Northeast: Open House for Proposed Zoning Code
At a 10th City Council District open house for the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission, Northeast Philadelphia residents thought certain aspects of the code rewrite would negatively affect their neighborhoods, while other parts would be beneficial. Northeast residents were especially unhappy that the reform discussed legalizing the practice of converting single-family homes into duplexes or triplexes, […]
West Philadelphia: A Bomb Resonates 25 Years Later
The mere mention of the name MOVE often unleashes intense emotions across Philadelphia. However, for an organization frequently dominating the attention of police, city officials and the news media during the past three decades, precious little is actually known about MOVE. While many have heard the name MOVE, few realize that the title for this […]
Port Richmond: No Room for Pools
An empty, 40-ounce bottle of Hurricane beer lays poolside at Monkiewicz Recreation Center in Port Richmond. This empty beer bottle is another sign of the lack of funding Philadelphia’s public swimming pools receive, impacting a range of things from simple clean-up to staying open during summer months. According to the “City Budget Breakdown,” only one […]
West Philadelphia: Tough Winter Brings More Potholes
The next and newest battle drivers face after the long winter of severe weather conditions are the potholes plaguing the city streets as the rainy months of spring have begun. In West Philadelphia, drivers complain that Market, Walnut and Chestnut streets are both the busiest roads in the area and the most problematic where potholes […]
City Hall: Many Think Mayor’s Garbage Fee is Rubbish
Mayor Nutter wants the people of Philadelphia to pay to have their garbage picked up, but that proposal faces some serious trash talking throughout the city. Two Facebook groups opposed to the proposed fees have already been created. One group, “I’m Against the Philly Trash and Soda Tax,” has over 7,000 members and urges its […]
South Philadelphia: Planning Commission Sees Bleak Future for Point Breeze
Point Breeze is a neighborhood that has reached a crossroads of sorts. According to PlanPhilly.com, this South Philadelphia neighborhood has been officially re-certified as “blighted” by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. According to community planner David Knapton, 12 percent of the properties in the neighborhood are vacant lots. Point Breeze is also among three Philadelphia […]
Mayfair: Community Braces for Possible Program Cuts
For Kim Wilson and her 5-year-old daughter Marian, the STARS Program housed at the John M. Perzel Community Center in Philadelphia’s Mayfair section provides a much needed support system for facing the struggles of a disability. “When you get a diagnosis for your child, there’s a whole process you go through in coming to terms […]
Snow Removal: An Ongoing Process
Philadelphia Neighborhoods went throughout the city to obtain reaction to Philadelphia’s efforts of clearing the snow from last week’s storms.
Philadelphia Parking: Feeding the Meter Smartly
If you park on the streets in Center City, there are two ways to feed the meter. You can drop in a hand full of quarters, or you can pay with a plastic Smart Card. The card is “smart” because varying amounts of money can be used and it will not add more than the […]
Germantown: Who Should Tell The African-American Story?
The opening of the Germantown “White House,” which emphasizes the role of African-American slaves in President George Washington’s Philadelphia home, has created a controversy about who should tell the story. At a discussion and lecture on Thursday at Cliveden of the National Trust, entitled, “Questions in Black History,” it was clear many Germantown residents are […]