Senior Project Manager, Heidi Segall Levy, AIA, SEED, began working with Zion Baptist Church in 2018 when Zion applied to be one of three Philadelphia congregations participating in the Sacred Places/Civic Spaces initiative, a design challenge supported by the William Penn Foundation and developed through a partnership between the Community Design Collaborative and Partners for Sacred Places. The initiative was created to re-envision underutilized purpose-built religious properties as community hubs. Zion, together with its community Partner, Called To Serve Community Development Corporation (CTSCDC), were looking to revitalize the vacant Zion Educational Annex to create the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center to serve the needs of the surrounding community.

Upon completion of the design challenge, with Heidi’s assistance, Zion and CTSCDC secured funding from the William Penn Foundation to support the predevelopment services required to move the project forward. These included a development plan and a fundraising feasibility study. Heidi supported Zion and CTSCDC with the RFP process to engage a real estate development consultant as well as a fundraising consultant.  She created the RFPs, reviewed and evaluated the responses, assisted with interviews, and helped to procure the consultants.

In her position at Watchdog, Heidi has continued to provide advisory services to Zion and CTSCDC through predevelopment, including the writing of multiple grant applications, resulting in over $3M in capital support so far. With support from both public and private sources and commitments for a fully tenanted building in place, the project has advanced quickly into development with construction slated to begin in summer of 2023. Heidi and Watchdog continue to assist the Zion/CTSCDC team, through development, with consultant coordination, program planning and funding, and general advisory services.

When completed, the Community Impact Center will create opportunities for health and wellness, fresh food access, banquet and community gathering space, STEAM education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship programs.