July 8, 2021
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), State Representative Joanna McClinton, State Senator Anthony H. Williams and City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) will host a community event tonight in response to the tragic shootings in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood during a July 4th cookout. Two men in their 20s were killed and a 16-year-old girl was injured.
The event, titled “Hope and Healing” is in support of Cobbs Creek residents in the aftermatch of the shootings.
“This event, along with other recent shootings in the area, have left community members feeling afraid for their safety and the wellbeing of their loved ones and neighbors,” reads an official announcement. Continue Reading
July 1, 2021
The Barnes Foundation and the People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC) are continuing their collaboration with a new project – Everyday Places Artist Partnerships. The project, which began rolling out last month through the Barnes and PECCDC’s collaborative initiative Barnes West, will provide West Philly residents with spaces to engage with multidisciplinary artistic projects that “offer inspiration and promote hope and healing.”
This week, the partners have announced five West Philadelphia-based social-impact artists who have been selected to participate in Everyday Places: Keyonna Butler, Marshall James Kavanaugh, Jahwula Seapoe, Karen Smith, and Andrea Walls. The selected artists will partner with neighborhood businesses and sites – including grocery stores, restaurants, laundromats, public parks, and community organizations – to build interactive, participatory projects. Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
The 2021 Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival will not take place in their usual form due to continued COVID restrictions, but the organizers, Juneteenth Philly, will hold some other great events this Saturday to commemorate the end of slavery and celebrate Juneteenth.
The celebrations will kick off at 10 a.m. with Freedom Day Rally, followed by a march down 52nd Street from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. The inaugural “Art in the Park” exhibit featuring local artists will take place in Malcolm X. Park (52nd and Pine) from 12-7 p.m.
Gathering for the Freedom Day Rally and March will begin at 9 a.m. at 52nd and Haverford. The organizers are encouraging participants to fill out a sign-up form online.
For more information, please visit http://juneteenthphilly.org/.
June 15, 2021
Photo by Jeannette Brugger
The city is preparing to launch a repaving and improvement project on two of West Philly’s busiest streets – Walnut and Chestnut – and asking for community input. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2022 and last week, the City launched a survey to seek community feedback on redesign options for Walnut Street from 22nd to 63rd Street and Chestnut Street from 63rd Street to 34th Street.
The City’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability (OTIS) is also hosting outdoor public open houses where residents can learn more about the project and provide feedback. They will take place on Thursday, June 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Playground (47th and Sansom) and Tuesday, June 29, 5-7 p.m. at the Laura Sims Skate House (210 Cobbs Creek Pkwy). Continue Reading
June 3, 2021
The fifth annual West Philly Porchfest will take place on Saturday, June 5, from 12-6 p.m.
The DIY music festival was cancelled last summer because of COVID but this year it’s returning with a bang! This year’s event features more than 125 porches hosting over 260 acts including groups playing R&B, funk, rock, jazz, disco, bluegrass, rap, folk, classical, emo, EDM, and metal. International music fans will be treated with sounds from Brazilian samba to Jamaican reggae to Korean drumming to Bulgarian folk songs, and more.
An online map of porch shows (see image below) and the list of performers are available at westphillyporchfest.com. It should be noted that the festival has been gradually expanding its boundaries west and southwest outside of the University City area. Continue Reading
June 3, 2021
Rendering of the 76-unit apartment building approved Wednesday for the corner of 48th and Chester.
The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) yesterday unanimously approved a 76-unit apartment building proposed for the corner of 48th and Chester that has been debated for months.
The owner of the nearby Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is combining several parcels it owns along 48th Street and asked to change the zoning designation to accommodate the building, which includes 34 parking spots and a small courtyard. The two-tiered design includes three stories on edges of the project and four stories in the center. A members-only dog park formerly occupied the land. Continue Reading
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