Jonathan Stone Sutton

Jonathan Stone Sutton, 75, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. Jon was a founding partner of Growth Properties, which was at the forefront of the rebirth of Old City. St. Charles Court was their first historic restoration project of twenty-seven apartments and one of the first in Old City. They redeveloped several similar apartment and retail projects throughout the area. In 1984, with Brickstone Properties, they rehabilitated the Lit Brothers complex that included thirteen structures into the 990,000 sq. ft. Mellon Independence Center, which was awarded the National Trust annual award for Historic Restoration and the Preservation Alliance 25 year award Historic Preservation. Jon led the conversion of an abandoned mill valley site into seventy-three upscale luxury townhomes. As the successor Renaissance Properties, they rehabilitated and added a new tower to the historic Bookbinder's complex to develop seventeen luxury condos and a renewed restaurant. Jon was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended Columbus Academy. A graduate of Amherst College, he earned graduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania in Architecture and Landscape Architecture. He later taught urban design at the University of Pennsylvania and passive solar design at Drexel University. In his early career, Jon was an associate partner of Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd. Following the ecological design theory established by Ian McHarg, he led the planning process for development of Sea Pines Plantation Amelia Island, Fla., and the Woodlands, Texas among other significant projects.. Jon was active in several organizations in his local community. Although he was a successful developer, he also believed in the preservation of open space. For many years he was active in the Nether Providence Environmental Advisory committee and in that capacity was instrumental in saving several large tracts in the Township for open space and also in drafting the first Soil Erosion Control Ordinance for the Township. A member of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, he was an elder and member of the property committee. For over four decades he was an ardent supporter of the Community Arts Center in Wallingford. He was intimately involved with the physical growth and enhancement of the property and was instrumental in the CAC getting historic designation for two buildings on the property that saved them from destruction in the Blue Route highway construction. He designed every major renovation on the property, most importantly the highly praised Duke Gallery addition. He found solace working in his extensive forest gardens. Jon will be remembered for his wonderful sense of fun and his bright, gentle spirit. He is survived by his wife of nearly fifty years, Karen, Sutton, daughters Eva-Marie Chopra, Thea Harvey, and Amelia Jevicki, sons-in-law, Preet Chopra, Duane Harvey, and Adrian Jevicki, brother Charles Sutton and his wife Eve, and five grandchildren. Planning is ongoing for a Celebration of Life event in the coming year. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford, PA 19086