Friday, February 13, 2015

CCRA Newsletter



WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Hudson Hotel at 17th and Chancellor
CCRA NEWS AND EVENTS
CCRA Office Closure
Holiday Trash Collection
Wanted: Board Member Nominations
Johnson/Feibush Debate
2015 Community Garden Plot Lotttery
CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS:
La Boheme at the AVA
Love at the Barnes
"Opulence" Art Exhibition
Friends of Greenfield Happy Hour
The Wister Quartet Concert

      
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THE HUDSON HOTEL AT 17TH AND CHANCELLOR:  THE FAT LADY MAY BE ABOUT TO SING AT LITTLE PETE'S
First things first. We write to dispel the unseemly rumor that the Fat Lady's girth derives from the generous portions at Little Pete's situated at 17th and Chancellor, the site of a proposed 12 story, 310 room Hudson Hotel. Even so the Fat Lady has been seen at Pete's preparing to sing in anticipation of the curtain coming down on six months of complicated zoning negotiations.  On Tuesday night, subject to the signing  of an already negotiated Neighborhood Development Agreement (NDA), the CCRA Board voted not to oppose pending City Council legislation that would change the zoning of the 17th and Chancellor parcel (between Walnut and Locust).  In addition to  Little Pete's, the plot contains, on 17th Street, an adjacent nail salon and beauty parlor and, on Chancellor, a 4-story parking garage.  The hotel, a  modern-looking midrise would have underground parking, ground floor retail, a rooftop restaurant, and its main entrance on Chancellor.  The NDA addresses such items as lighting, landscaping, construction, noise, trash, loading, signage, bike racks, and parking for residents of the nearby Lanesborough condominium.

The vote culminates a lengthy process that began in August with the appointment of a CCRA Major Development Task Force, followed by an informal presentation by the developer to the Board, the Board's adoption of a formal policy regarding its handling of site-specific legislative zoning requests, the developer's engagement of Econsult Solutions to prepare a "Development Impact Analysis," a January 29 Community Meeting and presentation by the developer at 10th Presbyterian Church, and the negotiation of the NDA.  Under the agreement, CCRA would be actively involved in additional design work and construction issues.  Of course,  CCRA's non-opposition to the legislation is neither a guarantee that it will be enacted, nor that the project will be built.
CCRA NEWS AND EVENTS
CCRA OFFICE CLOSURE
Due to the President's Day Holiday, the office will be closed Monday, 2/16.  The office will reopen on Tuesday, 2/17 at 9 AM.
HOLIDAY TRASH COLLECTION
Due to the President's Day Holiday on Mon, 2/16, all trash collection is suspended. Trash collection will resume on Tuesday.
WANTED:  BOARD MEMBER NOMINATIONS
The Center City Residents' Association Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for Board seats which open July 1, 2015.  New Board members generally serve a term of 3 years.

The Board is a working Board.  We are seeking energetic individuals who have a passion for living in our residential district; are interested in issues of quality of life and community service; and are committed to active participation on the Board, including actively serving on at least one committee (e.g., Membership, Events,  Fund Raising, Newsletter, Zoning, Finance, Streets, Historic Preservation, Family/Education).  Consistent with the foregoing, all candidates must pledge to devote a minimum of four (4) hours per month on CCRA activities, not including time spent attending, and preparing for, monthly Board meetings.

While CCRA membership is open to any individual, corporation, or organization, CCRA By-Laws require that Board Members reside in the area between JFK Boulevard south to South Street, and Broad Street west to Schuylkill River.  Members are encouraged to forward a resume or summary of qualifications before March 6 of possible nominees (which could be yourself), to
Committee Chair: Dilek Karabucak c/o Center City Residents' Association, 1600 Market St, Ste 2500, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or by email: cmailto:centercity@centercityresidents.org, with "Board Candidate" in the subject line.
JOHNSON/FEIBUSH DEBATE, THURS., MAR. 5, 7 TO 9 PM, LOCATION TBD
Come hear the Democratic candidates for the Second Councilmanic District, incumbent Kenyatta Johnson and challenger Ori Feibush, at a location still to be determined, in what promises to be an  enlightening (and probably entertaining) debate that will be moderated by Philadelphia Magazine journalist and WHYY NewsWorks contributor Holly Otterbein.  The candidates have been given a Questionnaire and asked to reply by Feb. 26.  Their responses will be posted on our website.  And stay tuned for the announcement of the location of this debate.
2015 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOT LOTTERY
Each year, five garden plots (four 10x10 and one 10x15) in the
Schuylkill River Park Community Garden at 25th and Spruce Streets are awarded to non-members of the Center City Residents' Association (CCRA) for a one-season term. 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,  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.

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)
Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
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
LA BOHEME AT THE Acad of Vocal Arts, 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.
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.
"OPULENCE" ART EXHIBITION BY LINDA SOSANGELIS, FRI, 2/13 THRU, SUN, 3/8, TWENTY-TWO GALLERY, 236 S. 22ND ST.
"The Red Kimono"; oil on canvas; 36 x 48 in
 
Opening Reception:
TONITE, February 13th, 6 to 9 PM  
 
For more information, visit the Twenty-Two Gallery website.
FRIENDS OF GREENFIELD HAPPY HOUR, MON, 2/23, 5:30-7:30PM, FOUNDING FATHERS BAR & GRILL, 1612 SOUTH ST
Meet your neighbors and support the Greenfield! 10% of the bar proceeds will be donated to Greenfield Elementary School.
Click here to view the flyer.
THE WISTER QUARTET CONCERT AT ACAD OF VOCAL ARTS, MON, 3/9, 7:30PM, 1920 SPRUCE ST
Hear the Wister Quartet with Allen Krantz on guitar.  Tickets are $17 per person. For more information, call 215-438-4027 or 215-978-0969

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