Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published in the Summer 2026 issue of Extant, a publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
The Spring Garden Community Development Corporation (SGCDC) worked with architect and urban planner John Gibbons to transform the deteriorated facades of a block of historic carriage houses at 1518-36 Brandywine Street and repurpose the buildings as a community civic engagement center and SGCDC’s operations hub. Extant spoke with Gibbons about the $409,000 rehabilitation project, which engaged two rural Lancaster County Amish construction firms. The work was nominated for a 2026 Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
1518-36 Brandywine Street before restoration. | Photos: Extant Magazine
Extant Magazine (EM): What attracted you to these particular buildings?
John Gibbons (JB): The deteriorated facades of the buildings at 1518-36 occupied a significant part of the otherwise well-maintained south side of the 1500 block of Brandywine Street. A large building immediately to the east had been adaptively reused as apartments. On the north side, a large complex of carriage house buildings had previously been historically rehabilitated for the Performance Garage. A new infill apartment building had also been constructed on the block. Acquisition of the property by SGCDC provided the opportunity for rehabilitation of the historic facade to complete the streetscape. The 16,000 square feet of available interior space and large first-floor spaces provide the opportunity for a variety of community and program spaces.
EM: What was the original use of the buildings?
JB: The buildings were originally three separate two-and three-story row structures, built in the mid-1880s as carriage houses and stables serving the grand post-Civil War residences on Green and Spring Garden Streets. In the early 20th century, the buildings were converted to commercial uses. 1526-36 Brandywine was owned by the nearby Baldwin Locomotive Works and used as an auto warehouse. Later in the 20th century, the party walls between the buildings were breached, some garage door openings enlarged, and the three buildings joined internally and used for warehousing and storage. In the early 21st century, the buildings housed an electronics repair shop and later a nonprofit computer refurbishment operation. The properties are currently used as SGCDC’s operations center for certain of its charitable activities and storage for local businesses.
EM: What was most important to preserve?
JB: The defining features of the buildings are the large carriage house door openings, particularly the handsome arched head openings. The new double-hinged doors reflect the style of paneling, glazing, and detailing of the original vehicular doors. The configuration of the infill doors and paneling at one of the original openings were modified to provide double doors for pedestrians, while maintaining the original character.
Facade rehabilitation included masonry repair, complete cleaning and repointing of the facades, reopening of blocked original openings, removal of modern metal garage doors, and installation of historically appropriate wood carriage house doors and windows.
EM: What was the client’s original vision? Did it change over time?
JB: SGCDC’s first priority was the elimination of blight and the completion of the historic rehabilitation of the facades so that the buildings would make a positive visual contribution to the neighborhood and the Spring Garden Historic District. The project has set the stage for complete rehab of the interior of the properties. The transformation of blighted and deteriorated building facades has created a streetscape asset that has supported new grant applications for adaptive reuse of the buildings for community use. With the completion of the historic facade work, SGCDC is moving on to the rehabilitation and transformation of the interiors for community facilities, including meeting and activity space, classrooms, and offices to support the organization’s programs.
The configuration of the infill doors and paneling at one of the original openings were modified to provide double doors for pedestrians, while maintaining the original character. | Photos: Extant Magazine
EM: What was the biggest preservation challenge?
JB: To work within its available budget, SGCDC needed to find a cost-effective, high-quality millwork shop with experience in providing and installing large, heavy custom-made doors. After extensive research and obtaining multiple bids, SGCDC identified Beechdale Woodworks, an Amish heritage custom millwork operation located in Bird in Hand, Lancaster County, that had extensive experience in fabricating heavy wood doors for oversized openings for rural barns. Beechdale and SGCDC coordinated with Triple B Exteriors, an Amish business specializing in large barn restorations, for custom installation of the windows and doors. The windows and doors are solid mahogany/sapele, stained and sealed, for longevity.
EM: Did you look to any role model for inspiration or example?
JB: SGCDC and I worked closely with the Philadelphia Historical Commission to develop historically appropriate designs for the door and window openings. Historic City archive photos of similar, since-demolished carriage houses on the 1600 block of Brandywine provided an excellent guide for the appropriate detailing of the replacement carriage house doors and windows.
EM: What was the project’s biggest surprise (good or bad)?
JB: The biggest surprise was the increase in the cost of the historic doors and windows, as a result of the pandemic and inflation, after the initial funding had been secured.
The work was funded through a combination of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grants, smaller grants from WSFS Foundation and Univest, and owner funds.
Great article and save!
This grouping was discussed at https://www.baldwinparkphilly.org/baldwin-locomotive-works as the only remnant of the Baldwin Locomotive Works outside of Eddystone.