UPDATE (10/30/2019): The Spruce Hill Halloween parade and block party will be held rain or shine! Check the Spruce Hill Community Association’s Facebook page for more details.

Despite some road work happening in the Spruce Hill neighborhood, the annual Halloween Parade will be held as usual. Tots and their parents/guardians are invited to the 23rd annual Spruce Hill Halloween Parade and Party on Thursday, Oct. 31. The parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at 45th and Larchwood, but gathering will begin at 4 p.m. The parade ends on “Little Osage” (4200 block of Osage Ave.), where the tots will be treated to cider, baked goods and other treats provided by neighbors and local businesses.

Every year, hundreds of costumed tots (ages 6 and under) and their parents participate in the parade organized by the Spruce Hill Community Association. It’s a fun, safe and family-friendly event with plenty of trick-or-treating possibilities in the neighborhood!  Continue Reading

Neighbors have a chance to get updates on all things Clark Park at a Fall public meeting organized by Friends of Clark Park. The meeting is Monday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Rosenberger Hall (Room 102) on the University of the Sciences campus (600 S 43rd St).

The annual meeting is always a great time to discuss ongoing issues with the park and learn about some of the latest events and upcoming changes.

Friends of Clark Park will also be holding the annual election for the board of directors. If you would like to get involved in the Friends of Clark Park work or are just curious about the latest happenings in the park you are welcome to attend the meeting.

For more information about Friends of Clark Park and their work, visit: www.friendsofclarkpark.org.

State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell will welcome her constituents to her new district office location during an open house Saturday.

The open house will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at 550 N. 52nd St.

Johnson-Harrell and her staff will be available to show constituents around the new office location, to answer questions and provide help with state government-related programs.  Continue Reading

The development boom along the 4200 block of Chestnut Street will continue with a seven-story, 102-unit building that will likely begin construction early next year.

Developers presented the plan to the Spruce Hill zoning committee last night as part of the city’s Civic Design Review process required for buildings of a certain size and use. But neither the SHCA nor the city itself has much oversight over the “by right” project, the second major “by right” project on that block this year. A 278-unit building is underway nearby at the former site of the Christ Memorial Church at 43rd and Chestnut.  Continue Reading

West Catholic High parking lot at 46th and Chestnut.

West Catholic High School has been bitten by the development bug.

Located at 45th and Chestnut, about a block from an El stop, the school sits on property most developers would love to get their hands on. A small group representing the school asked the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee last night to rezone the school’s parking lot at the corner of 46th Street and Chestnut to make it enticing to developers and clearing the way for a large, potentially seven-story apartment building. The revenue from a possible development deal would fund the school’s refurbishment and provide a scholarship endowment.  Continue Reading

A 3-alarm fire broke out on Monday morning at a large auto body shop located at 59th and Irving, according to multiple reports. The fire broke out shortly after 10 a.m. and soon the whole building was engulfed in flames:

UPDATE: A raging inferno at a West Philadelphia auto shop has reached 3-alarms. Dozens of firefighters are on the scene. Live coverage: https://t.co/wr3SZmdmYk pic.twitter.com/JBrGGkaxSO

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) October 21, 2019

The heavy smoke from the fire was seen from many blocks away:  Continue Reading