A monthly Spruce Hill zoning meeting will take place tonight, at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St), with two development projects on the agenda. Community members are invited to hear from the owners of a vacant lot at 224 S. 44th Street about construction of a new residential building. This project was first presented at last month’s zoning meeting. A four-unit semi-detached structure is being proposed on the lot in-between two old Victorian homes (see picture).  Continue Reading

A new “parklet” was installed this week on Pine Street between 47th and 48th.

Two new “parklets”- temporary outdoor seating platforms where you can enjoy a meal, a drink or simply relax – have been installed by University City District crews. In addition to the returning locations at 4040 Locust St. (hosted by Ramen Bar), 261 S. 44th St. (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop), 4239 Baltimore Ave. (hosted by Green Line Cafe) and 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream), check out the following new “parklets”:

• 3601 Market (between Market and Filbert, hosted by Schmear It, Jimmy John’s, and M.A.T.T.’s Sliders)
• 4725 Pine Street (hosted by the Garden Court Community Association)

“Parklets” usually stay through mid- to late November, as long as the weather is warm enough for outdoor seating. Just a reminder that you don’t need to patronize a particular business to sit in the parklet.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced charges against the person allegedly responsible for the hit and run accident that killed 5-year old Xavier Moy in the Walnut Hill neighborhood two weeks ago. The accident happened on Friday, June 22 at approximately 4:07 p.m. on the 5000 block of Irving Street. Twenty-five-year-old Anissa Thompson surrendered to authorities on Thursday morning and was charged later that day. The charges include homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an accident, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Xavier was struck by the car while playing in the street. He was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in critical condition and died about an hour later.

The bail  has been set at $500,000.

That time of year is coming up when SEPTA trolley riders will have to switch from trolley to subway when traveling to Center City. SEPTA’s annual Center City trolley tunnel maintenance project, “Trolley Tunnel Blitz,” is scheduled for 10 days this year – from July 13 to July 23.

Due to power, track and station improvement projects in the tunnel that runs between the 40th and 13th Street stations, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, July 13, through 4 a.m. on Monday, July 23. Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets, and trolleys will use their alternate diversion service routing to connect to SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line at 40th and Market Streets. Trolley passengers can board the Market-Frankford Line at 40th Street Station for travel to-and-from Center City, as the work efforts will not affect that service.

This is the fifth consecutive summer SEPTA has held the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. During this year’s tunnel closure, members of SEPTA’s in-house Engineering, Maintenance & Construction Division crews will work around-the-clock on key maintenance and construction tasks throughout the five-mile, single loop Center City tunnel.

In response to forecasted maximum heat indexes over 100, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley issued a Heat Health Emergency in Philadelphia beginning Sunday, July 1, at noon.

A declaration of a Heat Health Emergency by the Health Commissioner activates the City’s emergency heat programs, including the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s Heatline, extended hours at select Free Library locations that have been designated as Cooling Centers, home visits by special field teams, enhanced daytime outreach for the homeless, and the City’s annual reminder to the public to look in on older friends, relatives, and neighbors.  Continue Reading

A potent mix of cocaine and the synthetic opioid fentynyl led to at least 20 overdoses in West Philly in the past two weeks, including two deaths, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. There weren’t more deaths in part due to the administration of Narcan, the overdose reverser that is saving lives across the city. If you want to learn how to administer it, here’s a good opportunity.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is offering “overdose awareness and reversal training” at the Walnut Street West Library (40^th and Walnut) on Wednesday, June 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and again on July 11 and 25 and August 8 and 22 at the same time.  Continue Reading