The Fall semester begins next week at the University of Pennsylvania, and this week Penn freshmen will be moving in. So the University Division of Public Safety is notifying the public of some street closures to accommodate the move-ins. Some segments of Spruce Street will be closed to traffic, including bicyclists, during daytime on Thursday, Friday and Saturday:

Thursday, August 20:
Spruce Street will be closed from 34th to 38th from 6:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Friday, August 21:
Spruce Street will be closed from 34th to 38th from 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 22:
Spruce Street will be closed from 38th to 40th from 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

SEPTA trolley service in the tunnel connecting West Philadelphia with Center City resumed this morning. The tunnel was closed for 16 days for the annual maintenance and construction called the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. This summer SEPTA crews replaced about 7,500 feet of track on the westbound side of the tunnel between 22nd Street Station and the 40th Street Portal.

New apartment building on S. 45th St. (Photo West Philly Local)

Those who often walk down 45th Street must have noticed new construction between Locust and Spruce streets. The “by right” project – meaning it doesn’t need variances or local approval – started in late spring at 245 S. 45th St. and is progressing quickly. The four-story apartment building has been carefully inserted between old West Philly row homes. It is taller than the adjacent houses. As was reported last fall, the new 15-unit building is owned by Glasberg Properties, which owns other – mostly student housing – projects in the city. We hear that these will be market rate apartments, priced at about $2000/month.

Naked Philly has some more details and photos of the building here.

A new cafe that will offer tea, coffee, snacks and desserts is opening soon on the 4500 block of Walnut Street. The new establishment, called Lulu Café (as we understand, named after the owners’ French bulldog) is expected to open this month at 4508 Walnut St., next door to Hunter Gatherer Tattoo and across the street from University City Chinese Christian Church.

The full menu hasn’t been posted yet, but it will include varieties of tea (caramel milk tea, sea salt green tea, plum tomato green tea), coffee (sea salt iced coffee), blended drinks (mocha, watermelon, pistachio), and snacks (popcorn chicken).

According to its website, the Chinese owned business is currently hiring part-time and full-time employees (speaking both English and Mandarin is a must; email: lulucafeusa@gmail.com for more info).

For more information and updates, visit Lulu Café website or Facebook page.

This is a reminder that the SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz, the annual maintenance and construction project in the trolley tunnel connecting West Philadelphia and Center City, is underway until Monday, Aug. 17. All trolleys are being diverted to 40th and Market where passengers can switch to the Market-Frankford line.

Over the weekend, SEPTA crews were also repairing tracks at the 40th Street Trolley Portal at 40th and Woodland (see photo below).

Local artists are invited to be a part of a new project on 52nd Street. The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) is seeking experienced artists to paint 56 parking meters on the 52nd Street commercial corridor between Arch and Walnut streets.

The designs will be created with community input and according to a coordinated branding scheme for the corridor. Beginning in September, the selected artists will work with local schools, community groups and businesses on the initial design of the parking meter art. The painting project will begin in October, and is expected to be completed by mid-November.

The project, which will help fight blight in the form of aging parking meters, is part of the ongoing 52nd Street commercial corridor revitalization efforts spearheaded by TEC-CDC. The project is funded by Philadelphia LISC.

This is a paid opportunity for artists or creative groups (up to 10 artists can be selected to participate in the project), and TEC-CDC will cover all the supply costs. Application deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. More information about the project, application details and forms are available here. If you have questions, please contact Akeem J. Dixon at 215-895-4021 or ADixon@theenterprisecenter.com