Former Transition to Independent Living facility at 46th and Spruce.

Community members are invited to discuss new development projects in the Spruce Hill Neighborhood area at an upcoming Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee meeting this Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Two development projects are at the focus of Wednesday’s meeting:

1) A proposed six unit development at 100-02 Ludlow Street. The project was discussed at an earlier zoning committee meeting and the committee asked for some additional specifics. The property owners are following the procedure for RCO (recognized community organizations) notification.

2) The proposed development to replace the former Transition to Independent Living facility at 4536 Spruce St. This will be a second meeting with the developers to examine updated drawings and plans. The attendees will also hear a report from discussions between the developers and the owner of the adjacent property on 46th Street, according to zoning committee chair Barry Grossbach.

The Mission First Housing Group proposed a four-story affordable housing building at the southeast corner of 46th and Spruce, where the former Transition to Independent Living Center building is located (pictured). The building was damaged in a fire in 2011 and since then has been shuttered and slowly deteriorating.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St).

Over the past few weeks Cedar Park residents have been donating money for holiday food baskets for their neighbors in need. Now it’s time to give away those baskets put together by volunteers at Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN). The annual CPN Holiday basket packing and distributing event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Renewal Presbyterian Church (47th and Cedar), from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and more volunteer help is needed to make this event a success.

Also, volunteers who are comfortable lifting heavy items are sought to help with unloading poultry at 8:00 a.m. (meet at the church). If you have some free time this Saturday and would like to help out at the event please contact Michelle Smith-Lewis at: mlewis1071[at]gmail.com

UPDATE (12/16/2014): Here’s the agenda for tonight’s meeting:

• Enrollment
• Support of K-12 education
• Ongoing Engagement activities
• Campus Master Planning
• Call for university – community collaboration ideas

(12/15/2014): University of the Sciences (USciences) is reaching out to the local community by hosting a regular public meeting every three months. In a message circulated via email, USciences president Dr. Helen Giles-Gee writes that “as a member of our community, University of the Sciences recognizes that it’s important that we communicate with each other and share information.”

At the quarterly meetings, university leadership will provide updates on new and ongoing projects and “will seek your feedback on ways in which we may work together for the betterment of our community.”

The first community meeting will take place this Tuesday (Dec. 16) at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the McNeil Science and Technology Center (43rd and Woodland, see map here). Light refreshments will also be served.

It’s not clear whether the meeting will include information and discussion of the university’s recent purchase of the former Wilson Elementary School building at 46th and Woodland, which it plans to convert into student housing (read more here).

There will be a bunch of festive events this Saturday and Sunday, including some great local holiday shopping opportunities and Christmas caroling at Clark Park. Plus Santa will make a stop at a local bar, so bring your camera! For more upcoming events, visit our Events Calendar.

Go West! Holiday Craft Fest at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut)

Over 50 local craftspeople will present their work at this year’s holiday edition of the popular Go West! Craft Fest. The event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut). Stop by to check out beautiful handmade items like jewelry, ceramics, warm knitted accessories, prints, stationery, soap, candles, home accents, children’s items, and more (here is the full list of the vendors). If the weather is clear, vendors will be indoors and out. There will also be sweet treats by West Philly’s Weckerly’s Ice Cream and the Lil’ Pop Shop.

UPDATE: The fest organizers sent a note that Walnut street will be closed to traffic on Sunday due to construction work across the street from The Rotunda. The street will be open to pedestrians, but no cars will be allowed on Walnut between 40th and 41st streets between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

40th Street AIR Holiday Art Sale (4007 Chestnut St)

Work by West Philly artists in the 2014-2015 40th Street Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program – Althea Baird, TenBroeck Cripps, Brujo de La Mancha, Aislinn Pentecost-Farren and Lorna Williams – will be featured at this weekend’s 40th Street AIR Holiday Sale. The sale will take place on Saturday and Sunday, from 12 – 6 p.m. at the AIRSPACE Gallery at 4007 Chestnut Street (1st floor). Many guest artists will also take part in the event, including AIR alumni.  Continue Reading

Representatives of about a dozen proposed West Philly charter schools will present their applications to the  School District of Philadelphia on Thursday beginning at 10:10 a.m.

This is the first time the District has considered adding new charter schools since 2007. The District received a total of 40 applications and the hearings on them began Monday. Protesters have also showed up at the hearings. Most are calling for more support of the District’s neighborhood schools.

The public is welcome to comment on the applications from 3 p.m. (after they are all complete) to 6 p.m. at the District headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. Speakers are asked to register at 215-400-4010 and should arrive before 6 p.m. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes.

Some 62,000 students currently attend one of the city’s 86 charter schools, which account for about a third of the District’s budget – roughly $730 million. The District has until late February to vote on the applications.  Continue Reading

Garden Court residents and others interested in helping out in the neighborhood have a great chance this week to learn more about local happenings and events, meet other community members, business owners and stakeholders, and find out how to get involved. The Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) is presenting a membership fair on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Renewal Presbyterian Church (4633 Cedar Avenue) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The following topics will be discussed at the event:

• Bringing support to Lea Elementary School
• Improving the business corridors in your community
• Improving public safety
• Planning events to bring neighbors together
• Supporting community greening efforts

Neighborhood businesses, organizations, and programs will also take part in the GCCA Membership Fair, including University City District, 48th Street Grille, Take the Lead Dance Studio, PGW’s EnergySense Program, The Partnership CDC Neighborhood Advisory Committee, and more. Each of the working committees will have displays and information on the work that they are doing to make Garden Court a great place to live. Tasty treats will also be provided!

Garden Court’s boundaries are 45th Street to 52nd Street and Cedar Avenue to Locust Street. GCCA Membership is open to all persons living, working, or interested in this community. For more information about GCCA and upcoming neighborhood events, visit the GCCA website at: www.gardencourtca.org.