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Fri
Oct 14
2011

Things LOOK!-ing up on Lancaster Ave.

We’ve always been a little confused by Lancaster Ave. in West Philly. Close to Drexel and Upenn and possessing countless outstanding buildings, Lancaster Ave. is pretty well maintained for its first four blocks, but turns blighted and largely vacant on the 3800 and 3900 blocks. West of 40th St., Lancaster Ave. becomes vibrant again, with numerous stores and restaurants. Look! on Lancaster is attempting to bring new life to vacant storefronts on Lancaster Ave., and is using temporary art installations to provide the spark.

This public art project will run until the end of November, and features art exhibitions on or in the windows of vacant buildings, art shows in galleries on Lancaster Ave., and performance pieces during the weeks to come. Look! is the result of a partnership between Drexel University, University City District, People’s Emergency Center, and Powelton-Mantua community arts groups, and will hopefully draw attention to a corridor that would benefit tremendously from new residential and commercial development.

And if nothing else, it will be a little more pleasant to walk up Lancaster Ave. for the next couple of months.

Look below for some photos of several of the window art displays, and look here for information about each piece, the artists, and upcoming events.

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COMMENTS
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Posted in University City | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments
  • gardenweasel

    I love, love, love that building in the first picture.  I used to drive by it all the time going out to New to You (RIP, best thrift store ever.)

  • locust st

    It would be great to see something similar along Chestnut east of Broad, in this case featuring work by students at UArts and the Art Institute.        

  • Paramedic7d

    Demolish these damn buildings and make some green space. Da bottom is a mess.

  • Ericclaywarner

    Thats a wonderful idea! 

  • http://twitter.com/brianbrews Brian Marsh

    Very cool.  I’m surprised this stretch of Lancaster isn’t the next gentrifying spot.  It has that bohemian feel.

  • deni

    those buildings aren’t owned by Penn.  They were renting the space.  The warehouse space is privately owned.

  • Adthyme

    Great photos and great idea!  I read about the exhibit in the Inquirer but have yet to check it out even though I work at 4111 Lancaster Avenue at the E3West Center (a GED, work readiness, and empowerment program for out of school youth and young adults).  If you know any young people (ages 16 to 21) in need of a GED, send them our way!

  • http://nakedphilly.com/university-city/new-restaurant-coming-to-40th-and-lancaster-next-to-an-amazing-building/ New Restaurant Coming to 40th and Lancaster, Next to an Amazing Building | NakedPhilly

    [...] building is a reminder of the potential of Lancaster Ave. While LOOK! on Lancaster did a fine job highlighting the street and temporarily covering up some of its vacant commercial [...]

  • http://nakedphilly.com/university-city/former-gas-station-on-lancaster-avenue-could-soon-be-reinvented/ Former Gas Station on Lancaster Avenue Could Soon Be Reinvented | NakedPhilly

    [...] highlighted Lancaster Ave. a few times in the past, wondering whether the diagonal route to the Main Line could see increased revitalization west of [...]

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