Tag: Civics

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting

A good crowd once again attend the Frankford Civic Association tonight.  The meeting ran a bit over an hour and fifteen minutes.

  • In addition to the concerned residents of Frankford, some representatives of Frankford drug services were present.  A good deal of discussion was spent on the issue of the perception of the Frankford Civic as unfriendly to these types of businesses.  It seems fair to say that the folks who attended the meeting from the drug services arena are likely to be the best of the lot and expressed a desire to see the undesirable elements weeded out.  That position seems to line up nicely with the goals of the Frankford Civic and most other folks.
  • Zoning issues were updated and the Civic is dealing with them promptly as they come up for approval.
  • Officer katz of the 15th District was at the meeting to listen to citizen complaints and dealt with several with advice on how they should be handled.
  • Complaints from several residents of Salem Street about the clients at the Wedge building on Frankford Avenue centered on loitering by clients waiting for a van to pick them up for the return trip to wherever they live.  They clearly do not live in Frankford.  This is what residents were afraid would happen and now it has happened.  What will our representatives do to straighten this out.  They gave them the green light to move in here and set up shop.  No opposition.  When the same thing was about to happen in Bustleton, red light.  What a surprise.
  • 1522 and 24 Church Street have been purchased and the new owner plans to open a recovery house 120 feet from the door to St. Joachim church and 250 feet from the Northwood Academy Charter school.  Why does that sound like such a bad idea.  Because drug dealers like to go where the business is so they will also be on the church and school doorsteps.  Call your councilperson.  Express your restrained but vehement opposition.  See if we can make this go away permanently.  215-686-3448, 3449.


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Zoning Overlay and the Frankford Special Services District

The meeting of the Frankford Civic Association covered quite a few issues, so I haven’t had the time to report on an important piece of news that did come out.  When the Frankford Special Services District (FSSD) came into being several years ago it included a zoning overlay.  That was to take some control over what types of businesses would open up in the district.  When the FSSD legislation expired in December of 2005 the zoning overlay also expired.

The city law department has determined that since the FSSD has now been resurrected, the zoning overlay is also now in effect.  The result is that the community once again has some influence over the opening of certain types of businesses.  This places a greater burden on the board of the Frankford Civic as our representatives in these zoning issues.  There will be more cases that they will have to review.

It also makes it imperative that the Civic, State Rep and City Councilperson work together on these issues.  Can we count of all of these folks working together for the bettement of Frankford?

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Frankford Day Nursery to be Converted to Joy of Living Recovery House

oct-21-2007-007You wouldn’t think this nice little building would be a source of controversy.  The Frankford Day Nursery (4445 Penn Street) served the community for close to 100 years and now is closed and up for sale.  At the recent town hall meeting, some residents expressed concern that it was being converted to a transitional residence of some kind.  Both state representative Tony Payton and councilperson Maria Quinones-Sanchez said they knew nothing of such plans but would look into the rumor.

At the Frankford Civic meeting last night, the operators of the Joy of Living recovery house attended and talked about their plan to use the day nursery building as a recovery house.  They had been in contact with Tony Payton’s office and in fact had some kind construction permit.

So there was some confusion in Tony’s office about what to do and how to do it.  When this expansion of the Joy of Life services was being planned, the operators should have come to the Frankford Civic to discuss the issue.  It would have been good if Tony’s office had told them about it.

New Rule:  You don’t open a drug related facility in Frankford without getting community support from the Frankford Civic Association.

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting

The Frankford Civic held their monthly meeting tonight with 36 people in attendance.  Some routine zoning business came up first with approvals for

  • Paintarama over on Torresdale Avenue needs some indoor parking due to vandalism
  • A family day care on Harrison Street to expand to serve 12 children
  • The Independent Electrical Contractors Association for the operation of a training center in the 1600 block of Foulkrod Street.
  • Operation of a rotisserie chicken store for take out and with seating to eat in on Frankford Avenue near Margaret Street.

The electricians presence was greated with applause and welcome to the community.

img_2005A property owner made a presentation to convert a 3 story single home into a triplex.  That issue was set for further study.  The owner of a property on Frankford Avenue near Church Street is looking to open a business and wants to work with the civic to try to find a good use for the building.  The owner of the property on Frankford Avenue seeking to add 2 apartments to the first floor thereby reducing the size of the retail space was not present.

Upcoming events are the mayor’s budget information meeting at St. Dominick’s on 2/12.  The 15th district captain’s town hall meeting at St. Joachim’s on 2/17 and an informational meeting on the new 311 phone system at Tacony Baptist on 2/18.

img_2006Several representatives from groups serving the rehab community attended the meeting for the first time.  There were discussions of the need for the services they provide and it was generally agreed that yes they are needed.  The big question is why are so many of them needed in Frankford.  Many people spoke on the quality of the services they provide and how that is the real source of the problem.

On that issue, we beg to differ.  If every one of the various drug rehab services was the top in its field, it would still mean that Frankford was over full of A+ drug rehab services.

We are closed now.  We are full.  Those that remain in Frankford will have to be good or they will go and those that go do not need to be replaced.
Although there were some strong positions taken, the meeting was civil and fairly amiable considering the depth of feeling on both sides the the fence.  It ran a bit late which is unusual for the Civic.

We’ll be posting something tomorrow on the issue of the old Frankford Day nursery building being used for another drug rehab residence.

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We Are Saturated

A town hall meeting was held in Frankford Tuesday night at St. Joachims in the parish hall.  You will find many opinions from those in attendance at to the success of the meeting.  Some folks were at the meeting with the belief that it was to discuss the conversion of the old Frankford Day Nursery into another half way house.  This was not the case and that misunderstanding should fall on the organizers of the meeting.

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The meeting appeared to have been hastily organized but that impression may have come from incorrect or little information available before hand.  However the outcome of the meeting was an acknowledgment by councilperson Maria Quinonez-Sanchez that yes Frankford has a serious problem and it is going to take some work to fix it.

Sounds like a commitment to me.  There is no magic wand that will solve the kind of problem we have in Frankford.  The decision to actually adddress it will do for me. Drugs are a part of modern life and several folks at the meeting spoke out that we are not against the services being offered to the poor souls hooked on drugs.  We are opposed to being the main location for all these services.  That has to end.

Next we need to enforce the existing laws and regulations to shut down those services that are not run properly.  And finally we have to go after those flop houses that exploit these folks, take their money and do nothing for them. They are sucking the sould out of the community and deserve to be run out of town.

How can you help?  Report every flop house you know to the councilperson’s office and let them find out if they are licensed.  215-686-3448 or 3449.

Now thanks to Maria Quinones-Sanchez and Tony Payton.  Also, as I was listening to the tape tonight I think I heard that a representative from Senator Specter’s office was in attendance.  If so, thanks Arlen.  If I missed anybody, let me know pols.