The community of  Spring Garden/East Deutschtown is one of the oldest and most historic sections of the North Side. The neighborhood, from its origins, was  primarily  composed of working and middle class families, many of whom settled here as immigrants from central and eastern Europe.  The economic base of the community was rooted in the many industries and shops related to meat and leather processing, railroading, and, of course the several plants of the Heinz  Company. 

In recent decades,  the economic base declined significantly, and the heart of the neighborhood was drastically altered by the highway developments of Route PA-28 and I 279. Two factors that are playing a role in the potential transformation of the neighborhood are:
(1)  business development in the vacated plants in the Spring Garden valley as well as interest in development along the intersection of the “completed’  highways  --- 28 @ 279, and
(2) a growing awareness of the potential restoration and preservation  of a solid core of mid- 19th century housing and commercial structures. 

The community  has survived years of municipal neglect and is at the beginning stages of a vibrant  resurgence.  The goal of this proposed program is to build on the history of the community as well as to encourage residents to become prideful of what they have and how they can build on these assets. Community preservation is at the heart of this proposed program.