Kensington: One Neighborhood, Two Worlds
The dynamic neighborhood of Kensington is evolving in several ways. On one hand, the community is facing one of the worst drug crisis in the country. Meanwhile, housing developers are beginning to change the neighborhood, bringing in new members along with them. In this video, hear from two Kensington residents and Councilwoman Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez, […]
Manayunk-Roxborough: Residents Confront Perennial Problems With Parking And Traffic
On any given morning in Manayunk, traffic snakes up Green Lane, sometimes reaching 10 or more blocks from Main Street up to Manayunk Avenue and beyond. Commuters may spend a half-hour or more waiting to get out of the neighborhood onto City Line Avenue or I-76 to head to work. “People often cite that the […]
Chinatown: Navigating Change, Growth And Development
Crafted by artists from Tianjin, China and coated with tiles manufactured in Philadelphia, the Friendship Gate on 10th and Arch streets symbolizes a kinship between two cities that are nearly 7,000 miles apart. In 1984, the 40-foot arch was erected at the border of Chinatown. Since then, massive development projects — like the Vine Street […]
Mt. Airy: Zoning Issue Puts Spotlight On Development In Community
Cresheim Road resident Ginny Barnwell had no idea she needed to be concerned after a local construction company bought two homes a few doors from her in February. Barnwell, who’s lived on the 7000 block of Cresheim for more than 20 years, was out walking her dog in May when she saw a sign on […]
East Falls: EFCC Zoning Committee Tests Out New Meeting Spot And Timmons House Spared
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, community members gathered at Billy Murphy’s Irish Saloon for an East Falls Community Council’s (EFCC) zoning meeting. Presenters at the meeting included representatives from William Penn Charter School and the Kelly House. Murphy’s remained open for business while welcoming attendees of the zoning meeting. A projector screen was set up for […]
Poplar: Residents Express Concerns About Girard Avenue Development
Poplar residents raised concerns about an influx of college students and the lack of adequate parking after hearing a proposal for a new six-story development at a neighborhood meeting last week. More than 30 people gathered at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church for the 14th Ward Democratic Executive Committee’s community meeting to discuss the developer’s plan […]
Zoning: Mt. Airy Residents Hold Rally To Halt Apartment Construction
Residents of the 7000 block of Cresheim Road held a rally Saturday morning, Oct. 13, to protest the proposed construction of an apartment building on their block. Speakers, including representatives from West Mt. Airy Neighbors and the Philadelphia City Council, expressed their commitment to swaying Tester Construction Group away from the project. Tester bought 7000 […]
Roxborough/Manayunk: Shifting Demographic Impacts Housing Market
Manayunk and Roxborough are changing as their populations continue to get younger. Both sections of the city have proved to be destinations for young people to live after they finish school, and more of them are choosing to buy homes in the area. As recently as 2016, the median age of residents in the Manayunk […]
Fairhill: Charito Morales Advocates For Those Affected By Opioid Crisis
Activist Charito Morales said she does not affiliate with a specific community organization because it distracts from the issues at hand in the Fairhill neighborhood. Morales is a registered nurse and has been volunteering in the Fairhill community since 1998. She spends some of her time teaching Latino youth at the Providence Center, an education […]
Housing: How Ceiba Guides Immigrants Seeking A Home
As a product of collaboration between four other Latino-focused groups (Esperanza, Norris Square Community Alliance, Concilio de Organizaciones Hispanas de Filadelfia and Finanta), Ceiba is an organization which offers a range of services, including advocacy work and financial literacy programs. Another Ceiba program assists immigrants with a fundamental need: housing. It connects a variety of people […]