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Letter From a Squatter

4712 Castor Avenue

We reported last week on the Northwood Civic meeting and noted that the squatters who had been occupying 4712 Castor Avenue had departed.  Yesterday an email came in from the squatter.  So I asked her if I could share it with you.

Hello, My name is Elizabeth.
I recently saw your post about the property on 4712 Castor Ave. I recently moved from there, I was living in there as a squatter. I didn’t have a place to go or shelter my son. I lived in that property for about 7 months and I tried my best to fix up the property, mowing the lawn, keeping up the property and trying to make it a better looking property for that area. I cleaned up the house from top to bottom, and I tried my best to get in contact with many people from City Hall to some city council members and no one had any information about this property.

I wanted to keep it and obtain it like my own, I had to move out because it went to sheriff sale for the second time and I still think it’s still up for sheriff sale. I’m not sure if you can help me out with this situation. I admire the property, I took care of it for about 6-7 months. And no one I went to seemed to care, I just want to live there, fix up the property so it can decrease crime and bring a up the community since this house been abandoned for quite some years. Thank You for reading and if you can come up with any ideas, please feel free to email me. Thank you again!

There was nobody that I recall who had anything negative to say about Elizabeth.  The issue is with the bank or whoever owns the property now.  They let it sit vacant and it becomes a target for whatever element wants to use it.  In a way, Elizabeth was doing the neighborhood a service by occupying it and taking care of it.  These properties that go to foreclosure are a ticking time bomb in Northwood.  If they accumulate for any period of time it can only lead to more problems.

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Real Estate Transactions in Frankford

Thanks to our friends at CitySpace, here are some transactions from September of this year: 

1931 Berkshire St $21,500 3/1/0
1525 Wakeling St $26,500 3/1/0
1922 Briggs St $34,900 2/1/0
1371 Anchor St $37,500 3/1/0
5308 Marsden St $60,000 2/1/0
4539 Tackawanna St $62,000 3/2/0
5413 Mulberry St $101,000 3/1/1
1639 Foulkrod St $28,250 3/1/1
2137 Anchor St $30,000 3/1/0
4525 E Stiles St $53,100 3/1/0
4507 Worth St $72,000 3/1/1
4207 Griscom St $18,900 3/1/0
2024 Granite St $25,000 4/2/1
5310 Akron St $45,000 3/1/1
5021 Saul St $125,000 2/2/0
1917 Wakeling St $81,900 3/1/0
5339 Gillespie St $87,000 2/1/0
1133 Dyre St $149,900 4/1/0
4342 Bermuda St $60,000 3/1/0
1514 Adams Ave $17,900 3/1/1
1427 Adams Ave $48,000 3/2/1
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UnLitter Us Frankford Rally

The Frankford community will hold an UnLitter Us Frankford outdoor rally and celebrate the Northeast neighborhood’s recognition as one of the first and largest Litter Free Zones in Philadelphia . A large crowd of Frankford residents and business and community leaders will join together outside the Holiday Thriftway- an UnLitter Us Business Ambassador and community hub – for eco-friendly activities and to learn about how to keep Frankford, and all of Philadelphia, clean, safe and beautiful.

The three-hour outdoor rally will feature music, food and refreshments and a new SEPTA hybrid bus. City, state and business leaders will gather together to make remarks and congratulate the Frankford community on their commitment to creating a clean neighborhood and Litter Free Zone recognition. Speakers will also discuss the economic and safety benefits of a litter-free community. Event attendees will have an opportunity to sign-up for the City’s Philadelphia Recycling Rewards and UnLitter Us programs.

UnLitter Us Frankford will provide a number of visual and interview opportunities. The rally is being held in conjunction with a Frankford community cleanup, which will take place the following day on Saturday, October 2.