Once home to the Philly Diner, which closed two years ago after 10 years of fueling college students, the lot at 3901 Walnut Street may soon be the site of an office building, The Daily Pennsylvanian recently reported.

3901 Walnut Street, former site of the Philly Diner / Photo by Annamarya Scaccia (West Philly Local)

The University of Pennsylvania, which owns the plot, plans to erect a six-story office building that will house some of the institution’s administrative offices displaced by the recent construction of the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics off 36^th and Walnut Streets.

According to Penn’s Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services, the project is currently in the proposal stage, with its design and purpose yet to be green lit (funding was already approved, however). The fate of the building currently rests with Penn’s Facilities and Campus Planning Committee of the Trustees, which will meet November 7 to decide.

The Philly Diner closed in October, 2011 and the building was demolished last year. (Archive photo / West Philly Local)

A zoning permit posted at the site, though, does detail Penn’s application to build a six-story office building featuring a green roof, roof top structures, and three bicycle spaces. The zoning permit was approved on September 17. Penn’s Facilities and Real Estate Services plans to release official information and plans on the project after the November meeting. We will update our readers once we hear from the office.

In 2009, the Philly Diner went from a 24-hour joint to enacting 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. closing times after a late-night shooting occurred outside the university-owned building in February of that year. The owner decided not to renew the lease in 2011, forever closing the doors of a popular—yet troubled—local favorite.

–Annamarya Scaccia

West Philly squatter Jessica Meyers now officially owns this rowhome (with the red bench) near 52nd and Funston.

Awesome news for Jessica Meyers, the heroine of our story “Jessica Meyers, squatter-turned-homeowner, wins bid for home, and loses donations,” originally published in July, 2013. Her dream of home ownership officially came true last week when she paid off the remainder of the auction balance owed for the abandoned rowhome at 52nd and Funston where she had squatted for the past eight years. The Public Housing Authority signed over the deed to the house last Wednesday, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Jessica says going to closing was “amazing.”

“I can’t believe it came to realization and that I came up with the money in two months. It’s a true testament to not giving up,” Jessica told West Philly Local. Jessica landed the winning bid for the legally-abandoned PHA-owned site in July, and had to come up with the remainder, which she partially raised through two online fundraisers, money she received from friends, part-time jobs and selling some of her belongings at flea markets. Some of her friends, though, told her during the two months to just give up. But she didn’t.

Jessica is now putting together a press packet with a letter of request for donation to building material companies like Home Depot, Lowe’s and local lumber yards stating why she needs building materials.

University City is a global city—at least, that was the theme of this year’s The State of University City address hosted by the University City District and the University of Pennsylvania.

The 2013/2014 program, held Monday afternoon at the International House Philadelphia on 37^th and Chestnut Streets, focused on University City’s global reach. University of Pennsylvania Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Vice Provost of UPenn’s Global Initiatives, both discussed how their institution, as well as Drexel University and University of the Sciences, fosters an international neighborhood connection through its diverse student body and international academic, cultural and social partnerships.

In regards to the larger University City community, University City District Executive Director Matt Bergheiser pointed to recent real estate and commercial developments, cultural and community events, and the neighborhood’s shifting demographics as factors in creating “a global University City.” Each speaker, however, stressed that, while University City does impact the global community at large, people living and working in the neighborhood must continue to promote and support initiatives that are global in practice.

While the panel itself presented numbers relative to this year’s theme, attendees were also given a packet detailing more statistics about University City. In numbers:

