Saturday, January 31, 2015

CCRA Newsletter



CCRA NEWS
2015 Community Garden Plot Lotttery
CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS:
Albert M Greenfield School Registration and Tour
Help Police Apprehend Walnut St. Armed Robber
City Abandoned Photography Exhibit
La Boheme at the AVA
Winter Group Show
Ice Skating at the New Dilworth Park
Love at the Barnes

  
       
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CCRA NEWS
2015 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOT LOTTERY
Each year five garden plots (four 10x10 and one 10x15) in the
Schuylkill River Park Community Garden (located at approximately 25th and Spruce Streets) are awarded to non-members of the Center City Residents' Association (CCRA) for a one-season term. To be eligible, candidates must be bona fide residents of CCRA's geographic boundaries, defined as residing in the area encompassed by South Street, Broad Street, John F. Kennedy Boulevard and the Schuylkill River in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Winners pay a one-time fee of $65 for a 10x10 or $85 for a 10x15 plot.

To enter the lottery, please submit your request by postcard, letter or email to the following address:

Center City Residents' Association
1600 Market Street, suite 2500
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Include your name, residential address (REQUIRED), phone number and email address. Requests must reach us by March 2, 2015. The drawing will take place in early March and winners will be contacted by phone or email.  One entry per household only.
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.

Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)
Rittenhouse Pet Supply, 135 S. 20th St (215-569-2555)
Computer Troubleshooters ,108 S. 20th St. (215-825-2101)
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220) 
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Uber - Limo service Uber provides $20 off a first ride, Good for new users only. Members use code CCRA14.
Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS
Albert M. Greenfield School Registration and Tour Information for 2015
Greenfield School, located at 22nd and Chestnut, serving grades K-8, is now accepting registration for children living within the school's catchment area: the south side of the Ben Franklin Parkway to the north side of Bainbridge St., and from the west side of Broad St. to the Schuylkill River.  Only children living within the catchment will be admitted. When registering at Greenfield School, you must bring your child's original birth certificate or passport, his/her vaccination records, your own government issued photo ID, and your original gas and electric bill from the past month as proof of residence.  Water or cell phone bills are not accepted as proof of residence.

Tours:  Greenfield offers school tours on the 2nd Thursday of each month.  All tours  begin at 9:00 am.  No need to pre-register.  The next Tours will be:  Feb. 12, Mar. 12, April 9, and May 14.  Contact Amy Arcaro if you have any questions at amygarcaro@gmail.com  or visit the Greenfield website at www.greenfieldhsa.org.
HELP POLICE APPREHEND WALNUT ST. ARMED ROBBER
At Tuesday night's Police District Advisory Council (PDAC) meeting, of which CCRA is a member, the Ass't. District Attorney reported that the police had not yet made an arrest in connection with the Jan. 14 armed robbery of Ubiq at 1509 Walnut St., while commenting that a video of the event was the best he had ever seen.  Watch the video here.  The suspect is described as a black male, 20 years of age, 5'7", 145 lbs., wearing a dark gray jacket, jeans, and black sneakers with orange laces.  If you see the suspect, do not approach him:  contact 911 immediately. To submit a tip, dial  215-686-8477 or text to PPD TIP or 773847.
CITY ABANDONED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT, NOW THRU 2/7, UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, 320 S. BROAD ST, 5:30-7:30PM
LA BOHEME AT THE Acad of Vocal Arts, SAT, 2/7, TUE, 2/10, THURS, 2/12, AND SAT, 2/14, 7:30 PM, 1920 SPRUCE ST
This two-act opera will be performed in the original Italian with English supertitles. Jeanine B. Cowles Music Director Christofer Macatsoris conducts the AVA Opera Orchestra. The production is stage directed by David Gately. Tickets: $60 Adults / $50 Seniors / $25 30 & Under / $10 Students. For more information,  click here.
Winter Group Show Thru 2/8, Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St
Twenty-Two Gallery represented artists will show their best original works in many styles and mediums.  Mediums include: photography; oils; water color; sculpture; Sumi-e  & print work.  Many sizes and price ranges to choose from.

