In Camden, an abandoned firehouse becomes an art gallery

An abandoned firehouse on the 1800 block of Broadway has been renovated as the latest anchor in a South Camden neighborhood trying to make a comeback.

Heart of Camden has spent three years transforming the building into an art gallery to attract youngsters, artists, and developers to the city.

On a busy stretch of Broadway, not far from the Delaware River, the soon-to-open arts center sits on a block dotted with a mixture of abandoned storefronts and renovated homes.

"It's been a long adventure," said Lisa Kiernan, executive director of the housing and community nonprofit. "It's been a long journey, but a good one."

It is the latest coup in a spiritual mission by Msgr. Michael Doyle, the Sacred Heart Church pastor and a fixture in Camden for more than 40 years, to use the arts to build the old neighborhood.

So far, two artists have rented studio space on the second floor. The gallery has eight studios, built at angles, with plenty of natural light beaming inside.

"They thought that would be cool for artists," said construction manager Phil Nippins. "Artists are a little unique."

A large old printing press sits in a back room on the first floor. It will be used to print brochures and materials.

The first floor also includes a work space for children to do art projects, which will likely include painting and sculpting.

"The community will enjoy it," Kiernan said during a tour Tuesday.

About 200 volunteers pitched in on the project, which cost about $675,000, Nippins said. The firehouse, built in 1889, was last used as apartments, but had been vacant for about 15 years, he said.

The entire building was gutted. A brick wall was left intact. The gallery now has polished shiny wood floors.

Two custom-made dark-brown wooden doors, about 11 feet high, were installed in the old station entrance. A wrought iron gate in front of the doors was chained Tuesday, but the doors will be open on days with nice weather.

Heart of Camden plans to hold a closing ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday to officially mark the completion of the project and thank its volunteers and funders, Kiernan said.

The arts center will be turned over to FireWorks, which will manage the facility along with a group of artists, Kiernan said.

Besides renovating and selling hundreds of run-down homes in an area once described as unlivable, Heart of Camden has been on a quest to infuse cultural and recreational attractions into the Waterfront South neighborhood.

Trees and rain gardens have been planted, hopeful signs that one day the violence-plagued neighborhood will turn the corner.

"This was Father Doyle's vision," Kiernan said. Doyle has been undergoing treatment for mouth cancer but remains a driving force behind the projects, she said.

Diagonally across Broadway from the firehouse, a gymnasium built in the old Star Theater draws about 3,000 people a month.

There are other neighborhood anchors, such as the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum and the South Camden Theatre Company.

A park will be dedicated in memory of Sister Margaret Mary Hynes, a nun at Sacred Heart, on Friday afternoon on Fillmore Street. The much-loved "Sister Peg" was killed in 2002 when the car she was riding in was struck by a vehicle driven by a man smoking crack.

Less than a block from the arts center, construction is underway at Broadway and Jasper Street to turn another abandoned building into a writers' coffeehouse.

The house will honor Camden native and haiku master Nick Virgilio. The poet, who died in 1989, often read his work at a Camden diner.

The former doctor's office and pharmacy will be converted into a space where authors can give lectures and talk about their work. There will also be a library and media center, and meeting space.

The project, expected to cost about $700,000, should be completed in September, Nippins said.

"We have more things coming. There's going to be more excitement," Kiernan said.

mburney@phillynews.com 856-779-3814 @mlburney