Tag: frankford civic association

Posted on by

Frankford Civic Association Meeting June 6th

There were no zoning issues at the Frankford Civic Association meeting on June 6th however several issues were brought to the table by residents.

  • The vacant bar at the corner of Penn and Foulkrod is being renovated without permits.  The owner has talked to local residents and is looking to open a business on the first floor with apartments above.  He has been warned that locals will not permit a bar at that location.  Since it has been vacant longer than three years it will have to go through zoning for a use permit.  L&I has been notified about the work being done.
  • The take out at the corner of Paul and Frankford Ave. with the Yum Yum sign on the side consistently stays open until 2 or 3 AM attracting problems.  The police have it on their radar.
  • A club open on the weekend of May 31st on the second floor of the old State Store building on Oxford Ave. below Griscom St.  They have no permits for a club at that location and there are outstanding L&I violations.  Captain McCloskey stationed a police car outside to keep an eye on the activity.  It is of concern because it is advertising to teens.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be on July 1th which is one week late due to the 4th of July holiday.

 

Posted on by

Frankford Civic Gives Thumbs Up to Jackson Street Day Care

meetiing 05022013At the Frankford Civic Association meeting on May 2nd, the group voted to support the zoning request to operate a day care center at 5045 Jackson Street.  Pete Specos, President of the Civic Association, had reviewed all the paperwork made a site visit prior to the meeting.

The residents of the 4700 block of Griscom Street are up in arms about sanitation.   With a large vacant lot on the block, people come to walk their dogs and fail to clean up afterwards.  One resident noted that its even spread to Frankford Avenue.  They want signs posted warning the offenders that there is a $300 fine for this offense.  Pete Specos said he would refer the problem to the sanitation police.

Other issues at the meeting:

  • The group voted to support a variance for a kitchen extension at 1950 Bridge Street.
  • A case for a garage at 1728 Orthodox which was discussed at last month’s meeting and did not find support. It was continued by the zoning board at the hearing downtown.  The Civic took another vote and the result was to support the variance.
  • The application by the owner of 4731 Griscom Street for a variance for a take out Crown Fried Chicken store was withdrawn. He hopes to find a use for the property the meets approval by the community.
  • A resident reports that two dead dogs have been found in Northwood Park recently.  That issue will be referred to the proper authority.
  • A resident of the 4800 block of Oxford Avenue attended the meeting looking for guidance in becoming block captain and organizing a clean up.  Several other block captains offered advice.

This was an unusually well attended meeting with close to 30 people in the meeting room.  The next Frankford Civic Association meeting will be held on June 6th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Focus on Frankford: Margie Rivera

Focus of Frankford: Margie Rivera

Margie Rivera never intended to become a community activist when she and her husband, Nelson, bought their home in Frankford on the 1500 block of church Street in 2005.  They enjoyed the neighborhood.

In the nice weather people would sit out on the front steps and chat back and forth.  In the summer their girls would enjoy the backyard pool.  It all came to a screeching halt early in 2009 when the two homes next door were sold.

The word got out that they would become recovery homes for single men.  That became a reality when work to convert the single family homes into multiple units began.  Men began to move in at the same time.

margie rivera (4) web

Margie and grandson Joshua

Quality of life on the block to a nose dive. They were besieged at all hours of the day and night by noise in the house next door and people coming and going at all hours. There was obvious drug activity.

Margie started making calls.  It turned out that a zoning hearing would be required to legally convert the properties and Margie did not want that to happen. She started making noise.  The Frankford Civic Association got involved along with Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez office.  Over the next few months Petitions, letters from city, state and federal officials and all other stake holders were collected.  Finally at the zoning hearing in December, the owner failed to appear and the application was denied.

As a result of all the negative publicity, the owners changed their plan and now women are housed in the properties.  This has made a positive difference.

As a result of the experience, Margie became active in the Frankford Civic Association and is now on the board of directors and Vice President.  She is a reluctant activist.  Her concerns are the welfare of her family and community.  And of course, there is now grandson Joshua to consider.  Her advice to others in this situation is to get involved.  She did and it made a difference.

 

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Frankford Civic Passes on Crown

4731 Griscom (2) web

4731 Griscom St.

In an, at times contentious, meeting of the Frankford Civic Association on April 4th, the membership voted unanimously to oppose the opening of a Crown Fried Chicken at 4731 Griscom Street.  Turnout was unusually large with some members carrying signed petitions of opposition already circulated and in hand.

The owner’s representative made a presentation to the group for a variance for use of the property for take out service.  Although the legal address is on Griscom Street the store would be located in what was formerly Lee’s shoe repair at Oxford and Griscom.

Residents of that block of Griscom Street spoke out vehemently against the variance.  Gary and Sandra both cited the history of drugs and violence which plagued the area last year with 3 murders during that time. Recent months have shown improvement and they do not want to see a business open which they believe will lead to a return to the bad old days.  They made it clear that the issue is not personal to this owner but would be the same for any business keeping late hours for take out food.  These businesses belong on a commercial corridor and not at the end of a residential block.

1708 orthodox (3) web

1708 Orthodox St.

In another case, the owner of 1728 Orthodox is seeking a variance to build a one story garage for storage of two small trucks and equipment used in his contracting business.  He made his presentation but the membership voted to oppose that use although the vote was not unanimous.  The objections centered on the fact that it is a busy residential block with occupied houses on both sides of the now empty lot.

There was a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting to commemorate the loss of four board members since November of 2010.  Thelma Young, Frances Clay, Kevin Walch and Steve McClintock all actively served to Civic.  Representative James Clay, son of Frances Clay, also said a few words.

Penny Colgan-Davis, Principal of Frankford Friends School, spoke about some exciting plans for the school.

Zoning hearings for the properties discussed at this meeting will be held at the Zoning Board of Adjustment offices at 1515 Arch Street on the 18th floor on Wednesday April 17th .  1708 Orthodox Street is scheduled for 4PM.  4731 Griscom is scheduled for 5PM.  The hearing is open to the public.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on May 2nd at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

 

 

 

Posted on by

Frankford Civic Association Meeting on April 4th

  • Penny Colgan-Davis, Principal of Frankford Friend School will update the community on the opening of the new building and plans for a new library.
  • Zoning issue for 1728 Orthodox Street.  The applicant wants to erect a storage facility for use in his home remodeling business.
  • Zoning issue for 4731 Griscom Street.  The applicant wants to open a take out location for Crown Fried Chicken.  Business hours would be 7 days a week from morning until 2 a.m.

The meeting will be held at Aria Hospital on April 4th at 7:00 PM in the 2nd floor conference room.