Tag: Northeast Times

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Office of Neighborhood and Business Services

Diane Prokop of the Northeast Times this week brings us an interview with Kevin Dow, the newly appointed deputy director for the city’s Office of Neighborhood and Business Services.  So what does this have to do with Frankford.  Well, read the entire story here and you will find out.

Ever wonder how the city evolved into what it is today.  Believe it or not but somebody actually planned it that way.  OK not every single brick but the broad strokes.  Looking back, some of it worked and some didn’t but there was a plan.

Dow will work to bring that same ease of service to community organizations as they move forward with plans for their neighborhoods.
“Plan and develop from the same blueprint. The idea is to bring it all together with a strategic approach and engage neighborhoods in the same type of process,” Dow said.
Frankford residents have heard all about plans for their neighborhood’s comeback and don’t necessarily want to hear about another.
Previously the vice president of community affairs for the northern region of Wachovia Bank, the Fairmount resident has worked with more than 300 organizations, including the Frankford and Kensington CDCs, as well as Impact services and Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, giving him a bit of understanding about the history of the many Frankford plans.
“There just needs to be one plan,” Dow said. “Having several plans doesn’t allow for coordinated action. With all going after the same resources, you dilute those resources to prevent having any significant impact.”
That’s a claim also heard by many in Frankford’s large non-profit pool.
The latest plan for Frankford is the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI). The project assessed the potential for commercial revitalization around the Frankford Avenue transportation corridor. Dow believes that its key components (which can be found at http://www.philaplanning.org/plans/tod.html) can be incorporated in an overall community plan.

Frankford is a transportatation hub and that gives us a unique niche in the city.  The plan referenced above is designed to take advantage of that niche.  What we need is leadership to finalize a plan and leadership to ensure that it is implemented.

Don’t focus on what Frankford is not today.  Look at what Frankford can be tomorrow.  it’s the final game of the World Series, “you gotta believe”.

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Frankford Business and Professional Association

From the Northeast Times this week, a report on the annual luncheon of the Association at Romano’s.  Among the speakers were Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Mike Kowalski, liaison for the city’s business services; and Kevin Dow, deputy director of commerce for Neighborhood and Business Services.

Recognition went to Frankford Hospital vice president Nancy Cherone for her service to the Frankford community.  She will be moving on to Frankford Torresdale.  Also recognized for his contributions to the community was Matt Pappajohn of Pappajohn Woodworking “for his work to rejuvenate former Frankford factory locations, such as the Henry Riehl Building and most recently the old Globe Dye Works, bringing jobs and vitality back to the area”.

Read the entire story here.

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Frankford High School

KatieRose Keenan of the Northeast Times again reports on the new principal at Frankford High.

Edward Koch, the newly appointed principal at Frankford High School, knows that to effectively maintain order in any school, you first must be respected by your students.
“As a principal, you don’t have to be loved but you have to be respected. That’s the only way students are going to take you seriously,” explained Koch.

Read the entire story here.

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Frankford Civic Meeting

KatieRose keenan of the Northeast Times reports on last weeks meeting:

The heated debate concerning an increasing number of buildings being converted into recovery houses and rooming houses was still in full stride at the meeting.
“Frankford needs to get back to one-family dwelling homes,” said Liz McCollum–Nazario, president of the Frankford Business and Professional Association. “Most of these houses in Frankford were created for single families. Frankford is filled with churches, rooming houses, recovery houses and transitional houses. All these rooming houses are being sucked into one area of Frankford, and it is not what a viable community needs.”
The issue of the number of buildings bring converted was brought up when a zoning application to convert a three-story house to a six-family dwelling was presented to the civic association’s board. Residents are already living in the building.
Pictures passed around of the house showed several windows boarded up.
“The appearance alone shows a lot. It’s detrimental to the neighborhood and quality of life. But we can’t make decisions in one night and on appearance alone,” said McCollum-Nazario.

Read the entire story here.

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A new school looks for a home in Frankford

KatieRose Keenan of the Northeast Times tells the story of the Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School:

The Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School is looking for a home in Frankford.
Dr. Ayesha Imani, founder and CEO of the school, said the administration is looking for a 40,000-square-foot facility to accommodate kindergarten through 12th grade.
“Initially we are looking to enroll three-hundred students the first year, but we can go up to seven-hundred,” Imani told members of the Frankford Business and Professional Association during the group’s recent meeting.

This is the link to the school’s web site.  Read the entire story here.  This is a link to the meaning of Sankofa.