West Mount Airy
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
[edit | edit source]Integration Success
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Housing
[edit | edit source]- Large Victorian and early 20th-century homes
- Stone construction common
- Spacious lots
- Tree-lined streets
- Higher prices than East Mount Airy
Community
[edit | edit source]- Racially and economically diverse
- Progressive politics
- Strong civic engagement
- Active community organizations
Weavers Way Co-op
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]- Diverse community
- Large homes
- Active civic life
- Near Wissahickon Valley Park
- Regional Rail access
Getting There
[edit | edit source]- SEPTA Regional Rail: Mt. Airy Station (Chestnut Hill West Line)
- SEPTA buses: 23, H
- Germantown Avenue: Main corridor