A couple dozen people – neighbors and members from groups “N.O.” (Neighbors Organized to Protect Our Communities) and West Philadelphians for Progressive Planning & Preservation – gathered on Sunday afternoon to protest the new residential developments at and around 43rd and Chestnut – the former site of the Christ Memorial Church demolished earlier this year, and at 12 S. 43rd Street.

The protesters held anti-gentrification signs and chanted “Say No to Gentrification! Say No! Say No! Say No! Philly Needs to Say No!” and marched along Chestnut Street between the two developments sites.  Continue Reading

Police broke up a large crowd that gathered in Malcolm X Park on Saturday night, according to reports. As many as 200 people gathered in the park at around 8 p.m. on Saturday and became increasingly aggressive, throwing objects at officers, 6ABC reports.

The crowd was dispersed after extra police help was brought in. A police helicopter was also seen in the area.

Some arrests were made, but it’s not clear yet how many people were arrested. No injuries were reported.

Three Baltimore Avenue businesses are teaming up to support students attending a neighborhood elementary school.

Mariposa Food Co-op, together with Hair Vyce Studio and Studio 34 Yoga, are collecting school supplies to donate to Harrington Elementary School located at 53rd and Baltimore.

Everyone is welcome to donate notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, binders, paper, tissues and other supplies. All proceeds will be given directly to the school to distribute to the students on the first day of school (Tues., Sept. 3).  Continue Reading

Kingsessing Library (Photo from freelibrary.org).

State Rep. Jim Roebuck recently announced that $480,000 is on its way to the Kingsessing Library to repair and upgrade the building, which is located at 1201 S. 51st St.

The Kingsessing Library opened in 1919 and was last renovated in 1999.

The funding is part of more than $3 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds that will be used to fund projects in the 188th legislative district.

Project funds also include $2 million to the Community College of Philadelphia’s West Philadelphia Regional Campus to develop a Career and Advanced Technology Center.

The annual SEPTA trolley tunnel maintenance project, the “Trolley Tunnel Blitz,” is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 and will continue until Monday, Aug. 19 at 5 a.m., SEPTA has announced. For the duration of the project, which will include trolley track replacement, station upgrades, painting and cleaning, and other maintenance work, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel.

During the Trolley Tunnel Blitz, all trolleys will divert to 40th and Market Streets where passengers can transfer to the Market-Frankford line at no additional cost for service to/from Center City.  Continue Reading

The Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River will close for renovation on Monday, Aug. 5. The bridge will be closed to all traffic – cars, pedestrians and bicycles – for approximately one year.

The closure will result in many changes in traffic pattern, volume and detours in the area, including public transportation. SEPTA buses 21 and 42 are detouring around the bridge to cross the Schuylkill on Market Street. Traffic congestion and travel delays should be anticipated during this time.  Continue Reading