After almost a year of planning, organization and strategy, Sustainable 19125 officially kicked-off last week.

During an informational meeting, held last Thursday at 2424 Studios in Fishtown, Shanta Schachter, director of development and operations for the New Kensington Community Development Corporation, announced the beginning of a project that aims to make the 19125 ZIP code the city's most eco-friendly.

The project is the result of a partnership between NKCDC and Philadelphia Green, an urban revitalization arm of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

The initiative was originally announced back in February after the two groups secured a significant amount of funding from the William Penn Foundation.

In support of Sustainable 19125, the NKCDC received a grant for $495,000, while the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also secured a $2 million grant for its initiatives; about $100,000 of that was dedicated to Sustainable 19125 through Philadelphia Green.

"This is something that has been more than a year in planning," said Schachter as she opened the recent meeting.

She said that in recent months, the two groups have been meeting with residents and gathering information from the community to determine what goals that are important to the neighborhood. The 19125 ZIP code covers Fishtown and parts of Kensington.

Through outreach efforts, they settled on three main projects that will occur throughout the next year under the Sustainable 19125 umbrella.

The projects will be known as "The Big Green Block," "Walk, Bike and Ride," and "Green Blocks."

Of them, "Green Blocks" will be the focus of much of the community's efforts, said Schachter.

"The Big Green Block" is a project already in the making, and ties into construction of the $44 million Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Schachter said that when the project is completed in the fall of next year, the block from Front Street to Frankford Ave., and Palmer to Norris Streets, could be the "largest investment in green infrastructure" in all of the country.

Many of the green initiatives are already part of the school project, including a planned geothermal heating system for hot water, but Schachter said more projects could be created at the school and surrounding area, which could help promote green living.

She said additions such as rain gardens, tree plantings, and new walkways surrounding the school are all possibilities.

The NKCDC will host a meeting on September 29th, at the Shissler Rec Center, 1800 Blair St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m., to discuss what residents would like to see added to the school.

Schachter said she hopes to be able to provide more detailed specifics of that leg of Sustainable 19125 during the upcoming session.

The "Walk, Bike and Ride" element of Sustainable 19125 is similarly open to discussion, as Schachter said the project wouldn't begin until May 2010. That program aims to encourage more walking, biking and use of public transportation.

But, right now, the program is "still in development," Schachter said.

However, the "Green Blocks" portion of Sustainable 19125 is ready to go, and Schachter told residents at last week's meeting that now is the time to get involved.

"This is something, I think, that is key to this program," she said. "With this, all of us, as a whole, can make a huge, huge, change."

"Green Blocks" is a local initiative that asks residents to take command of their block as a "green guide" - similar to the Block Captain program started by the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee. Like that program, volunteers will be given instruction, materials and other provisions as part of "Green Blocks."

Schachter said that the "green guides" would learn about "simple steps you can do at home and with neighbors" that could help promote Sustainable 19125.

"This program is designed to have flexibility," said Sarah Thorp, a consultant for the PHS's Philadelphia Green program. "We want it to be something that everyone in this room can take back to their neighbors."

The "Green Blocks" program will officially begin on Oct. 1 and will extend through the end of September 2010. At the end, the "green guides" will be awarded for their efforts, and events and learning workshops are currently being planned for the upcoming year.

But, they first need volunteers to sign-up as guides.

During last week's meeting, there seemed to be no shortage of volunteers. With a relatively large crowd at last week's meeting - a scan of the crowd revealed about 50 residents in attendance - many seemed ready to volunteer for the cause.

"I'm interested in it to see if people will embrace change," said Leo Voloshin, a resident of Fishtown for the past two years. "I think they will be receptive."

Voloshin said he signed up as a guide because wants to help the neighborhood become more environmentally friendly. Holly Logan, who has been living in the neighborhood for about a year, agreed with Voloshin, but said she feels personally hurt by how neglected some areas of the neighborhood are.

"There's only one tree on my block," she complained. "I see people leaving hoses on all day long. That (waste of water) just kind of breaks my heart."

At the conclusion of the meeting Schachter said that shortly - by mid-October - the organizers will have a new Web site with activities and information for the "green guides" to help volunteers clean and green their blocks. But, until then, she pointed residents to www.sustainable19125.org or www.sustainable19125.wikidot.com for more information about the upcoming program.

"It will be a long slow process . . . but, things are happening right now," said Schachter. "Right now, what's most important, is putting all of this in motion. We're really excited to get people together and to get going."

Reporter Hayden Mitman can be reached at 215-354-3124 or hmitman@phillynews.com

The Big Green Block

The NKCDC will host a meeting on September 29, at the Shissler Rec. 1800 Blair St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m., to discuss ideas for "The Big, Green Block," an initiative intended to enhance the area around the future Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts campus.

Sustainable 19125 organizers are looking to discuss ideas and projects that might help make this "Big Green Block" a reality