An artist’s rendering of the proposed 76-unit apartment building at 48th and Chester.

A proposal for a 76-unit apartment building at 48th and Chester will go back to the city zoning board following a court decision in favor of neighborhood groups who oppose the project.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Anne Marie B. Coyle ruled earlier this week that the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment “had failed to clearly identify any factual evidence” that not granting variances for the building would result in “unnecessary hardship” for the developer. The board can grant variances based on “unnecessary hardship” for a number of reasons, including financial viability.

The project is being proposed on the land owned by an adjacent nursing home – Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Renaissance owner Meir Gelley is seeking to combine several land parcels adjacent to the nursing home for the proposed development – 4701-15 Kingsessing Ave., 4720 Chester Ave., 4724 Chester Ave., 1115 S. 48th St., and 1119 S. 48th St. Continue Reading

Rosemarie Certo at the 2012 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll/ Photo by West Philly Local

Dock Street Brewery at 50th and Baltimore is changing hands after 15 years.

Owner Rosemarie Certo announced in a mass email yesterday that she is selling the equipment in the brewpub but not the Dock Street name.

“On June 1st, there will be a talented duo taking over Dock Street’s space in the Firehouse – they are young, ambitious, hardworking, and kind,” she wrote. “They are seasoned brewers and will make fantastic beers and other fare. We can’t wait for you to meet them and to welcome them to the community.”

Dock Street opened in the former firehouse at 701 S. 50th St. (which had been converted to a farmer’s market) in August 2007 after a long process that included opposition from local church leaders and multiple zoning rejections. But several longtime residents, the neighborhood group Cedar Park Neighbors and the University City District pushed the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment to reverse its decision. Continue Reading

The City’s down payment assistance program, Philly First Home, has reopened today, according to an announcement by the Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The program provides up to $10,000 (or 6 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less) in assistance to first-time homebuyers or those who have not owned a home for at least three years. The assistance recipient also must:

– Purchase a home in Philadelphia
– Have a household income at or below 100 percent Area Median Income (AMI)
– Complete housing counseling at a DHCD funded housing counseling agency. Continue Reading

Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health has lifted the indoor mask mandate.

Although the city was experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks, there has been a recent leveling-off of case counts and a decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to today’s announcement.

The City’s decision to reinstate the mask mandate on Monday, April 18 drew criticism. It was the only large U.S. city to reinstate the mandate this spring.

Instead of requiring residents to wear a mask in indoor public places, masks are now “strongly recommended.” As of yesterday, the city was averaging 242 new COVID-19 cases per day and 65 hospitalizations.

The department also announced that they are retiring the system of COVID-19 response levels introduced earlier this year. Continue Reading

Congressman Dwight Evans, who represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District that includes West Philadelphia, has announced a more than $51 billion, seven-point plan to fight gun violence in Philadelphia and around the country. The plan was unveiled today at Temple University Hospital, which treats many of the city’s gun violence victims.

“Over the last two years, Philadelphia and communities across America have suffered from a surge in gun violence – a second epidemic,” Evans said at today’s event. “This is a national problem – it is not just happening here… This epidemic of gun violence demands an all-hands response – federal, state and local government – and more community involvement.” Continue Reading

SEPTA has announced that masks will no longer be required on vehicles, stations and concourses after a federal judge struck down the federal travel mask mandate.

SEPTA’s announcement came as an indoor mask mandate went into effect across the city, sowing confusion about where masks are required and where they are not.

Some transportation agencies around the country, notably New York City’s MTA, have kept a mask mandate in place. Others like Amtrak have made masks optional. Continue Reading