Over the past three years, The Common Place (TCP) has undergone massive facility improvements. This 100 + year old building had fallen into disrepair. In 2014, major renovations took place to provide heat, air conditioning, a new roof, office space, and many other improvements. Since then, volunteers and staff painted walls, patched holes, hung artwork, and transitioned TCP into a comfortable home away from home for children, families, partners, and tenants.
Having done all this work, we still have approximately 6,000 square feet of space in our lower-level (basement) area. Roughly 1,200 square feet of this space is the unfinished commercial kitchen and the remaining 4,800 square feet is space for dining, dance, art, meetings, and other activities. We are pleased to report that a new floor was recently poured in this area. This work, valued at $22,500, was donated by the Madison Concrete Company, run by Cornerstone Christian Academy board member, Jim Dolente.
We are also pleased to announce that we have raised approximately 80% of our goal to renovate the kitchen and adjoining area which is estimated to cost approximately $250,000. We are $50,000 short of our goal. Planning has begun and work will commence in 2018. This kitchen and adjoining area is planned for completion in late 2018.
Thanks be to God for all he is doing for the children and families of Southwest Philadelphia through The Common Place! This building is much more than bricks and mortar. It’s a center of collaboration and partnerships; a shining light where organizations and individuals work together for the common goal of serving God through service to the community.
