A TV camera sets up ahead of today’s official groundbreaking ceremony near 36th and Filbert. (Photo by West Philly Local).

Drexel University and the School District of Philadelphia officials broke ground today on a new facility that will house two public schools. The School District will lease the building from Drexel and the facility will house the Powel Elementary School (K-4), currently at 36th Street and Powelton Avenue, and the Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS), which opened in 2016 at Drexel’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships and recently moved into space at 3600 Market Street.  Continue Reading

Councilwoman-elect Jamie Gauthier speaking at the “State of University City” event on Wednesday (Photo courtesy of University City District).

City Councilwoman-elect Jamie Gauthier told University City District supporters, staff and board during a speech at the organization’s annual “State of University City” event that she hopes the economic success in the area around the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital and Drexel University reaches into struggling neighborhoods as well.

“As more cranes go up in this area,” she said to the crowd of developers, donors and supporters of the University City District. “I hope our residents farther out can participate in that growth.”  Continue Reading

Renata’s Kitchen is expanding into the two-story restaurant space at 3940 Baltimore Avenue (former Trolley Car Station restaurant location).

The two-story restaurant space at 40th Street Trolley Portal Gardens, formerly occupied by the Trolley Car Station restaurant, is finally getting a new tenant. Well-known West Philly restaurateur couple, Katie and Yasser Aiq, the owners of the popular cafe and brunch spot Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Ave., have signed the lease for the space and expect to open this winter (“in the next month or so”), with immediate plans to serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

The restaurant, which offers a mixed menu of Mediterranean and American dishes, is not only expanding into a bigger, 125-seat space at 3940 Baltimore Ave., the owners are also planning to eventually launch dinner service, as well as an “inventive drink” menu when they secure the liquor license that comes with the space.  Continue Reading

Newly elected State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, the first Muslim woman elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, has been arrested on corruption charges.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges this morning against Johnson-Harrell, who won the 190th District seat in a special election last March. They include theft, perjury and tampering with public records.

Shapiro said Johnson-Harrell has agreed to plead guilty to the charges and will face jail time. She turned herself in to authorities in Philadelphia on Wednesday morning.  Continue Reading

As package deliveries pick up during the holidays, so do package thefts. University City District has sent out an alert in its monthly Crime Update about an increase of package thefts from porches in November and December. The newsletter also includes these tips on how to prevent package thefts:

• Avoid leaving unattended packages on stoops or porches.
• If possible, have packages sent to a workplace or other secure location.
• If you’re shipping items using Amazon, take advantage of one of the Amazon locker locations in the area.

Continue Reading

Greg Benjamin, the 51st Ward leader, and co-organizer of Saturday’s community conversation on gentrification.

A standing-room-only crowd packed the basement community room in the Kingsessing branch of the Free Library on Saturday afternoon to start what organizers hope will be an ongoing conversation about gentrification.

“All eyes are on Southwest Philadelphia now. We have four trolley lines, four bus lines,” said Greg Benjamin, an organizer of the meeting and candidate for the state legislature. “We have the opportunity to set an example for what wasn’t done right in other places.”  Continue Reading