“Walnut 32,” the parking garage on Penn’s campus at 3201 Walnut, is one of the winners of this year’s Preservation Achievement Awards. Others include the Penn Museum (below) and the Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands (far below). Photos provided by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.

Three West Philly buildings, including the Penn Museum, the Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands and a parking garage, are among the winners of this year’s Preservation Achievement Awards.

Built in 1770 (and rebuilt since), the Hamilton Mansion is the centerpiece of The Woodlands’ grounds. The preservation award is for the restoration of the cryptoporticus, an underground passageway on the front of the building, and north terrace. Penn Museum’s award is for the renovation of the building’s west wing, which began in 2010.

Perhaps most intriguing is the award to the parking garage called “Walnut 32.” It’s safe to say that parking garages typically draw few fans of architecture. But there is something about Walnut 32 that is appealing. At least the architects tried in 1963 to make interesting what is a necessary evil and typically a blotch on the architectural landscape. Even the folks at Hidden City Philadelphia really like it, writing that “it may not be a beautiful building, but it does reveal its structure in a striking and elegant way.”  Continue Reading

UPDATE (April 8, 2016): Parked cars were removed and a few dividers were put today on the street near the construction site, as we assume to provide a path for pedestrians:

Not sure if these are meant to protect pedestrians forced into street at abandoned constr'n site at 4128 Chester 1/2 pic.twitter.com/nVFr3BAThP

— Phila. Bikes (@philabikes) April 8, 2016

Those of you who live or pass by the area of 42nd and Chester probably have been wondering what’s happening with the new apartment building on the southeast corner. The construction of the three-story, six-unit building at 4128 Chester Ave. was supposed to have been completed last summer. All its units were leased, with move-in dates in August 2015.

But the construction stalled months ago. The site has looked abandoned for a while, looking “hideous and dispiriting,” according to Spruce Hill Community Association zoning chair Barry Grossbach.

The unfinished building is now for sale for $1.75 million, according to a listing on Realtor.com. The building sits on a 2,6140-square-foot lot and includes overall 16 bedrooms and eight full baths, according to the listing. The location makes it “desirable student housing.” The listing also states that construction of the building is currently being completed.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia Streets Department is conducting street improvement work, including road surfacing, in some parts of West Philadelphia this week. Residents are asked to move their cars from the work sites when temporary “No Parking” signs are posted so that vehicles are not towed. If your car has been towed, please contact your local Police District to determine its location.

The work scheduled for this week will be mainly conducted on streets north of Market Street – in Powelton Village, Mantua, West Powelton and Mill Creek neighborhoods. Click here to see if your street or block is scheduled to be resurfaced (weather or special events in the area may alter the resurfacing schedule).

Residents are urged to plan ahead and use alternative routes when traveling in these areas. 

The entire list of streets being paved for the 2016 season has not been completed yet. We’ll post more information as soon as it becomes available.
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Dreaming about a weekend at the Jersey Shore? Ready for a night on the town featuring a fancy dinner and tickets to the Opera? These are just a few of the exciting auction items featured at the 12th annual Saint Mary’s Nursery School (SMNS) annual fundraiser:

Spring For Our School Silent Auction & Cocktail Party

Saturday, April 23 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Harnwell College House Rooftop Lounge

3820 Locust Walk

Tickets $35 (adults only)

Special Attractions

Philly Homebrew beer tasting, breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop lounge, food catered by Chef’s Table, and music by SMNS parent DJ Duiji 13. Production will include special lighting and visual surprises from our sponsors RushOrderTees and SpreadSpirit. Kosher options will be available for guests observing Passover.  Continue Reading

Police are investigating the death of a young man, a West Philly resident, who was found with a puncture wound on Sunday morning on the 300 block of South Saint Bernard Street, near Barkan Park. Police believe the man was stabbed.

Medics responded to a call of an unresponsive male lying in the street behind a parked unattended vehicle shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday and found the man, later identified as 21-year-old Saadiq Abdull Latiyf (aka Saadiq Richardson) with a puncture wound to the upper chest. He was pronounced dead at 9:22 a.m.

18th District police officers responded to the scene and found a cell phone lying next to the victim. No weapon was found.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184.

A new playgroup has been recently formed in West Philly for kids ages 2 and under and their caregivers. West Philly Babies meets every Tuesday from 1:30-3 p.m. at the University City Arts League (UCAL) and invites more caregivers and their little ones to join them.

This group is an opportunity to socialize for both parents and young babies. “It’s a great chance to meet other local parents and caregivers of very young children in an easygoing space,” writes the group co-founder Alisha Nash. “Being a parent to a very young baby can be isolating, so I started the group along with another parent to build community with other parents in West Philly.”  Continue Reading