ICE SKATING AT THE NEW DILWORTH PARK, NOW THRU SAT., 2/22, CITY HALL
The Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park in front of City Hall is open 7 days a week. Costs are $3 for kids 10 & younger, $4 for adults, and $8 for skate rental. For hours and a list of special events, click here.
LOVE AT THE BARNES,Sat, 2/14, 6pm, Barnes Foundation, 2025 BF Pkwy
Koresh Dance Company presents six love duets to stir your soul and ignite desire. This Valentine's Day, Ronen Koresh's acclaimed contemporary company brings its raw, percussive athleticism and lyrical precision to the Barnes Foundation. Giving physical expression to passion, sorrow, and promises kept and broken, Koresh digs into the truth of human connection. Free champagne and chocolate will be provided. Tickets $35; Barnes members $28.  For more information and to register, click here

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

CCRA Newsletter -- Special Edition



Proposed Hudson Hotel Community Meeting

  
       
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PROPOSED HUDSON HOTEL:  COMMUNITY MEETING, THURS., JAN. 29, 7:00 PM,  10TH PRESBYTERIAN, 17TH AND DELANCEY ENTRANCE
CCRA will hold a Community Meeting on Thursday evening to address a proposed 12-story 310-room Hudson Hotel on the southeast corner of 17th & Chancellor (betw. Locust & Walnut).  The modern-looking midrise has a rooftop restaurant, underground parking, and ground floor retail, with a main entrance on Chancellor Street.  Click here  to view picture. The parcel presently contains Little Pete's restaurant and an adjacent nail salon and beauty parlor on 17th and, on Chancellor, a 4-story parking garage. Councilman Kenyatta Johnson has introduced legislation converting the zoning classification from CMX-4 to CMX-5. CMX-4 permits a 500% FAR (floor area ratio) - meaning that a building taking up the entire footprint of the property could only be 5 stories tall. CMX-5 has a 1200% FAR which accommodates the planned structure.  The proposed ordinance also eliminates  an off-street loading requirement. Click here to read a "Development Impact Analysis" regarding the project that was prepared for the developer by Econsult Solutions.  After the developer makes its presentation, the floor will be open to questions and comments.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

CCRA Newsletter



WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CCRA/Crosstown Coalition to Council
CCRA EVENTS
CCRA NEWS
Office Closure
CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS:
Trash Collection
Philadelphia is #3 for the Best Place to Visit in 2015
Philly School and Camp Fair
Tree Tenders Winter Basic Training
La Boheme at the AVA
Winter Group Show
Ice Skating at the New Dilworth Park

  
       
OUR SPONSORS



   
Penn Med Ritt logo 







If you would like to donate to CCRA, click below.

https://www.paypal.com/cgibin/webscr?first_name=Julie&last_name=&undefined_quantity=1&business=centercity@centercityresidents.org&image_url=http://www.centercityresidents.org/images/masthead.jpg&return=&cancel_return=&item_name=Donate to CCRA&amount=0&shipping=0&currency_code=USD&item_number=&cmd=_xclick&bn=ctct_Ecom_EmailMarketing_PPS


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WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CCRA/CROSSTOWN COALITION TO COUNCIL: SLOW DOWN, LIVES ARE AT STAKE
They're at it again. Last Fall, City Council unanimously decided not to hold public hearings about the conflicting reports discussing the PGW sale. They are taking a similar approach on Resolution 140732, the proposed reorganization of the City's land use/development boards and agencies, including Licenses and Inspections. Except the PGW story was about money: this time lives are at stake.

