Children’s Hospital to build a 1,005-space parking garage in Grays Ferry.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has proposed a significant development in South Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood: a block-long parking garage comprising 1,005 units. This initiative is aimed at enhancing access for CHOP employees, providing a solution to ongoing parking challenges amid difficulties in public transportation.
The proposed garage, located at 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue, will be constructed on a vacant site near Donald Finnegan Playground, amidst rows of residential rowhouses and a shopping center featuring a Fresh Grocer. CHOP’s plans indicate that the nearly 350,000-square-foot facility will serve as an employee parking hub, enabling patient families to utilize the closer parking spots available directly at the hospital. A shuttle service will facilitate transport from the garage to the main hospital complex.
The flexibility of zoning regulations governing the project has led to limited negotiating power for local community groups, yet CHOP has actively engaged with Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) to discuss the development. This engagement is critical as the project must undergo a Civic Design Review, a city committee that provides advisory feedback on large-scale developments. CHOP is scheduled to present its proposal to the committee on May 6.
Community reactions have been varied, with concerns primarily focused on the potential traffic impact on the neighborhood. Charles Reeves Jr. from the Tasker-Morris Neighbors Association highlighted the community’s apprehensions regarding increased traffic congestion. In response to these concerns, CHOP has offered funding to support community initiatives and maintenance for the nearby park.
The site for the garage, purchased for nearly million in 2024, is currently vacant. Plans reveal that each of the seven stories will encompass approximately 50,000 square feet. This facility is intended to complement CHOP’s expanding footprint, which includes new research facilities and a patient tower with 200 beds, scheduled to open by 2028.
Construction of the parking structure is slated to commence in the late summer of 2025, with an expected completion in the fall of 2026. However, the project has garnered criticism from urbanist group 5th Square, which argues that increasing parking capacity could exacerbate existing air quality issues in Grays Ferry, already compromised by heavy traffic and auto emissions. Critics fear that the new garage may incentivize higher vehicle usage, which poses risks, especially for child pedestrians.
Despite these concerns, CHOP has maintained that it is listening to the community’s feedback and is adapting its plans where feasible. This development reflects CHOP’s ongoing efforts to address the needs of its staff and patients while navigating the complexities of urban planning and community engagement.
