Tag: frankford cdc

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Frankford CDC Selected to Participate in the Philadelphia Safe Commercial Corridor Program.

A program facilitated by LISC, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Commerce Department, the Philadelphia Safe Commercial Corridor program uses the Safe Growth model as a way to tackle crime and safety issues on urban commercial corridors through design. Safe Growth is a proven method of organizing and training teams of diverse community stakeholders including leaders in community development, design, planning, law enforcement, and government, to positively impact real-life crime and safety issues.

The information and data gathered through a study using the safe growth model with be used by the Frankford CDC as a segue into a streetscaping design for the 4600-4700 blocks of Frankford Avenue and the 4600 block of Paul Street. The Frankford CDC will be working with the Community Design Collaborative to design the streetscaping concept. This project will build on the organization’s efforts around revitalizing Frankford Avenue around the soon to be renovated Arrott Transportation Center.

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SEPTA Agreement Makes Way for Development

After several months of discussions, SEPTA and the Frankford Community Development Corporation have reached an agreement on the development of the blocks now occupied by SEPTA between Pratt Street and Dyre Street and Griscom Street and Frankford Avenue.  SEPTA’s plans for construction on the lot adjacent to Frankford Avenue will go as planned with the addition of an area for stores on the Frankford Avenue side.  The lot where the employe parking lot is now located will be made available for “… development which will include a food market (with ancillary parking)…”

SEPTA will invite developers to submit proposals for the development of these sites and responses will be evaluated and a selection may be made based of that process.  The bottom line is that this kick starts the development of the area around the FTC.

Below is Gary McLaughlin at the board meeting discussing one of the issues in the resolution.

 


 

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Frankford Needs a Supermarket

There has been some talk about the Thriftway closing next year.  Rite Aid Has owned the property for several years and has opted to exercise its right to not renew the lease.  They plan to demolish the existing structure and build a new Rite Aid.  This will leave Frankford without a supermarket.

That is a big story in Frankford but it is only part of a larger picture.  The area around the FTC (Frankford Transportation Center) has been identified as the place most likely to attract developers.  They are the people who build things like shopping centers and housing.  The CDC has walked through the neighborhood with some of these guys and they all say the FTC is the place to start.  The CDC does not invest money to get these things done; they get developers interested in doing them.  That is part of their job.

So when news that SEPTA was going to do a construction project in the 5100 block of Frankford Avenue it sounded like an opportunity.  The project is to build a backup control center and also a break room for SEPTA FTC employees.  It would all on that empty space between Frankfod Ave. and Griscon between Pratt and Dyre.

Meetings were held, discussions between SEPTA and the CDC took place and some form of understanding that the community’s need for a supermarket at that location would be included in the project.

At the Frankford Business and Professional Association meeting on June 23, a SEPTA representative revealed that they are about to break ground on the project and there is no provision for space for a supermarket.

Kim Washington, The Executive Director of the CDC, went into action.  The SEPTA board was having a public meeting on Thursday, June 25th.  With only 2 days’ notice, she got 35 residents who agreed to attend the meeting with her. They met at the CDC office on Griscom Street all wearing pink shirts with the words “Stop Executing very Poor Thoughtless Action”.

The meeting began at 3PM and at 3:30 it was adjourned.  Washington rose to object saying she had to address the board.  She spoke for about 6 minutes which you will find at this link.

What followed was an hour long discussion between Francis Kelly, Assistant General Manager of Public & Government Affairs and Kim Washington, Gary McLaughlin, Jennifer Powell-Folks and Nashid Edwards speaking for Frankford.  The Frankford folks did a great job of making their case.IMG_1591

SEPTA says they cannot change their plans because they have already awarded contracts, Federal funding is approved for this location and project and any change could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to make.

Frankford argues that SEPTA is in this situation because of its own mistakes and should do the right thing to correct them.

SEPTA asks if the Rite Aid site is big enough for a Rite Aid and a supermarket.  It is big enough for the buildings but would not have room for parking.

