The William Way LGBT Community Center will be listing its longtime home at 1315 Spruce Street for sale, as the organization prepares to relocate.
The local LGBTQ+ hub was founded in 1975, and has been serving the community through its Spruce location for the past 29 years. William Way leaders vowed that services will not be disrupted during relocation efforts.
The decision comes after redevelopment plans to renovate and expand the Spruce Street building fell short on fundraising goals. Last year, the center temporarily closed for emergency repairs to the aging building, and while parts of the building reopened for limited use, immediate repairs totaled more then $3.5 million.
“Our community deserves a space that is not only safe and affirming, but fully accessible and equipped to support our future,” said Darius McLean, Chief Operating Officer at WWCC. “The decision to move was not made lightly. It reflects our commitment to delivering programs with dignity and excellence, for today and future generations.”
A legacy of service, resilience
Founded in 1975 as the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia, WWCC opened its first location in 1976 and moved into 1315 Spruce Street in 1996. The current building, formerly the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia, was purchased and named in honor of William “Bill” Way, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist and city planner.
Since its founding, the Center has served as a sanctuary, a meeting place, and a resource for queer Philadelphians, William Way leaders said, adding that the organizations serves more than 15,000 people annually.
Services include peer counseling, recovery support, food distribution, archives, exhibitions, and trans and elder programming. Virtual and hybrid formats, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, will remain key to ensuring accessibility and national reach, organizers said.
“The heart of William Way has never been its walls—it’s the people, the programs, and the unwavering commitment to creating a space where LGBTQIA+ individuals are seen, valued and safe,” said Dave Huting, Board Co-chair. “That will never change.”
The center began 2025 operating at limited hours due to reductions in general operating support and necessary staff cutbacks.
“Our team, many of whom have taken pay reductions, remains deeply committed to keeping our doors open, even on a reduced schedule, until we can secure a more permanent solution,” said McLean.
Building for the future
WWCC acknowledged that this transition comes at a time of increased threats to LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility nationwide.
“We are not leaving our community, we are growing with it,” said Laura Ryan, Board Co-chair. “Now more than ever, Philadelphia needs spaces like William Way. And we’re here to ensure those spaces continue to exist.”
To make a donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit waygay.org/support.
