Thursday, October 31, 2013

Philly Cupcake Closed

A sign in Philly Cupcake's window at 20th and South announces that they have closed due to "unresolvable landlord and building issues."


Daylight Savings Ends November 3 -- Get an Additional Hour Sleep!

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour Sunday morning, November 3.


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off

Hazardous waste collection this Saturday, November 2, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at:
Streets Department Northeast Facility
3901 Delaware Avenue between Castor & Lewis
(Near Allegheny Exit of I-95)


Not sure what's hazardous waste? Check it out here.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Today's Pumpkin Painting Artists

A nice turnout for pumpkin painting at the Triangle. Pumpkins were donated by South Square Market.
How old were you before you could actually pronounce "pungkin"?


Friday, October 25, 2013

Turn in Unused or Expired Meds


19th and Lombard Streets

The following is an excerpt from the CCRA Newsletter of October 25th.

"Developer Noah Ostroff, who recently completed the Lombard Estates townhouses on the north side of the 1800 block of Lombard, is about to start work on a ten unit townhouse development, Rittenhouse Estates [see pictures here], just down the street. Seven 5000 square foot homes and one-4000 square foot home will front on the north side of Lombard, from the corner of 19th and Lombard to Uber Street, midway between 19th and 20th . The other two homes, slightly smaller, will open onto Uber Street and 19th Street respectively.  Currently the site is occupied by a parking lot and four apartment buildings all of which will be demolished.  In accordance with the Center City Residents' Neighborhood Plan, Rittenhouse Estates has no garage fronts facing the pedestrians. Cars enter via a single driveway on 19th Street and all garage access is via an interior courtyard, out of public sight. The plans call for 20 parking slots. Demolition is scheduled to commence before December 31st  and the targeted completion date is the end of 2014. The project was the subject of multiple reviews with CCRA's zoning committee resulting in project modifications to address the committee's concerns and  those expressed by near neighbors.  Modifications included a reduction in the mass and streetscape impact of the townhouses fronting Lombard street; an increase in rear open space, a reduction in the height of the two townhouses adjacent to the Ringold Street residences, as well as changing the vehicular circulation for  the townhouse rear parking to eliminate cars egressing onto Uber Street where a daycare and play area are located."

Washington Avenue Planning


A public meeting was held last Wednesday by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to discuss Washington Avenue.  Apparently, the only thing the City is planning to do at this time is to repaint the the traffic lanes, but there are options on how to do this in order to best accommodate parking, bicycles and cars. A summary of the meeting can be found on the PlanPhilly website here.

C.R.Ettinger Studios

Please welcome C.R.Ettinger Studios to the neighborhood at 2215 South Street. Learn more about her here.



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off

Hazardous waste collection this Saturday, October 26, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at:
Streets Department Facility
3033 South 63rd Street, Northwest of Passyunk


Not sure what's hazardous waste? Check it out here.

Triangles Pumpkin Painting




Join the Grays Ferry Avenue Gateway Project and The Igloo in an afternoon of pumpkin painting (a kids friendly alternative to carving).

When: Sunday, October 27, 1-3pm
Where: 23rd and South, at the Catharine Thron Fountain

Friday, October 18, 2013

Washington Avenue Transportation and Parking Study

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is having a public meeting to discuss ideas about Washington Avenue. Couldn't find anything on their web site, but this poster is making the rounds.

When: Wednesday, October 23rd
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Where: Mummers Museum, 2nd and Washington Avenue.


Southwest Center City 5K Run

Run is scheduled for Saturday, October 26. From their web site (visit here for more info and to register):

"Since 2008, the Southwest Center City 5K Run has served the area as a healthy, community-building event. In addition to hosting hundreds of participants, the event gives back to the community through its non-profit, SWCC Run, Inc., contributing to beautification initiatives. Everyone is welcome to join us by walking, running or rolling in the event!"

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours this weekend, October 19 and 20 from noon to 6pm. Tours are free and self-guided. Visit our local artists at their studios to see samples of their works.

"Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, a program of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, is the largest tour of artist studios and creative work spaces in the region and one of the premier open studio tour events in the country."

Artists in our neighborhood include (in no particular order and with apologies to anyone I've missed; is there something in the water on Naudain Street?):

For a full list, see here. More details, see here.



CCRA's Annual Fall House Tour

Center City Residents' Association (CCRA) is holding their 55th Annual Fall House Tour this Sunday (the 20th), from 1-5pm.

Details from their web site (click here):

"How many times have you wanted to visit the last single family residence on Rittenhouse Square, the fabled Mc Elhenny mansion, situated on the Square’s southwest corner and vacant for more than a decade? Now’s your chance to get inside to take a look before planned renovations commence. While you are at it, take a gander at fine residences in the Square’s newest upscale address, Ten Rittenhouse, on the northwest corner of 18th and Walnut. All this AND the home of Nora the piano playing cat who enjoys a world wide U tube fan base plus nine other residential stops including one on the showcase 2000 block of Delancey."

