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Meeting set on fate of Germantown YWCA building

Neighborhood groups in Philadelphia's Germantown will meet Thursday to discuss saving the historic YWCA building on Germantown Avenue adjacent to Vernon Park.

Neighborhood groups in Philadelphia's Germantown will meet Thursday to discuss saving the historic YWCA building on Germantown Avenue adjacent to Vernon Park.

Germantown United CDC, Germantown Community Connection and other groups are hosting the 6:30 p.m. public meeting at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, "to hear about the threat to this significant historic centerpiece in Germantown's Town Center and the proposal on the table that may save it," Germantown United said in a statement.

The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority owns the YWCA after it foreclosed against Germantown Settlement several years ago. In September, the PRA sought bids to purchase and rehabilitate the structure, noting the city of Philadelphia might subsidize improvements of up to $1 million. The YWCA building is in disrepair after years of vacancy, fires, and vandalism.

Only one developer has submitted a proposal, Mission First Housing Group, to build senior housing in partnership with the Center in the Park.

- Erin Arvedlund