Frankford Community Blog | Local News, Events, Community Resources
Northwood Civic Association
St. James Lutheran Church
4600 Pratt Street
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
AGENDA:
Neighborhood Quality of Life Issues:
Burglaries, Nuisance neighbors
With the summer approaching we need to address
neighborhood issues before they get worse
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Bring a Neighbor
Northwood a Beautiful place to Live,
Lets work together to keep it that way!
There was a good turnout for the meeting tonight with several new members signing up.
4271 Penn Street
First up was a presentation by Dawn Tancredi, Esquire representing Miosotis Jones. Ms Jones is applying for zoning to change the use of 4271 Penn Street (Penn and Ruan Streets) from single family to four unit occupancy. That would be made up of three one bedroom apartments and one studio apartment. She is requesting a letter of support from the Civic. The presentation was well done and the zoning officer will do some further investigation, the board will vote and a decision will be made within 7 days. There was some community support for the change present at the meeting.
The operator of a family day care home in the 5100 block of Torresdale Avenue is looking for a letter of support for her change to a group home. That means the capacity would go from six to twelve children. Discussion of the issues followed and the zoning officer will make a followup visit.
The last piece of business at tonight’s meeting was a vote on whether to write a letter of support to the zoning board for the application by the Bridge to move on to the property on Adams Avenue. The Board and eligible members voted 2 to 1 against the motion. Letters of support have already been written by the Northwood Civic and Juniata Civic Associations.
Follow this link to NEastPhilly.com coverage of the meeting.
The next Frankford Civic meeting is scheduled for June 2nd.
If you are a loyal reader, you are knowledgeable about Frankford and current events. Across the country, funding for schools is decreasing dramatically. The School District of Philadelphia has released its budget for the 2011-2012 School Year. You can read the Budget in Brief. This budget reflects a loss of $600 million or, roughly, 20% of the School District’s budget. Here is an article about the first budget hearing at Meredith School. To be fair, we at the Frankford Gazette will give you both sides of an issue. Just as school districts are preparing bare bones budgets throughout the commonwealth, PA Department of Revenue has projected an April surplus of $506 million in its collections, more than 6 times what was projected. This may help to ease some of the drastic cuts.
However, parents need to demand a top-rate education for their children and they need to express their desires at one of the upcoming community budget meetings – see the flyers below! We have encouraged all parents to get involved in their child’s school and to ensure that their child gets the education they are deserving of – it’s the greatest, greatest gift you can give your child! Education enables and empowers us to reach our potential and fulfill our dreams! Isn’t this our greatest wish for our children? Plan to attend a meeting – take your friends!
We have all been reading about the drastic cuts which may be necessary in the Philadelphia School District due to Governor Corbett’s proposed budget. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News have been reporting on the School District’s plans if their budget is cut by almost $300 million. Here is a link to read recent coverage of these plans reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. This Daily News article reported on parents and student feelings about the proposed cuts.
Well, what can we do? Here is an opportunity to go to Harrisburg and advocate for our schools. Our schools which are taking the biggest cut of any school district within Pennsylvania. Please go, if you can!
Major news last night was the appearance of Frank Bennett who has taken title to 4712 Castor Avenue and is in the process of restoring it to its former grandeur. Mr. Bennett intends to occupy the home with his family and has taken on a formidable task. Work is underway at this time but on Saturday there will be an open house between noon and 4PM for those who would like to see the property.
Michael Ogden made a presentation on behalf of the Bridge, a residential treatment facility for adolescent boys between 14 and 18. They are looking for community support for their proposed move to the 1100 block of Adams Avenue. They presently occupy a building at 8400 Pine Road in Fox Chase on the Medical Missionary Sisters grounds. That building will be taken over by the sisters for a residence for nuns in retirement so the Bridge must relocate. A new facility would be built on that hill on Adams Avenue and the Bridge would have a long term lease.
Ogden made his case to the audience and it is clear that they run a very good program. The issues raised by the audience were of security since this is not a lock down facility. It is run like a school. If a kid wants to run away, he can. Ogden stated that no violent offenders are in their program. Jorge Santana (Tony Payton’s Chief of Staff) pointed out that the property now is frequented by drug users who are more likely to be criminals than the residents of the school that would hopefully replace the empty lot. Two young men, residents of the Bridge, spoke eloquently of their life changing experience in the program.
No vote was taken regarding the Civics’s support for the Bride at last night’s meeting. It is a tough call. Most residents are opposed to more social service programs moving into the neighborhood. However, the audience last night seemed to be favorably impressed with the quality of the Bridge.
