Clean and green neighborhoods improve physical and mental health, make a neighborhood pleasant for its residents, and inviting to outside shoppers.
Germantown United CDC provides cleaning for the Central Germantown commercial corridor five (5) days a week. This includes regularly sweeping the sidewalks, removing trash, litter and other debris, weeding curbs and tree pits, coordinating graffiti removal, and other beautification efforts.
Our Cleaning Ambassadors wear green uniforms. When you see them on the street, please say hello! Only by working together will we create a cleaner, greener, and healthier Germantown.
If you notice something along the corridor that could use our attention contact us.
Germantown United CDC is proud to be part the citywide PHL Taking Care of Business corridor cleaning program. Our cleaning services are provided at no additional cost to businesses and commercial property owners in our service area thanks to funding secured by GU from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, City of Philadelphia. Learn more about the PHL TCB program below.
Our Service Area
Central Germantown Commercial Corridor
This map shows the area cleaned by Germantown United CDC.
The City designated this cleaning area based on the number of businesses, pedestrian volume, and need for cleaning. GU’s Cleaning Ambassadors work on the following blocks:
- Chelten Avenue: from Baynton Street to Morris Street
- Germantown Avenue: from Coulter Street to Washington Lane [1]
- Greene Street: from Schoolhouse Lane to Rittenhouse Street
- Wayne Avenue: from Chelten Avenue to Rittenhouse Street
- Maplewood Mall (including Armat Street)
[1] In 2019-20, the service area ended at High/Harvey.
Cleaning ambassadors clean at least twenty feet in along secondary side streets intersecting with the commercial area, when time permits.
It is possible that the cleaning area could expand if more resources are available in the future.
Civic Spaces
In addition to maintaining the commercial area, GUCDC has committed to supporting cleaning and maintenance at four public civic spaces within our service area: Vernon Park, The Chelten Greene, Maplewood Mall, and Market Square Park. Civic spaces are an extension of the community and integral components of the Central Germantown corridor. Keeping these spaces cared for and well-maintained will help to foster greater civic engagement, promote economic development, and enhance environmental sustainability in Germantown.
Vernon Park
The Emerald of Germantown is located on the west side of Germantown Ave just north of Chelten Ave. GUCDC will focus on the edge of the park fronting the Germantown Ave corridor. Want to get involved in the park? Join Friends of Vernon Park!
The Chelten Greene
This major bus stop for the SEPTA X and XH routes is located at Greene St & W Chelten Ave. The plaza was renovated by the City of Philadelphia in 2020.
Maplewood Mall
The City of Philadelphia is rebuilding the roadway, sidewalks, and plazas of Maplewood Mall. The City’s goal is to rebuild the Mall as a great public space and shopping street that will help the overall improvement of Central Germantown. GUCDC’s cleaning efforts will focus on the two plazas that bookend the mall, located at Germantown Ave & Armat St and Germantown Ave & Greene St.
Market Square Park
The park is located at 5501 Germantown Ave, between Schoolhouse Ln and Church Ln, in front of the Germantown Historical Society.
Cleaning Ambassadors
GUCDC’s cleaning and maintenance work has been gradually phased in throughout the fall 2020 and is now fully operational (5) days a week. For our program, GUCDC has partnered with Depaul USA and Friends of Germantown Northwest to carry out the actual cleaning. The two serve as GUCDC’s “cleaning provider.” Both partners are Germantown-based organizations – this is especially important to us. Get to know them!
Depaul USA
Depaul USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that services people experiencing homelessness through the provision of individualized case management; transitional housing; permanent supportive housing; and respite care. They operate five housing programs in Northwest Philadelphia and assist their clients with obtaining benefits, re-entering the workforce and securing permanent housing. Depaul’s transitional housing program is located in Germantown at 5725 Sprague Street (19138), at E Chelten Avenue.
In 2012, Depaul USA created the janitorial franchise Immaculate Cleaning Services (ICS) to meet a double bottom line: to secure more consistent and diversified funding and to create new routes to employment for the homeless men and women the agency serves. At any point in time, Depaul has a pool of over 50 men and women who are searching for part-time employment to gain a foothold towards independence. ICS has also completed certification as a B-Corporation, which means that it meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Learn more at depaulusa.org.
Friends of Germantown Northwest
Friends of Germantown Northwest (FOGNW) is operated by social change agent Keith Schenk. FOGNW promotes clean streets and safe corridors, works to improve social conditions, and make direct positive change through a hyperlocal model that intersects art activism and social justice. In addition to supporting the PHL TCB corridor cleaning program, FOGNW hosts numerous cleanups throughout Germantown all year long. The organization is known for being progressive and inclusive, engaging hundreds of volunteers each year and every person of interest without bias.
Keith is a Germantown resident and serves as the block captain of the 100 block of East Bringhurst Street. Learn more about Keith in this Germantown Info Hub story! Follow FOGNW on Facebook to keep tabs on his work.
How Our Team Works Together
Depaul USA is focused on the length and breadth of the corridors, providing cleaning and maintenance services in our service area five days per week with a crew of three Cleaning Ambassadors: Jevell Harris, James Maynor, Tom Shuler. Depaul USA’s Employment Specialist Lynn Giordano supervises the crew.
