Germantown Rising
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Germantown United Community Development Corp.Fuel the momentum. Support Germantown United CDC’s work in our business corridors and community.
$33,805
raised by 47 people
$55,000 goal
Letters from Germantown: Lillian Hightower
From the Desk of Lillian Hightower
Monday, November 19, 2018
Dear Neighbor,
My name is Lillian Hightower, and I am a new board member at Germantown United CDC because I believe all of us should give back to our community. I grew up in West Oak Lane and have lived in Germantown for over 22 years. When my husband and I were looking for a place to live, we looked all over the city and decided on Germantown because of its beautiful tree-lined streets and sense of community.
Not only did we find a great community to live in, we also launched our family-owned business Hightower Systems here. What started as a website development company 13 years ago has grown to include software and hardware development and design, media production, and music.
As a marketing professional, I know how critical it is to tell your story, and I think GUCDC can help shape a positive narrative based on the voices of Germantown residents and businesses, by building on our successes, keeping our doors open to serve as a trusted resource that people can rely on, and by sharing our achievements.
One of our most exciting economic development initiatives where you can see concrete success is our Façade Improvement Program. There are a couple of ways GU helps businesses and developers of commercial properties upgrade the overall appearance of their buildings. Our staff helps businesses access grant and loan opportunities available through the City for property improvements, including everything from signage and awnings, to masonry and new windows. Perhaps you’ve noticed some of these changes this past year, including:
Total transformation
The renovation of the former Germantown Automotive supply shop at 5901 Wayne Ave is supported in-part by the Storefront Improvement Program. This is a total gut rehab and will welcome a cafe and other businesses, to be announced soon! Shoutout to Walter King for this significant investment in our community.
5901 Wayne Ave before
5901 Wayne Ave construction in-progress
Space for community and culture
Do you enjoy Germantown Espresso Bar and G-town Radio? Both community-centered businesses are housed in two historic buildings, 26 Maplewood Mall and 24 Maplewood Mall, respectively. The 2017 facade renovation was supported in-part by the City's Storefront Improvement Program. Shoutout to property owner Luke Smith (also a fellow GU board member) and Germantown's own Revise Studio for the fantastic renovation. Special thanks to Jeff & Miles, the proprietors of the cafe, for choosing Germantown!
24-26 Maplewood Mall
Pictured: A structural engineer drops a plumb line at the wall of the adjacent building during the structural assessment of Crab House Bar & Restaurant.Under construction
Remember when Germantown took home the #1 spot in the nationwide Partners in Preservation competition? GUCDC is managing the construction projects, providing much needed structural improvements to two historically significant buildings in the central business district:
- 5801 Germantown Ave which houses the office of Dr. Althea Hankins, MD and the ACES Museum. Under construction now!
- 5706 Germantown Ave, home to the Crab House Bar & Restaurant. Construction to start in Spring 2019.
Shoutout to Dr. Hankins and Mr. Kim for serving the community and investing in making improvements to their buildings.
Pictured: Restoration of 5801 Germantown Ave has been underway since early 2018. A structurally unstable brick masonry wall had to be taken down and rebuilt. Reconstruction of the wall with new concrete masonry unit (CMU) is nearly complete; the wall will be finished with salvaged brick masonry installed on the face of the CMU. Window restoration and replacement are scheduled to begin mid-November 2018, with estimated completed by the end of the year. Unusually wet weather this summer has played a significant role in the project’s time line, causing delays.
As you can see, there are many great stories to tell about the gems in Germantown. Please join me in supporting GUCDC to make sure those stories are built and told. You can easily donate here on Mighty Cause.
Warm Regards,
Lillian Hightower
Board Member, Germantown United CDC
President, Hightower Systems
Germantown United Community Development Corporation's (GUCDC) mission is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown and its business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development.
We’ve got an exciting slate of community-building initiatives in progress and planned for 2019, all aimed at moving Germantown forward. Join us on our annual campaign to raise $55,000.
Learn how we're making a difference together.
We are pleased to report on the following projects from the past year:
We increased our work around affordable housing and homeownership and now offer FREE monthly First-time Homebuyer Workshops, through a partnership with our friends at Mt. Airy USA.
In a partnership with The Food Trust, a new weekly farmers market opened for the 2018 season at Market Square Park. For two years, GU worked to bring a farmers market to the neighborhood.
- We created and piloted a zero-interest, no-fees revolving loan program to provide loans to Germantown Avenue commercial property owners who are interested in making historically appropriate facade improvements, but need extra financial help to do it. The program launched with the restoration of 5026-28 Germantown Avenue. The work includes the reconstruction of first floor storefronts to their original design. UNDER CONSTRUCTION. This program was developed in partnership with Weavers Way Co-op’s New Economy Incubator Committee.
- Since 2012, GU has sought resources to respond to Germantown’s need for thoughtful, comprehensive planning that promotes equitable and inclusive development. In 2018, we were awarded a pre-planning grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and formed a strong steering committee that is helping to shape Germantown's future.
But wait, there's more! Each week, we will be reporting on projects from the past year. View the "updates" section of this page to see the latest.
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