Developer Jeffrey Tubbs: 'I have a soft spot for giving back'

Lansdowne native Jeffrey Tubbs comes from a hardworking family. His father, David, has worked as a plumbing contractor for more than four decades.

But the younger Tubbs preferred the city to the suburbs. He attended high school at Friends Select in Center City, then went to Boston University and on to the University of Pennsylvania for a master's in urban planning.

Now 37, he's an active developer, currently working to convert vacant lots on Frankford Avenue into commercial space and condos and doing smaller townhouse projects around the Northeast.

He learned first-hand the push-pull process by which neighborhoods, city agencies, and private investors buy, sell, and develop land: From 2001 to 2008, Tubbs worked for the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

"It exposed me to all the different parts of community and urban redevelopment," he said. "One day, I'd be working on the expansion of the Convention Center, and the next with Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofits in different neighborhoods. Understanding the political process was really helpful."

He left the Redevelopment Authority in 2008 to start his own firm.

His first project was the Flats at Girard Point, five single-family houses and four condos on North Third Street between Girard Avenue and West Thompson Street in Northern Liberties completed in 2011. (He's getting ready to break ground on a project across the street.)

Meanwhile, he launched Urban Roots, a nonprofit that aims to enhance and build urban redevelopment projects through fine arts and youth mentoring.

"I did Big Brother Big Sister and have a soft spot for giving back," Tubbs said. "When we started Urban Roots, it was just myself and my partner, Bob Shaw. We found 15 kids in Old Kensington and showed them what's out there" as careers in urban planning and real estate.

At the Flats at Girard Point, Urban Roots, the Old Kensington Neighborhood Association, and Kensington South Community Partners built an urban topiary.

On Amber Street, Tubbs is developing three single-family houses with partner Ryan Hearting of Artistry Residential and general contractor Duling Construction. He's also building condos and an office space for himself at 1300 N. American St.

But his biggest venture so far will be two adjoining properties on the 2000 block of Frankford Avenue, both vacant lots. The larger site, expected to house 19 units and two commercial spaces next to a metalworks shop, will be called Frankford Stacks. The other, still without a name, is expected to have six condos and one commercial space.

His partners include Shaw and Hearting and general contractor James Maransky of E-Built. Architects on his projects include Interface Studio, Canno, and Coscia Moos.

Urban Roots has partnered with ACE Mentor (Architecture Construction & Engineering). "When I first started mentoring with Urban Roots, I realized I needed help," Tubbs said. "I met with ACE, and they really liked our model."

Together, they host events targeting young people interested in architecture and engineering, graphic design, and real estate. "The idea is to show them it could be a great profession," Tubbs said.

His work as developer and volunteer also linked him up with Jahmall Crandall, a local neighborhood leader, and Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin to fund and build a playground in Point Breeze. Tubbs is heading the Ralph Brooks Tot Lot, and NFL Films is shooting a documentary on the project, set to break ground this month.

With funding from Barwin's foundation, Make the World Better, Urban Roots hired Claire Laver to run the growing operation. She had been executive director of Franklin's Paine Skatepark Fund.

"My philosophy is to surround myself with smart, good people," Tubbs said. Former Gov. Ed Rendell's son Jesse Rendell, for instance, "is not getting paid a thing to sit on the board of Urban Roots, but he's taken an ownership role, and he has been a great guide for me."