Long-Term Leasing Case Studies

Long-Term Leasing

Process & FAQs

Case Studies

Restored Buildings

Ridgeland Mansion

In 1996, the Wellness Community of Philadelphia expressed interest in negotiating a long-term lease with the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust for Ridgeland Mansion. At that time, Ridgeland Mansion had been vacant for several years.

The Wellness Community, an organization that provides cost-free support services to cancer patients and their loved ones, sought a venue that would not only provide improved facilities, but also a landmark to serve as a headquarters for their program. The Wellness Community secured funding from the Suzanne Morgan Foundation to restore the property, and moved into the newly restored building within a year. The Suzanne Morgan Center at Ridgeland has been the home of The Wellness Community since 1997.

Sedgeley Porter's House

The Sedgeley Porter's House was the first building leased and restored under the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust's long-term leasing program. Listed on the Department of Licenses and Inspections' demolition list in 1994, Trust staffers were asked to visit the building to determine if any of its architectural elements were salvageable prior to demolition. The Trust determined that the entire building was salvageable, and requested a long-term lease on the building. In 1995, the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust undertook the restoration of the building, which was generously funded by the William B. Dietrich Foundation.

The building currently serves as the offices and conservation studio of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust.
 
 

Properties Currently Under Restoration

Valley Green Inn

Long a landmark in the Wissahickon, Valley Green Inn has continuously served as a refuge for weary hikers and travelers since its construction circa 1850. Over the years, the Inn served as a lemonade stand, a point of origin for picnickers and canoeists, and most recently, a full-scale restaurant. Currently, Valley Green Inn is leased to the Friends of the Wissahickon, who in turn rent the building to a restaurateur. The building is undergoing an exterior restoration and interior rehabilitation slated for completion in the summer of 2002. This project includes the addition of dining and utility space for the restaurant, construction of a dining terrace, and improvements to the existing concession terrace. These additions will be completed with only a minimal impact to the existing historic structure. More information on the Valley Green Inn is available at www.valleygreeninn.org.

Sheep Barn

In the late 1870s, the Park experimented with the use of Cotswold and South Down sheep as a means of keeping the vast lawns of the Park trimmed and enriching the barren soil of West Fairmount Park. The Sheep Barn was constructed to house the resident flock. The experiment failed after only a few short years, leaving the relatively new agricultural structure standing vacant. Over the course of the twentieth century, the Sheep Barn had multiple uses; it served as lodging for actors performing at the nearby Playhouse-in-the-Park, as a puppet-making studio, and an artisan's workshop before being abandoned in the early 1980s.

As the Trust's Conservation Program has expanded considerably since its creation, the need for additional conservation studio space has grown. Yet again, the generous support of the William B. Dietrich Foundation has enabled the Trust to restore the exterior of the building and rehabilitate the interior for use as its offices, conservation studio, and architectural conservation laboratory.