It looks like the empty lot at 224 S. 44th Street sitting between two row homes just south of Walnut will not be empty much longer. A request has been submitted to the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment by the owners to obtain a permit for construction of a four-unit residential building. The new building is being proposed as a semi-detached structure.

The plan for the building was presented to the Spruce Hill Community Association’s Zoning Board earlier this week, and will most likely be back before the SCHA Zoning Board at their next meeting in July, according to SCHA Zoning Chair Barry Grossbach. “We are at a preliminary stage on the 44th Street project,” he wrote in an e-mail.

We’ll keep you posted about the next meeting since community feedback is always welcome on new development projects in Spruce Hill.

The city has announced opening of its 2018 public pool season – just in time for this heat. Check out opening schedules for West Philly and Center City West pools below. Philadelphia public pools are free and open to everyone and usually stay open until early to mid-August. For more information, visit the Philadelphia Parks & Rec website. Also, check out this page with information on the spraygrounds in the city.

Wednesday, June 20

• Kelly Pool (4231 Landsdowne Dr., 19131)
• Lee Cultural Center (4328 Haverford Ave., 19104)

Thursday, June 21

• Christy Recreation Center (728 S. 55th St., 19143)

Saturday, June 23

• Baker Playground (5433 Landsdowne Ave., 19131)
• Cobbs Creek Recreation Center (280 Cobbs Creek Pkwy., 19139)  Continue Reading

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Beginning on Monday, June 18, there is an opportunity to help low-income families in the Greater Philadelphia region by participating in SEPTA’s annual food drive.

Since the academic year has come to an end, many local families will struggle to find a way to replace the free and reduced cost breakfasts and lunches their children receive at school every day. Food collected during SEPTA’s food drive for Philabundance and its member agencies will help families throughout the area supplement those meals.

The food drive will run for five days through Friday, June 22. During these days, food collection barrels will be placed at SEPTA stations across the Authority’s service area. SEPTA will collect donations of much needed food staples including peanut butter, canned tuna and meat, whole grain pasta and canned fruits and vegetables to help provide local children with nutritious meals during the summer months. Last year, SEPTA employees and customers contributed the equivalent of almost 35,000 meals.

Check out the flier for a list of Philabundance’s most needed items.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying three individuals responsible for stealing several video surveillance cameras from homes in the area of 4700 Osage Avenue and for a fire believed to be arson near 41st and Sansom.

The video camera theft occurred on Thursday, April 19, in the early morning hours, according to police. Then, on Saturday, May 3, around 1:25 a.m., the same suspects vandalized the side of a commercial vehicle with paint and then set it on fire on the 4100 block of Sansom Street, according to police.  Continue Reading

A woman in her mid 20s was found shot dead near 47th and Springfield early Tuesday, according to police.

The unidentified woman, who was naked except for socks, was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police responded to reports of gunshots shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The woman was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday. A handgun was found near her body, according to reports.

A police spokesman said this morning that the woman’s death was likely a suicide, but added that an investigation was underway.

The Philadelphia Streets Department has announced street improvement work on some West Philadelphia streets, including the 3800 to 4600 blocks of Spruce Street, for the week of June 11. The work schedule includes temporary, full street closures and parking restrictions (weather or special events in the area may alter the resurfacing schedule).

Work will be completed in separate phases – milling and adjusting of manhole covers and resetting of utility boxes – which will take place in separate activities over the course of the week.

Temporary ‘No Parking’ signs will be posted in advance of each scheduled activity. Residents are urged to move their cars from the work sites when temporary ‘No Parking’ signs are posted, so that vehicles are not towed. If your car is towed, please contact your local Police District to determine its location (also check this earlier post about where a towed car was found).

Go here to see the list of streets where improvement work is scheduled for next week. To view the complete list of streets scheduled for improvements during the 2018 Paving Season, click here.