• 23 percent of University City households speak a language other than English at home.
• 17 percent of University City’s residents is foreign-born, five percent more than Philadelphia’s overall population.
• According to Dr. Emanuel, the University of Pennsylvania has over 7,000 foreign-born students a year. Combined with Drexel University, that’s about 9,000 foreign-born students. (Dr. Emanuel noted that UPenn doesn’t do its best at integrating University City’s foreign-born residents, which he expects to change with the construction of the university’s Perry World House.)
• Nearly $3.5 billion of new or recently completed real estate projects.
• University City has over 72,000 jobs, with a 93 percent office occupancy rate and 89% retail occupancy rate.
• About 16 academic, commercial, medical/biomedical, or residential/mixed-use properties being constructed within the next three years.
• Average property values have tripled since 2000, from over $100,000 to over $300,000 in 2012.
• Cost of living in University City is 28 percent lower than Center City.
• The number of 20- to 34-year-olds living in University City has increased by 21 percent between 2000 and 2010, with 20- to 24-year-olds making up the highest number of residents.
• Racially, the population breaks down as follows: 25 percent Black or African-American, 20 percent Asian, and 50 percent White.
• In 2012, rate of serious crimes in University City was down 50 percent since 1998, compared to just under 25 percent for the city overall.
• Between 1998 and 2012, University City experienced a -44 percent change in rate of violent crime per 1,000 residents, compared to a -16 percent change in the City of Philadelphia.  Continue Reading

Photo from West Philly Grows Again Facebook page.

West Philly grows again… and again and again. If your child needs something and you don’t want to pay retail, check out the “West Philly Grows Again” kids’ consignment sale this Saturday, Oct 5. This is an annual event benefiting St. Mary’s Nursery School, so you’ll also be contributing to a great cause.

As always, there will be tons of great deals on clothing, toys, games, and other things that local kids have outgrown, all in great condition. The sale will be held at St. Mary’s Nursery School (3916 Locust Walk) on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A limited number of Friday evening (9-10 p.m.) pre-sale tickets are available. The cost of the ticket ($20) will offset the cost of renting the space and running the sale. The ticket is good for a child-free shopping evening complete with wine and cheese. Please contact the West Philly Grows Again team at: westphillygrowsagain@stmarysnursery.org for more details and availability.

For more information about this event, click here or visit the event’s Facebook page.

UPDATE (10/1/2013): Three vehicles were involved in Monday night’s car crash, one person was injured and one person was charged with DUI and aggravated assault, according to police.

Police said that 2013 Nissan Altima, which was rented from Avis, was travelling westbound on Cedar Avenue when it struck a Kia, which was travelling south on 51st Street and turning east onto Cedar Avenue. The Nissan driver, a 25-year-old male, then struck a third, parked car, got out of his car and fled the scene on foot. The Kia, operated by a 25-year-old female, reportedly crashed into the Cibao Super Market on the 5100 block of Cedar Ave and caught fire. The fire was extinguished by firefighters and the woman was taken to HUP and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The Nissan driver returned to the scene and was arrested for DUI, police said. A passenger in Nissan, a 21-year-old female, was uninjured.

The Cibao Super Market was open this morning, according to neighbor reports. “One of their awnings burned, but it doesn’t look like there was any significant damage to the building,” according to West Philly Local reader Matt Mongiello.

(9/30/2013, 11:56 p.m.): A car reportedly crashed into the Cibao Super Market at 51st and Cedar tonight, around 10:20 p.m. and caught fire. At least one person was injured, according to a report by West Philly Local reader Randi Fair who was at the scene shortly after the accident happened. Randi reports that she heard a loud crash and some screams and then saw a car half buried in the Cibao Super Market. She writes that some residents pulled a person from the car, who was lying on the ground, speaking. A fire broke out but was contained.

Photos by Randi Fair.

Halloween is just around the corner and many families are starting preparations – stocking up on candy, purchasing or making costumes and decorating their homes. Some less fortunate families, including the homeless families assisted by local nonprofit Families Forward (FFP), will need help creating memories for their children this October that will last a lifetime.

FFP is organizing an annual Halloween Party and expect to have over 100 children in attendance. You can help make it a memorable event by donating the following items:

• New or gently used costumes (clean and in good condition)
• Snacks (chips, pretzels, juice, and cookies)
• Candy
• Halloween decorations
• Toys or stickers
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss

If you have friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors who may have old costumes lying around, ask them to donate them to the children at FFP. With your contribution these children will be able to dress up in their costumes just like other kids for the Halloween party on October 31.

You may drop off donations at FFP’s emergency shelter located at 111 N. 49th Street any day of the week before 7:00 p.m.

To coordinate a drive or donate any of these items above contact Grace Hightower, Director of Fund Development at 215-240-4828 or ghightower@familiesforwardphilly.org.