The official address of Wilmer Garden is 1340 Palmer St. Complete records are difficult to obtain. According to the Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network, the plot came into existence sometime between 1862 and 1875. It was twice as large as it is now and sometime before 1895 it became several smaller lots, which make up half of the residences on Willig St. It is unclear if a home was ever built on this lot.
Most neighbors recall that the owner of the adjacent lot (1342 East Palmer) built a red fence around 1340 and thus they all assumed it was owned by the neighbor. However, according to city records, this plot was acquired by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority on 7/1/2002. In November of 2021, Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections demoed the home on 1342 East Palmer. As a result, both lots became empty and fenced off by the city.
In March of 2022, a group of interested neighbors of Willig and Palmer Street started to explore the idea of turning the 1340 East Palmer lot into a community garden. They knew it was owned by the city and had a lower chance of being redeveloped anytime soon. The residents started to clean up the lot by doing the following:
Removing lose and broken brick, concrete, and sticks
Cutting down small stumps and roots
Leveling the remaining dirt
Conducting soil testing, which found moderate levels of lead
Applying layers of compost and mulch
Designing walking paths with donated walking stones, ornamental plants, and vegetables
Building a cedar plant box and buying picnic benches
Installing a temporary fence between the two lots
The garden is currently still owned by the Redevelopment Authority. Neighbors are currently purposing sponsorships from local Fishtown organizations to assist in completing some required tasks before we can enter an urban agreement. Stay tuned for updates!