An intertraditional, nonsectarian community center for pagans of all paths was the founding vision of Delaware Valley Pagan Network but it has never come within our reach. Now it has. Are the region's pagans ready to seize this opportunity?

A vast old textile factory in Kensington has recently been acquired by Phactory LLC. This corporation's principal is a dvpn-discuss subscriber. Phactory wants to convert this 100,000-sq.-ft. building into a home for dozens of nonprofits sympathetic to ours.

Vacant since 1995, this five-story building commands a dramatic view of  the city's skyline. It is in good structural shape but requires huge amounts of cleanup, repair and refurbishing. That's our entrée!  Simple sweat equity could earn area pagans a dedicated space for performances, meetings and office work for many years.

The property lies one block from a Frankford El station. It is 7min drive along a simple route from I-95. This area is still affordable but it lies just north of now-poppin' Fishtown, whither starving artists were driven after 2000 when Northern Liberties really took off.

The owner would really like pagans to mount an outdoor garden project first. The property comes with an acre of yard on a quiet dead-end street. It would be ideal for a project that combined beautification with ritual and public-meeting needs.

If we want it, it's there for us. Do we want it?

I say go for it. The possibilities are mind-boggling and there's no big short-term risk.

But there's no sweat equity without sweat. Do we have it? Can we give it?

Now is the time for us all to ask ourselves this question. No community can build itself an institution without working in common.

Are we prepared for this adventure?

[Sign up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dvpn-discuss/ to join the ongoing discussion of this opportunity.]

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