BEFORE: The bedroom of the home on the 4900 block of Osage Avenue.

After a year of work, a West Philadelphia family was able to successfully clean, rehabilitate, and sell their home on the 4900 block of Osage Avenue with the help of Project Rehab, making it the eighth project completed since the University City District program launched in 2011.

Established in partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s License and Inspections, Project Rehab guides owners of degraded real estate through the process of rehabilitation, providing assistance in obtaining financing, construction contracts and, if needed, real estate contacts. In the last three years, the free UCD program has helped generate $4.3 million in financing to rehab properties that have gone through its process, and is currently working on about 24 in-need estates, said Ryan Spak, Project Rehab’s project manager.

“Project Rehab functions freely for the owner of the property. We are a completely free program for owners of distressed real estate. It will guide them to the process of rehabilitation,” Spak told West Philly Local. “We have helped multiple owners to obtain financing so they can accomplish their goal.”

AFTER: The living room of the home on the 4900 block of Osage Avenue (Photos courtesy of Ryan Spak)

As part of the program, Project Rehab actively seeks out vacant properties in the area that are in some state of disrepair and are “not being a part of our community the way it’s supposed to be,” Spak said. In the case of the Osage Avenue home, after marking the property as a possible project, Project Rehab contacted the owners in December 2012, and worked with them over the last year to clean out their home, which was overflowing with debris and suffering from structural problems due to water damage.

While the family initially wanted to rehab their home, they decided it wasn’t financially viable, said Spak. Instead, they chose to sell their property in order to rectify their debt, and worked with Project Rehab to find an affordable contractor to clean it out before placing it on the market. According to Spak, Project Rehab provided the family five options for real estate agents to choose from, with the caveat that whoever does buy the property must be able to afford to rehabilitate it completely. Within three days being on the market, he said, the Osage Avenue home received eight offers, with a bid of $50,000 over the asking price winning out.

While Project Rehab actively canvasses the neighborhood for distressed properties to help, it is also looking for owners of distressed properties to reach out and use the assistance it provides. As Spak said, “The advice is free. There is absolutely no reason why they should feel like they have no way to turn.”

If you have questions about Project Rehab, please contact UCD at 215-243-0555 or email Ryan Spak at: ryan@universitycity.org.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is approaching and we have we compiled a list of events and service opportunities in our area on Monday, Jan. 20. We hope you can find an hour or two to participate in some of the events or projects listed below. If you know of more events or service opportunities, please post them in the comments. Also, go to http://www.mlkdayofservice.org/ to find more volunteer projects in your area.

8:00 a.m.-1 p.m. – Girard College (2101 South College Ave) – Philadelphia Futures will host free college readiness workshops for middle and high school students and parents. The five different workshops will be geared toward the various stages of the college-going process, and will be led by the Philadelphia Futures staff. Students and parents are encouraged to capitalize on their day off of school and work and participate in a workshop that will help to put them (or their child) on the path to college. The workshops are open to all Philadelphia residents. You can reserve your workshop seat by signing-up at www.mlkdaycollegeworkshops.eventbrite.com.

9:00 a.m. – Various Day of Service opportunities are available through Repair the World Philadelphia. Sign up until midnight on Friday, Jan. 17 to take part in such projects as beautification and cleanup of the Martha Washington School (766 N. 44th St) or building mobile libraries to be placed in various public locations around West Philadelphia. For more information and to sign up, go here.

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – MLK Day of Service at Bartram’s Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Blvd) – Volunteers are needed to clear brush, vines, and invasive species to open up the wooded trail, which runs along the adjacent stretch of the Schuylkill River, for pedestrians. Lunch and a free t-shirt will be provided for volunteers (while supplies last.) To pre-register, email: tgreenberg@bartramsgarden.org

10:00 a.m. – Bible Way Baptist Church (52nd & Master) hosts a Commemorative Worship Celebration. The service will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and conclude around noon. As part of the celebration, the MLK Community Service Award will be presented to previously chosen individuals who have served in this community to ensure a better life.

