Tag: Tracy O’Drain

Posted on by

Frankford CDC Commercial Corridor Manager

Tracy O’Drain, Managing Director of the Frankford CDC, is looking for applicants for the Commercial Corridor Manager.

Frankford Community Development Corporation is seeking a dynamic individual for the position of Commercial Corridor Manager.  Frankford’s Commercial Corridor is unique and diverse in its tenants.  The qualified candidate will be expected to cultivate relationships with a diverse business/client base.

The Frankford Commercial Corridor Manager coordinates activity within the Frankford’s commercial revitalization program that utilizes market development, community organizing, and economic restructuring.  The Manager is responsible for the execution and documentation of all corridor activities.

The full job description is here in a word document.   All applicants to sumbit their resume as soon as possible, she will begin interviewing  qualified applicants immediately.  Resume’s will be accepted until the job is filled.

Tracy O’Drain
Managing Director
Frankford CDC
4900 Griscom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19124
215-743-6580 Office
215-743-6582 Fax
Posted on by — 2 Comments

Theresa Hanas to Resign as Commercial Corridor Manager

We received this news from Tracy O’Drain, Frankford CDC Managing Director:
I would like to inform everyone of Theresa Hanas’ resignation as Commercial Corridor Manager.  Although I am saddened at her leaving, I am very happy for her and wish her all the best in her future.
Theresa has been an exemplary employee with unwavering determination to get the job done.  She has had to go up against obstacles of all types and not once have I ever heard her complain.
She is out of the office this week and next week (November 19th) will be her last day.  Please feel free to stop by, e-mail or call to wish her well!
Within the next week I will be posting the job opening, but will receive resumes for the position now.  I will have a job description available, hopefully in the next few days after Theresa and I have reviewed for accuracy.
 
Theresa knew the Avenue and all the merchants on it.  She will be missed.  I’ll post that job description for anyone interested as soon as it is available.
Posted on by

UnLitter Us Please

So how did this all come about?  A while ago the Frankford CDC and the Frankford Business and Professional Association both decided to work on the litter issue in Frankford.  The time had come to take a shot at improving the situation here.  By a stroke of serendipity, the city of Philadelphia awoke from its slumber and decided it was time to do the same thing citywide.  So UnLitter Us Frankford is the first in a citywide effort to work on this problem.

It took a lot to drag me out of the house and down to Frankford and Pratt today for the UnLitter Us rally.  I support the idea but the rain was still dripping and the sun wasn’t out and I didn’t feel like taking the video equipment down there etc.  But I decided to go because I knew I would live to regret it if I didn’t.  I was pleasantly surprised by a congenial crowd milling about chowing down on Mark Gilbert’s Thriftway  hot dogs. It was  a stroke of genius to schedule this event on the first of the month thereby ensuring a large crowd of happy shoppers passing by.

The mural arts people had a decorated trash truck down there and I can relate to that.  Its beauty rivaled the trucks I saw traveling through the Khyber pass back in 1968 during the vacation that Lyndon Johnson sent me on.  No surface is left undecorated as if it would be an insult to the gods of art to see a patch of plain unadorned paint.  It was a site to behold.

SEPTA had a big green bus which was a big green diesel electric hybrid bus.  Neat idea combining the two technologies.

The speechifying commenced with introductions by Tracy O’Drain of the CDC.  Tony Payton spoke and Jason Dawkins spoke on behalf of Councilwoman Sanchez who was downtown on official business.  Denise McVeigh of the recycle bank, Diane Richardson and Mark Gilbert of the Frankford Business and Professional Association also addressed the crowd.

Now I admit that I am ignorant of this spoken word art idea.  My experience with it has been those idiots who are always riding around in their little cars playing their radios so loud that it shakes your bones a car length away.  I was expecting that experience today and much to my delight it turned out otherwise.

Greg Corbin performed “The City Has a Heartbeat“.  Carlo Campbell did his “Reconsider” and Whitney Peyton presented “Broken Bottles“.  I get it now.  Thanks.

The event is to be followed up by a Frankford wide cleanup on Saturday October 2nd.

Posted on by

Talking Trash

UnLitter US, the movement for a litter free Philadelphia, kicked off in Frankford, Monday morning at 8:30 AM with Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez addressing a small crowd at the Frankford Transportation Center.  As is often the case, I was a late arrival and only caught the last minute of her talk.  Marie Delaney, President of the Frankford CDC and Tracey O’Drain, managing director were also on hand.

Now for the editorial rant.   Some people will look at this effort and think “This ain’t going to make a difference”.  Well I beg to disagree.  Yes, it can make a difference.  Harken back to 1979 when SEPTA hired David Gunn to be their the new General Manager.  The first thing he saw was the deplorable state of the system which was covered with graffiti.  I remember it well.  There were some El cars with windows through which you could not see the light of day.  He said that could not go on because it made people afraid to ride the El and subway.  He said it had to be eliminated and it was.

Now why was that problem allowed to go on in the first place?  Because people said “you can’t eliminate graffiti”.  If you think you can’t do it, well of course you can’t.  If you decide to solve the problem, at least you have a chance.  You might fall short but you will be farther down the field than if you never had tried in the first place.

Cleaning crews have been in Frankford working since September 7th.  I’ve seen them up on Oxford Avenue.  They will continue until the 29th.  A community cleanup is scheduled for October 2nd.  There will be a big rally and fair on October 1st in front of the Thriftway at Frankford and Pratt from 11:30 to 2:30 PM.

We’ll pass along updates as they become available.