Throughout this month, SEPTA crews have been working on the Southwest Connection Improvement Program, rebuilding the main infrastructure on the Media/Elwyn Line between 30th Street Station and the Arsenal Interlocking, which is below Penn Medicine Station (former University City Station).

The work, which takes place every weekend, began on August 7th and is expected to be completed this Sunday, Aug. 29.

This Saturday and Sunday, there will be some SEPTA service changes to facilitate the construction: Continue Reading

After more than a year of virtual learning caused by the pandemic, University of Pennsylvania students are moving back to campus this week to resume in-person learning. Partial closures of Spruce Street to accommodate students’ move-in began on Monday and will continue through Sunday, with the exception of Thursday when the street will remain open to traffic.

From Friday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 29, Spruce Street will be closed between 38​th​ to 40th​ from 7:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Just a reminder that no vehicular traffic, including bicycles, is permitted on the closed section of the street. If you’re a bicyclist you will have to get off your bike and walk. Buses will be on detour (please check SEPTA for more info).

Penn Police will be on site during the closures assisting with traffic flow and delays should be expected.

UPDATE (8/25/2021): The School District of Philadelphia’s Board of Education voted on Tuesday night to approve a resolution to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all School District employees.

“It is the Board’s duty to protect our children, many of whom cannot get vaccinated, and being vaccinated is the best protection against the virus,” Board President Joyce S. Wilkerson said in a statement released Tuesday evening. “We believe that preventing COVID-19 infections through vaccines will lead to fewer missed school days, more in-person learning days, and ultimately, to improved student achievement.”

Following the Board’s resolution, School District Superintendent William Hite will develop a mandatory vaccination plan that would require employees, contracted workers and service employees who work in District facilities and on District property to be fully vaccinated and to submit proof of vaccination status. The plan would also include a process to request exemptions and accommodations for certain documented medical circumstances or “sincerely” held religious beliefs. Details of the plan will be developed and shared soon with District staff and school communities. Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of The Woodlands.

There is some exciting news at the Woodlands. The historic century cemetery and mansion has been working on some improvements at and near the Carriage Yard located on the west side of the grounds. Once this work is completed the Carriage Yard will be used as an outdoor event space for public and private events, according to Emma Max, Program and Operations Manager.

The work went underway last month and temporarily caused closing/detour of a portion of the running path adjacent to the construction site (see photo above). So far the drainage in the area has been improved. Continue Reading

The next Spruce Hill Community Association’s Zoning Committee meeting will take place Thursday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. (see more details below). The meeting will focus on several development projects proposed along Chestnut Street – from 40th to 46th Street:

4519-45 Chestnut Street: Six-story residential development with 327 units is being proposed on an existing parking lot at West Catholic High School.

4145 Chestnut Street: A residential building with 136 units and ground floor commercial/retail;

4301-29 and 4331-37 Chestnut Street: A seven-story mixed use complex with 275 residential units. Continue Reading

Theatre in the X is returning to Malcolm X Park after a year hiatus and will present three evenings of a new production, The West Philly Meeting. The new play by the innovative Black theater troupe was created with the West Philly community in mind and is based on the community input.

The process began in early 2020 with in-person West Philly community meetings that helped devise the new theatre piece. Two significant and tragic historic events are the basis for the new play – the 1985 MOVE bombing and summer 2020 protests and teargassing of protesters by the police on 52nd street, according to an article by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The new piece, written by Dwayne Alistair Thomas and directed by Katrina Snobe, brings the characters and the audience together to find “the solution to heal what ails them.” Continue Reading