Photo by West Philly Local

Newly elected City Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier says one of her top priorities when she takes office in January is addressing the development “frenzy” in West Philadelphia by pressing for more affordable housing.

“I think we should look at zoning with an eye toward equitability and affordability,” she told the Spruce Hill Community Association during its annual meeting at the Penn Alexander School on Tuesday.

Gauthier, who grew up in Kingsessing, will represent a district that has some of the most expensive real estate and the deepest poverty in Philadelphia. Development and issues related to zoning have become flashpoints in recent years.  Continue Reading

Post Brothers recently purchased Garden Court Plaza at 47th and Pine.

Garden Court Community Association‘s annual meeting will take place on Thursday, June 16, at Mosaic Community Church (123 S. 51st St), and the topic will be development and change within the neighborhood, which stretches from Locust Street to Cedar Avenue and from 45th to 52nd Street. All neighbors are invited.

The meeting will discuss planned rental and retail development in Garden Court, improvements related to the Spruce Street and 52nd Street commercial districts. You can also learn about how Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) participates in the zoning and development process, and how you can get involved in shaping the neighborhood over time.

A panel of speakers will include developers and community and economic development professionals:  Continue Reading

UPDATE (Monday, June 29, 10:15 a.m.): It appears that the shooting was not random, according to police, who said that the victim was involved in criminal activity. “200[th block of] S. St Bernard just looks like where he decided to do a deal that led to this,” said a police source.

UPDATE (11:25 p.m.): A man is in critical condition after he was shot inside a car he was driving on the 200 block of S. Saint Bernard Street, according to police. The car was going northbound on S. St Bernard when an unknown male exited from an alley and fired one or two shots in its direction, a woman who was a passenger in the car told police. The driver was shot in his left arm, but continued driving until he crashed the vehicle at 51st and Locust. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, according to police.

Police said earlier that the shooting took place on Sunday night, around 9:45 p.m.. West Philly Local readers reported heavy police presence near 49th and Spruce Streets and 51st and Locust.

Philly Thriller performs in front of The Rotunda (Facebook photo).

We hope you prepared your spooky costumes because All Hallows’ Eve is almost here! Check out our Halloween events roundup (for kids and adults alike) below and we hope you have a lot of fun. Also, the popular local community dance group, Philly Thriller (Facebook page), will be performing again on West Philly streets. Here’s a tentative schedule of their performances:

4:30 p.m. – Dress rehearsal on The Rotunda Plaza (40th and Walnut)
5:00 – 5:15 p.m. – Performances at 42nd and Osage
5:30 to 6:45 p.m. – Clark Park performances

Also, there will be some “Catch us on Baltimore Ave” flash mob performances, according to Philly Thriller founder Rashida Holmes.

Continue Reading

Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) is holding a zoning meeting this Thursday (Jan. 16) about a new building proposed for 5027 Spruce Street. Community members are invited to attend the meeting to learn more about the project and to provide their input. The proposed building is a multi-family, four story apartment building, which will be nearly identical to the four story building at 5038 Spruce (see images below).

The public forum to discuss the proposed construction will take place at 6 p.m. in the Vineyard Community Church (corner of 51st and Sansom Streets).

Those who would like to attend the meeting but can’t make it are invited to contact GCCA’s Zoning Chair, Mariya Khandros, via email (mariya.khandros@gmail.com) with any questions or concerns.

A multi-family four story apartment building is being proposed at 5027 Spruce Street.

Four story building at 5038 Spruce Street (Source: Google).

Three people were shot outside of The Watusi bar at 46th and Walnut early Saturday morning.

NBCPhiladelphia is reporting that two women and a man were shot during an argument that began inside the bar at about 1 a.m. Two women, ages 21 and 24, were grazed by bullets. A 24-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot in the abdomen. A neighbor who lives near the lounge, which has seen gun violence in the past, said that a total of six shots were fired.

“This is the second time this has happened in the past six months,” the neighbor, who asked not to be named, said. “I can’t believe that somewhere where people are bringing concealed loaded weapons is allowed to stay open and face no scrutiny.”

Shots were fired at about the same time on April 26. No one was injured in that incident.

Neighbors have complained about noise and violence at Watusi Lounge and Watusi II at 45th and Locust in the past. The Watusi II was the subject of a community meeting last week to address the dozens of community complaints. The University City Review reported that piles of evidence were presented about everything from drug use at the bar to it serving patrons well after the 2 a.m. closing time.

Despite the complaints and tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes, owner Noel Karasanyi has been able to keep both establishments open.