For as long as we’ve been at Drexel, we’ve been fortunate to have many great restaurants, food trucks, convenience stores and other dining establishments on campus and within short walking distance. However, students who live on or near campus and want to cook their own food have not been so fortunate. The nearest supermarkets are The Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut streets and Trader Joe’s at 21st and Market streets, both quite a distance for college students without a car to transport groceries back to their apartment.
With that being the case, we were pleased to hear that plans are in the works to build a new supermarket closer to many Drexel students’ off-campus apartments in the Mantua area of West Philadelphia. Mantua’s boundaries are Mantua Avenue to the north, Spring Garden Street to the south, 31st Street to the east and 40th Street to the west. The project, tentatively named “Westview Plaza” by real estate developer Aquinas Realty Partners, will be funded in part by a $2.75 million redevelopment assistance grant from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Preliminary plans call for the site to be built around the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Mount Vernon Street.
The blocks in Mantua currently tagged for the project were not part of the original plan. A site closer to Drexel’s campus was previously considered. While the current tentative site will be very convenient for students living in Mantua and northern Powelton Village, it’s not an ideal location for all students. It’s outside Drexel Public Safety’s patrol boundaries in an area that is more prone to crime than the areas between our campus and the two existing supermarkets in our vicinity. Ideally, we need a supermarket that is close to campus and that we can feel safe walking to 24/7.
One major need that the Drexel University Master Plan does not address is an easily accessible on-campus grocery store. The Chestnut Street Development will add 11 retail spaces, many of which will be food service options, but students will continue to desire a convenient grocery store that functions primarily for the campus population. We’d love to see the master plan altered to include this necessity.
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On the contrary, Westview Plaza was never considered to be located at any other site than where it is currently slated for development. I don't know where your safety information was taken from but unlike you’ve stated, Mantua is a much cleaner and safer community for Drexel university students than in between both of the existing markets. As you The Triangle stated, students swarm to Mantua for off-campus living. If it is so unsafe why would they swarm here to live.. Are you saying that it is safe to live here but unsafe to shop? It seems like you have a bias opinion based on Mantua's geographic location. Where in University City can a student feel safe 24/7? There is no one place.
Mantua is a great place to have a supermarket. It has changed a lot over the years and would continue to improve once a store is there. Residents in this area all for the development. It is the city that has slowed things down, perhaps trying to get the most bang for the buck. According to Aquinas Realty website they were supposed to break ground spring 2012 but have not started buying properties. Things seem to be moving forward but this project should of been done a year ago. Anyone interested in helping things along should email Councilwoman Janie Blackwell, Mayor Nutter, MCIC(Mantua improvement committe) about your concern.
You do realize there's such a thing as public transit, don't you? So many people studying, working, and living in Philadelphia buy a small push cart and use the train or bus to transport food. What makes students think they are better than the rest of the residents in the area?
On the contrary, I agree, you guys should have a small market on your campus. If the school isn't up for it, just talk with some of the local urban farms and see if they might be able to help you setup a weekly Farmers Market on your campus. When I was a student at the University at Buffalo, we had a great on-campus Farmers Market. The university also sponsored buses to nearby grocery stores and shopping centers – perhaps students need to speak with your Student Association regarding how your activity fees are being spent — ask for a weekly bus if nothing else seems likely.
This is not just an issue with Drexel. This is an issue with all of lower West Philly including Mantua. it is not just the thousands of students that need a place to shop but also residents that have small stores and yes, even far trucks to buy from. You can find a farm truck sometimes if your schedule allows it, but you cannot buy meat and other staples. This project should of been done years ago and it is just another example of slow government.
I dont have a car and it is really hard to get to 40th and walnut to the grocery store there. I will walk to Trader Joes too, but it is a long commute. I hate to buy bananas for $0.50-0.69 each at convinence stores.
Just place it closer to Drexel and stop having one small one man organization in Mantua dictate everything. Drexel needs to stand up and stop letting this small organization push them around. Heck you pay for the organization (Drexel).