Friends of Germantown Northwest works once or twice-weekly (depending on the time of year), committing four to eight hours each week on specialized projects and areas that require additional TLC. FOGNW services key public/civic spaces on our corridor: Vernon Park, The Chelten Greene bus stop, Maplewood Mall, and Market Square Park. These areas are also serviced by the Depaul USA crew.
GUCDC’s corridor management team manages the initiative, working closely with the cleaning providers. GUCDC also works directly with the Department of Commerce and Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), the entities managing PHL TCB citywide.
In addition to cleaning and maintenance services, our team acts as community stewards, sharing helpful information with business owners and residents to reduce short dumping and litter, and promote the benefits of community beautification and pride of place.
Do Your Part
There is a growing body of evidence showing how revitalized spaces in blighted urban areas can help improve safety and overall mental health for the surrounding residents – reducing crime, violence, and even feelings of depression.
For Businesses and Commercial Property Owners:
The PHL TCB program is considered supplementary. Cleaning assistance is not a substitute for personal responsibility. Businesses still need to sweep and pickup to ensure the sidewalk in front of your building is maintained. Let’s do this together!
- How to Be a Good Business Neighbor
- Recycling and Trash Bin requirements for Food Businesses
Any business that sells prepared or prepackaged food for consumption off the premises MUST provide cans for trash and recycling. These cans must be placed within ten (10) feet of the public entrance to the business during the business’ normal hours of operation. - If you have questions about your responsibilities, please contact us.
For Residents:
- Did you know that you can get free cleanup supplies? The City’s Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) loans tools and supplies to volunteers who want to clean their neighborhoods. Submit a supply request form here and organize your own cleanup. During COVID-19, work solo or with a small group to stay safe.
- Get active with Philly311. When the problem is too big, alert the city (or GUCDC). To report a property that is not being maintained, illegal dumping and other maintenance issues, or to request graffiti removal, residents can contact 311. Use the app or call (215) 686-8686. Reporting these issues matters!
- Become a Block Captain. Connect with Keep Philadelphia Beautiful. Get a free street tree or yard tree! Visit cleanphl.org for more tips and other info.
About Philadelphia Taking Care of Business
Our cleaning services are part of a new citywide corridor cleaning program called Philadelphia Taking Care of Business (PHL TCB), funded by the Department of Commerce, City of Philadelphia. PHL TCB funds community-based nonprofits to sweep sidewalks and remove litter within neighborhood commercial corridors.
PHL TCB has four main goals:
- Maintain clean commercial districts in Philadelphia neighborhoods.
- Promote the economic success of neighborhood businesses by creating an inviting environment for shoppers.
- Create work opportunities for Philadelphians.
- Grow the capacity of local small businesses and organizations that provide cleaning services.
Increased funding for commercial corridor cleaning—championed by Councilwoman Cherelle Parker and secured by City Council in November 2019—made PHL TCB possible. Learn more about how the program works.
Workforce Development
PHL TCB invests in people and small businesses by creating employment opportunities for residents and keeping Philadelphia’s neighborhood commercial corridors clean. Germantown United CDC committed to hiring neighborhood residents. Cleaning Ambassadors:
- Earn a living wage of at least $15 an hour
- Work on a regular schedule
- Get paid workforce training related to their work
- Don’t need previous experience or a high school diploma
Expanding Our Services
When the City’s request for proposals (RFP) was issued, the Central Germantown business corridor did not have an active cleaning provider. In the recent past, the corridor benefited from regular sidewalk sweeping and litter removal made possible through a special services district that covered the area. Without dedicated services, trash mounted. The declining physical conditions had a negative impact and contributed to false perceptions of the corridor.
GUCDC’s board reviewed the RFP in 2020 and voted to expand the organization’s services to include corridor cleaning, recognizing the immediate and pressing need for clean streets in Germantown’s primary commercial artery. GUCDC was awarded the PHL TCB contract in August 2020. Cleaning services began in full-force in October 2020. Up until then, GUCDC’s corridor revitalization activities had been limited to providing direct assistance to merchants. We are excited to expand our services and aim to build upon past efforts to make our business and shopping environment clean, safe and accessible.
Map of All PHL TCB Cleaning Areas in Germantown
GU created this map to show all the areas in Germantown that receive corridor cleaning support and regular removal of trash and litter through the PHL Taking Care of Business program. In addition to Central Germantown, Lower Germantown, Wayne Ave & Wayne Junction area is maintained by Ready, Willing & Able and the Chew Avenue area is maintained by Watts Facility Solutions. Click to open in Google Maps and explore.
Lower Germantown, Wayne Ave & Wayne Junction
Cleaning Provider: Ready, Willing & Able
Contact RWA: 215-795-3255
Javier Rivera, Director of Community Improvement Projects | Email | Website
Cleaning Boundaries:
Germantown Ave (Coulter to Berkeley)
Berkley St (Germantown to Wayne)
Wayne Ave (Berkley to Mannheim)
Chew Avenue
Cleaning Provider: Watts Facility Solutions
Contact WFS: (215) 243-4106 | Website
Chew & Chelten:
Chew Ave (Locust to Stafford)
E Chelten Ave (Musgrave to Bloyd)
Chew & Washington, Chew & Phil Ellena:
Chew (Walnut to Duval)
Chew (Sharpnack to Slocum)
in Germantown & Mt. Airy
