William Way LGBT Center in Philly to Be Knocked Down and Rebuilt

The historic community center will be replaced with a new facility and 40 affordable housing units for seniors.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia will be demolished and rebuilt with a new facility and 40 affordable housing units for seniors. The current building is in serious disrepair and no longer safe, according to the center's co-chairs, leading them to make the difficult decision to tear it down and start fresh.

Why it matters

The William Way LGBT Community Center has been a vital resource for Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community for decades, providing essential programs and services. Rebuilding the center will ensure its continued operation and ability to serve the community, while also adding much-needed affordable housing for local seniors.

The details

The William Way LGBT Community Center's current building on Spruce Street in Philadelphia has significant damage that makes it unsafe, with issues ranging from the roof to the windows, walls, and floors. After trying to fix the problems, the center's leadership determined the best path forward is to demolish the historic building and rebuild a new facility combined with 40 affordable housing units for seniors.

  • The demolition timeline has not yet been set, as the project is still in the early planning stages.
  • The full redevelopment project is expected to take 3-5 years to complete.

The players

William Way LGBT Community Center

A historic LGBTQ+ community center in Philadelphia that provides essential programs and services.

Laura Ryan

The co-chair of the William Way LGBT Community Center.

Dave Huting

The co-chair of the William Way LGBT Community Center.

HELPDevCo

The development firm involved in the William Way redevelopment project.

DMH Fund

The development firm involved in the William Way redevelopment project.

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What they’re saying

“From the roof to the windows, to the walls, to the floor, there is a ton of damage. It really isn't a safe space, unfortunately.”

— Laura Ryan, Co-chair, William Way LGBT Community Center (cbsnews.com)

“This was a really difficult decision, and it's not one that we came to lightly. Unfortunately, this is from years of neglect that left us in the situation we are in now.”

— Laura Ryan, Co-chair, William Way LGBT Community Center (cbsnews.com)

“It's not the building, it's the programs, and a lot of our programs are life-saving. The building is in means to be able to deliver those programs to our community.”

— Dave Huting, Co-chair, William Way LGBT Community Center (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The developers involved in the William Way redevelopment project, HELPDevCo and DMH Fund, are in the early planning stages and have not yet set a timeline for the demolition of the current building.

The takeaway

The difficult decision to demolish the historic William Way LGBT Community Center building in Philadelphia will ultimately allow the center to continue providing essential programs and services to the local LGBTQ+ community, while also adding much-needed affordable housing for seniors in the area.