Victorian vistas like this one on the 4200 block of Osage Avenue will be safeguarded going forward. (Photo by Tony West)

The Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC) unanimously approved the creation of the Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District on July 12. The boundaries of this district run generally from Spruce St. to 39th St. to Woodland Ave. to 43rd St. It will encompass three smaller districts that already exist there in addition to more than 500 surrounding houses that share a distinctive Victorian architecture.

Historic Districts define and protect the external look of period “contributing” buildings, blocking demolition except when in dangerous condition and requiring outside repairs or additions to preserve the original appearance as much as possible. They do not impact building interiors.

Most of Spruce Hill has long been in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. This federal designation gives the neighborhood noteriety but no protection. The Spruce Hill Community Association began to push for a city historic district with enforcement power 37 years ago, but was repeatedly blocked by opposition from property owners who feared it would increase maintenance costs. That concern has been less widespread since SHCA, counseled by University City Historical Society, launched its latest bid in 2021. Many real estate developers have opposed it for decades.

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Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (center) celebrating the reopening of the upgraded 48th and Woodland sprayground with local families. (Photo by Wendi Wu)

Here’s some great news for West Philly and Southwest Philly youth and their families who have been battling the heat. The 48th & Woodland sprayground has reopened after some new renovations and upgrades. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Tuesday.

The playground site at 48th and Woodland was updated with new water play equipment that is tied to the theme of learning. One of the main goals of this renovation project was to create a sprayground where children can combine learning and fun. Other new amenities include a shade structure and new seating (see more photos below).

The project was a $700,000 investment by the City in this important local community space.

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Here’s some exciting news coming from the Shop Penn district this summer.

Later this summer, Cork & Candles will be opening a new store at 3421 Walnut Street, bringing the candle making experience to University City. Cork & Candles, a family-owned small business, is a BYOB candle-making experience that invites guests to create, drink, and connect while hand-pouring custom candles.

“Our mission at Cork & Candles is to create a space where friends gather and have the opportunity to build connections while partaking in a creative experience,” says David Straub, Co-Founder and CEO of Cork & Candles. “We believe everyone is creative and we love helping people tap into that side during their time with us.”

At Cork & Candles, guests can gather with friends and explore a scent library stocked with over 60 unique fragrances, creating a custom blend to craft a handmade candle that is truly one-of-a-kind. Guests can also take part in novelty candle classes that rotate monthly. In addition to classes and candle-making experiences, guests can shop a retail section and purchase candles created in-store. While taking part in the candle-making activities, guests are invited to BYOB (wine or beer) and indulge while enjoying a hands-on and creative experience!

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Photo courtesy of Arts Without Boundaries

Arts Without Boundaries Youth Community Theater, in partnership with Compassion CDC, has announced the overwhelming success of its original musical production, “The Journey in Oz,” which premiered to two packed-out audiences on June 29th.

The event celebrated the exceptional talents of West Philadelphia’s Black and Brown youth, combining creativity, community, and cultural pride in the performance. Both shows were packed, showcasing tremendous community support and enthusiasm for the production.

The event took place at the Church of Christian Compassion (6121 Cedar Ave.) and was co-sponsored by Compassion CDC, an outgrowth of the church founded in 1981. The non-profit organization was created to implement the vast number of holistic programs and initiatives to improve the quality of life and promote community development and neighborhood pride.

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UPDATE (7/1/2024): The repaving work, which includes construction of a parking-separated bike lane, began on 48th Street last week. The Streets Department crews have been moving from north to south and got as far as Osage Avenue as of Sunday, June 30 (see photo).

(6/21/2024): Here’s an update on the 48th Street repaving and safety project, which will include many new layout features presented at a community meeting earlier this year.

48th Street between Haverford and Kingsessing Avenues will be re-striped soon, with the work starting as early as in the second half of June, according to Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office spokesman Harrison Fineman (Councilmember Gauthier has been working on this project with local community members and organizations). A precise start date is not available at this time.

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UPDATE (8/10/2024): The Garden Court Eatery permanently closed at the beginning of August. The space is now empty.

(7/1/2024): A popular local business, the Garden Court Eatery, is permanently closing after more than a decade of operation. The sign in the window says that everything in the store is 50 percent off before it closes. The Korean-American run business, located on the ground floor of the Garden Court apartment complex, has been a local spot not only as an eatery and grocery store, but also has been known for its nice selection of craft beer.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched by community members a few days ago to help the business. The reason for the store closing is due to “building managers refusing to renew their lease,” according to the message posted by the fundraising campaign organizer, Mohini Dutt, on GoFundMe. The business has been experiencing problems with the building managers for a few years, partially due to the construction of an additional apartment building on top of the store. There have been other campaigns to help save the store in the past few years.

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