Category: Features

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EPIC Stakeholders Meeting 1/31/13

Joan Todd (3)edit

Joan Todd, Program Coordinator at Carson Valley Children’s Aid

It was another busy night at the EPIC Stakeholders meeting on Thursday, January 31st.

Simone Smith made her first appearance for the Frankford NAC. Erica Smith from TreePhilly updated the group on this year’s tree give aways.   Julia Hilligas from the mayor’s Office of Educations talked about funding for college. Gail Anderson, from  Job Corps, Cheryl Lang from I-Lead were also on the agenda.  Laura Wagner from First Home Care talked about their program recruiting foster parents.

Coming up on  on Saturday, February 9th and Saturday February 16 is civic engagement training.  If you are interested in earning a little extra money and participating on the Philadelphia Board of Elections see the flyer at this link.

Joan Todd updated the group on the C.H.I.C.K.S. afters chool program for girls at Harding Middle School.  There will be a health forum at St. Mark’s on Saturday February 16th from 10AM to 1PM.  There will be Spoken word by Ursula Rucker, Jeanine Kayembe & Denise Forham and musical performances by Yazz The Greatest & She Is Phoenix.  For further information see the flyer at this link.

The Philadelphia Police C.H.E.E.R.S. Saturday morning program for children 8 to 17 will be starting up on March 2nd from 9AM to 1PM at St. Joachims this year.  It will run for 7 consecutive weeks and breakfast and lunch are provided.  See the flyer at this link.

The EPIC meeting is always a good program.  The next meeting will be on February 28th at 530PM at 2nd Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

 

 

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Frankford Creek Greenway Trail Gets High Priority

The Frankford Creek Greenway trail moved one step forward at a presentation made to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission of the draft recommendation for prioritizing trail construction in the city.  The Frankford Greenway met the criteria for moving high up on the list of 75 planned trails.

phltrailmasterplan-prioritymap-draft

Click on image for full size view

Open Space Planner Jeannette Brugger noted that “The Frankford Creek Greenway is in an area of low automobile ownership and fills a gap in open space access. Frankford Creek is also a waterway targeted for improvements by the Philadelphia Water Department.”

The factors in prioritization are: Prior commitment (Frankford Greenway plan by the PWD), demand (lack of green space in the lower Northeast), Feasibility (to be started this year), connectivity (would close major gaps in the trail network) and cost.

The Frankford Greenway scored highly because:

  • Previous master plan
  • In an area of low car ownership
  • Fills the gap in walkable access to open space
  • PWD waterway restoration priority
  • Completes a gap in the trail network

A grant for the feasibility study of the Frankford Creek Greenway has been awarded and the contract should be awarded in the next month.  You can review all the details on the planphilly web site at this link.

 

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Robberies Down in Frankford

4844 Frankford ave (2)web

4844 Frankford ave

It was an active PSA1 meeting on Wednesday, January 23rd, with over 20 people crowding into the conference room at Aria Hospital.  The ever present Officer Andrews introduced Sergeant Ed Pisarek who is new to the 15th district.  Pisarek went through a list of things that are being done that have reduced the robbery rate in Frankford, among them focusing on getting guns off the street.  The police are targeting repeat offenders with a history of gun crimes.  These few repeat offenders may be responsible for 70% of the crime in our area.  (Interesting story on hot spot policing in New York at this link)

The barber shop at 4844 Frankford Avenue is closed due to guns and alcohol activity.

The individual who fire bombed the house on Foulkrod Street last month was apprehended the same day.  The target of his attack was never identified.  The hot spot area of Foulkrod and Frankford is getting serious police presence by both uniformed and plain clothes officers.

The Bridge and Pratt Cafe (Trolley Stop) continues to attract problems.

A new strategy will be enforcement of closing hours of both bars and take out shops.  Zoning specifies the hours that these places should close and when they do not they attract trouble.  The police will be stopping in to enforce the hours.

Pisarek noted that tips from citizens have been helpful in leading the police to drug arrests in areas of Frankford.  Drugs and guns go together so this helps get guns off the streets. You can attend the PSA meeting and talk with the police directly or find out how to make an anonymous tip.

The residents of the 5000 block of Griscom Street continue to enjoy some calm after a very bad time last year.

Tom McAvoy, President of the Northwood Town Watch, noted the occasional truck parking problem but said that it has improved a lot thanks to the police.  He also brought up the issue of bandit signs which are going up all over Frankford and brought some samples with him.  Those signs are illegal but not a high priority for the police.  You can find more information on this problem at the bandit project web site at this link.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held on February 20th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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Quickie Mart Update


Back in June we reported on the issue of the proposal to sell take out beer at the Quickie Mart at Frankford and Unity.  The owner, Harry Patel, had his application approved.  He stated that there would be improvements made to the shopping center where the Quickie Mart is located as part of the proposal.  The facade improvements have been made as you can see from the picture below.

So far no remodeling of the interior of the store has taken place.  That is intended to provide a sit down eating area within the store.  We’ll follow up when something new develops.

new facadeon quickie mart center

 

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First NAC Zoning Meeting a Success

5029 charles st web

5029 Charles St.

The Frankford NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Council) met Thursday, January 17th for the first zoning issue vote in its history.  The owners of 5029 Charles Street need a variance to legalize the fence that they have erected around their property.  It exceeds the standard of 4 feet by 18 inches.  The community voted to approve the variance.  A letter to the zoning board will be forwarded to that effect.  The Frankford Civic had previously also approved the variance.

Two residents who are applying for a variance at 1829 Fillmore Street for a day care, attended the meeting.  They will be making their presentation at a future meting.

At the next NAC meeting, on February 14th, the application to legalize a 2nd story deck at 5206 Pennway Street will be on agenda.