A Heart-to-Heart with Longtime Fitler Realtor Pam Rosser-Thistle
In this issue:
A Heart-to-Heart with Longtime Fitler Realtor Pam Rosser-Thistle
Celebrate With Rev. Lou Temme at Trinity Memorial Church
A Heart-to-Heart with Longtime Fitler Realtor Pam Rosser-Thistle
By Jessica Quiroli

Fitler Square is both business and personal for Pam Rosser-Thistle.
The longtime realtor has spent fifteen years selling Fitler area homes, while also raising two daughters here. When I met her at Rival Bros Coffee on 22nd and Lombard, she’s at a table, in work mode. She laughs, putting her phone away.
“Staying on top of things,” she says brightly. That energy is what the Fox Roach realtor is known for.
Fitler’s Evolution
Originally an industrial center for textile-making, weaving, and coal transfer, Fitler Square has seen immense transformation.
Today, it stands as a coveted residential location and serves as a gateway to University City through the South Street Bridge, which is home to prestigious institutions like Pennsylvania University and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Yet, years ago, it wasn’t seen as a destination. “You felt a bit removed living here. Now, Fitler’s a magnet,” Rosser-Thistle notes.
Recent years have seen Fitler evolve into a more family-friendly residential area, even more so than its counterpart Rittenhouse Square.
With homes being developed, torn down, and new high-rises springing up, the real estate landscape is buzzing.
In June, four connected luxury townhouses on South 24th Street, collectively known as Extrava, were completed. Each home is—you guessed it—extravagant, with state-of-the-art appliances, private roof decks, and open plans with tons of natural light. They start at (drumroll) $3.95 million dollars.
Fitler, while quaint, isn’t particularly cheap for the homebuyer these days, but many longtime residents are staying and updating their homes for the long-run.
"People who’ve outgrown their homes build a third story or adjust layouts [to remain in the neighborhood]”, she said.
Homes previously owned by residents who knew Fitler as its old name, "Schuylkill," carry deep histories. These past homeowners lived there for decades and left behind cherished memories. While their presence is deeply missed, the new owners often undertake extensive renovations of these vintage properties, she remarked with a hint of nostalgia.
A Realtor’s Roots
For Rosser-Thistle, this evolution of Fitler is deeply personal.
Rosser-Thistle’s former home on Waverly Drive underwent transformation, but remnants of her memories still linger. She visited recently, getting a look inside that left her impressed by the improvements but feeling “funny” as she reflected on her life there–window dressings for her girls’ bedroom and specialty knobs with animals remain.
As she talks about the neighborhood, her tone is a mixture of love and passion–love for the place that holds so much memory for her, and a passion to keep pushing the area into the future.
When her children were young, she was building a career, establishing herself as a reliable witness to what made the area so attractive, especially to parents trying to not only find good homes, but also a high-quality educational experience.
“Trinity Playgroup (on the 2200 block of Spruce) was a big part of my daughters' lives - and I think you are always a ‘Trinity mom.’ My girls are now in college at Temple and Pitt. When I run into a Trinity mom or dad, we recount those days.”
The Market Today
The demographic of buyers has expanded over time. “The biggest buyers are couples, not specific to gender, but many same-sex couples,” she said. “Second to couples are single women. And often what I see is women buying their own homes, then they get married, have a child, and at that point, they sell, and go bigger,” she said.
While an expansion of homes in the area is exciting and welcome, because it’s an area on-the-rise, there aren’t often properties available for those entering the market.
“What’s hard to find now are the mid-sized houses. There are high-end houses, like on the 2500 block of Delancey, some are over $2 million even,” she said. “But the mid-size like on Waverly or Addison, generally, are hard to find. If you’re looking for a normal-sized house for your family, that can be hard.”
Knowing that, what would she say to anyone contemplating buying here if they have the opportunity?
“Do it,” she says enthusiastically. “We always say your first investment property is the house you live in. But it’s challenging to buy in Fitler Square because this ‘urban village’ is very popular and strategically close to Penn and the hospitals”
Rosser-Thistle reminds would-be buyers that Fitler’s premium location is just as important to resale value as the actual house itself. “If you don't end up in the perfect forever home,” she says, “remember that location is equally important.”
As we switch back and forth between real estate and mom talk, she recalls memorable experiences selling, while also remembering birthday parties unfolding at Fitler Square in the park, where children today play among the sculptures of turtles, and ride their bikes and scooters.
She mentions the places a homeowner might feel drawn to: Schuylkill River Park and the adjacent community garden (her favorite neighborhood spot), Bacchus (a local market/deli that offers catering and fresh baked treats), Cafe Lutecia (a très popular corner café owned by a native of France who cooks traditional French fare).
The neighborhood, with two beautiful parks that offer a ton of green space, invites outdoor activity and engagement with neighbors.
When you move to Fitler, Rosser-Thistle affirms, "you're buying into a very special neighborhood."
Just weeks after our interview, Pam Rosser-Thistle received the news that her husband, Mike, had very little time to live. He recently entered hospice care at Keystone House Hospice Care, a non-profit, where he's been lovingly cared for by the staff, per Pam's daily Facebook posts. If you'd like to learn more about Keystone's services or how to get involved, contact 215-836-2440.
Celebrate With Rev. Lou Temme at Trinity Memorial Church
By Nancy Stinson
Next Sunday, Nov. 19, Trinity Memorial Church (TMC) at 22nd and Spruce will host a Jubilee celebration for Rev. Lou Temme, who was the church rector for 32 years, starting in 1972.
Rev. Temme is a beloved visionary whose contributions to the Fitler neighborhood are as relevant today as ever. For example, seeing men experiencing homelessness on nearby streets, Temme created WinterShelter in the church’s undercroft 40 years ago. The shelter remains a haven for about 22 men each night during the cold months. There, they receive a home-cooked meal, shower, wash their clothes and sleep safely.
Soft-spoken and kind, Temme courageously put his career on the line when he attended the ordination of the first female Episcopal priests in 1974 in Philadelphia. He supported the use of the church sanctuary for 12-step programs, music and dance performances, including the Wilma Theater, which staged some of its earliest performances at TMC.
TMC invites friends acquaintances of Rev. Temme to stop by the church on Sunday, Nov. 19 to celebrate his accomplishments and wish him well.
Holy Eucharist 10:30 AM
Festive Celebration 11:45 AM