Rendering of proposed repurposing of church at 41st and Ludlow into a climbing gym, including the addition of a glass tower.

A plan to convert a 19th century church at 41st and Ludlow into a climbing and fitness facility drew praise from the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee during its meeting on Monday, but may meet some resistance at the Philadelphia Historical Commission because of three-story glass tower that will be added to the building.

The owners of Reach Climbing and Fitness recently bought the building (see photo below), which until late last fall was occupied by St. James Pentecostal Church. The bright red church tucked off of Market Street in a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood was built in 1845. It housed the Monumental Baptist Church, the second oldest African American Baptist Church in the city and the first in West Philadelphia.  Continue Reading

Neighbors and all interested individuals are invited to a monthly Spruce Hill Community Association’s Zoning Committee meeting, which will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St).

A few zoning applications will be discussed, including two new business operations in the neighborhood:

• A new coffee shop is being proposed near 42nd and Baltimore, at 500 S. 42nd Street. This business operation requires a special exception for the proposed use as a “prepared food shop”.

• A Reach Climbing + Fitness operation is being proposed in a church building at 41st and Ludlow (see photo). The building is on the local historic register and the applicant will discuss how they are seeking to adapt the current structure to the intended use.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting and ask questions and offer comments.

The Campaign for Working Families is once again offering free tax preparation and filing services for qualifying families and individuals throughout the city. If you earned less than $55,000 in 2019 you can get help preparing your taxes. Check out free tax preparation sites in West and Southwest Philadelphia below. No appointment is necessary at most sites (see listings for details). Customers are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Here you can find information on what documents you should bring with you. And just a reminder that the filing deadline for 2019 taxes is April 15, 2020.

Free CWF Tax Preparation Sites in West Philadelphia:

ACHIEVEability
59 N 60th St, Phila, PA 19139
Tue & Thu 9am-7pm; Sat 9am-1pm
By appointment only: Please call 215.557.8484  Continue Reading

Dozens of folks showed up along the 900 block of S. 47th late Wednesday morning to welcome Vice President Mike Pence and Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education, who were at the Saint Francis de Sales School for a visit connected to “National School Choice Week.”

Carrying rainbow flags and signs calling for fair funding of public education, protesters set up on both sides of 47th Street amid a fairly heavy police presence.  Continue Reading

Vice President Mike Pence will be rolling through West Philly today for an event at the Saint Francis De Sales School at 47th and Springfield.

Pence is scheduled to be joined by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway for the event, billed as a celebration of National School Choice Week. They are scheduled to be at the school at 12:30 this afternoon.

An impromptu rally organized mostly on Facebook will be there to greet Pence and the others. Entitled “Love Thy LGBTQ Neighbor, West Philly,” the gathering is scheduled to meet at 47th and Springfield from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Renata’s Kitchen owners Kate and Yasser Aiq at their new location at 40th and Baltimore.

Renata’s Kitchen is ready to welcome customers at their new location at 40th and Baltimore, in the two-story building formerly occupied by Trolley Car Station Diner. The new Renata’s Kitchen & Bar is officially opening to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Restaurateurs Kate and Yasser Aiq, the masterminds behind Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Avenue, are bringing their brunch menu to the space, which is roughly six times larger than the current location. Customers can expect familiar items such as lemon pancakes, an eclectic selection of espresso beverages and an expanded meze (small plates) menu with fan favorites like shakshukas, a Middle Eastern stew with eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and garlic.  Continue Reading