Linford Martin recently added a building in his own neighborhood to the list of commercial structures he’s renovated.
The S.S. Bernard building at St. Bernard Street and Springfield Avenue in Philadelphia now houses the Philly Free School on the ground floor, with seven loft-style apartments on the second floor.
The brick structure has been around since the mid-1920s. Martin purchased and renovated the former warehouse with the help of a business loan through Everence® Federal Credit Union.
Martin was an engineer before deciding to focus on building restorations about 15 years ago. He hooked up with Mennonite Financial Federal Credit Union (now Everence Federal Credit Union) when he bought and restored a former firehouse.
He knew about the credit union through his church, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship.
He’s been doing business with EFCU ever since. “It’s always been a good working relationship,” Martin said.