A draft plan has just been released summarizing the two-year joint planning process as part of a long-range re-development of the station and its surrounding area (30th Street Station District Plan). The plan will be presented today (Wednesday, March 16), from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at an open house, which will take place at the station (behind the Amtrak ticket office).

The draft plan pinpoints several key development areas, including remodeling and enhancements to the station and building a new urban neighborhood with “a healthy balance of residential buildings, station-anchored commercial office towers, and retail, recreational, and cultural amenities to sustain a 24/7 environment.”

The plan also proposes a new expansive park, two new pedestrian and bicycle bridges over the Schuylkill river and both vehicular and pedestrian bridges across Powelton Yard to the west, a new intercity bus terminal, and reopening the tunnel connecting 30th Street Station to SEPTA’s subway and trolley station.  Continue Reading

A rendering of the proposed Trolley Car Station restaurant at 40th Street Trolley Portal.

Update (April 8, 2016) – The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the plan for the Trolley Car Restaurant following a March 29 hearing. Specifically, the ZBA approved a variance for the building as a sit-down restaurant. Construction is expected to begin this fall.

The public got a look at plans on Tuesday evening for the development of the 40th Street Trolley Portal, which includes a two-story, 125-seat restaurant with take-out beer and outdoor seating.

University City District officials and the owner of the Trolley Car Diner in Mount Airy presented the plans to the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee and about a dozen members of the public.

Now an expanse of concrete criss-crossed with trolley tracks, the portal will be turned into a more navigable public space complete with moveable tables and chairs, enough racks to accommodate 48 bikes and “vegetation everywhere,” Nate Hommel, UCD’s director of planning and design, told the zoning committee. The trolleys will still run through it, but it will be more pedestrian friendly.  Continue Reading

Just in time for spring, two West Philly-based baked goods businesses have announced that they will be having grand openings this weekend.

Everything is ready for Dottie’s Donuts official opening on Friday, March 18 (Photo from Dottie’s Donuts Facebook page)

The long-anticipated opening date for Dottie’s Donuts’ first brick-and-mortar location at 4529 Springfield Avenue was announced this morning on the popular business’s Facebook page. According to the announcement, the shop will officially open on Friday, March 18, and the hours for now will be 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Along with a wide selection of vegan donuts, the shop will sell bagels and other baked goods, plus coffee and tea. You can read more about Dottie’s Donuts and the people behind it here.

If you didn’t get a chance yet to check out the recently opened Lil’ Pop Shop‘s bakery, here’s a great opportunity this weekend. The new bakery and shop at 4608 Woodland Ave. is inviting everyone to its grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 19. Stop by any time between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and enjoy free treats, coffee, and spritzers (fruit-based seltzer drinks).  Continue Reading

Police are looking for a young man, who got into a minivan parked on the 4800 block of Walnut Street with a 4-month-old infant in the back seat and drove off. The baby was later found unharmed in Germantown.

The incident happened at 7:50 a.m. when the minivan owner and the baby’s father left his car with the engine running at 4847 Walnut St. to make a purchase at a food store, according to police. The child was left secured in the back seat. When the man returned a short time later he discovered that his car along with his son was gone.

The child, who was strapped in his car seat when he was abducted, was found about 30 minutes later near Penn and Green Streets, according to police. The thief reportedly found a phone number inside the car and sent a text message telling where the child can be found. Police found the baby boy at that location outside in the rain, but unharmed, according to a report by NBC10.  Continue Reading

New clay studio is opening this spring at 711 S. 50th Street (photo from Black Hound Clay Studio’s Facebook page).

A new clay studio and co-working space for artists is coming this spring to Cedar Park. West Philly resident and artist Bethany Rusen will open Black Hound Clay Studio later this spring at 711 S. 50th Street, just around the corner from Dock Street Brewery.

Renovations on the space are currently underway. To help cover start-up costs and other expenses, a raffle fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 12 at Art Star Gallery and Boutique. Rusen says that quite a few West Philly artists and businesses have already donated items, including Dock Street, Talking Headz Salon, and Satellite Cafe.

Rusen is excited about the new studio, which is a “huge open space with 15 foot ceilings.”

Once opened, the studio will offer a co-working space for ceramic artists for a low monthly fee. Those who are interested in the space can email Rusen at Bethany@blackhoundclay.com to be put on the waiting list. The tentative plan also includes pottery classes starting in Fall 2016.  Continue Reading

Here’s a chance to meet your neighbors and have some food. Cedar Park Neighbors is hosting its second community potluck of the year on Friday, March 11 at People’s Baptist Church (5039 Baltimore Ave.)

Photo from Cedar Park Neighbors Facebook page.

The potluck will include some community announcements, but the main purpose is just to meet your neighbors over dinner. “Basic healthy food” will be provided, but everyone is welcome to bring something to share. The dinner runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

They need to know how much to cook though, so be sure to RSVP by email, calling or texting Cedar Park Neighbors at 267-BALT-AVE or go to the Facebook event page.

If you can’t make it to Friday’s dinner, there will be another chance in May. Check out cedarparkneighbors.org for updates.