The business district surrounding the North 5th Street and Lehigh Avenue commercial corridors has been generally recognized as the traditional center of Hispanic commerce, cultural and social activity, not only in the city of Philadelphia, but the entire Delaware Valley. The core blocks of El Centro de Oro run along North 5th Street from Huntingdon to Allegheny Avenue and along Lehigh Avenue from Front to 8th Street. The district is located in the Fairhill section of Philadelphia. This area is designated as a low to moderate-income neighborhood, represents part of the State Enterprise Zone and runs along the northern border of the American Street Empowerment Zone. El Centro de Oro is home to the greatest concentration of Latino owned businesses, as well as multi-cultural and bilingual health related and community service organizations in the tri-state region.

The Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises’ (HACE) commitment to the revitalization of the 5th Street corridor remains a key focus and serves as the basis for its formation. HACE was organized, in part to prevent the closing of a central shopping structure, which is now known as the HACE Mall. At the time the building sat along side fifteen (15) vacant properties lining the corridor. HACE has developed over 20,000 square feet of retail/office space along the corridor, with another 25,000 square foot project, known as La Plaza, under development.

The MainStreet program has broadened and strengthened HACE’s relationships with merchants, property owners, residents, community organizations and institutions. By coordinating their diverse energy and resources, the program has created a new sense of hope and optimism, which is helping to maximize other revitalization efforts. Under the supervision of HACE’s experienced and capable staff, private and public resources will continue to be coordinated to advance the economic development of the entire community.

The Program

The 5th & Lehigh MainStreet program is affiliated with the Neighborhood MainStreet Initiative, a partnership of the National MainStreet Center and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). This nationally renowned program is breaking new ground in the inner cities with its comprehensive, incremental and carefully coordinated approach to commercial redevelopment.

The program began in July of 1997 and is administered by the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (HACE), a lead-ing Community Economic Development Corporation serving the Eastern North Philadelphia community since 1982.

Since its inception HACE’s mission has been to combat community deterioration through various economic development initiatives. These initiatives address commercial revitalization, employment opportunities, the creation of safe, affordable housing and the provision of supportive services to meet the needs of the residents while stabilizing the economic base of the neighborhood. HACE is one of the few community development corporations to achieve success in both housing and commercial development.

Program Highlights

Since July, 1997 the 5th & Lehigh MainStreet Program has accomplished the following:

• Received The Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s 1998 “TOWNY” award for outstanding achievement in Physical Improvement.
• Created the well-received “CENTRO de ORO” theme to promote the districts unique characteristics as Philadelphia’s “Latino Market.”
• In support of our standing committees, organized a highly successful coalition of businesses, residents, community organizations and government
• Implemented an infrastructure improvement program, which included the removal of dead trees, repairing and painting the unique sidewalks and providing additional trash receptacles
• Collaborated with the Hispanic and mainstream media, resulting in exceptional coverage and support for our program, in addition to positive stories of the increasing number of successful Latino businesses.
• Implemented a successful GRAFFITI-FREE ZONE Program complete with the development of an award winning bilingual Community Pride poster.

The H.A.C.E. MainStreet Program and Design Committee are actively working on a "New Vision" for the city's Hispanic business district known as "El Bloque de Oro (The Golden Block)" along North 5th Street between Huntingdon Street to the south and Allegheny Avenue to the north.

“Commercial Revitalization Through Good Design.” HACE’s MainStreet Program is laying the groundwork to develop a series of new design guidelines for the physical improvement of the buildings, sidewalks, lighting and streets along the 5th and Lehigh Avenue business corridor. An attractive design scheme will infuse new commercial activity for existing merchants, create a safer more appealing shopping district for patrons and the community, attract new market businesses and recreation to the area, and overcome a negative neighborhood image. Future related projects would address more regional needs and concerns.

Among the many ideas for the revitalization of the Fifth a Lehigh Business District are:

• Creating a culturally-based street design scheme to visually unify the entire business corridor. (i.e. the "palm-tree" utility poles and street identification signs)
• Promoting a series of "easy-to-do" building-front alterations and ideas, such as the use of certain common paint colors, wall treatments and awnings
• Adding new "street furnishings" such as planters, bl stops and sidewalk seating areas;
• Re-evaluating the current placement and presentatl of all signs along the corridor;
• Improving street lighting, including the design of mi attractive light poles;
• Painting highly visible, colorful murals on under-utilized walls.

A NEW "BLOQUE DE ORO"
FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM!
For more information and participation, call:
The Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (H.A.C.E.) MAINSTREET PROGRAM
2921-27 N. 5th Street, Suite 108
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Phone: 215.426.4990 FAX: 215.426.9122