Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney will be a featured speaker at an upcoming Spruce Hill Community Association’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Penn Alexander School Cafeteria (43rd and Locust). The mayor will address the future of the former Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building at 4601 Market (pictured).

The site was chosen by former mayor Michael Nutter administration for the new police headquarters and has been undergoing renovations since 2014. But, the Kenney administration canceled the plans to relocate the Police Headquarters to the site in the spring of 2017. In August, the city began seeking a new developer for the site.  Continue Reading

A second suspect in the shooting death of West Philly community activist Winnie Harris has been arrested, according to a report by Philly.com. Police arrested 31-year-old Isaiah Reels, 31, at a home in Southwest Philadelphia on Thursday.

A well-known community advocate and executive director of UC Green, Winnie Harris was found shot to death at her home in West Powelton on February 3, 2017 in, what police believe, a case of mistaken identity. She was 65.

Another suspect, 39-year-old Nelson Giddings, was arrested last month, and police also named Reels as a second suspect and issued an arrest warrant for him in October. Police believe Giddings and Reels may have targeted a different residence, but broke into Harris’s home on the 300 block of North Holly Street late on Feb. 2 and shot her when she confronted them. Harris was found dead in her home the following day.

Schuylkill Yards, rendering image.

Drexel University and developer last year Brandywine Realty Trust unveiled their plans for “Schuylkill Yards,” a $3.5 billion development project, which includes development of 14 acres of parking lots and concrete space west of 30th Street into eight high rises, green public spaces and retail. On Wednesday, this ambitious project, which will take from 15 to 20 years to complete, broke ground.

The first phase of the master plan will include construction of Drexel Square, a 1.3 acre a public park on the corner of 30th and Market called Drexel Square, and mixed-use development along JFK Boulevard.  Continue Reading

Penn’s New College House West will be built near 40th and Walnut (Photo by West Philly Local).

It looks like the green space behind the Walnut Street library near 40th and Walnut will not remain open for too much longer. Penn has announced plans to build a new 250,000-square-foot residential building, New College House West, in the space where 40th Street summer concerts are held. The design for the building was approved last week. The University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees approved the design of the building last week.

View of the New College House West from 40th St and Locust Walk (rendering image by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects)

The new undergraduate college house will occupy a site bounded by Locust Walk, Walnut Street and 40th Street. The new construction will not affect the West Philadelphia branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which will remain open.

The new project will serve as a “new western gateway to campus,” according to Penn President Amy Gutmann.

The project is designed by Philadelphia-based Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects, the company that recently completed the New College House at Hill Field. The 450-bed residence will include a mix of 6- and 5-bedroom two-bath suites and 4-, 3- and 2-bedroom one-bath suites and will house sophomores, juniors and seniors.

The construction of the $163-million project will begin in Spring 2018 and is expected to be completed by Fall 2021. More information can be found here.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two male suspects, who robbed and viciously assaulted a 26-year-old male Penn grad student. The robbery took place on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 10:45 p.m. when the young man was walking along the 400 block of South 43rd Street. The victim was beaten during the robbery and suffered serious head injuries, including a fractured skull, according to police.

Surveillance video captured the suspects later that night inside a convenience store:  Continue Reading

The Porch at 30th Street Station, built by UCD.

University City District, a nonprofit, had always insisted on building public spaces – parks, plazas, a composting facility – that were accessible to all. But, about two years ago, UCD’s Vice President of Planning and Economic Development, Andrew Stober, and his co-workers had a realization: When it comes to equity and inclusion, “We don’t really know what we’re talking about,” Stober said. With a new initiative called “Just Spaces,” they hope that will start to change.

UCD, which built The Porch at 30th Street Station, collects plenty of data on who uses its spaces and how, but it knows less about who doesn’t, and why not. Enter the group’s new self-audit, “Just Spaces,” which is focused on identifying groups that feel unwelcome at UCD’s public spaces, and to help welcome them instead. Most obviously, the initiative might examine proximity – Who can get to a space easily?; infrastructure, since even a swing-set can be inaccessible to some; and commerce, How expensive are the concession stands? Sometimes, inclusion just means selling something other than a gourmet hamburger.  Continue Reading