The area that will be covered by the “Spruce Hill Historic District.”

UPDATE: The meeting was postponed from June 7 to June 27 due to the smoke pollution in Philadelphia caused by the Canadian wildfires. 

Community members are invited to learn more about the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) proposal to make a large part of its neighborhood, from roughly Ludlow Street in the north to Woodland Avenue in the south and 46th Street in the west to 40th in the east, a historic district recognized by the city. A panel discussion and Q and A will take place on Tuesday, June 27 starting at 7 p.m. at Resurrection Church (42nd and Pine).

The “Spruce Hill Historic District” would provide an added layer of protection of historic structures amid a building boom in the area. Designation could also regulate exterior changes to existing buildings like masonry and window replacement.

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UPDATE (6/13/2023, 2:23 p.m.): The Boil Water Advisory, issued for parts of West Philadelphia on Sunday, has been lifted. No harmful bacteria were found in the water samples tested by the Philadelphia Water Department.

6/12/2023: A Boil Water advisory issued last night by the Philadelphia Water Department for upper West Philadelphia neighborhoods is still in effect until further notice. Customers in the affected area, which includes Wynnefield Heights, Wynnefield, Overbrook Farms, Green Hill Farms, Overbrook, Overbrook Park, Morris Park, and parts of Carrol Park, Haddington, West Parkside, and West Fairmount Park (see full map here), should not drink the water without boiling it first for at least one minute. This concerns water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing formula.

The advisory was issued on Sunday evening, following a collapse of a pumping station serving a section of upper West Philadelphia and a temporary loss of pressure in the system, which happened between approximately 3:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. on June 11. While the pressure was restored later on Sunday, testing in the area, which began last night, is still taking place this morning and afternoon. This is because a lack of pressure can create a vacuum that could pull disease-causing organisms such as bacteria into water pipes. If the results of the testing from Sunday and Monday meet quality standards, PWD will inform customers that they no longer need to boil water. Continue Reading

Here’s some great local business news from the area around 50th and Baltimore.

Third Wheel Cheese Instagram photo.

If you have missed Milk & Honey Market since its closure in 2020, this news may excite you. Third Wheel Cheese Company, which was established in 2018 as a wholesale operation, has opened a new retail shop at 705 S. 50th St. The company, run by local foodie, food justice advocate and entrepreneur Ann Karlen, features a variety of artisanal, locally-made cheeses. The shop, which is located at the front of its warehouse, will hold its grand opening celebration on Thursday, June 15, from 1-6 p.m..

The shop will also carry regionally-made meats, crackers, jams and preserves, mustards, honey, olives, and other fresh and organic products, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Michael Klein.

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Streetscape improvements are in the works for Woodland Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets, and next Thursday, June 15, community members are invited to meet the design team, share thoughts and ask questions (the event has been rescheduled from June 8 due to the hazardous air pollution in Philadelphia). The Woodland Avenue Complete Streets Project pop-up event, organized by Vision Zero, will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Woodlands Cemetery front gates at 40th and Woodland (see the event flyer below).

Streetscape improvements are a part of a larger reconstruction project along Woodland Avenue between 39th and 42nd streets. Some safety improvements, like traffic lights and crosswalks, are expected to be installed at the section of Woodland Avenue near The Woodlands cemetery and the intersection with Chester Avenue later this year. To read more about the project phases and what they include, click here. Continue Reading

HopePHL, the local non-profit that provides social services, housing and community development, was recently awarded a $250,000 Housing for Everyone grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank.

HopePHL is one of 37 non-profit organizations selected from more than 450 applicants across several states to receive a Housing for Everyone grant as part of the initiative that has helped support organizations that are focused on providing affordable housing and affordable housing services since 2005.

The grant will support HopePHL’s homelessness prevention work, which assists people at risk of homelessness in Philadelphia to remain in their homes and avoid emergency shelter. Through case management and direct financial assistance grants, the agency’s program provides West Philadelphia families with support to overcome a housing crisis. Since its launch in July 2020, this program has successfully delivered these services to 355 families and has provided over $880,000 in emergency rental assistance grants.

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Just in time for summer, a new state-of-the-art nature-themed playground has opened in Cobbs Creek near 63rd and Spruce. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by state and city officials, as well as students from Add B. Anderson Middle School and community members, took place on Wednesday afternoon.

The new Cobbs Creek Nature Playground combines modern and unique features to create a “nature-themed play oasis.” All play equipment was made from refurbished solid wood and the playground was designed around the existing trees. The playground itself has been designed to cultivate imaginative play with ample swinging and climbing structures.

“I’m grateful to see the vision for this site come to fruition just in time for summer,’ said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Cobbs Creek Playground has been an integral part of the West Philadelphia community, and now it’s a space where the community can safely play and proudly call their own.”

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