Northwood Civic Meeting

Anthony Bannister

I took some time to digest the Northwood Civic meeting of last Tuesday.  As has been reported in NEastPhilly.com by Chris Wink, Anthony Bannister made his case for the group who wants to buy the former New Frankford Community Y property.  They intend to operate it as a for profit enterprise.

Also discussed was the Civic’s plan to file a class action law suit against property owner’s within the Northwood deed restricted area who are renting their properties.  Barry Howell spoke about the necessity of enforcing the deed restriction.  This will not be something that can be done in a short time frame.  In order for this to work, they must first establish who is violating the deed restriction.  That research will take some time.  Then an attorney must take on the case.  Those are hurdles that have to be overcome.

Barry also addressed the issue of absentee owners of non deed restricted properties and the problems that some of them are causing the residents.  He made it clear that those issues are going to be addressed as well.  Again that will not be an easy fight but they are going to take it on.

I have since talked to a few people who attended the meeting and they say they have a degree of optimism.  Well, I kind of go along with that and it has taken me a few days to figure out why.  It’s been a long time since I heard somebody say they were going to do something.  Bannister says they have a vision and they are going to get it done.  Howell says its not going to be easy but we are going to get it done.

Well maybe it won’t be that easy, but I’m tired of hearing people tell me what the can’t do and why.  Let’s hear it for the doers.  Let’s support Northwood Civic by standing behind them in what they are trying to do.

No I don’t live in Northwood but what is good for Northwood is good for Frankford as a whole.