Thursday, May 30, 2019

CCRA Newsletter

Weekly E-Newsletter
News and Updates
Sky High Block Party
Click on the poster to register
June 17 is our FREE "Thank You" party to celebrate and thank all of our loyal members, sponsors and partner organizations for their support.  Here's what you'll experience at our "Sky High" Block Party!
 Join CCRA members, as well as members of Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) at Philadelphia's premier private business club at the top of the town - The Pyramid Club, Mellon Bank Center, 52nd Fl, 1735 Market Street for complimentary food, drinks and music. 

The view from the Club's 52nd Floor is spectacular! It overlooks local landmarks such as City Hall, The Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Ben Franklin Bridge, The Philadelphia Museum of Art and both the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. You will be delighted with food offerings created by their executive chef, Sylva Senet, most recognizable from his appearance on Season 14 of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. 

A top shelf bar will be serving your favorite drinks, as well.
This is a night to mingle with your friends and neighbors, meet new near neighbors, enjoy tasty treats, listen to live music and toast the great town we live in, all from a windowed 52nd floor view.

R.S.V.P.  here and feel free to bring a friend.  Registration is required and limited to the first 100 people to register. 
Zoning Committee looking for new members
CCRA zoning committee provides a monthly public forum for neighbors and applicants seeking variances to the zoning code to discuss proposed construction projects and consider the impacts of the projects on their surroundings.  Zoning is concerned with issues such as use, height, density, setbacks and open space.  You don't need to be familiar with the zoning code to apply, but must be willing to listen and learn.   We strive to have a cross section of residents from different parts of the neighborhood, professional backgrounds, and perspectives. If you are interested, please submit a statement of interest and resume with Zoning Committee as the subject.
Neighborhood Preservation Toolkit

In 2018, PennPraxis led the Historic Preservation Citizen Engagement Project, bringing the conversation started by the Mayor's Task Force on Historic Preservation to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.The resulting Neighborhood Preservation Toolkit is a new, free resource to build a larger, broader constituency for preservation in Philadelphia. The toolkit's guidebook and poster are available for free download through PennPraxis and on PHLPreservation.org.

The Toolkit is organized around 6 different perspectives based on community members' interests and experiences:
  • Chapter 1: I want to...Care for an older home my neighborhood
  • Chapter 2: I want to...Improve and maintain the design quality and character in my neighborhood
  • Chapter 3: I want to...Strengthen and sustain small businesses and commercial corridors in my neighborhood
  • Chapter 4: I want to...Learn and share the history of my neighborhood
  • Chapter 5: I want to...Create change and influence policy in my neighborhood
  • Chapter 6: I want to...Know who's who and who do I talk to?
The toolkit can be used by anyone. Download your copy, try an activity, share with your neighbors, and hang the poster so it can be seen by your fellow community members!
Please Donate to the Neighborhood Beautification Campaign

CCRA's Neighborhood Beautification Campaign supports many initiatives - tree planting, historic preservation, the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden, oversight of neighborhood development and - last but not least - sidewalk cleaning. 

Please consider donating to help keep our Neighborhood clean.  To donate right now, visit our website, www.phillyccra.org. 
 
CCRA Supports Proposed Revenue Neutral Real Estate Tax Rate Legislation
Following the recommendations of its Real Estate Tax Committee and Government Relations Committee, CCRA has voted to support the concepts contained in City Council Bill 190318 and its School District companion, Bill 190319. These Bills would amend Chapter 19-1301 of the Philadelphia Code dealing with real estate taxes to provide that, beginning in tax year 2020, unless Council approves an increase or a decrease, the real estate tax rate must be "revenue neutral," i.e., set at a rate that will produce the same level of real estate tax revenues as were generated during the prior tax year.
The Bills were introduced on April 25, and are likely to come up for a hearing in early June. CCRA is contacting all members of City Council to convey its position, and hopes to testify before the Council's Finance Committee. CCRA has also joined a motion to have the Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition, of which CCRA is an active member, to formally support the concepts embodied in these Bills. Should you care to weigh in for yourself, click or tap here for a one-page list of all 17 members of City Council, with their phone numbers (best way to communicate with their appropriate staff person) and email addresses.

Click or tap here for a summary of the tax bills
Click or tap here for Bill 190318
Click or tap here for Bill 190319
CCRA votes not to take a position on the 22nd Street Protected Bike Lane Project as presented by oTIS at the March 18, 2019 Open House at Greenfield School. 

This decision was predicated on three things:
  • the understanding that CCRA's support or lack thereof would not influence the City's decision to move forward with the project;
  • our lack of expertise to fully evaluate the pros and cons of the proposal.
  • Inconclusive survey data
CCRA thanks all those who attended the open house with oTIS regarding changes planned for 22nd St and its bike lane and the almost 100 people who responded to our online surveys about the bike lane.  However, because the participant pool did not clearly represent all who live on or near 22nd St and/or who walk, drive, or bike (or would like to bike) in the proximate area, we were unable to draw reliably valid conclusions.  This uncertainty, coupled with the reasons above, resulted in the board's decision to take no position, for or against, the plans regarding the 22nd St bike lane. 

However, the survey results and all comments were forwarded to oTIS, and it is our expectation that, as the city continues to develop and complete the design work, CCRA's Streets Committee will remain in the loop and engaged in the process. We will keep CCRA's membership informed as best we can before the badly needed repaving of 22nd St. begins in the fall or, more likely, next spring.

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Community Events

Enjoy a Riverboat Tour on the Schuylkill River on select Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June through October. One-hour Secrets of the Schuylkill Tours and three-hour Boat to Bartram's Garden Tours.
Choral Kaleidoscope: Music of North America
Saturday, June 8, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Featuring works by Samuel Barber, Charles Ives, James Mulholland, Randall Thompson, William Dawson, Moses Hogan, David Conte, and more. Singing City Choir will travel to Mexico this summer to share music and friendship with our neighbors. This concert brings together choral works from Mexico, the US, Canada, and Cuba, in celebration of the ties that bind us all as fellow North Americans and the music that reflects our diversity and spirit. Join us! Tickets and more information at www.singingcity.org.
Art Exhibition at the Ageless Gardens Gallery

The Naudain Art Collaborative invites you to attend an exhibition of artworks by center city artists Lauren Sweeney, Ed Bronstein, and Betsy Alexander and guest artist Sandy Cadwalader on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23 from noon to 6 p.m. at Ageless Gardens Gallery,  2503 Naudain Street. 
For more information about neighborhood events, check out CCRA's Community Events Calendar
Useful Links





CCRA Merchant Member 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 and personal identification.

Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554)
NextMove Dance - Get $10 off  Dance Performances with your CCRA Membership.  Members use  promo code SAVE10.
Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges.
Photo Lounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911)
Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom St. (215-840-3577)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)
Suga Restaurant, 1720 Sansom St. (215-717-8968)
Ursula Hobson Fine Art Framing, 1528 Waverly St (215.546.7889)
Astral Artists - Use promo code "CCRA" to receive a $10 flat rate on all tickets to their concerts.
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, (uses separate card, see info here)
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
East West Acupuncture, 419 S. 19th St (415-758-1057)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
Home Helpers Philly, 1835 S. Broad St., Ste 2 (215-334-2600)
Good Karma Cafe, 331 S. 22nd St, (215-546-1479)
Jason Matthew Salon, 1735 Chestnut St, 2nd Fl (215-665-8030)
Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
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