rd Sunday of each month – not every Sunday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Community

Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion
Sunday 11/16 3PM
Gilded Age Christmas Cook Book Launch and signing
Thursday 12/4 – Saturday 1/3
Victorian Christmas Tour of the Mansion
Find more EMM events here.

Wyck House & Garden
Visit Wyck’s website for upcoming events.

Zoning

226 Harvey Street Variance Hearing
Nov 19, 9:30
The Community meeting held on September 3 focused on a zoning variance to convert a single-family home into 6-units. Over 35 neighbors expressed concerns about parking, building capacity, work done without permits, and general lack of trust in owner/contractor given past experiences. The 29 votes cast were unanimously opposed. This was based on voting by 20 near neighbors and 9 “not near” neighbors.

Neighbors interested in attending and possibly testifying via on 11/19/25 Zoom must register here. When you register fill in the address of the property as well as the #ZP-2025-004094 and the #MI-2025-002914. You may also email the ZBA with your reasons for opposing or supporting the variance to convert the property to 6 residential units. In your email please also include the address and ZP and MI #s listed above.

28-30 W. Haines St. ZBA Hearing
December 10, 9:30am
The October 1st meeting gave the 4 neighbors who attended, the opportunity to consider allowing the entire property – the 3-story main twin house as well as the freestanding 1-story building – to have Visitor Accommodation (AirBnB) zoning.
Near Neighbors 1 Supported 1 Opposed
“Not Near” Neighbors 1 Supported 1 Opposed
WCGN will report the voting results to the ZBA along with a proviso requesting that, if the variance is granted, it be limited to 2 years.

This case will be heard by the ZBA on 12/10 at 9:30AM. Neighbors interested in attending should follow the same instructions listed above and register here. Use the property address and #ZP-2025-002638 and #MI-2025-002663. Send an email here.

5900 Pulaski Street ZBA Hearing Continued Again…
ZBA Chairman William Bergman once again continued the hearing at the request of the property owner’s attorney for 5900 Pulaski – this time until January 14, 2025 at 9:30AM.
WCGN’s letter of opposition has been filed with the ZBA.
As they continue to operate illegally, you may file an online 311 report here.

History & Heritage

Tulpehocken Station Historic District Events House & Garden Tour 
To celebrate the anticipated naming of the Historic District to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, plans are underway for an Historic House & Garden Tour this coming spring. 
If you would like to volunteer your House &/or Garden for the tour please let us know. 
If you would like to volunteer as a guide or in any other way to help us make this a success, please contact us now.
Other events are being considered as well so watch for details in the coming months.

Green Space

FOW Germantown Connection Project: Trail Improvement
Friends of the Wissahickon are working on a project to update trails in parts of the Germantown section of the Wissahickon. A trailhead will be located near Four Freedoms at 6101 Morris. To learn more about the “All Person Trail” they are planning with gentle slopes and wide paths read the Germantown Connection Phase II Project Report

Wednesday January 28th at 6pm
Annual Public Projects Meeting at the Waldorf School
Come join us to discuss:
*What should we know about you and your community?
*Questions/Concerns?
*Other folks we should reach out to?

Phil Kane Needs Our Help!
Phil Kane, Chair of the Green Space Committee, could use help at the Tulpehocken Station Garden emptying leaf bags into the mulch bins. Call him at 215-680-1131 or Suzanne at 215-720-0809 and meet us at the station.

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