Get our newsletters

Reading Terminal Market breaks ground on $1 million Filbert Street Transformation Project

The streetscape improvement effort will transform the 1100 block of Filbert St. into a flexible, seasonal public-use area

Posted

Leaders from the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia joined with elected officials and funders June 7 to break ground on the Filbert Street Transformation Project. The initiative, which was announced in 2019 and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, puts an emphasis on extending the footprint of Philadelphia’s historic public market and activating an underutilized outdoor public space.

The $1 million initiative will reconstruct the 1100 block of Filbert Street into a seasonal, multi-use public area and thoroughfare. The project, of which several phases have been completed, will activate approximately 15,000 square feet of public space directly adjacent to the Market with a greatly improved streetscape. The project is being funded by grants from the William Penn Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Multi-Modal Transportation Fund, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.

“Useful and inviting outdoor spaces have become increasingly important to our city, its residents, and visitors throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting an emphasis on the importance of projects like this. As a cornerstone of the Philadelphia community and diverse, welcoming hub for our city, providing a safe, engaging outdoor experience in addition to the extensive options indoors is critical,” said Annie Allman, CEO and General Manager of the Reading Terminal Market. “I want to thank all of the elected officials and community members who supported this effort and our generous funders for enabling us to make this plan a reality including the Commonwealth, William Penn Foundation, Knight Foundation, and Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.”

The major elements of this project include streetscape improvements, mixed-use outdoor furniture, and artwork enhancements.


Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.


X