The Porch at 30th Street Station: An experiment in success comes to an end

In 2017, Amtrak unveiled renovation plans for 30th Street Station in which the Porch would eventually be dismantled to make way for construction of a permanent plaza. The changeover happens Oct. 31.

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At midnight on Oct. 31, the University City District will relinquish stewardship of the Porch at 30th Street Station to Amtrak as part of the 30th Street Station District plan. UCD's furniture and installations, such as the popular swings in this photo, will be removed, and Amtrak will construct a larger, enduring plaza outside its historic train station.

Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer

by Alan Garry and Nate Hommel, For The Inquirer

The Porch at 30th Street Station, which transformed from an underused parking lot into a signature public space, was designed by theUniversity City District in 2011 to be a five-year placeholder for a wave of new development and green space.

Thanks to the dedication of UCD’s team, it lasted 14 years, delighting hundreds of thousands with its thoughtful design, intentional programming, and collaborations with local businesses and partners. Above all, the Porch taught our staff to be nimble, adaptable, and ready to overcome challenges.

But now, the Porch is entering its long-planned transition to permanence. At midnight on Oct. 31, UCD will relinquish stewardship to Amtrak as part of the 30th Street Station District plan. UCD’s furniture and installations will be removed, and Amtrak will construct a larger, enduring plaza outside its historic train station.

The indie rock band Man Man performing on a stage in front of a large crowd at The Porch at 30th Street Station
The Porch at 30th Street Station hosted a 2013 concert by Man Man for WXPN’s Free at Noon series.

This transition is exciting yet bittersweet. The Porch was UCD’s first major foray into creating a signature public space, and over the years, we invested countless hours and resources into creating, managing, and programming a key gateway to our neighborhood. The Porch became at once a showcase for the best that Philadelphia had to offer and a proving ground for grappling with some of the city’s greatest challenges.

A view of The Porch at 30th Street Station before it was built, showing the original parking lot.
Before The Porch was built along 30th Street Station.

In 2010, the area south of 30th Street Station was a barren strip of concrete used for parking. Thousands of workers within a short radius didn’t have walkable access to a green space for respite or an outdoor lunch break. PennDot, beginning a nearby bridge rehabilitation, improved the infrastructure, and UCD raised its hand to do the rest.

We secured $375,000 in grants for plants, furniture, and programming. On Nov. 1, 2011, the Porch opened with lightweight tables and chairs, umbrellas, and planters, offering an oasis from the surrounding traffic.

From the start, its amenities were temporary and inexpensive. Seasonal plantings brought beauty, shade, and pollinators. We hosted concerts, flea markets, yoga, mini golf, and food trucks. Some ideas flopped while others thrived, and programming evolved with trends and feedback. A full-time concierge managed the space and served as a resource to visitors.

BalletX performs at the Porch at 30th Street Station.

Pedestrian counts, food truck sales, and event attendance swelled, peaking at 2,000 daily users. With added funding, we refreshed the space with sturdier furniture, a Visit Philly XOXO sculpture, colorful swings, artificial grass, improved lighting, and a seasonal beer garden. Before long, our “pop-up” had lasted five years.

In 2017, Amtrak unveiled renovation plans for the station and confirmed that the Porch would eventually be dismantled to make way for construction. Its permanent plaza would draw inspiration from the Porch with umbrellas, landscaping, and ample seating. Without a firm closing date, we adjusted again — scaling back investments, planning smaller programs, and preparing for an eventual wind down.

Then, in 2020, COVID-19 changed everything. With few daily users, the twin tragedies of homelessness and opioid addiction played out in the Porch and other public spaces. As always, the Porch became an inspiration to invent solutions. We respected the rights of every Philadelphian to seek comfort in public spaces, while standing up an in-house outreach team to connect scores of people with desperately needed shelter and services through our empathy-first approach.

The Porch steadied itself slowly as workers returned, and now we approach its transition phase.

Though the Porch is ending in its current form, its legacy remains. In many ways, the Porch was a down payment on civic space amidst a private building boom. As University City grew, transformative developments such as Schuylkill Yards and uCity Square accelerated the trend by leading with green space as cornerstones.

After Oct. 31, the Porch’s swings, shade structures, and furniture will be rehomed to other projects.

And every public space UCD has since worked on — Trolley Portal Gardens, the Lawn at uCity Square, the planned West Philly Waterfront — draws inspiration from the Porch. Distinctive elements like our custom swings, shade structures, and colorful furniture will live on as we work with partners to rehome them.

The Porch’s most important lessons were to collaborate, respond thoughtfully to challenges, and treat all users with dignity. Above all, it proved that the best public spaces evolve through experimentation, risk-taking, and refinement.

We hope you enjoyed your time with the Porch. Before it enters its temporary cocoon, pull up a chair, bask in the sunlight, stop and smell the flowers, and join us in imagining what comes next.

 

Alan Garry is the senior vice president of public safety and district services, and Nate Hommel is the director of planning and design, both with the University City District.

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