Aerial map of the Chestnut Street Bridges project area (courtesy PennDOT).

The Chestnut Street Bridges rehabilitation project began today and street closings near 30th Street Station will affect vehicular and pedestrian traffic for many months.

Northbound Schuylkill Avenue between Walnut and Chestnut Streets closed at 7 a.m. on Monday for approximately two years, according to an announcement by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

The closure of northbound Schuylkill Avenue will prohibit right turns by motorists and cyclists heading into West Philadelphia using the Walnut Street bridge over the Schuylkill River.

Motorists using Walnut Street and heading to 30th Street Station or the ramp to westbound I-76 or the ramp to eastbound I-676 will be detoured west to 30th Street, then right on 30th Street to Market Street, and right on Market Street to Schuylkill Avenue.  Continue Reading

The city is now officially seeking a developer for the Provident Mutual Life Insurance complex at 4601 Market St., several months after the Kenney administration scuttled plans to move the police administration to the site.

The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation issued a “Request for Qualifications and Expressions of Interest” today that seeks potential developers for the 15-acre property adjacent to the Market-Frankford Line’s 46th Street stop. The city hopes to assemble a short list of interested developers this fall and then open a competitive bidding process. Proposals for the first phase are due Nov. 1.

The property is zoned CMX-3, which allows a wide variety of uses – from a community garden to an apartment building to a hospital. The complex includes a 325,000-square-foot administration building and a 11,200-square-foot utility plant.  Continue Reading

A new, protected bike lane has been installed on a portion of Chestnut Street as part of the Chestnut Street Transportation Project. The bike lane was added from 45th to 40th Street so far. The project was first announced by the City’s Streets Department in April, and includes safety features and improvements for all modes of transportation and pedestrians between 45th and 34th Streets, including a parking protected bicycle lane on the north side of the street, pedestrian islands, and removing one motor vehicle travel lane. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Former Provident Mutual Life Insurance building at 4601 Market St (archived photo).

Three West Philly neighborhood organizations have written to Mayor Jim Kenney to express their disappointment with the decision to pull the plan to move police headquarters to the old Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building at 4601 Market St, calling the decision “stunning.”

In May, the city canceled plans devised during the Nutter administration to relocate the police headquarters. Instead, it will reportedly move to the former Philadelphia Inquirer building at 400 N. Broad St. The city has spent about $50 million to purchase and renovate the 90-year-old Provident building.

The community associations of Garden Court, Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill neighborhoods also asked that the city continue to renovate the building and include the community in decisions about its future use.  Continue Reading

A 15-year-old girl, Leneisha Buchanan, has been missing for several days, according to her family, who live in Mantua. She was last seen on Friday, Aug. 11 in West Philadelphia, near the Philadelphia Zoo. She is between 5’4″ and 5’6″ and 130 to 140lbs. Click here for more information on how to contact her family if you have any information about Laneisha.

A 20-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times near 52nd and Pine Streets on Tuesday night, according to police. The shooting happened shortly after 8 p.m. in Malcolm X Park. 18th District police officers found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his back and shoulder and took him to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Police say the victim was walking through the park when an unknown male walked up to him and started shooting. He fired several more shots at the victim after he fell to the ground and then fled.

The suspect is described as a black male, 20 to 25 years old, heavy build, 5 foot 7 inches to 5 foot 9 inches tall. He was wearing a burgundy or orange colored hoody and black pants. He was last seen running north on 51st street.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184 or call 911.