NLNA Community Center

Location: Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA

Client: Northern Liberties Neighbor Association

Completion Date: 2008

Project Type: Institutional

The Northern Liberties Neighbor Association (NLNA) is a civic association that represents approximately 6,000 men, women and children, and more than 100 businesses, who call the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia home. Founded in 1978, the NLNA has been in operation for more than 30 years. In 2007, the NLNA acquired a derelict building located at 700 N. Third St, with the intention of renovating it into a community center, with two rental apartments above. Onion Flats worked with the NLNA to devise a phased master plan for the existing building and site. Phase 1 (the renovation of the existing three-story corner building was completed in 2008. In 2012, the renovation of a one-story garage to the north into a commercial space was completed. Plans for a future phase 3 include landscaping and a new structure to expand the Community Center to provide even more flexibility for the organization to house a variety of events and programs.