10:00 a.m.; 3:30 p.m. – Join community activist Rev. Paul “Earthquake” Moore for the Annual MLK Day of Service. The day will kickoff at 10:00 a.m. with restoration and clean-up at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7001 Woodland Ave. At 3:30 p.m. there will be a re-enactment march starting at 65th St. & Woodland Ave. After the march, Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream speech will be recited by Rev. Paul “Earthquake” Moore at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Assistance is needed with the re-enactment march. Visit http://paulearthquakemoore.com/ for more information.

11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Martin Luther King Sharing the Heritage Celebration at the African American Museum (AAMP), 701 Arch Street. Free admission. Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, donate food for the ChAAMPs Against Hunger Philabundance Food Drive, engage in hands-on service projects, explore exhibits, watch great performances and more! For more information, click here. Hip Hop Fundamentals will also be performing their show “Civil Rights Movements: The power of youth engagement through the eyes of Dr. King.” They will begin the family-friendly show at noon.

All day – More than 250 students, staff and volunteers from YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, an innovative alternative education program offering a second chance for former high school dropouts, ages 18-21, will repaint classrooms, hallways and community spaces at Thomas G. Morton Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia (2501 S. 63rd Street) to honor the life, legacy, and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Morton Elementary, a K-5 school that serves 800 students, has not been repainted in several years. Volunteers from YouthBuild Philly will spend the morning of January 20 painting engaging and meaningful murals throughout the school to make the space a brighter and friendlier learning environment. The mural project will give special attention to the classrooms that house special education and autism support programs.

The Inside of Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop at 4501 Baltimore Avenue. Owner Pam Williams said she cut the space in half and will sublease the empty space to Adja Hair Braiding. (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

We’ve all been there. A holiday, a birthday or some special occasion and we’re not only sans a gift, but we can’t seem to find a good place to pick one up at the last minute. And there we’re left, empty-handed.

That’s where Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop comes in. Opened a few weeks ago, the new gift boutique, which replaced Rebel’s Closet at 4501 Baltimore Avenue, offers an eclectic mix of vintage and modern pieces that run the gauntlet of affordability. From artisan housewares and children’s items to handcrafted jewelry and trinkets, patrons can purchase a pop-top glass water bottle for around $5 or pick up an oversized mirror with a carved wooden frame for $300, depending on your gift-buying needs.

And you can guarantee that what you buy is unique. As part of Zed’s business philosophy, owner Pam Williams said that her shop will never carry the same item twice. According to Williams, once a particular item is sold out, like a cutting board or wine carafe, visitors shouldn’t expect to see that exact design or brand back in stock. Instead, Williams told West Philly Local, she will replace the product with a similar piece from a different company to “avoid repetition.”

Williams is still building inventory, though, and is looking for helpful input from the community she’s lived in for over 25 years. (At the moment, Zed’s only carries national and regional brands, but she’s open to looking at portfolios from local designers with a stationery line.) “We’re going a little slow. We had a soft opening because we want to know what the consumer wants. We don’t want to buy a lot of something that [people didn’t ask for],” said Williams, former owner of Cafe Pier One—what is now Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods. “Like our sign says outside, come in and take a look because we want to know what you think.”

She continued: “You don’t necessarily have to buy. Just take a look and tell us what you’re looking for, and if we don’t have it, we’ll see what we can do.”

Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in the series of vignettes of local block captains drawn from Them That Do, a multimedia documentary project and community blog by West Philly-based award-winning photographer Lori Waselchuk. Make sure to go to Them That Do for more photos, videos and other information and updates.