The background: To his credit, Council President Clarke proactively unveiled a proposal on September 25 to reorganize the agencies and commissions that control land use, building safety and development by placing them all under a cabinet level Director of Planning and Development. But September 25 was the same day that a cross - disciplinary panel of experts, chaired by Professor Glenn Corbett of New York's  John Jay College at CUNY, issued its 100 page report dealing with the Salvation Army building collapse at 22nd and Market. That catastrophe killed six people. The Corbett report calls for the creation of a Department of Buildings charged with public safety in permitting, construction, maintenance and demolition AND, contrary to the Clarke proposal, separated from those agencies dealing with licensing/development/planning.  
January 9 saw the publication of a second report, 90 pages long,  titled "2015 Plan for a Safer City," prepared by the administration employees who deal with building safety issues. It provides a divergent take on the questions raised.

As the page volume of these reports suggest, the issues raised are complex.  It's no surprise that ALL the witnesses at the Bill's committee hearings testified "yes but" - Yes it makes sense to have a cabinet level Director of Development, but this is a complicated problem that needs further discussion.  

Both CCRA and The Crosstown Coalition have written Council requesting  that the Bill be tabled and that hearings be held so that the public (and Council) can debate the many issues raised by this creditable but complicated proposal. The Salvation Army tragedy killed six people. The balcony collapse on 21st street killed a seventh. The only response must be "Never Again." But to achieve the goal of "never," we must act with care and deliberation. 
 CCRA EVENTS
CCRA NEWS
OFFICE CLOSURE
The CCRA Office is closed on Monday, 1/18, in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday. The office will reopen on Tuesday, 1/19, at 9AM. 
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.

Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)
Rittenhouse Pet Supply, 135 S. 20th St (215-569-2555)
Computer Troubleshooters ,108 S. 20th St. (215-825-2101)
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220) 
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
Uber - Limo service Uber provides $20 off a first ride, Good for new users only. Members use code CCRA14.
Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS
TRASH COLLECTION
Due to the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, all trash collection is suspended on Monday, 1/18. Trash collection will resume on Tuesday, 1/19.
PHILADELPHIA IS #3 FOR THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN 2015
The New York Times Travel Section  named Philadelphia number 3 in their list of 52 Places to Go around the world in 2015. Highlights mentioned were Dilworth Park, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Schuylkill Boardwalk, Bike Share, and other outdoor spaces. To view the article, click here.
Philly School and Camp Fair,  Sun, 1/18, 10AM-1PM, Franklin Inst., 222 N. 20th St.
This School & Camp Fair will focus on supporting the needs of families with students in Pre-K through Grade 12. In addition to providing one-on-one time with preschool and camp directors, members of the admissions staff from schools throughout the area, and Local Parent Teacher Organizations, the event will feature over 25 hands-on "imagination stations" to dive into science, art, and creative discovery projects, educational raffle prizes, and an educational workshop. To register, click here.
Tree Tenders Winter Basic Training, Sat, 1/24 and 1/31, 8:30am-1pm, PHS Town Hall, 100 N. 20th St, 1st Fl.
During two Saturday sessions, learn the basics of tree planting and care including Tree Biology, identification, stresses, planting, pruning and root care, and how to use these skills in home landscape and in helping to restore the tree canopy in your neighborhood and the region. Fee: $25.00. Register at https://www.pennhort.net/treetenders
LA BOHEME AT THE Acad of Vocal Arts, SAT, 2/7, TUE, 2/10, THURS, 2/12, AND SAT, 2/14, 7:30 PM, 1920 SPRUCE ST
This two-act opera will be performed in the original Italian with English supertitles. Jeanine B. Cowles Music Director Christofer Macatsoris conducts the AVA Opera Orchestra. The production is stage directed by David Gately. Tickets: $60 Adults / $50 Seniors / $25 30 & Under / $10 Students. For more information,  click here.
Winter Group Show Thru 2/8, Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St
Twenty-Two Gallery represented artists will show their best original works in many styles and mediums.  Mediums include: photography; oils; water color; sculpture; Sumi-e  & print work.  Many sizes and price ranges to choose from.

ICE SKATING AT THE NEW DILWORTH PARK, NOW THRU SAT., 2/22, CITY HALL
The Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park in front of City Hall is open 7 days a week. Costs are $3 for kids 10 & younger, $4 for adults, and $8 for skate rental. For hours and a list of special events, click here.