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WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
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CROSSTOWN COALITION ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT
The Crosstown Coalition, which commenced in 2008 as an informal federation of civics, finished its first full year as an incorporated civic institution by issuing a 28 page Annual Report. The most interesting portions may be the two appendices containing the answers to the Crosstown's 16 item questionnaire addressed to the mayoral and council candidates in last Spring's primary. Candidate Kenney's answers suggest that the new administration will deal with the underassessment of real property as distinguished from construction/improvements, an adjustment which could lead to higher bills for those benefiting from the ten year tax abatement where taxes are abated on improvements but not real property. Kenny also favors shifting revenues away from business taxes and towards realty taxes, an approach which he believes will promote business/job growth. The report also details Coalition accomplishments - last March's education summit where 120 people gathered to share ideas and strategies on the Friends of Neighborhood Schools movement and the Crosstown's partnering activities with the development community which led to substantial revisions on two major pieces of land use legislation, the Center City Overlay and the Planning and Development reorganization bill. At a Crosstown social held January 19, Joe Schiavo, chair of the Zoning and Land Use Committee captured the thoughts of Coalition activists when he stated: "This year, our first year, we spent our energy reacting to legislation and, while our efforts led to improvements in any number of bills, we were consumed by playing defense. In 2016, we will strive to be more proactive and less reactive."
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"Coffee with the Candidates" FOR PA HOUSE SEAT, sat, 2/6, 9-11am, saxbys corp hq, 2300 chestnut st 3rd fl
Enjoy complimentary coffee and beverages in a beautiful space while listening to 3 candidates seeking the local Pennsylvania House of Representative seat - incumbent Brian Sims, and challengers, Marni Snyder and Ben Waxman. This event is not limited to CCRA members so tell your friends and neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there!
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COME ONE, COME ALL! TOWN HALL MEETING, THUR, 2/11, 7-8 PM, 2025 CHESTNUT ST
Come to the second in our series of Town Hall events featuring Philadelphia civic and political leaders. CCRA will be hosting Brian Sims, State representative for the 182nd district, for an interactive discussion, an event that was postponed from an original date in October. This is not a campaign event and discussion will be limited to legislative and 182nd district issues being decided in Harrisburg and how they affect Philadelphia. We hope to see you there!
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SAVE THE DATE
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CENTER CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016
TRINITY MEMORIAL CHURCH 22ND & SPRUCE STS.
7-8:30 PM
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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.
PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220)
Uber - Limo service Uber provides $20 off a first ride, Good for new users only. Members use promo code CCRA14.
Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges.
Dance Affiliate - Get $10 off Dance Performances with your CCRA Membership. Members use promo code allattheprince.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS
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Philly debut of EZRALOW DANCE at NextMove Dance at the Prince THEATER; Wed, 2/3, to SUN, 2/7, 7:30 PM, 15TH & ChesTNUT
 Opening Night, Wednesday, 2/3, 7:30 PM
As artistic director and founder of Ezralow Dance, in his new show OPEN, Danny Ezralow mingles contemporary dance with playful humor, provocative ideas, striking visuals, and an unforgettable classical score. His unique combination of movement, ideas and music transport audience to a new dimension, where humor and intensity create an explosive blend of extraordinary creative fantasy and dramatic emotion.
Post-Performance Reception for Friends with company members in the Main Lobby. RSVP jane@danceaffiliates.org by 2/1 if you would like to attend the reception.
To purchase tickets, click here. Use promo code allattheprince.
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Beethoven's Obsession with Theme and Variations, Mon, 2/1, 2 PM, Acad of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St.
Join Penn's Village member Dan Coren, a classically educated musicologist, as he discusses how Beethoven took the simple idea of Theme and Variations and transformed it into his vehicle of choice for expressing his most profound musical thoughts. RSVP by calling 215 925 7333 or emailing info@pennsvillage.org. The venue is handicap accessible so if you would like to use this amenity since it is a separate entrance let them know. Penn's Village would very much appreciate a $5 donation from attendees who are not Penn's Village members or volunteers, payable at the event.
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Conversations with PA Ballet Program at Phila City Ins Library, Mon, 2/1, 6:30 PM, 1905 Locust St
Ian Hussey, principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, will speak on Monday, February 1, at 6:30 P.M., in another "Conversations with Pennsylvania Ballet" program at the Philadelphia City Institute Branch Library at 1905 Locust Street. He is preparing for the company's Strength & Longing production on February 4 - 7 at the Merriam Theater. The program is free and open to the public. It will be held in the lower level meeting room. Unfortunately PCI does not have an elevator.
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WINTER GROUP SHOW AT TWENTY-TWO GALLERY, NOW THRU SUN, 2/7, 236 S. 22ND ST.
Treat yourself... or someone you know... to a wonderful piece of original artwork this winter... It will give you enjoyment for a lifetime and can be passed on for others to enjoy well in to the future....and you will be supporting local artists!
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2016 PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - HURRY, ONE WEEK LEFT!
Each year the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia presents the Preservation Achievement Awards to a select group of individuals, organizations, businesses and projects from throughout the region that exemplify outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation.
The awards honor projects involving the preservation or protection of historic resources including the restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of historic properties; sympathetic new construction or additions to historic properties; or education, documentation and advocacy work on behalf of historic preservation.
The 2016 Preservation Achievement Awards will take place on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at the Union League and the Alliance is now seeking nominations for this year's awards.
If you have been directly involved in a preservation project or are aware of an outstanding effort that deserves attention, please let the Alliance know by
submitting a nomination.
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ICE SKATING AT DILWORTH PARK, NOW THRU 2/28/16, CITY HALL
The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park, offering the new Rothman Cabin, where skaters can enjoy warm drinks and food without having to take off their skates. The rink will also offer special sled skating accommodations for disabled skaters. Sled skating for children and adults will be supervised by trained staff to help push the sleds or train sled skaters in using the equipment. Sleds can be reserved during scheduled sessions that begin in January. For schedule and ticket prices, click here.
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© 2016 Center City Residents' Association
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There was a horrible fire last Tuesday night, as most of you know. It destroyed a 21 unit apartment building, 2122 Locust situated on the southwest corner of Locust & Van Pelt (the north south street between 21st and 22nd). It also displaced residents in the neighboring apartment building, 2126 Locust. Since Tuesday night, we have worked to see how we could help the victims of this fire. We have spoken to representatives of the Red Cross, the realty firms managing the two buildings, Trinity Memorial Church (which housed evacuees on the evening of the fire) staffers of Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, and three of the displaced residents of 2122 Locust. From what we have been able to learn, all the evacuated tenants have a roof over their head and their immediate needs are being met. Many have lost all their material possessions. The Red Cross expressed appreciation for CCRA's outreach and suggested that it might later call upon our membership network to supplement its relief efforts for this fire. To our knowledge, no general fund has been established to assist the victims of this fire (in part because no agency has the contact information for all the displaced tenants) although Congregation Beth Zion Beth Israel has issued a request for funds to support a congregation member, whose identity is being kept confidential. Councilman Johnson's office proposes to partner with CCRA on a community forum regarding this fire, in particular, and fire safety, in general. We will inform you when scheduling is finalized. We will continue our efforts and, as ways to help the fire victims become known, we will let you know how you can help. 
