There has been an ongoing discussion over on phillyblog about the prevalence of drug treatment facilities in Frankford. Does Frankford have a lot of these facilities compared to other areas of the city? Do the facilities exist to treat Frankford residents or do the drug users move to Frankford because of the existence of the facilities.
One poster took the time to compile a list of these facilities and I have mapped them to Google maps to let everyone see where they are. As we update the list I’ll adjust the map.
There are only 3 more days left to vote on the poll this month. The question was “Will the sale of the Third Federal building to NET be good for Frankford?”
As of this morning 31 readers responded and only 8 expressed a definite opinion that it will have a negative impact on Frankford. 14 said it would be positive and 9 said it would make no difference at all.
This issue is complicated by the fact that none of us has a crystal ball. The mission of NET is a necessary one in the society we live in today and because of the demographics it is more needed in Frankford than some other locations.
But the big question for me: does the presence of service providers like NET in our neighborhood bring more people to Frankford to use the services than would have otherwise resided here in the natural course of events. I do not know the answer.
If NET is as well run as it could be then this can actually be a plus for Frankford avenue. To the public the NET presence will not be apparanent. The bank will continue to use the Avenue side of the building. NET clients will use the entrance in the rear of the building where the parking lot provides great access.
The building will be improved and add some value for future use and at some time if a more valuable use becomes available NET will be able to cash out and relocate.
We will see but there is not harm in taking the optimistic side in the debate.
Two recent reports of Frankford residents arrested for crimes in the news:
Police said yesterday they could not release the name of the victim of a fatal accident at G and Luzerne streets in Juniata at 5 a.m. Sunday. The driver in that accident, Sylvester White, 32, of Frankford, was charged with driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and related offenses, police said.
And also reported was:
A former Navy seaman from the city’s Frankford section was held for trial yesterday on murder and weapons charges in last year’s shooting death of 5-year-old Cashae Rivers. Noel “Pablo” Garcia, 23, was the second man to be charged in the murder of Cashae, who was riding in the back seat of a white Oldsmobile in Strawberry Mansion when she was shot
