West Mount Airy

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Northwest Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19119
Boundaries	Roughly Germantown Avenue to Cresheim Valley, Allens Lane to Northwestern Avenue
Adjacent	East Mount Airy, Germantown, Chestnut Hill
Major streets	Germantown Avenue, Allens Lane, Mt. Airy Avenue
Transit	SEPTA Regional Rail (Mt. Airy Station), bus routes
Landmarks	Weavers Way Co-op, historic homes

West Mount Airy is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia renowned as a national model of successful residential racial integration. Since the 1950s, the neighborhood has maintained stable, diverse demographics through deliberate community effort.

History

Integration Success

West Mount Airy gained national recognition for its approach to integration:

Deliberate effort to maintain diversity in 1950s-60s
West Mount Airy Neighbors organization founded 1959
Prevented "white flight" through community organizing
Model studied by urban planners nationwide
Featured in numerous studies of successful integration

Character

Housing

Large Victorian and early 20th-century homes
Stone construction common
Spacious lots
Tree-lined streets
Higher prices than East Mount Airy

Community

Racially and economically diverse
Progressive politics
Strong civic engagement
Active community organizations

Weavers Way Co-op

Weavers Way Co-op is a community institution:

Member-owned cooperative grocery
Founded 1973
Multiple locations
Community gathering place
Reflects neighborhood values

Living in West Mount Airy

Diverse community
Large homes
Active civic life
Near Wissahickon Valley Park
Regional Rail access

Getting There

SEPTA Regional Rail: Mt. Airy Station (Chestnut Hill West Line)
SEPTA buses: 23, H
Germantown Avenue: Main corridor