The School District of Philadelphia has announced today that 35 more schools can re-open for in-person learning starting next Monday, March 22, according to the agreement with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). The following school buildings have been approved for re-opening:

Bache-Martin School
Clara Barton School
James G. Blaine School
Bridesburg School
George W. Childs School
James Dobson School
Paul L. Dunbar School Continue Reading

Rendering of WADE Flats (Courtesy of the Spak Group).

The Spak Group, a local real estate company behind the recent development at 5050 Baltimore Avenue, is working on another housing development in West Philly – at the intersection of 53rd St. and Whitby Ave. The Spak Group is calling the new project, WADE Flats, an “equitable and inclusionary” development without public subsidy, just like 5050 Baltimore.

WADE Flats is a mixed-use and mixed-income development. The project, which will include two phases, will house four commercial spaces ranging in size from 800 square feet to 2,500 square feet, and 53 residential units from studios to 2-bedrooms. Rents will range from $795 per month to $1,625 per month. Continue Reading

Partial demolition of the former Good Shepherd Community Church near 46th and Spruce Streets has begun to make way for a new apartment building.

A plan to convert the 1930s stone church building into studio and one-bedroom apartments was presented in 2019. Hightop Development are planning to turn the church’s front building facing 46th Street into 17 apartments and build a second, 8-unit building in the church’s garden. The facade on what was the former entrance-way is now being removed. Continue Reading

Philadelphia authorities have expanded eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccines by adding people ages 65-74 to Phase 1B of vaccine distribution in the city, which is currently underway. The announcement was made earlier today and this change is effective immediately. Before this change, only Philly residents age 75 and older were eligible for the vaccines under the current phase, besides some groups of essential workers, people with chronic health conditions and people living and working in congregate settings. Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia has announced reopening of 45 more schools for in-person learning, in addition to the first cohort of 53 schools that have reopened today. The following schools will reopen for in-person learning on Monday, March 15:

A.L. Fitzpatrick School

Abram Jenks School

Alexander Adaire School

Andrew Jackson School

Benjamin B. Comegys School Continue Reading

The Promise Zone’s Health and Wellness Committee is hosting a virtual panel discussion about the COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday, March 9. If you have any questions about the vaccines and their distribution in the city, this is a great opportunity to ask them.

The panelists include:

• Dr. Claiborne Childs, Medical Director of Hospital Medicine Services, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

• Yaya Diakite, Director of Security, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

• Dr. Annette Gadegbeku, Assistant Dean of Community Health, Drexel University College of Medicine

• Alicia Williams, Registered nurse, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

• Kiara Benson, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Coordinator, Philadelphia Department of Public Health

The event will begin at 6 p.m. Registration link: https://bit.ly/3upvza3. The event will also be live on Facebook on the Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity page. Questions can be submitted online here.