The much anticipated construction of Trolley Portal Gardens, the project that will include a remodeled 40th Street Trolley portal, a public space and a restaurant, has begun. Philadelphia general contractor Domus will begin excavating the building foundation as early as the end of this week, according to Chris Richman, Communication Manager for University City District.

The work will spread to a larger area, called “the apron,” after the Trolley Tunnel Blitz concludes in mid-July.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Trolley Portal Gardens was held in December 2016, but it took some time to obtain necessary building permits. The last remaining permits were finalized earlier this month, according to the project website.  Continue Reading

While graffiti still covers the front of the old West Philadelphia High School building and it may seem like not much work has yet been done on converting the early 20th century building at 48th and Walnut into loft apartments (the project was first announced in 2012,) a part of the building, now called West Lofts, is ready to welcome its first tenants next month, according to reports.

The first 35 units have been leased for July 1 move-in, and more units are currently for lease for August and September move-ins, according to a report by Philly Curbed.

Upon completion, West Lofts will have 268 studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, many of them bi-level, ranging from $995 to $2,430. The building will also include a restored gym, a co-working space and a coffee shop, according to Philly Curbed.

If you want to see photos from inside the building (they may surprise you!), go to Philly Curbed.

The Jubilee School, a private K-5 school located at 4211 Chester Avenue, will be hosting a ceremony honoring the site of the MOVE bombing (at the intersection of Osage Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway) on Saturday, June 23, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. The event is open to the community and will feature performances from local poets and artists, including scholar Sonia Sanchez.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved earlier this spring the placing of a historical marker. Students of the Jubilee School, who have studied the 1985 bombing of the MOVE headquarters at 6221 Osage Avenue for the past two years, approached the PHMC with a nomination, according to the The Philadelphia Tribune.  Continue Reading

Proposed apartment building renderings.

A proposal to build a 49-unit, 6-story apartment building on a parking lot at 4045 Baltimore Ave. was largely met with approval during a hearing before the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee last night.

Officials from New Horizons Housing, which owns several buildings in the area including one next door the proposed structure, told the zoning committee that their vision when they bought the property in 2001 was to eventually build more apartments on the parking lot. An apartment building occupied the space until a 1980s fire destroyed it, creating a vacant space that was transformed into the present-day parking lot.

Demand for parking lot spots among residents in the adjacent New Horizons building at 4045 Baltimore has dwindled in recent years. People in the community are renting fewer of the spots as well, according to New Horizons general manager Russell Galligher.  Continue Reading

Residents are invited to learn more about development projects on Thursday, June 15 at the Spruce Hill Zoning Committee’s monthly meeting. The proposed construction of an apartment complex in a parking lot on the 4000 block of Baltimore Ave (see Google Street View below) is on the agenda.

The proposal for 4045 Baltimore Avenue was first unveiled by the developers in the Fall 2016. The complex would include 48 units, interior and off street parking, and 17 bicycle spaces.

The meeting will take place at the Spruce Hill Community Association building (257 S. 45th Street), beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Continue Reading

 Click to enlarge

As part of Philadelphia2035, a comprehensive development plan that will help create a more livable, healthy and economically viable city in the future, West Philadelphia residents are invited to the first public meeting for the West District Plan. The meeting will take place this Thursday, June 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at West Philadelphia High School (4901 Chestnut St.).

This is an opportunity for West Philadelphia residents to discuss what projects, policies and changes can be made today in the area. Philadelphia2035 makes recommendations for actions that the Mayor, City Council, government agencies and community partners can take to invest in neighborhoods and make the city more economically competitive.

The first component of the plan, the Citywide Vision, was introduced in 2011. There are also geographically specific recommendations, District Plans, that are being prepared for every section of Philadelphia. Some West Philly Local readers may remember a series of articles on the University Southwest District Plan meetings that took place in 2013. The majority of the District Plans have already been completed (see map), and now it’s turn for the West District Plan to be drawn with participation of community members.  Continue Reading