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Frankford CDC Blog

The Frankford CDC has a new blog.  Take a look and then feel free to add your two cents.  They want dialog.  You can find it here.

1 thought on “Frankford CDC Blog”

  1. NCAPresidentEmeritus

    My past criticisms of the Frankford CDC was – in order to receive funding “they” held themselves out to represent the Whole Frankford Community.

    But (in the past) not once did any member of the FCDC meet with any of the civic associations to coordinate any of the “Community Development.”

    The FCDC was comprised of – or consisted of a coordinated effort of a core group of Non-Profits (Profiteers) that were (and some still are) taking government funding and then dictating to the whole Frankford Community what they were planning for the Frankford Community.

    [Our city Councilmatic members were (are still) in on this scam – as the CDC’s always do the dirty work of paving the way for what ever the City wants to do in the community. The Councilmen fund the CDCs.]

    To fulfill certain funding requirements the FCDC would stage faux “Community Meetings” where there were no members of the community in attendance.

    These self serving meetings were (stacked with their own people) just for a photograph and to “document” (create the illusion) that the FCDC was “on board” with the whole Frankford Community in all of their activities.

    I would suggest to the Frankford Community and the Civic Associations – if you want to “take your community back” start by dictating the marching orders to the FCDC – not the other way around. Hold the FCDC to being accountable to the Community.

    In my opinion, to receive even one cent of funding – the FCDC should be required to attend every civic meeting of both cicic associations.

    J.M.

    P.S.

    Ask our present City Council Members why – There is no profit like Non-Profit:

    http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/conplan36/Year%2036%20Final%20for%20web.pdf

    The Frankford CDC

    Fiscal Year 2011

     – pg 44:
    b. Frankford
    the city will support Frankford CDC (FCDC) to undertake economic development activities designed to enhance economic opportunities and create a sustainable neighborhood that is a clean, safe, attractive and welcoming place and that will benefit low – and moderate -income residents. These activities include neighborhood revitalization, programs designed to assist businesses, and community economic development. Fcdc will work with local businesses, the local business association, the special services district, and with other local neighborhood organizations, when appropriate, to aid in the stabilization and revitalization of the targeted low – and moderate – income neighborhood. the primary target area will incorporate Frankford Avenue, from Church Street to Bridge Street and the surrounding business area.
    The city proposes to fund FCDC up to $125,000 to carry out TCMP activities.

    – pg. 79:
    2. Homeownership for Neighborhood Revitalization
    OHCD supports the rehabilitation and new construction of single-family rowhomes for homeownership in Kensington and Frankford. In past years, oHcd has supported homeownership rehabilitation by the new Kensington cdc, the Kensington Housing Partnership and Kensington Homeownership Program which linked neighborhood groups with PHDC to create rehabilitated homeownership housing. OHCD has also funded new construction by Frankford CDC for homeownership in Frankford.

    3. Economic Development
    the commerce department’s TNC A program assists business strips at Frankford and Allegheny Avenues, Kensington and Allegheny Avenues, in Kensington/ Harrowgate and on the 4400-5300 blocks of Frankford Avenue. 

    – pg 81:
    3. Frankford
    In Year 18, oHcd allocated $845,000 to Frankford cdc (then called cdc of Frankford Group Ministry) for the acquisition of property, environmental clean-up of the site and new construction of 12 homeownership units, known as the Meadow II project at 4629-39 Paul St. the acquisition of the site also supported the development of a rental project for the elderly, known as Meadow House, which was funded under the Hud 202 program. Meadow House is completed. oHcd allocated $500,000 in Year 19 HOME funds to Frankford cdc for the construction of an additional 12 homeownership units at Meadow II. Meadow II is completed. In Year 21, oHcd supported Frankford cdc for the acquisition of properties through Act 94 condemnation on the 4600 block of cloud Street for future homeownership development. In Year 22, Frankford cdc received development subsidies through the Philadelphia Bankers’ development Initiative (a city-funded program) for the rehabilitation of eight homeownership units on the 4700 block of Griscom Street. In Year 24, OHCD provided $424,600 in HoME funds for the development of four units of homeownership housing on the 4600 block of cloud Street. this project was completed in Year 25. In Year 24, oHcd supported acquisition for the development of 15 units of new-construction homeownership housing on the 1800 block of Wilmot Street, known as the Wilmot Meadow development. oHcd provided $1.773 million in HoME funds for construction in Year 25. this project is completed.

    In Year 27, OHCD supported Frankford cdc for the development of Gillingham court, an 11-unit new construction homeownership venture located at 4541-4547 tackawanna St. this site has been remediated and oHcd plans to issue an RFP for a new developer. Frankford cdc was selected in Year 30 to participate in the Main Street program funded by DCED. 

    – pg. 81:
    5. Juniata Park
    In Year 25, OHCD provided $1.65 million to the restoration of the carl Mackley Apartments located at 1401 E. Bristol St. originally built in 1934 as a labor- sponsored housing project for union members of the local workforce, the building was rehabilitated in 1999 as 184 units of affordable rental housing.

    In 2003, using NTI bond funds, the city supported the acquisition of a six-acre site along Frankford creek, between cayuga and Wingohocking Streets for the development of a 50-unit mixed-income homeownership project, the twins at PowderMill. this project received PHFA Homeownership choice funding in 2003 and required a city subsidy. In Year 32, Impact Services became the developer. this venture received an HtF award in 2007 and was completed in 2009, when it won the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Judges’ choice Award for the Best new real Estate deal of 2009. 

    – pg. 118:
    Commonwealth of PennsylvanIa funds
    Each year the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s department of community and Economic development (DCED) has published guidelines for applying for DCED funding for housing and community development activities. …

    … People’s Emergency Center CDC, Allegheny West Foundation, Mt. Airy USA and Frankford cdc have participated in Main Street and Elm Street. the city expects to receive continued Main Street and Elm Street funding in Year 36. 

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