Drexel University has purchased a long, thin 3.6 acre lot along JFK Boulevard west of 30th Street Station that will become the “gateway” for its main campus and could include a mix of uses, including retail.

Drexel paid $21.8 million for the land, which is currently a parking lot sandwiched between JFK Blvd. and train tracks to the north (see the map below).

“The prime location of this site will significantly enhance Drexel’s capacity to be a powerful engine for regional economic growth,” said Drexel President John Fry in a written statement. “It provides various options not only for the development of the space for classrooms, research and other academic facilities, but also for sources of revenue for Drexel through potential residential and retail opportunities.”

Fry, who oversaw community development projects while a vice president at the University of Pennsylvania, has said that extending Drexel’s reach into its surrounding West Philadelphia community is a priority.

 

View Drexel land purchase in a larger map

Great news for the Community Education Center (CEC) in West Philly! Thanks to very active voting by its supporters, including many West Philly residents, the center finished in the top five in Maxwell House’s Drops of Good online voting campaign and is eligible for the $50,000 grant.

The grant will go toward center renovation expenses. Renovations will be handled by the Philadelphia affiliate of Rebuilding Together®. This non-profit organization opened its location in West Philly in 1988 and has helped many low-income homeowners and other community projects.

If you would like to volunteer for this or other projects visit this page.
 

There is a dangerous sinkhole on the 4800 block of Baltimore Avenue. A reader Joe described it as about two feet deep and stretching at least a couple feet in either direction. It is in the middle of the bike lane on the north side of the 4800 block, in front of 4827/29.

“Don’t let its demure appearance fool you. It wants to eat you and your bike,” Joe warns.
 

If you need to drive toward Center City or get on the Schuylkill Expressway this weekend It might be a good idea to avoid Market Street. Drexel University’s commencement and student move-out is this weekend (they are on the quarter system so they finish a little later than other schools) and portions of Market and Powelton from 32nd to 34th will be heavily congested today through Sunday afternoon.

The university issued this warning:

Beginning Thursday, June 9 and continuing through Sunday, June 12, 2011, Drexel University will be holding its annual Commencement Ceremonies in the Daskalaskis Athletic Center located at 3300 Market Street. At the same time students will be moving out of the residence halls. As a result, there will be parking restrictions and street closures in effect from 32nd to 34th Streets and Market Street to Powelton Avenue.

Drexel Police will be assisting with traffic. Please avoid these areas if possible and seek alternate routes. Expect traffic congestion when traveling to and from University City.

Unfortunately, they won’t be more specific on exact times, so maybe it’s just better to avoid it all together. Spruce Street and the South Street on and off ramps are the way to go.

We all knew that the heat wave was going to give way to a storm at some point. Last night’s downpour and high winds knocked down trees and left many in West Philly temporarily without power.

Near 49th and Hazel a large tree crashed onto a shed, leaving a man inside trapped for about 30 minutes (see video). The man was not seriously injured.

6ABC Action News was on the scene. Below is video that includes incidents from around the city. The part about 49th and Hazel starts at about 2:20.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is one of Philadelphia’s most venerable institutions. Many of us know people who work there, we pass it often on bike, bus or car, but probably very few of us have been inside. Well, in steps philly.com to provide a little glimpse into what goes on there.

The story is a blow-by-blow of the 24 hours that three reporters spent inside the hospital talking to medical staff, patients and others.