A rendering of the proposed five-unit apartment building for the vacant lot at 4829 Baltimore Ave. The Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee asked the developers to reduce the number of units and the scale of the building.

The Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee on Thursday evening convinced developers proposing a four-story, five-unit apartment building for a long empty lot on the 4800 block of Baltimore Ave. to slim down the project and introduce it again at a later date.

The plan requires variances from the city because the lot is zoned for a single-family home and the proposed building would cover more than 50 percent of the lot, which is between a building fronted by a nail salon on one side and a residential building on the other side. It includes five units ranging from 620 square feet to 1,400 square feet.

“I don’t think anyone is saying that Baltimore Avenue (on that lot) needs to be a single-family home, but five units is a big ask,” said zoning committee chair Shawn Markovich. “It’s overbuilt.”  Continue Reading

One of the most popular local shopping events of the year is returning this summer. University City District (UCD) has announced that Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, where guests can enjoy $1 specials from dozens of neighborhood businesses – from food and drinks to merchandise and theatre tickets – will be held twice this year: on June 7th and September 13th. The event draws thousands of visitors each year and also includes live music and entertainment.

This year, the organizers want to make sure that all food vendors participating in this event are in compliance with Philadelphia Health Department codes and public safety regulations. Currently, UCD is accepting applications from temporary community food vendors to participate in this event as official participants. Selected vendors will be included on maps and marketing materials for the event.  Continue Reading

Cedar Park Neighbors is holding a pubic zoning meeting this Thursday (March 29) that will focus on two development proposals on Baltimore Avenue:

• The event space Petite Féte has requested a use certificate for a banquet hall for up to 49 people on the first floor at 5042 Baltimore Ave. This site is currently zoned CMX-2 (Commercial use) and also has two residential units above (on the second and third floor). The proposed use, “Assembly and Entertainment,” requires a special exception approval in this zoning district.  Continue Reading

West Philly and Southwest Philly have two new registered community organizations (RCOs), West Philly Pride and Kingsessing Spirit, and there is an opportunity this week to learn more about their work and to talk about some important issues. Both organizations hold quarterly RCO meetings focused on zoning and land use issues.

Kingsessing Spirit will hold their Spring 2018 community meeting this Wednesday (March 28), at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (801 S. 48th St), and all concerned citizens of Southwest Philly are invited. The meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature reports from the RCO’s involvement with the Post Brothers’ proposed expansion of Garden Court Plaza at 4701 Pine Street.  Continue Reading

Several Easter Egg hunts will be held this weekend – at local parks, schools, churches and libraries. Check out the list below for more details. If you know of more egg hunts happening this weekend feel free to post them in the comments section below.

Saturday, March 31

West Philly Egg Hunt with 10K eggs, West Philadelphia High School (4901 Chestnut St)

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Transform Church is hosting its first annual “Epic Easter Egg Hunt” this Saturday at West Philadelphia High School. More than 400 children between the ages of 1 to 10 years old, invited from the neighborhood and area schools are registered to attend. Youth will search for over 11,000 eggs (including 300 golden eggs) in both the outdoor field and inside the gym of the school. Additional activities including face painting, games, and prizes will be held just after the egg hunts. Event registration is still open to the public. To register, email: hello@transformphilly.church or call (484) 452-4107.  Continue Reading

The choir of St. Francis de Sales Church will have a special, Holy Week presentation this Tuesday (March 27), and all are welcome to join the church parishioners for this free concert. The choir will perform TENEBRAE: Songs in the Shadow of the Cross. “Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows” or “darkness” and is often used as a “choral preparation” or meditation on the themes of the Passion.

During the presentation, psalms and hymns of lament are read and sung, and all lights and candles in the church are extinguished – except one representing Christ.  Continue Reading