SEPTA asks if the property on 5100 block of Griscom (presently employee parking between Griscom and Penn).  The property is but the streets are residential and not big enough for tractor trailer delivery.

Frankford proposes that the project be redesigned to make it a 2 story building with a supermarket on the ground floor and SEPTA use of the second floor.  SEPTA says this would be a major redesign that would cost a lot of money.

Frankford proposes that the SEPTA building go over on the lot with the new Rite Aid.  There is enough room for those two buildings.  SEPTA says the funding is for the building to go where it is planned to go and changing it will cost a fortune.

The lack of communication with the Frankford community is the real heart of the matter.  A SEPTA representative attends the Frankford Business and Professional Association meetings routinely but SEPTA maintains that they met their obligation of notifying the community by advising Philadelphia City Council and posting public notices in the newspapers about the project.  That does not sound like a solid community partnership.

While you might expect that from a corporation in the private sector, SEPTA is a public agency.

There was no resolution at the meeting but they did commit to meet again.  Further news will be forthcoming.

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PSA1 March Meeting

The PSA meeting on March 26th was well attended with people from all areas of Frankford.  Representing the police was Captain McCloskey, Lt. Gordon and Officer Lewis.

Officer Lewis noted that the discovery of the woman buried in the alley off the 4700 block of Frankford Avenue was the result of a tip by the other residents.  The beat officer was notified and that set of the chain of events that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.  The victim was identified as Kelly Hepfl who has had addresses in West Chester, Downingtown and other locations in Philadelphia.  The suspect has not been identified so far and no charges have been filed as of today.

Other news from the meeting:

  • Robberies around the Frankford Transportation Terminal are still going on but have slowed down.  SEPTA polie and the PPD are working together to put an end to the problem.
  • The Narcotics Strike force has been active in the Bridge Street area and arrests have been made.
  • Enforcement of the 2AM closing time for businesses in the commercial areas is being enforced.  “Nothing good in Frankford happens after 2AM”.
  • The police have been proactive in being present at school dismissal time on the Avenue and where crowds of teens had after dismissal.
  • There was a discussion about a recent video posted of a car stop by 15th.  The driver was stopped for heavily tinted windows which are illegal.  The driver presented evidence from PennDot that he was allowed the tinting due to a medical condition.  Some viewers have labeled the stop as police over reach.  Others have called it an attempt by the driver to provoke the police into using excess force.  The discussion about the incident was productive.
  • Residents from Castor Avenue say that the traffic between Foulkrod and Pratt Streets has become a real problem with noise and speeding.  In additions there are ATVs running up and down the streets.  Excess noise from a vehicle is an offense punishable with a $300 fine.  Although the police are prohibited from chasing the ATVs for safety reasons, when they are stopped, they can be confiscated and will not be returned.  It is illegal to drive them on city Streets.
  • Kim Washington, Managing Director of the Frankford CDC,  asked about coordination between SEPTA and the PPD regarding the loitering around Margaret-Orthodox.  Lt. Gordon noted that this has been a subject at past meetings and SEPTA police have committed to attending the PSA meetings.  The schedule confusion this month was the cause of no SEPTA representation at this months meeting.  Gordon and Lewis went on to discuss their view of what is going on at Margaret-Orthodox and Captain McCloskey talked about future actions that will be taken to control the activity their.
  • Residents of the 5000 and 4700 block of Griscom both took the opportunity to thank the police for their work during the last year.  They say it is much better now than it was last year at this time.  It takes constant attention but the improvement is clear.

Kim Washington also introduced two new members of the CDC staff to the group.  Illeana Garcia and Ellie Devyatkin are the new Commercial Corridor managers.  You can hear more about their work at the annual public meeting of the Frankford Community Development Corporation which will be held in conjunction with the EPIC Stakeholders on April 30 at 5:30 PM at Second Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held on April 23rd at 7PM at Aria Hospital.