• info@frankfordcdc.org 
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Destination Frankford
  • Housing
  • Business Services
    • Office Of Business Services
    • Commercial Property Opportunities
    • Frankford Business And Professional Association
  • Community Projects
  • News
  • Contact Us

About Us

Home / About Us

 

Frankford Community Development Corporation

We are committed to building on the assets of the Frankford community by providing increased job opportunities, building affordable homes, and supporting the development of increased financial resources through growing stable businesses.

 

What We Do

Frankford CDC seeks to accomplish our mission by focusing on affordable housing and business development.

Through our Targeted Corridor Revitalization Management Program, we work closely with the Commerce Department and the Office of Business Services to help meet the needs of businesses within Frankford’s main commercial corridor. We connect current and potential business owners with the resources they need to thrive.

Through our Neighborhood Advisory Committee we work closely with the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide affordable housing resources to neighborhood residents. The Neighborhood Advisory Committee empowers neighborhood residents to control what goes on in the neighborhood around housing and business development. This level of community empowerment is evidence through the composition of the board, 51% of which is made up of community residents, and our community zoning board which is solely made up of neighborhood residents.

Outside of providing housing and business based resources to our constituents, the Frankford CDC engages in several community beautification efforts through our own Corroridor Cleaning Program and our partnerships with local Friends of the Parks Groups, Gardening groups, and other local grass-roots organizations with a mission geared at beautifying Frankford.

 

Meet Our Team

 

IMG_1550_crop
Kimberly Washington Esq.
Executive Director

Raised in Frankford and a Frankford High alum, Kim obtained her BA degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and her Juris Doctorate from the Beasley School of Law before passing the PA bar in 2009.  She is a board member for Sankfoa Freedom Academy, Chairs Turning Points for Children’s Community Advisory Board, and a proud kinship care parent.


IMG_1528_crop
Christine DeJesus
NAC Coordinator

Is a wife and mother of four, and grandmother to five grandchildren. Christine earned her G.E.D. in 1995 and scored one of highest on the G.E.D. exam in Philadelphia and went on to graduate with a 4.0 from Harcum College with an Associates in Business. She was honored in 1995 as Philadelphia's Outstanding Educator and received accommodations from both the House of Representatives and Senate.


IMG_1588_crop
Eugene Thomas
Corridor Cleaning Manager

Born and raised in Frankford, Eugene graduated from Frankford High (class of ’07) where he participated in Frankford’s prestigious culinary arts and football program and was awarded a full culinary scholarship, and was awarded an all public football team award.  He also facilitates a male mentoring program (Power Circle) for 20 males ages 14 - 18.


IMG_1302_square
Illeana Garcia
Commercial Corridor II

Ileana is a Philadelphia transplant from New York City.  She relocated to the region to attend Haverford College where she earned a BA in Political Science with a minor in Spanish and studied in Latin America.  Since graduating, Ileana has worked at respected non-profit organizations and Philadelphia City Council conducting community outreach, special events and marketing initiatives.


IMG_1294_square
Ellie Devyatkin
Commercial Corridor I

Raised in Savannah, Georgia, Ellie graduated from Georgia Tech with a BS in Economics in 2012, after which she moved to Philadelphia. In May 2014, she received her Master of City Planning degree, concentrating in Community and Economic Development, from the University of Pennsylvania. Ellie currently lives in West Philly.


 

Meet Our Board

The continued growth of the Frankford Corridor as well as the improvements made on a constant basis would not be possbile without the help and support of our Board Members.

IMG_3360
Gary McLaughlin
Chairman

A Frankford resident and financial counselor at Clarify’s Financial Empowerment Center.  Gary attended St. Joseph’s University where he obtained his bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Sociology.  Prior to working for Clarify, Gary served as a Job Developer for Adams & Assoc. and as a Career Services Coordinator for St. Gabriel’s System.


IMG_3371
Philip Balderston
Vice President

Principal/Founder of PT Real Estate Capital, owner of over 2,000 apartments in the Phila area. Prior to starting PT, he was Director of Acquisition & Finance for Tower Investments and an analyst at The KOR Group in LA. He is a graduate of William Penn Charter, and holds a degree in Economics from the Univ. of Penn and a degree in Real Estate Finance from Wharton


IMG_3368
Michael Galdi
Treasurer

A Full time Broker in PA/NJ, with offices conveniently located to serve the area. Mike has over 30 years of experience doing short sales, foreclosure assistance, estates, nursing home and distressed properties.  Mike has been involved with community development in Frankford for over 25 years and helped initiate the Frankford Neighborhood Plan.


IMG_1617_crop
Nidia Mezalick
Secretary

A Frankford resident and business owner.  Nidia and her husband are the co-owners of Mezalick Design Studios, a local stain glass, mosaics an ornamental art carving business.  Nidia has worked in the decorative arts business for over 20 years and offers a great deal of knowledge on the use of arts and creative business as a catalyst to community development.


IMG_3375
Sandra Barry
Member

A Frankford resident who purchased her first home through the Frankford CDC.  She serves as Block Captain and is active with the Neighborhood Civics, Police District Advisory Council and Police Service Area Association.  She is a fierce advocate and was the strong push behind recent redevelopments of two long abandoned multi-family parcels in Frankford.


IMG_3378
Dr. Ayesha Imani
Member

CEO & Founder of Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter,  Dr. Imani holds three degrees from Temple University including a Bachelors in Mathematics Education, a Masters of Public Administration and a Ph.D in Urban Education.  Under her leadership Sankofa has fashioned itself to be a community based school with a holistic approach of servicing children & families.


Brett-Hart
Brett Hart
Member

Born and raised in Frankford four blocks from Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory (PWBF) where he now serves as the Director. He began with PWBF as a youth program instructor and also taught adult classes from 2002-04.  He returned as Director in 2009.  His expertise in the field of youth development and nonprofit management are certainly an asset to Frankford.


???
Hakim Singleton
Member

Hakim is a graduate of Delaware Valley College where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting. Hakim worked for Citizen's bank as a personal banker where he led the Center City Philadelphia region in total banker scorecards for three consecutive quarters and produced over $6 million dollars of mortgage volume and later as a Senior Loan Officer. He also worked with Wells Fargo as a Home Mortgage Consultant until transitioning into his new position as a Loan Officer with Supreme Lending.




  •      FRANKFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | 4900 GRISCOM STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19124
  •   (215) 743-6580
  •   (215) 743-6582
  • info@frankfordcdc.org
  • Office Hours: M-F 9AM-5PM
  • Support the Frankford CDC

@FrankfordCDC Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Latest Tweets

Tweets by @fcdc215
Copyright © 2014 FrankfordCDC - All rights reserved. 
Scroll