Generous donations from the Roxborough real estate community have established a $25,000 fund to advance public realm improvements on Ridge Avenue with an eye toward reopening. 

Following the ordered closing of all non-life-sustaining businesses this past March, members of the Roxborough real estate community contacted the Roxborough Development Corporation (RDC) to offer support during an extraordinary time. One idea formulated was to identify priority projects that could employ local companies and advance the public realm on Ridge Avenue as a support to the larger business district and community.

In a typical year, the RDC invests over $100,000 in landscaping, lighting, street trees, cleaning, graffiti removal, and security services to keep Ridge Avenue clean, green, safe, and welcoming. It cleans and enhances a popular pocket park, five miles of walkable sidewalks, over 200 street trees, nearly 125 planters and two busy public parking lots.

Now the RDC is setting the stage for a strong recovery as more Ridge Avenue businesses reopen their doors or expand hours. With the launch of the Roots on Ridge Investments Program, this corporate giving campaign is supporting the recovery of small, local businesses through impactful streetscape improvements.

“Over the past 90 days as part of our district improvement operations we have cleaned 20,000 gallons of trash and coordinated to remove 100 pieces of graffiti from Ridge Avenue and surrounding residential areas,” said James Harry Calamia, Executive Director with RDC. “Through Roots On Ridge we are taking improvements a step further, now deep cleaning the commercial corridor, pressure washing over 30,000 square feet of sidewalks and planting over 250 plants and flowers.”

“Through Roots On Ridge, we are taking improvements a step further by deep cleaning the commercial corridor, pressure washing over 30,000 square feet of sidewalks and planting over 250 plants and flowers.”

With the City of Philadelphia now in the Yellow Phase and business restrictions slowly easing, several business categories are safely reopening on an improved Ridge Avenue with public realm projects continuing to advance. These advanced improvements have been made possible by a variety of donors from the Roxborough real estate community including real estate investment and management firm The Galman Group.

Sam Goldstein, President of The Galman Group, has invested in Roxborough Roots on Ridge because of the direct and meaningful impact the investment will have on the community.

"The Galman Group has been part of the Roxborough neighborhood for almost 40 years. We have always been committed to investing in our community, especially during this time of unprecedented uncertainty,” says Goldstein. “Investing in the Roxborough Roots on Ridge project is another way we are strengthening our commitment to support and improve the local community for its businesses and residents."

“Investing in the Roxborough Roots on Ridge project is another way we are strengthening our commitment to support and improve the local community for its businesses and residents."

The Roxborough Development Corporation is extremely grateful for the generous support of the Roxborough Roots On Ridge from members of the local real estate community including The Galman Group.

To learn more about the improvements made possible through the Roxborough Roots on Ridge Investment Fund or how your company can make a donation to expand efforts, visit www.roxboroughpa.com/for-business/roots-on-ridge.