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Kingsessing residents bridge racial, social and economic differences to talk about gentrification

Posted on 25 November 2019 by Mike Lyons

Greg Benjamin, the 51st Ward leader, and co-organizer of Saturday’s community conversation on gentrification.

A standing-room-only crowd packed the basement community room in the Kingsessing branch of the Free Library on Saturday afternoon to start what organizers hope will be an ongoing conversation about gentrification.

“All eyes are on Southwest Philadelphia now. We have four trolley lines, four bus lines,” said Greg Benjamin, an organizer of the meeting and candidate for the state legislature. “We have the opportunity to set an example for what wasn’t done right in other places.”  Continue Reading

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SANCTUARY JAM – free community event – returns to St. Mary’s Church on Sunday, Dec. 1 (sponsored)

Posted on 25 November 2019 by WestPhillyLocal.com

The Jazz Sanctuary presents a very special event: SANCTUARY JAM, a Jazz Event for students and the community of West Philly!

This is a FIRST for PHILLY – a partnership between Penn Music (University of Pennsylvania) and Drexel University (Westphal College of Media Arts & Design), St. Mary’s – Hamilton Village, and The Jazz Sanctuary: bringing to West Philly a Jazz event for the entire community.

The house band features two instructors from Penn and two instructors from Drexel. Listen to an hour of the best jazz found anywhere and then a Jazz Jam. Bring your instrument and jam with the house band! Pizza will be available to all who attend.  Continue Reading

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A community conversation on gentrification Saturday at Kingsessing library

Posted on 22 November 2019 by Mike Lyons

A group of committee people and block captains from the Kingsessing neighborhood will host a community discussion about gentrification on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Kingsessing Library (1201 S. 51st St.).

The discussion will feature a panel that includes community activist and political candidate Gregory Benjamin, local parent and activist Christina Jackson (who is also a sociology professor at Stockton University) and Drick Boyd, a community educator (and professor emeritus at Eastern University).

The goal of the discussion is to learn from and listen to fellow community members.

The event is co-sponsored by K5DCN – the Kingsessing 5th Division Community of Neighbors.

 

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DTLR opens new flagship store near 52nd and Market

Posted on 22 November 2019 by WestPhillyLocal.com

DTLR, a fast-growing lifestyle retailer with over 245 stores in 19 states, has opened a new flagship store on South 52nd Street. The store is located at 4 S. 52nd St., in the space previously occupied by VILLA, which was acquired by DTLR in 2017.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Thursday. During the ceremony, DTLR President Scott Collins, along with Councilwoman-elect Jamie Gauthier, provided remarks to commemorate the brand-new, three-story, 8,600-square-foot store.  Continue Reading

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Philadelphia Marathon to be held this weekend: Watch out for road closures, detours

Posted on 21 November 2019 by WestPhillyLocal.com

2019 Philadelphia Marathon course map (click to enlarge).

The 2019 Philadelphia Marathon will be held this weekend, with some events, including a half-marathon, scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 23 and the main event on Sunday, Nov. 24 (beginning at 6:55 a.m.). The event attracts over 30,000 runners and 60,000 spectators,  so road closures and detours begin as early as Friday. If you’re planning to drive in the area this weekend, check out the details below.

The following road closures have been announced ahead of the 2019 marathon:

Friday, November 22

The inner-drive lanes (both directions) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.. At 2:45 p.m., all lanes will be opened for the afternoon rush hour. Inbound, inner lanes from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street will remain closed.

Saturday, November 23

Motorists and pedestrians can expect significant delays when trying to cross roads or streets that are adjacent to the course. The following streets will be affected across the city on Saturday from 2 a.m. until 3 p.m.:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Market Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
• Chestnut Street, from 5th Street to 8th Street
• 6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
• 5th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• South Penn Square
• Juniper Street, from Chestnut Street to Market Street
• John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from Juniper Street to 17th Street
• 15th Street, from Race Street to Chestnut Street
• 16th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
• Lombard Street, from 5th Street to Broad Street
• 13th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Chestnut Street
• Walnut Street, from 12th Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Spring Garden Street
• 34th Street, from Spring Garden Street to Girard Avenue
• Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
• Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
• 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Cecil B. Moore Avenue
• Reservoir Drive from 33rd to Diamond
• Mt. Pleasant Drive
• Fountain Green Drive
• Kelly Drive

Sunday, November 23

The Parkway (22nd Street to Eakins Oval) will be closed from 2 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Other streets along the race course will reopened as runners pass by and the streets are cleaned.

The following streets will be affected across the city on Sunday:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
• 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Streets
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
• Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 23rd Street
• 22nd Street, from Locust Street to Market Street
• Walnut Street, from 21st Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
• Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
• 34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
• Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
• South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
• East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
• Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
• Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
• States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
• Lansdowne Drive to Black Road
• Black Road
• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• Kelly Drive
• The Falls Bridge
• Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
• Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street

All streets are scheduled to be reopened by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.

For information on SEPTA bus detours on Saturday and Sunday, go to septa.org.

For additional information, including course maps, schedules, and cheer zones, visit the official Philadelphia Marathon website.

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Spruce Hill zoning committee mulls “upzone” proposal for possible 260-unit apartment building at 46th and Chestnut

Posted on 19 November 2019 by Mike Lyons

Lobbyist, longtime Philadelphia politico and West Catholic alum Eleanor Dezzi, seated left, discusses the proposal to change the zoning on West Catholic High School’s parking lot at 46th and Chestnut to allow the construction of a large apartment building. Attorney Ron Patterson (also a West Catholic alum), standing, and real estate developer Jim Paterno are also part of the West Catholic group. Drawings of a possible design are in the background (Photo by West Philly Local).

The Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee is considering a deal with West Catholic High School that would change the zoning on the school’s parking lot at 46th and Chestnut to make way for what could be a seven-story, 260-unit apartment building with ground floor commercial space.

The parcel is currently zoned CMX-2, which limits the height of the building. If West Catholic can secure a change to CMX-3, which allows for a much larger building, the parcel will become far more valuable to a potential developer.  Continue Reading

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