Category: Civics

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Frankford Civic March Meeting

There were no zoning cases to discuss this month but there was an interesting presentation by Tom Branigan and Alexia Sotirchos from the Delaware River City Corporation (DRCC).

The DRCC from their web site:

The Delaware River City Corp. (DRCC) exists in order to build, maintain and promote the North Delaware Greenway. The North Delaware Greenway is a portion of the urban, multi-state corridor, the East Coast Greenway, which connects similar projects from Maine to Florida. In partnership with many others, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Philadelphia Commerce Department and Department of Parks and Recreation, and local civic organizations, the DRCC is realizing the vision of a renewed Delaware riverfront.

The most recent development was the opening of the Port Richmond Trail which runs next to Delaware Avenue from Allegheny up the the Betsy Ross Bridge at Lewis Street.  Right at Allegheny is the new Pulaski Park.  We took a tour Sunday and even though the newly planted trees haven’t bloomed yet, you can see the potential there.  See the slideshow below.

In context, this stretch of the trail will be a segment of the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway running from Canada to Key West, Florida.  The Philadelphia segment is planned out and some of it is now being implemented.  Grpund was broken last week for the extension of Delaware Avenue from Lewis Street to Orthodox Street.  The trail will be built along with the roadway.  Eventually Delaware Avenue will run all the way up the the Arsenal boat ramp and the trail will run along with it.

Planning is also ongoing for the Frankford Creek Greenway to connect to the trail system thereby giving us in Frankford access to the Delaware river by bike.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held at Aria Hospital on April 3rd at 7PM.

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Northwood Civic February Meeting

The meeting held on February 18th was well attended with 20 residents in the meeting room at St. James Lutheran Church.  The issues discussed:

  • The March 18th meeting will be candidates night.  The primary election will be held on May 20th and invitations are being sent to all candidates for office to attend the meeting to speak and answer questions.  There will be no debate between candidates since only one at a time will be in the meeting room.
  • Residents have voiced concern about the parking problems at Northwood Academy Charter School.  Joe Krause has been discussing the issue with the principal Amy Hollister.  They are working on a plan to utilize the parking lot (formerly CORA) to reduce congestion at drop off and pickup time.  She has been invited to speak at a future meeting.
  • Joe was scheduled to tour the site of the new Bridge facility on Adams Avenue on February 19th.  The Bridge is a nonprofit behavioral health treatment and youth opportunity program for adolescents and their families seeking to overcome substance abuse, mental health issues, truancy and other challenges. The facility appears to be nearing completion and the community will be notified when it will become operational.  The issue of approving the zoning variance for the facility was contentious with the Frankford Civic opposing it while the Northwood Civic approved.
  • The Kmart on Wyoming Avenue is closing which leaves a large vacant property on the edge of Northwood.  There is no indication of what may happen to the building at this point but the Civic will keep an eye on the situation.
  • Tom McAvoy discussed the Town Watch.  As the president, he is dependent on reports from residents about issues.  No patrolling is done by members.  Truck parking overnight on Northwood streets is generally prohibited and is under control for the most part.  Residents can contact Tom at nwtownwatch@hotmail.com.
  • Representative Clay spoke briefly on his proposed legislation to tax lottery winnings to fund public schools in the state.  He says he has gotten a lot of positive feedback from the public and fellow legislators about it.  More information will be available as it moves along the legislative process.

Some residents came with a list of possible rental properties in the Northwood deed restricted area.  Joe Krause took the information and will followup on the issues raised.  He noted that it can be difficult to prove use of a property is a commercial enterprise which is forbidden by the deed restriction.  Some may be used by other then the owner in situations that are legal.

The next meeting of the Northwood Civic Association will be on Tuesday, March 18th at 7PM at St. James Lutheran Church.

 

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting for February

At the Frankford Civic meeting on February 6th there were no zoning cases presented.  There are two pending issues that required a continuance and the owners will be requested to visit the next meeting.

Residents heard some positive news from Griscom Street.  After years of decay, 4728 Griscom has been sold to a Griscom Apartments LP with the intention of use for senior citizen housing.  It is also contemplated that 4732-34 Griscom (4 story historic building) will become part of that deal once some title problems are cleared up.

On the opposite corner, Pete Specos, president of the Civic Association, noted that a permit for a sit down restaurant has been granted to 4731 Griscom St.  The property owner had applied for a variance for a take out chicken store at that location last year.  Residents vocally protested and the application was withdrawn.  Construction is now going forward with the incarnation of the business.  Residents are very concerned about any business moving into that property that will attract drug users and dealers at all hours of the day and night.  They resolved that if this looks like the direction the business will take, protest will be carried on until the situation is corrected.  If necessary, they will take the pickets to the owner’s home.

The club at 4721 Oxford (formerly the State Store) was open for a private party the weekend of February 1st.  Since it has no license and numerous L&I violations, the police were notified and came to shut it down.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on March 6th at Aria Hospital at 7PM.

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting takes Up New Restaurant at Griscom and Oxford

The owner of the property at the corner of Oxford Avenue and Griscom (4731 Griscom St.) is scheduled to attend the Frankford Civic Association meeting on February 6th.  He has already obtained a permit for a restaurant for the building but is willing to present his business plan to the community.  It does not involve a take out food license.  This location was previously proposed to be the location of a Crown Fried Chicken take out store.

Weather permitting, the meeting will be at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

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Zoning Cases Coming Up in February and March

These cases are listed on the calendar today.  One of our local RCOs or Civic Associations has or will have it on their agenda.

2/18/2014 – 1429 Unity Street     PERMITFOR A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING IN AN EXISTING ATTACHED STRUCTURE

2/19/201414 – 5422 Mulberry St.    PERMIT FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENT (SOLE PRACTIONER) AND ACCESSORY OFFICE ON BASEMENT IN THE SAME BUILDING WITH AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY ABOVE.

3/4/2014 – 5199 Mulberry St. – (Smedley School) PERMIT THE ERECTION OF ONE (1) ILLUMINATED FLAT WALL SIGN WITH DIGITAL DISPLAY (SIZE AND LOCATION TO BE AS SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION) TO AN EXISTING THREE STORY SCHOOL.

3/4/2014 – 4339 Torresdale Ave. – PERMIT IS FOR CREATION OF TWO (2) TENANT SPACES (SPACE A & B) FROM ONE (1) TENANT SPACE. SPACE B – PROPOSED TAKE OUT RESTAURANT WITH A WALK-UP WINDOW, SPACE A – EXISTING CAR WASH FACILITY TO INCLUDE AUTO DETAILING AND MINOR AUTO REPAIR (PERSONAL VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE) IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.

3/11/2014 4332 E. Stiles St. – PERMIT FOR A TWO (2) FAMILY DWELLING.