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 […]
East Falls: Votes, Traffic And Zoning Occupy Community Council
Candidate’s Night at the East Falls Community Council meeting, a special meeting held each year before primary and general elections, was held at at the East Falls Presbyterian Church on Vaux Street on Oct. 8. The council invites any candidates running for local, state or federal offices whose districts coincide with East Falls to make […]
How To: Start A Registered Community Organization (RCO)
A few years ago, City Council established new qualifications for community organizations that wish to be part of development decisions in their area. Registered Community Organizations (RCO) are formal groups of community members that weigh in on the physical development of their neighborhood, from community gardens to zoning issues. When a developer wants to build […]
Juniata Park: Different But Still a Place to Appreciate
Residing in the heart of her neighborhood, Kate Clarke is the president of the Juniata Park Civic Association. The community-based organization meets the second Tuesday of each month to discuss and mitigate community issues. How did you first get involved in Juniata Park’s community affairs? Well, I’m a lifelong resident of the neighborhood. I grew up […]
Chestnut Hill: Proposed Expansion of Firehouse Remains a Hot Topic
The proposed expansion of the Engine 37 firehouse (above) in Chestnut Hill remains a burning topic in the local community as steps are being taken to allow the 123-year old station to remain functional yet historically accurate. Located at 101 West Highland Ave. in the heart of Philadelphia’s “Garden District,” the Engine 37 firehouse is the […]
Roxborough: Local Resident Works Tirelessly To Preserve Roxborough
Retired social worker Donald Simon is an avid proponent for his community. Simon works tirelessly to ensure it remains the way he and his neighbors believe it should be. When he’s not spending his time playing piano and drums, or working as a trail ambassador to ensure the safety of the Wissahickon Valley Park grounds, he’s serving as […]
South Philadelphia: Q&A with Peter Zutter, President of South Broad Street Neighborhood Association
Peter Zutter, a longtime resident of South Broad Street and president of the South Broad Street Neighborhood Association, has seen his neighborhood go through many different changes in zoning, density and makeup of population. The association is the registered community organization, or RCO, for the boundaries of Washington Avenue to Oregon Avenue and 13th Street […]
Manayunk: Kevin Smith Fights for Development that Makes Sense
Kevin Smith is president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, a not-for-profit civic association dedicated to promoting a unified and sustainable community in Manayunk. Smith, who was raised in Southern California and moved to Manayunk about 20 years ago, sat down at Volo Coffeehouse on Main Street to discuss some of the issues and projects the […]