Tag: frankford civic association

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Residents Concerned at PSA1 Meeting

Residents of the 4700 block of Griscom Street want to keep the hard won ground on their block.  That was the message heard by Sgt. O’Donnell and Officer Andrews at the PSA1 meeting held on March 20th.  It’s not heaven over there but it is a lot better now than it was a few months ago.

Their concern stems from the proposed opening of a take out food establishment at 4731 Oxford Avenue (now closed Lee’s Shoe Repair Store).  A zoning notice went up last week for a hearing to be held on April 17th.  While most of us would welcome any new businesses along Oxford Avenue, past experience with take out food venues have always lead to crowds and late night mischief.  Pete Specos, President of the Frankford Civic, will followup with an investigation of the details of the business and deal with it as the community wishes.

In other news, things are quiet in Northwood.  The Cancer Treatment Center on Wyoming Avenue reports some issues with theft of pickup truck tail gates.

ArtHolidayShortly after the meeting a tip came in about the old Art Holiday.  It is now called Eminence Hall and a poster was on display advertising an after hours club.  The last time this place was open for business there was gunfire and people got hurt.  Pete Specos is investigating this potential problem also.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held on April 16th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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Frankford Civic Catches Up on Old Business

Pete Specos (2) web

Pete Specos

There were no zoning issues to discuss at the Frankford Civic Association meeting on March 7th, but there was a host of old business to update:

  • 4834 Penn Street which was proposed by the new owners to be a recovery house, has been boarded up and is vacant.  The new owners have had some conversation with neighbors about their plans but have not contacted the Civic to make a presentation at a meeting.
  • Police have been active on the 4700 block of Griscom Street making good arrests which has helped calm that area down.  Related arrests in the area are making a difference in the area of Foulkrod and Frankford as well.
  • The 15th police district has received 20 new officers.  There are now 3 teams of 2 man beat patrols in Frankford walking the Avenue and side streets.  When the weather improves we will be seeing the return of officers on bikes.
  • Notice of the proposal for a 24 hour Subway Sandwich store at Margaret and Frankford is not being taken lightly.  Neighbors welcome the new business but not on a 24 hour basis.  The Civic will move to limit the hours to the same as other take out food stores.
  • The police will be enforcing closing hours for all take out food stores to enure that they comply with zoning regulations.  Neighbors have seen that these after hours business attract crime.
  • At Bridge Street and Torresdale, the site of the Rita’s Water Ice will become a seafood restaurant with take out service.
  • The Quickie Mart Express is slowly working on the remodeling to accommodate eat in food service with beer sales.  It was the issue of a zoning hearing last year.
  • A new Super Wawa is coming to Aramingo Avenue next to the I95 ramps just south of Church Street.  Everybody likes a Wawa.
  • The application for a day care on Fillmore Street which was opposed by the Civic, was approved at the zoning hearing.  The decision is under review but will likely be finalized.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be on Thursday, April 4th at 7 PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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Frankford Civic Association Update February Meeting

At the Frankford Civic Association meeting held on February 7th, zoning issues were at the top of the agenda.

Applicant for a variance for a second floor deck at 5013 Charles Street made her case.  In addition, the applicant for a day care center at 1829 Fillmore Street also was present to ask for support.  The board at a private meeting voted to support the Charles Street applicant but did not favor the Fillmore Street applicant.

Beverly Haberle and Fred Martin of PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization – Achieving Community Together) made a presentation on recovery in response to the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Mayfair at the end of January. They believed there were some facts misrepresented which should be corrected.  An allegation that there are more drug treatment facilities in Frankford than any other neighborhood in the city is incorrect. Precise data for Frankford itself which is only part of zip code 19124 is not collected but it is clear from city wide data that Frankford is not first.  However, Frankford does rank high in numbers of recovery residences.

They discussed the issues of recovery and methadone treatment.  One point made was that studies have shown methadone treatment facilities to be very highly regulated and that crime patterns around them are less than found in the area of convenience stores.

Fred Way, Executive Director of PARR (Philadelphia Association of Recovery Residences), also talked about the problem of recovery houses.  PARR is an organization of recovery homes in Philadelphia.

Carol Rogers of Healthy Philadelphia, spoke on the need for a new city run health center for zip codes 19124, 19111 and 19120.  They are organizing the community to contact city representatives to push this as a priority.

The next Frankford Civic Association meeting will be on March 7th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

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Coming Up at the Frankford Civic Association Meeting

1829 filmore st web

1829 Fillmore St.

On Thursday, February 7th, the Frankford Civic will take up the issue of a variance for a day care center at 1829 Fillmore St.  There will be one other zoning issue.

Pete Specos, President of the Frankford Civic, testified at last Wednesday’s House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Mayfair on the issue of methadone clinics and their regulation.  Some of those present that meeting will attend the upcoming civic meeting to talk about the issue and its impact on Frankford.

The Frankford Civic Association meets at 7PM in the 2nd floor conference room at Aria Hospital.

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Captain McCloskey Attends Frankford Civic

captain mccloskey

Captain John McCloskey

15th police district Captain John McCloskey attended the Frankford Civic Association meeting for the first time on Thursday, January 10th.  There were over 30 residents in attendance to hear him speak.  He was knowledgeable about the hot spots in Frankford as he went down the list of problems that have been encountered.  The bar at Pratt and Frankford Avenue is in his sights for the drug and weapons violations that have occurred.  4721 Oxford Avenue has issues with weapons and alcohol.  The take out beer joints are violating their working hours and he is seeking enforcement action against some of them.  He intends to introduce more bike cops by the Spring time.  He is bringing in vice to push back on the prostitution.

There were two zoning issues on the agenda.  Owners of 5029 Charles Street need a variance to legalize an existing wall around their property.  The civic voted to support the variance.

The application for a day care at 1829 Filmore had been discussed at a previous meeting.  No presentation was made by the owners at that time.  The owners were present at the meeting on the 10th but had not advised the civic that the wanted to make a presentation.  They will be invited back for a future meeting.  Their intention is to provide day care service in that area of Frankford which they believe is underserved at present.

Jason Dawkins on behalf of Councilwoman Sanchez office, was asked about the zoning issue  at 1709 Gillingham Street where an auto repair business is located.  The zoning issue was for the approval of an 8 foot high fence which the civic voted to support.  The neighbors are complaining about the traffic resulting from the use of the property for auto repair which is legal.  Jason offered to organize a community meeting where the residents and property owners can get together to work out a solution.

The Frankford NAC will be holding a zoning meeting to discuss two zoning issues at the 2nd Baptist Church on Thursday January 17th at 7PM.  See this link for more information.

Pete Specos, who is on the board of the Northwood Frankford Community Y spoke about progress being made on bringing it back to life.  Electrical service is now back on.

Lou Grow representing Turning Points for Children announced that there will be a community forum to introduce their service on February 13th at the Tacony Baptist Church.

The next meeting of the Frankord Civic Association will be held on February 7th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.