OUR
SPONSORS
If you would like to donate to CCRA, click below.
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
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DEMOLITION CREWS ON
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE
Demolition will commence shortly at the McIlhenny
Mansion, situated on two parcels, 1914 and 1916 Rittenhouse Square, located on
the Square's southwest corner. When the dust has settled, the one story curved
brick façade and dome at 1916 erected in
1957 will be gone. The planned replacement
is a four story 47 foot high addition. The addition's roofline will match that
of the mansion's other property, 1914 Rittenhouse Square, erected in 1859 with three stories capped by a one story mansard roof with dormer
windows. The façade of 1914 is to remain
unchanged. The mansion's back entrance on Manning Street currently consists of
a single story structure, a garage with a double width door adjacent to a
servant's entrance. The plans call for a two story structure on the western end
with bedrooms atop two oversize garage entrances. On the eastern side, the
addition will rise a third story above Manning Street (click here to view the plans).
These
impending changes have proceeded at a stately
Philadelphia pace. Henry McIlhenny passed away in
1986. Even now, 28 years later, all remains quiet at
1912, with its curved grand stairway ascending from the sidewalk. And the
proposed elimination of the domed structure at 1916 has been a long time coming.
Twelve years elapsed before the estate sold the three
parcels comprising the "mansion". Another 16 years
passed before 1914 and 1916 were resold to the
current owner whose plans to eliminate the domed pavilion and
replace it with a four story structure similar to earlier plans which set off a
spate of litigation that culminated in 2002. The earlier plans to replace the
domed structure with a four story townhouse were approved both by the Historic
Commission with conditions in 1999 and by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in
2000. The ZBA decision was appealed to the Court of Common Pleas which
overturned the ZBA but the Common Pleas decision was, in turn, reversed by a
2002 Commonwealth Court opinion approving the variances enabling the
construction plans.
What
would be Henry McIlhenny's take on the elimination of
his 1957 addition? It might upset him but maybe not. He was known
both as an art collector and as Chairman of the Board of the Philadelphia
Museum of Art. Further, he was a celebrated bon vivant - according to Andy
Warhol, he of Pittsburgh, McIlhenny was "the only person in Philadelphia with
glamour." But McIlhenny can also be seen as the original gentrifier, a mid 20th
century yuppie. He moved into the City and purchased the three properties
in the 1950's when everyone was moving out. So
it may be that somewhere in yuppie heaven Henry is looking down on all this with
a smile of approval.
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CCRA
MERCHANT MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Support our
local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a
discount (described
here) to any member
who shows a current CCRA membership card (Di Bruno Bros. has its own CCRA card)
and personal identification.
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center
(215-665-9220)
Uber - Limo service Uber
provides a 10% discount for CCRA Members using code CCRA14.
Philly Foodworks - Use the
code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on
delivery charges.
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PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR
FAVORITE CHARITY WITH A HOUSE TOUR BOOKLET AD
CCRA's Oct 19th 2014 House Tour includes a Tour Booklet
describing Tour houses distributed to each of the 600-750 Tour-goers. Please
consider placing an ad in the Booklet to promote your business, a favorite
charity, or simply to congratulate the Tour or CCRA. Rates are $250 for a full
page; $150 for half page; $80 for qtr. page. The proceeds support CCRA
activities that preserve, enhance, and celebrate urban living. Click here for an ad form or contact the CCRA
office at centercity@centercityresidents.org or
215-546-6719.
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CCRA LABOR DAY
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The CCRA
office will be closed on Mon., 8/25 thru Mon. 9/1. The office will reopen on
Tues., 9/2. at 9:00 AM.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND
EVENTS
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE
PHS POP-UP GARDEN UNTIL 10/3, 1438 SOUTH STREET
Help the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society while enjoying summer in the
Pop Up Garden.
PHS needs volunteers to work from 11am to 2pm in the Pop UP Garden. Your
duties will be to welcome visitors and provide information about PHS and the
City Harvest Program. PHS will provide all the information you need. If you would like to help PHS, please contact Jessica
Wong, PHS Volunteer Coordinator at: jwong@pennhort.org
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WINTER SOWING
WORKSHOP, WED, 8/20, 6:30 PM, SRPCG, 25TH & SPRUCE
Loretta DeMarco from PHS
Master Gardeners will lead a workshop on Winter Sowing in the Schuylkill River
Park Community Garden. No RSVP required.
All are welcome.
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FITLER
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR, SUN 8/24, 2PM, 23RD & PINE ST
The
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia will be offering their 1 1/2 to 2
hours "Littlest Streets Fitler Square" tour. $10 Adults; $8 Students; children
10 and under accompanied by adult are free; $5 Preservation Alliance Members
(Please show your member card). Meet at center of Fitler Square
and pay cash or check to Preservation Alliance. Limited to the
first 25 people to arrive.
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SOSNA FUNDRAISER AND
SEND-OFF EVENT, THURS. 8/28, 7-10PM, BAINBRIDGE CLUB, 1523
BAINBRIDGE
Programs
Coordinator, Andrew Dalzell, is moving to Scotland to start graduate school
after 6 years at SOSNA where many
of his projects have had a positive impact on the lives of CCRA
members.
Join SOSNA for this fundraising event. To purchase
tickets, click
here.
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RITTENHOUSE SQ. WED. WALKS
FOR SENIORS
Friends
in the City, Friends Life Care and Feet First Philly, jointly invite seniors to
walk around Rittenhouse Square every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Meet Pam at the Goat. Walk at any speed that is comfortable for
you.
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OPCC'S
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RETURNS BEGINNING MON, 9/8, 3PM - 6PM, 401 LOMBARD
ST
The Old Pine Community Center is back for another year
of enriching the lives of children through, educational, and fun activities
including homework-help and a specialized literacy program. They will also be
highlighting healthy living through various physical activities paired with an
emphasis on healthy & adventurous nutrition.The program for children of elementary school age is open every day while school is in session.
Interested? Contact Jeanne Johnson at 215.627.2493 or center@oldpine.org.
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PENN'S 5K FOR THE
INSTITUTE ON AGING, SUN, 9/21, 8AM, PENN PARK, 33RD & WALNUT
ST
Support
Alzheimer's and aging-related research and care at Penn's Institute on Aging
(IOA). Raise vital research dollars and invite your friends to support your run.
For more information and to register, click
here.
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SPECIAL CRIME
REPORT
At
around 2 AM last Saturday morning, on 18th Street near Walnut, a group of men in
a black Nissan with Delaware plates was catcalling a group of young women. A
39-year old man rebuked them for it. One or more of the men in the Nissan
responded by exiting the vehicle and attacking that man, knocking him onto the
sidewalk.
The
police have made no progress in this case. Neither the victim nor the women
were able to recall any details. If you witnessed this incident, please
contact the police.
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