Just a friendly reminder from the Frankford CDC that we will be hosting a presentation on the City’s proposed changes to the Zoning Code this coming Thursday, September 15th, at 6:30p at Frankford ARIA Hospital (4900 Frankford Avenue). City officials will also be discussing the Mayor’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan. We hope you can make it to this important meeting! Contact our offices at 215-743-6580 with any questions.
Tag: frankford cdc
Important Message from the Frankford CDC!
Hi Folks!
We at the Frankford CDC have an important announcement about this coming Saturday’s Second Saturday arts festival (to be held from 12n to 3p, at 4806 Frankford Ave). We may have to cancel due to inclement weather. We’ll be posting on our facebook (friend us here http://www.facebook.com/FrankfordCDC) by 9:00a on Saturday morning either way.
Thanks so much for understanding and bearing with us, and we hope Saturday’s a beautiful day and that we see y’all then!
Please feel free to contact Michelle Feldman at 215-743-6580 or mfeldman.fcdc@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
Frankford Community Development Corporation
This is a guest post by Michelle Feldman of the Frankford CDC. Michelle is the Corridor Manager and Special Events Coordinator.
First of all, thanks to Bob for allowing us to guest post on the Gazette, and for all of the support he has given us over the years.
We at the Frankford CDC want to take this opportunity to share what we do every day, and to invite suggestions and comments regarding what other special projects we should tackle, and what else we should fold in to our day to day work.
Right now we are focused on assisting the businesses along the Avenue, and trying to attract new entrepreneurs to start their enterprises here in Frankford. We try to help existing or prospective business owners navigate the various City agencies, as well as identify and apply for various sources of funding. We also work to cut the vacancy rate along the Avenue, and help to keep the Frankford Business and Professional Association running smoothly. In addition, we plan and execute special events that we hope will be enjoyable for Frankford residents, but also attract new people to the area in the hopes that they will see all of the wonderful things about Frankford that we see. We are in the midst of our first series of summer arts festivals (the next one is September 10th from 12n to 3p on the 4700 block of Frankford Avenue – please come out and join us!). And stay tuned for more information about our Haunted History tour coming up in October.
Currently, we are working on several special projects that we hope will be a part of kickstarting the revitalization of the Avenue. Most importantly, we are working to turn vacant properties in to temporary arts and community galleries. The goal is not just to create a meeting space and attract artists to Frankford, but also to market the too-numerous vacancies on the Avenue. We are also partnering with Startup Corps, a nonprofit organization that runs year long youth entrepreneurship programs in high schools throughout the City through which students start their own businesses, to try to bring the program to Frankford High. In addition, we are working to bring strategic types of businesses to Frankford; specifically, we are actively attempting to attract a coffeeshop / cafe to our area. Through this project, as well as through our relationship with Startup Corps, we have had the good fortune to meet a lot of great entrepreneurs, and have actually brought two new small businesses to Frankford.
Last, we are actively stepping up our online presence. We recently started a blog (www.frankfordcdc.blogspot.com), we have revamped our website (www.frankfordcdc.com), and we are avid facebook users (friend us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/FrankfordCDC)! We’ve partnered with Northeast Treatment Centers, with whom we are also working on a community garden project, to update the jobs section of our website, which will soon host searchable video interviews of job seekers. We have also restarted our monthly newsletter, which we post on our blog and facebook page. Let us know if you’d like to start receiving our newsletters!
This is just some of what we do. But we really want to hear from you, and we truly need your participation. Come out to our events. Come meet us and tell us how we can be better serving you. Give us a call any time at 215-743-6580 – or email Tracy at todrain.fcdc@gmail.com or Michelle at mfeldman.fcdc@gmail.com. We can’t do this with out you!
Frankford Second Saturday August 13th
Another Second Saturday courtesy of the Frankford CDC was held on August 13th. Both vendors and performers graced the 45oo block of Frankford Avenue.
As I walked down Frankford Avenue Saturday afternoon, I was thinking that it didn’t look like much was happening. Then I hit the 4500 block and found all these neat displays of Art. So I spent a half hour talking to one or the other. I also stopped to talk to some of the other store owners. I happened to be there when Something Like a Monument was playing a song that perfectly matched the feeling of the el running overhead.
On display were items from FireHazard Jewelry, prints from Dave Aronson, graphics by Bob Baumner, silk flowers by Patricia Bingham and photography by Finesse – Fine Arts. Performers were Something Like A Monument, Art in Motion and Loki.
Below are some pictures of the event. You can see more on the Frankford CDC blog here. The next Second Saturday will be on September 10th.
Neighborhood Advisory Committee
The Frankford CDC will be submitting a proposal to the City for the Neighborhood Advisory Committee Program (NAC). Under the NAC Program, Neighborhood-Based Non-Profit Corporations shall provide residents the opportunity to give input on housing, community, commercial and economic development programs as well as related citizen participation, public information and neighborhood planning activities. This includes, but is not limited, to the following:- Promoting sustainability through recycling, cleaning, planting and alternative energy efforts.
- Creating employment opportunities through job placement and training, retail revitalization, and educational assistance efforts.
- Enhancing neighborhood safety through town watches, youth mentoring and community outreach programs.
- Providing quality and affordable residences through new housing, preservation of existing housing and mortgage foreclosure prevention programs.
I have heard the view expressed in the past that the public does not really know what is going on with the CDC. Volunteering for a position on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee will give you an opportunity have a direct voice in what direction the CDC takes. We are at an interesting and critical time in the history of Frankford. We grew in population over the last 10 years.
The “committee” will be set up and meet at least four times a year and will advise the NAC Coordinator and the Frankford CDC on neighborhood initiatives. The Committee will appoint members to serve on the Frankford CDC Board of Directors and the FCDC Board shall be represented on the NAC. The NAC Coordinator will also be responsible for communicating resources and services that are available to residents (e.g. mortgage counseling, etc).
You can read all the details about the NAC on the CDC’s bog here.