Jeff Lutzner has 23 years experience as the block captain of 4900 Cedar Avenue in Philadelphia. Photo by Lori Waselchuk

A few years back block captain Jeff Lutzer and others on the 4900 block of Cedar Avenue had an idea to get the city to fill more than 30 potholes on their street. For a year he tried unsuccessfully to get the street repaired. Then he and his neighbors resorted to protest in the spirit of guerrilla gardeners. On a citywide cleanup day, they filled the potholes with potting soil and planted palettes of marigold and impatience flowers into them.

“They were only there for a day,” says Lutzner, but with the help of coverage in the University City Review, the flowers bore fruit. It took a few months, but the city eventually paved over the potholes.

Humor and persistence are useful qualities for any block captain. Lutzner, who has been in the post for 23 years, has needed plenty of humor and persistence. It’s been smooth sailing, but he would consider handing over the title to the next generation.

If you live on the 4900 block of Cedar Avenue and are interested, Lutzner could share how his laid-back approach helped him reduce the number of hours he spends on block duties. He concentrates on the basics: cleanups and safety.

If the potential candidate has a family, he or she might want to reinstate annual block parties. “When we moved here, we had lots of kids,” Lutzner says. As a father of two, Lutzner organized block parties and street games and remembers a street full of children.

Lately, though, there isn’t much interest in jumping castles. The block’s demographics have changed. “The challenge now is staying connected to the ever-changing tenants in rental units.”

Working from home is a plus for a block captain aspirant. Lutzner runs his business, Caoba Doors, from home, so he has kept an eye on things without too much effort.  He is also visible and available. “When there is a major issue, people come to me,” he says.

A green thumb wouldn’t hurt either, just in case the city gets behind in filling potholes again.

–Lori Waselchuk

Lil’ Pop Shop on 44th St near Spruce is hosting a pop-up cookie shop starting Saturday, Jan. 18. (Photo by Amy Kwasnicki).

Great news for Girl Scout cookie fans: The annual sale that supports local Girl Scout troops, Junior troop 91143, Brownie 93273, and Daisy 91569, starts Thursday, Jan. 16 and will go on until Sunday, Jan. 26. There will be several opportunities and table locations to choose from in the neighborhood. Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, Jan. 16 & Friday, Jan. 17

3:45-6:15 p.m. – on Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s Church (40th & Locust)

3:45-6:30 p.m. – in front of Eastern Mountain Sports, the corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets

Saturday, Jan. 18

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – Clark Park “B” Park, on 43rd near corner of Chester Avenue

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – “Pop-up Cookie Shop” in the Lil’ Pop Shop store, 265 S 44th St, between Locust and Spruce

Sunday, Jan. 19

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – “Pop-up Cookie Shop” in the Lil’ Pop Shop store

Tuesday, Jan. 21

3:30-7:30 p.m. – SEPTA El Station, between 30th and 31st Streets on Market

Wednesday, Jan. 22

3:45-6:15 p.m. – on Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s Church

Thursday, Jan. 23

3:45-6:30 p.m. – in front of Eastern Mountain Sports

Saturday, Jan. 25

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – Clark Park “B” Park (43rd & Chester)

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – “Pop-up Cookie Shop” in the Lil’ Pop Shop store

Sunday, Jan. 26

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – “Pop-up Cookie Shop” in the Lil’ Pop Shop store

For more information e-mail Amy Kwasnicki at: kwaszilla@gmail.com.

Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) is holding a zoning meeting this Thursday (Jan. 16) about a new building proposed for 5027 Spruce Street. Community members are invited to attend the meeting to learn more about the project and to provide their input. The proposed building is a multi-family, four story apartment building, which will be nearly identical to the four story building at 5038 Spruce (see images below).

The public forum to discuss the proposed construction will take place at 6 p.m. in the Vineyard Community Church (corner of 51st and Sansom Streets).

Those who would like to attend the meeting but can’t make it are invited to contact GCCA’s Zoning Chair, Mariya Khandros, via email (mariya.khandros@gmail.com) with any questions or concerns.

A multi-family four story apartment building is being proposed at 5027 Spruce Street.

Four story building at 5038 Spruce Street (Source: Google).