Brian O'Neill explains the impact of the zoning code. Photo by Ian Romano.

This is the second in a two-part look at zoning in the Northeast. Read part one here.

Councilman Brian O’Neill and the Zoning Code Commission’s executive director argued over zoning regulations at the April meeting of the Greater Bustleton Civic League. The draft is the first citywide revision of the zoning laws in 50 years.

ZCC Executive Director Eva Gladstein said parts of the code may apply to the Northeast more than other areas.

One of those issues is family-based childcare in the home. The restrictions in place for such an establishment are not changing for family-based childcare. The one distinction is the amount of children allowed in the home.

“For childcare in someone’s home, in the 6th and 10th council districts, the number of non-related children allowed in the home is only four. In the rest of the city the number is up to six,” Gladstein said.

Zoning classifications for parks and recreations will be changed under the draft.

“One thing we’re doing is enabling private participles to be zoned for parks,” Gladstein said. “Now it says only land owned by the city can be a park.”

The new code is requiring new developers to notify registered civic associations and to have a neighborhood meeting before completing their zoning variance.

“I think that will be positively affecting the Northeast since it has so many active civic associations,” Gladstein said.

The number of days allotted for posting a zoning hearing is being increased to 21 days. Another posting is being required if the hearing is continued to another day.

The Zoning Code Commission is changing the organization of the code. continue reading »

This is the first in a two-part look at zoning in the Northeast. Read the second part here.

There are 10 day cares on the three city blocks of Rising Sun Avenue between Robbins and Fanshawe streets. My Little Doves by Hellerman Street is the newest addition.

Lawncrest residents are concerned about the number of daycares on Rising Sun Avenue. Photo by Ian Romano.

Many residents said they are angry about their zoning board’s approval over the site.

“Someone needs to decide when enough’s enough. We’re going overboard now,”  said Lawncrest resident Cherylann Wharton.

Residents said they were left out of the decision. Their concerns about the day care were made clear at the April 19 Lawncrest Community Association meeting: they don’t want any more traffic. continue reading »

This is part of ongoing coverage in “District 172: The Politics of Change after State Rep. John Perzel,” a collaborative effort with Philadelphia Neighborhoods funded by J-Lab.

After John Perzel, the former speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was charged with misusing public funds, he lost the seat he had held for more than 30 years in the 172nd District to Democrat Kevin Boyle.

Despite the scandal surrounding Perzel, people are divided about whether a powerful politician was better than a new representative in the Northeast district.

John McClogan, a Walton Park Civic  Association member, said he thinks a tainted Perzel is better than a newly elected representative.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “It’s the people who are suffering.”

McClogan said he thinks there is a big difference between Perzel and Boyle.

“Perzel was the speaker of the house. Boyle is just the representative. He doesn’t have the clout that Perzel had,” McClogan said. continue reading »

Lou DeCree helps keep Daniel Boyle Rec in Somerton running. Photo by Ian Romano.

“Hey guys, let’s go. Third base needs to be raked, first based needs to be raked. There’s a lot of work left to do,” Lou DeCree said as he yelled over to the group of seventh graders playing on the nearby tennis courts.

This group of boys worked for the past two hours by picking up leaves in an effort to get the baseball field at the Officer Daniel Boyle Memorial Playground in Somerton ready for the spring season.

It’s spring clean up time and DeCree, the President of Daniel Boyle Athletic Program, is leading the group of coaches and baseball players who have volunteered their time to get the field ready for the upcoming season.

Despite the promised near-60 degree weather and sunshine, 9 a.m on March 12 was a cold day.  The wind whipped volunteers as they worked, which made the temperature feel closer to the low 40s. The boys went right back to work to rake the leaves that gathered along the third base line.

“The next group of boys will be coming soon,” DeCree said. “We try to get a different group in every hour and a half. That’s really as long as we can hold their attention anyway.”

DeCree has lead the spring clean up for the last 15 years, ever since he, along with two other men — Joe DeMayo and Lou Sannutti –  started the athletic program at the Boyle Rec Center.

“We do this the second Saturday in March,” DeCree said. “This is a Philadelphia park.  The city does not have a lot of funds to take care of it so we take it upon ourselves to get this ready.  We try to keep it clean for the neighbors across the street.”

DeCree has been volunteering all his life. continue reading »

Sharon Weiseman of Tacony Town Watch make sure the radio signal is working so she can connect to the base operator.

“Ok, do a radio check,” said Paul Costello, president of the Tacony Town Watch, to Sharon Weiseman, his partner for the night. Weiseman is the secretary of the Tacony Town Watch; she responds and the pair start the patrol for the night.

Two other cars are patrolling the streets of Tacony and Holmesburg with Costello tonight. They need to be in constant contact with each other and with the base operator who is stationed at a house instead of on the streets. The base operator will record everything the members of the town watch call in and will call the police if there is suspicious activity.

Weiseman checks in with the other members on the street and the base operator to make sure all radios are working. Then the patrol begins.

continue reading »

The video below highlights programs offered by JCC Klein in Bustleton that help the Northeast’s Russian-speaking population adjust to living in Philadelphia. continue reading »