Category: Features

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Filmore Street Residents Take a Stand

Stop Work Order - 1131 Filmore St.

New multiple electric meter box

The 1100 block of Filmore was a nice quiet little spot until a new owner took over the property at 1131 and began rapidly turning the single family home into a multi family structure.  Residents began calling everyone that could be of help.  311 took the complaints and L&I responded with a violation notice but work continued.  Yesterday it came to the Northwood Civic Association’s attention and was on the agenda at last night’s meeting.  Jason Dawkins, of the Councilwoman’s office was present.  Today after waiting a reasonable amount of time, with the contractors still at work and fearing that new tenants were close to moving in, the residents of the block began calling 911.

Today at noon, inspector Bevenour issue a stop work order which said “has exceeded electric permit, must obtain building permit for work being performed”.  The contractors stopped work and closed up for the day.

I asked them about the new electric meter box for 3 meters which has not been used as yet.  They said that was put in for future use.  This entire block is zoned for single family housing.

The story that he residents heard was that the new owner (John R. Fisher) plans to turn the house into a rooming house for six individuals.  The current zoning would seem to make that impossible but the neighbors are keeping an eye on the situation.  They would prefer that he finish the rehab and then resell it to a family.

The residents are mobilized and ready to picket when necessary.  There are no boarding houses in Northwood.

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Northwood Civic Votes for Popeyes

Proposed Popeyes Chicken Location

At the Northwood Civic Association meeting on August 21st, membership had no opposition to a proposal for a new Popeyes Chicken at the location of the old beer distributor at 4501 Castor Avenue.  That is in the same strip of stores as Family Dollar.

Other issues at the well attended meeting were:

  • Camelot Schools Excel Academy on the Friends Hospital grounds is seeking a zoning variance to install two mobile units.  No increase in school capacity is in the works but there will be one additional classroom and the other unit will be used as a library.  The membership voted not to oppose the variance.
  • Further investigation of the 949 Foulkrod Street property has uncovered that it is indeed occupied by one very large extended family.  The owner has taken some steps to clean up the property and the Civic board has decided to take a wait and see approach.  No legal action will be taken at this time to enforce the Northwood deed restriction.
  • On the 900 block of Foulkrod Street a resident is running an informal used car business.  The Civic has engaged the individual in discussions which are ongoing.
  • A cleanup of the triangle at Adams and the Boulevard is scheduled for 9 AM on August 25th.  Volunteers are needed and encouraged to come with tools.  This is the gateway to Northwood and should not be left to deteriorate.
  • The property at 1131 Filmore is being illegally converted to a triplex with a future use as a 6 unit boarding house.  No permits or zoning variance has been requested.  There is a violation notice issued and further inspection is scheduled.  The neighbors are mobilizing.  Work is still being done as of today.
  • The owner of 4834 Penn Street went to zoning and obtained permit for an increase of two units after appearing at the Frankford Civic meeting last month.  This was an over the counter approval based on the square footage of the building.  Building permits have not been submitted for the permits needed to finish the project.  Councilwoman Sanchez office is monitoring the situation.
  • Jason Dawkins, of Councilwoman Sanchez office, gave a projection of the homeless situation developing due to the elimination of the General Assistance funds that have been discontinued by the state.  Hundreds of men are likely to be evicted by their landlords.
  • Jason Dawkins and Kim Washington (on behalf of the Frankford NAC) are working on a use for the old Frankford Y.  This will not be an overnight deal but something may develop by Spring.
  • Harry Mearing gave a report on the activities of the Neighborhood Security Patrol.  He also introduced a new member of his team.

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

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Old Heads Softball Game and Cookout

Old Heads Softball Game and Cookout on August 18th was the biggest community event in numbers that I have attended in Frankford.  There were certainly hundreds of people there playing and of course cooking out at the Gambrel Recreation center.

It was an East Frankford event in its 8th year organized and promoted by Ike and Kat Hardy who I met one day while I was interviewing CJ Waddy about his book.   I’d like to go back next year and spend the day.  This is the kind of Frankford event that deserves its own video.  Until then, below is a short slide show.

 


 

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Deni Playground Reunion 2012

Saturday was a perfect day for a picnic and Frankford residents had a choice of two.

The Deni Playground Reunion of 2012 was held at Pennypack park.  It is a great location up along the river.  I took a lot of pictures and talked to folks about how much that park meant to the people in the neighborhood.  Father Steve Wetzel, from St. Joachim’s Parish, held a small memorial service to remember those who have passed on. Big Joe Mastrangelo was presented with the Hall of Fame award. Some money was raised for St. Joachim parish.  Food and good times went on all day.

Thanks to Eddie Miranda for leading this effort.  Everyone is already looking forward to next year.  If you did not know, Deni has  Facebook page where you can read more about the day.  You can find it at this link.

Below is a short slideshow.

 


 

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Better Know A Frankford Artist: Rachel Citrino

For this month’s edition of “Better Know a Frankford Business”, we turned to one of Frankford’s many assets, Globe Dye Works, a large industrial complex repurposed  for artist and artisan lofts. Over twenty tenants call Globe home, and some of the most exciting work in the entire City is being done in this space just a couple blocks away from the commercial corridor.

Rachel Citrino is one of the many talented artists with studio space at Globe. Rachel grew up in Tacony and Frankford in the late  40s-50s, and comes from a long line of artists: her grandfather was a photographer, and her father was a painter. Her family history seemed to have pulled her towards Globe, as well. Before her father passed away, the family lived behind his shop/studio on Church Street, just a few blocks from Globe Dye Works. When her mother remarried, the family moved to Worth Street, where Globe is located.

Rachel credits her father for her initial interest in the arts. As she says, “Watching my father work on paintings on a daily basis was probably where I first became excited about the behavior of color. Over fifty years of exhibitions behind me, I am still excited about color and it’s alchemy.”

After living in New Jersey with her husband for 25 years, she returned to the City about two years ago and quickly found space at Globe. And GALLERY B102 is not just a studio, either: “I created a gallery space, GALLERY B102, to serve my curatorial projects. I make the exhibit space available to artists who want to mount their own show or installation and mentor their efforts. In addition to showcasing my own works, I hope to contribute to the community by making it affordable for independent artists to show their work.”

Some exciting exhibits are in the works for GALLERY B102: From October 13th through November 3rd, GALLERY B102 will host “an installation of paintings and mixed media art as well as an interactive Day of the Dead Alter” by Frankford High graduate, Emma Gardner. Emma’s work will also be featured in Rachel’s Philadelphia Open Studio Tours exhibit on October 20th and 21st. Rachel’s own work will be on sale in October and November, in time for the holidays.

Globe, and its tenants like Rachel, are helping to keep the arts alive here in Frankford – and Rachel’s excited to be a part of it and to help it grow in the years to come. We encourage you to visit Globe if you haven’t had the chance – witness all of the positive energy and talent right in our own backyard.