Bloktoberfest

Bloktoberfest this Saturday, from noon to 8:00, on South Street from Broad to 18th. FREE!

Here's the description from their web site (link here).

"Bloktoberfest, an all-ages, free-to-attend celebration of beer, food, music, and Philly will be returning for its fifth year on Saturday, October 19th, 2013, from noon to 8pm, taking over four blocks of South Street between Broad Street and 18th Street. In partnership with the South of South Neighborhood Association, South Street West Business Association and Bella Vista Beer Distributors, Bloktoberfest will once again showcase a wide selection of beer by craft breweries from around the country, food from neighborhood vendors and food trucks, and multiple stages of live music featuring nationally recognized and emerging local acts. The event is not for profit, with beer proceeds directed back into a variety of neighborhood initiatives addressing education, green space and public safety."

Sunday, October 13, 2013

SOSNA Zone Committee Meeting




SOSNA's Zoning Committee meets this Wednesday, October 16, 7:00pm at the Shiloh Baptist Church, 2040 Christian Street.


On the agenda for this month relative to our neighborhood is:
2111 Kater Street: Erection of a sunroom to an existing single-family dwelling.

For more information, visit SOSNA's web page here.

Columbus Day - Delayed Trash Pick-up

Columbus Day is celebrated on Monday, October 14th.

Trash will be picked up one day later this week.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Saint Albans Place Fall Festival

The 2300 block of Saint Albans Place is holding a fund raiser Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12 from 10am to 4pm (rain date is October 19). They are curating an event that includes a range of quality work by artists, crafts people and antiques & collectibles dealers. There will be food and music.

This block is known as the home of Cole Sear in the movie, The Sixth Sense.

St. Albans Place is part of a larger development designed and built in the 1870’s. Developer C.M.S. Leslie included four garden blocks: 2200 and 2300 Madison Sts. and 2200 & 2300 St. Albans. In 1904 the residents of the 2200 block of St. Albans voted to remove their garden so they could park their cars in front of their own homes. The 2300 block is the grandest of the three remaining blocks. The block is historically certified; the cast iron fence surrounding the garden is well cared for and the gardens maintained.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Zoning Board of Appeal Public Hearings

Upcoming meetings with the Zoning Board of Appeal for our neighborhood.

October 22nd:
613 South 24th Street (Between South and Grays Ferry)
Permit/special exception for the complete demolition of all existing structures and for the erection of an attached structure 43'-4" high with elevator penthouse (55'-10" high), pilot house (not to exceed 10 ft high), roof deck with 42" high railing. Deck at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors above the one story structure on the rear for use as vacant commercial space on 1st floor, for a total of eighteen (18) dwelling units from 2nd thru 4th floors.

October 29th:
2111 Kater Street
Permit for the construction of a three season sunroom as part of an existing attached single family dwelling.

More information here.

STREETS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES NEW SANITATION REGULATIONS

Changes in Setout Times and Mattress Disposal


Acting Streets Commissioner David J. Perri announced today changes in the Sanitation regulations governing the set-out times for trash and recycling collections and how mattresses/box springs are placed out for curbside collection. These changes affect residents and small businesses that receive City Sanitation services.

Effective October 1 through March 31, there will be a new set-out time for trash and recycling collections citywide. Citizens will be able to set out their trash and recyclables by 5:00 pm the night before and by 7:00 am the day of collection. Set-out times from April 1 to September 30 will return to 7:00 pm the night before and by 7:00 am the day of collection, the normal hours allowed as part of the City's Sanitation regulations. The new regulation takes into account Daylight Savings Time when clocks are changed and days grow shorter more quickly. The earlier set-out time makes it more convenient for citizens to place their collections out while there is still day light.

Effective December 1, the regulations for setting out mattresses and box springs will change, requiring residents to place these items out completely wrapped and sealed for collection. This regulation is being instituted to protect the public and Streets Department employees from the spread of bed bugs.

To thwart the spread, it will be mandatory for citizens to fully wrap and seal mattresses and box springs in plastic bags to be collected. Mattresses and box springs not properly wrapped will not be collected. If these items are taken to our Sanitation Convenience Centers, they must be securely wrapped. Mattress bags are available at many retail stores and on-line.

Although there will be no immediate enforcement, Sidewalk & Walkways Education & Enforcement Program (SWEEP) Officers will be issuing warnings until January 1, 2014 for non-compliance with the new regulations.

Citizens should look for press releases in community papers and flyers distributed to households announcing this change. Automated phone calls will also be distributed to residents.

The Streets Department thanks citizens for their cooperation as we continuously work to improve to provide CLEAN and SAFE STREETS.

Visit the Streets Department here.

Monthly Triangle Clean-Up

Join your neighbors in cleaning up the Catharine Thorn Fountain Triangle this Sunday, October 6. We start at 10 am. Usually takes about an hour.