From the Philadelphia Tenants Union Facebook page.

The Philadelphia Tenants Union is hosting a cookout fundraiser this Saturday for residents wrongfully served eviction notices at two West Philly apartment buildings. While a court has put the evictions on hold, the landlord, the Abington-based SBG Management, is now reportedly withholding security deposits, making it difficult for residents to transition out of the buildings.

The fundraiser for residents of Admiral Court and Dorset Court apartment buildings, located near 48th and Locust, is scheduled to run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 21 at Clark Park. All of the money raised will go to the tenants, according to a Philadelphia Tenants Union announcement.

Tenants of both buildings were served with eviction notices in early April ordering them to leave by April 30. Community Legal Services won an injunction to stave off evictions in April. Both buildings, which include affordable and Section 8 housing, are up for sale, according to reports.

The suggested donation is $5 to $10 per plate, but no one will be turned away if they can’t afford to donate.

A monthly Spruce Hill zoning meeting will take place tonight, at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St), with two development projects on the agenda. Community members are invited to hear from the owners of a vacant lot at 224 S. 44th Street about construction of a new residential building. This project was first presented at last month’s zoning meeting. A four-unit semi-detached structure is being proposed on the lot in-between two old Victorian homes (see picture).  Continue Reading

A new “parklet” was installed this week on Pine Street between 47th and 48th.

Two new “parklets”- temporary outdoor seating platforms where you can enjoy a meal, a drink or simply relax – have been installed by University City District crews. In addition to the returning locations at 4040 Locust St. (hosted by Ramen Bar), 261 S. 44th St. (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop), 4239 Baltimore Ave. (hosted by Green Line Cafe) and 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream), check out the following new “parklets”:

• 3601 Market (between Market and Filbert, hosted by Schmear It, Jimmy John’s, and M.A.T.T.’s Sliders)
• 4725 Pine Street (hosted by the Garden Court Community Association)

“Parklets” usually stay through mid- to late November, as long as the weather is warm enough for outdoor seating. Just a reminder that you don’t need to patronize a particular business to sit in the parklet.

Senator Kamala Harris of California will join Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey in West Philly this Friday (July 13) to talk about this November’s mid-term election.

Harris, the former district attorney of San Francisco and California Attorney General, is poised to be a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

Harris is campaigning on behalf of Casey, who faces Republican Lou Barletta of Hazelton this fall, and other Democrats in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.

Harris and Casey will be at the First District Plaza at 3801 Market St. from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. You can RSVP here.

Photo courtesy of Neighborhood Time Exchange.

Neighborhood Time Exchange, an ongoing collaboration between the People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC) and Mural Arts that provides West Philadelphia artists with five-month residencies, is inviting community members to celebrate the culmination of the first Neighborhood Time Exchange artist residency of 2018. The public is invited to attend an upcoming Second Friday event with resident artist Ellen Tiberino on Friday, July 13, from 7–9 p.m. at the Neighborhood Time Exchange storefront in West Philadelphia at 4017 Lancaster Avenue.  Continue Reading

Honest Tom’s new logo.

Neighborhood foodies may have noticed that popular local spot Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (on 44th between Spruce and Locust) was closed most of last week following a power outage on July 3rd, caused by a falling tree. While the power outage did cause them to close a bit early, Honest Tom’s had planned to close for a few days around the 4th of July holiday anyway, in order to change their menu over to a completely plant-based (aka vegan) menu. That’s right: it’s vegan-only tacos, burritos and bowls from here on in. Many of the new menu’s items were available on the old menu, or run as occasional specials, so they won’t be completely unknown to Honest Tom’s regulars. Others are brand new.  Continue Reading