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Wanted for Robbery

On July 23, 2016, at 7:30 pm, two unknown black males entered a Grocery Store located on the 1300 block of Unity Street to purchase water ice. As the employee was scooping the water ice suspect #1 went behind the counter striking the employee, a 20 year-old male, several times with brass knuckles forcing him to the ground. Suspects #1 & #2 then went to the cash register taking an undisclosed amount of money. After taking the money both suspects fled on foot and were last seen west on Unity Street. Prior to the robbery suspect #1 is seen removing a black handgun from his waist band and passing it to suspect #2.

  • Suspect Description:
    Suspect #1:     Black male: 15-20 years-of-age, 5’8″, unshaven, wearing a blue and white shirt with a green stripes down the back, light blue shorts, black sneakers, and armed with brass knuckles.
    Suspect #2:     Black male: 15-20 years-of-age, 5’6″, orange and red hair, wearing a black shirt, orange shorts, and armed with a black handgun.
  • To view this video and more, visit The Philadelphia Police YouTube Channel or http://phillypolice.com/news

If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, please contact:
Northeast Detective Division:
215-686-3153/3154
Det. Brown #774
DC 1615071298

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Senior Housing Development Proposed for Ruan Street

The Frankford NAC zoning meeting on August 11th heard a presentation by the Frankford Group LLC of a proposal for a 5 story, 44 residential unit low income senior housing development.  The group was giving the community a heads up on the plans which are in the development stage.  The site is opposite the former Sankofa Freedom Academy school at 1611-41 Ruan Street and would take up most of the vacant land there now used as parking.

The building, to be called Frankford House, would have a ground floor lobby entrance and parking with the residences taking up floors 2 through 5.  There will be amenities such as a community room, fitness center, 2nd floor outdoor terrace and individual washer/driers. Initial renderings of the building look promising.  They will be coming back to the NAC at a future meeting for zoning approval where more information will be provided.  An optimistic estimate of completion of the project is late 2018 or early 2019.

The owners of 5520 Harbison Avenue presented their case for a variance to use of the former St. Bart’s convent as a mixed use commercial office space and small group home for older children.  The commercial use would be offices on the first and second floor.  The group home would be operated by ChildFirst Services Inc.  The building is now zoned as a single family residence.

Questions posed were related to the size of the facility and ages of the residents.  There was also some concern about whether the children are being placed as a result of criminal history.  The children are in the group home because they have been removed from their own home environment for reasons beyond their control.

This property is on the edge of Frankford but falls primarily within the Wissinoming Civic Association area and they will also vote on the variance.  Only one resident was present at the meeting and the vote was to not support the variance.

The next meeting of the Frankford NAC zoning board will be on September 12th at 7 PM at Second Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

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Frankford CDC Awarded Grant for Transportation Study

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development awarded the Frankford CDC a grant of $132,755 from their Multimodal Transportation Fund to go toward a transportation study of the transit-oriented development site near the Frankford Transportation Center.

The Frankford CDC is pleased to announce that in July 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development selected the CDC as one of 103 awardees from across the state for a grant from their Multimodal Transportation Fund. The award of $132,755 will go toward a transportation study of the area around the Frankford Transportation Center, SEPTA surface employee parking lot at Griscom and Pratt Streets, and the parcel at Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street where SEPTA is currently constructing their ancillary control center and employee facilities.

This study will be a crucial part of the Frankford CDC’s pre-development work on a transit-oriented development project. SEPTA’s Board issued a Finding of Special Opportunity this past fall giving permission for their employee parking lot and part of the parcel fronting Frankford at Pratt Street to be used for a development including a new fresh food market and small retail. SEPTA is currently drafting an RFP, with input from the Frankford CDC, that will be modeled after the 69th Street project.

Please feel free to reach out to Ellie Devyatkin at the Frankford CDC by phone (215-743-6580) or email (edevyatkin@frankfordcdc.org) with any questions.

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Frankford Civic Association Talks Bars

At the Frankford Civic Association meeting on August 4th, a bar was once again a topic of discussion.

At the June meeting, a residents raised the issue of the closed Platinum bar at 4101 Paul Street (Paul Street and Torresdale Avenue) apparently being renovated for reopening.  It was closed down a few years ago after a series of violent incidents.

A liquor application was filed on Oct. 22, 2015, and was approved for “Prior Approval Safekeeping” on July 22, 2016. That means the PLCB (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board) has approved the transfer of the license, and the license is now in safekeeping, which means it is not in use. Once the premises are constructed, the PCLB  will inspect them. If the premises are completed as they appear on the approved plans, the PLCB can issue operational authority.  No protests were received during the protest period.  The license is held by 4101 New Additions Inc.

Also at the June meeting, a resident reported that a house that had been sealed at 1941 Ruan Street had an open window on the second floor.  A report was made to 311 on the issue.

The issue of zoning prompted a discussion where Franklin Daniel volunteered to report back on the zoning meetings of the Frankford NAC which he regularly attends.  The NAC is the official RCO for Frankford and as a result conducts votes by community members on each zoning case involving Frankford.  The residents eligible to vote are limited to those living within a 2 block radius of the address seeking a variance.  The Frankford Civic however can voice its opinion by either sending a letter or attending a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting to express an opinion on any case that is of interest.  The information provided by Daniel will allow the Civic to decide when their opinion should be conveyed to the ZBA.

A resident of the 2000 block of Margaret Street again expressed his dismay with the conditions of the Harding Middle School property on the Northern part of its property.  The grass is up to 3 feet high and is strewn with trash.  It a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a playground for rodents.  If the Zika virus ever turns up in Frankford, look to the neglect of the Harding Middle School property as the cause.  A 311 report was made on the issue (Reference number 10879517) and will be followed up with at future Civic meetings.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on September 1st at St. Mark’s church at 4442 Frankford Avenue.