Germantown Station TOD is the subject of a SEPTA Request for Information for a planned mixed-use, transit-oriented development, with responses due by July 10.

Aerial view of the vacant property near Germantown Station
Aerial view of the vacant property targeted for mixed-use development at Germantown Station. Photo: SEPTA

Germantown Station TOD site and plan

Germantown Station is on SEPTA’s Regional Rail Chestnut Hill East Line and sits within the Germantown historic district. The project’s main site is an approximately 1.4-acre vacant parcel at 120-128 E. Chelten Ave.

SEPTA officials said the authority developed the Germantown Station Area Concept Plan⁠ with the Germantown community. The plan includes residential and commercial space, station access and public amenities.

The Germantown SAC also considers possible development of SEPTA’s East Armat Street Bridges at 5547 Lena St., along with associated wooded properties.

RFI process and future RFP

The RFI⁠ is intended to collect market feedback from developers as SEPTA works with the city of Philadelphia on solicitation and zoning matters. It is not a developer or vendor selection process. SEPTA officials said a formal Request for Proposals will be issued later.

Context

SEPTA presents the Germantown Station Area Concept as the basis for future RFIs and RFPs under its Transit Oriented Communities initiative. The official project timeline places the current developer outreach within a longer sequence that includes station concept development in 2024–early 2025, land entitlements in 2025, developer solicitation and selection in 2025–2026, project refinement in 2026–2027, and permitting and construction still listed as TBD. The wider TOC program links development near SEPTA services with land use, zoning, development and multi-modal access, keeping the Germantown RFI tied to station-area planning rather than a standalone real estate process.

Platform sign at Germantown Station
Archive photo of the platform sign at Germantown Station. Photo: Adam Moss / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Germantown project continues SEPTA’s Transit Oriented Communities Program⁠, which supports equitable and sustainable community development through joint development opportunities. Other TOC projects in screening or development stages include Ambler, Conshohocken and Langhorne stations.