Tacony Named “Great Neighborhood” Winner by American Planning Association

Photo credit: Ashley Hahn

“Will people finally notice Tacony?” was a question posed right here on Property many, many moons ago (about a month or so after the blog was started, actually). It wasn’t meant to snub, but was, rather, a sincere query in the wake of a surging neighborhood revitalization effort made by the Tacony Community Development Corporation with other local groups.

More recently, Tacony CDC Corridor Manager Alex Balloon took to the Historic Tacony Revitalization Project blog in January to make known the slew of projects slated to improve the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood. And boy, are those efforts noticed now!

See, the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter has announced this year’s winners of its Great Places awards, honors bestowed on a select number of “unique, memorable places” in the categories of “Great Neighborhoods” and “Great Public Spaces.” Tacony is one of two “Great Neighborhoods” winners, meaning it has been shown to have “exemplary character, quality, planning, identity, cultural interest, and community involvement with a sustainable vision for tomorrow.” You can see the rest of the winners here.

According to the APAPA’s website, Tacony was selected for its historical significance (it’s “one of the oldest and continually occupied communities in the city”), accessibility, and revival efforts, most notably its Torresdale Ave Storefront Improvement Program, a project designed to spruce up storefronts along the neighborhood’s main corridor.

In a press release from office of Councilman Bobby Henon, Alex Balloon is quoted as saying:

“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award. We’ve always known Tacony was a great place and over the past few years key projects, smart neighborhood planning, and strong partnerships have made it even better. We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and our project partners. We’re looking ahead to take on even more exciting projects in the near future.”

Congratulations, Tacony!