Updated intersection at Baltimore and Springfield.

The corner of Baltimore and Springfield avenues has long been a notorious corner, with pedestrians heading to and from Clark Park, cyclists, motorists and trolleys all converging at one oddly configured intersection. Hopefully some work recently completed by the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Streets Department that includes a buffered bike lane and some redirection of vehicle traffic will make the intersection safer.

Several accidents have occurred at the intersection in recent years and residents have long asked for steps to be taken. The changes include flexible plastic poles that provide a wide protected area for pedestrians, allowing them to cross the intersection much more quickly.

Intersection at Baltimore and Springfield (archived photo).

A reader sent this photo of an overturned car at 48th and Chester this morning. The incident happened at around 8 a.m.

UPDATE: Here’s a witness report:

“It seemed like there were no serious injuries, although the driver of the SUV was taken away by Ambulance. Residents rushed to the SUV to help the driver out of his car. The other vehicle had substantial damage to the front end, but miraculously was drivable. A firefighter started it up and moved it away from the Trolley tracks.”

The Indego bike station at 44th and Walnut.

The planned bike share station at 44th and Walnut is now in place, marking (for now, at least) the furthest west the new Ride Indego program will go (map). The last time we checked the station only had a couple of bikes, which has been an early complaint about the stations in West Philly, including the one near 40th and Spruce.

The bike share program plans to add another station near Clark Park. They are still working with the community to determine the best placement for it. We’ll let you know when we have an installation date.

A large rally in response to the events in Baltimore is planned for today (Thursday, April 30) at 15th and Market Streets near Philadelphia City Hall. The “Philly is Baltimore” rally is set to start at 4:30 p.m. and is expected to draw at least 1,000 protesters.

Due to this event, traffic delays are expected throughout Center City as well as the University City area beginning around 3:30 p.m. today. Penn Public Safety will be in the University City area to assist with traffic flow.

Great news for some local schools and lots of arts and culture organizations, which recently received grants and monetary awards for their achievements, continuous service to the community and to support some new projects:

• The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools (WPCNS) received a $20,000 grant for the Greening Lea project from the TD Green Streets program. A collaboration between the Arbor Day Foundation and TD Bank, this Green Streets grant was one just of 10 awarded to communities across the country. The grant will be used towards planting a large shade tree area over the green stormwater management system to be installed at the Lea play yard this year. Please also check our post on the Greening Lea naming campaign, where local residents and businesses are encouraged to participate.  Continue Reading

The portion of the 4400 block of Chestnut that would be the front of a new apartment complex on the 4400 block of Chestnut. The two buildings to the right of the gym would be demolished to make room. (Photo from Google Streetview)

West Philly-based property developers Orens Brothers presented a more detailed plan for a high-end, 150-unit complex on the 4400 block of Chestnut Street to the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee last night.

Orens Brothers, whose headquarters are in the current glass-fronted building at 4415 Chestnut, have been acquiring mostly vacant properties on that block, on 44th Street and Ludlow Street that they will demolish to make room for a planned five-story glass and brick building on Chestnut that would extend north to Ludlow and east to 44th (behind businesses near 44th and Chestnut). That building would connect via a covered walkway to another new building on the 4400 block of Ludlow.

Yep, it’s complicated. The complex would house 150 mostly two-bedroom, market-rate apartments. Fit Gym, which is located in the current building (and is also owned by the Orens Brothers) would be moved to the first floor of the Ludlow Street building. The plan also includes 1,500 square feet of commercial space along Chestnut Street that could accommodate a small café or deli. The proposal includes 65 off-street parking spots on the property.

Scott (right) and Guy Orens present plans for the project to the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee last night. (Photo by West Philly Local)

The Orens Brothers, who have developed several properties in West Philly including the Croydon building, offered some very preliminary ideas to the committee last month. This time was more formal and a dozen or so nearby residents were on hand to ask questions about parking, property taxes and time frames.

“It’s gentrification at its best,” said Darryl Thomas, the owner of Philly Cuts at 4409 Chestnut, who said he is not against the project but has many questions.

While the project will likely bring more activity to an area that includes a lot vacant lots and deteriorating properties, he and other wonder what impact it will have on the small businesses and single-family homes that are left standing nearby.

The project would be built on a patchwork of parcels and many will need variances for the project to go ahead. Nothing official was decided at last night’s meeting. There will be at least one more meeting with the zoning committee before the project goes before the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments.