Fred Moore led the Northeast Philadelphia History Network meeting about Bustleton. Photo/Ryan McDonald

On the first Wednesday of every month, the Northeast Philadelphia History Network meets to discuss the past. This Wednesday was no different. More than a dozen members from the network came together at the historic Pennepack Baptist Church to watch a visual presentation of photographs from Charles Silker’s circa 1910 postcard collection of Bustleton.

Fred Moore led the meeting and addressed a few things before starting the show. Moore noted Pennepack Baptist Church was celebrating its 325th year of existence and there would be a two-day celebration marking the historic event on June 1 and 2.

Immediately following this announcement, Moore started the show, which displayed many photographs taken from Silker during the early 1900s as he traveled through the Northeast. These images showcased the neighborhood of Bustleton and what it looked like 100 years ago. continue reading »

4731 Griscom St. Photo/Frankford Gazette

By Bob Smiley for the Frankford Gazette

In an at times contentious meeting of the Frankford Civic Association on April 4th, the membership voted unanimously to oppose the opening of a Crown Fried Chicken at 4731 Griscom St.  continue reading »

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has denied a funding request from Columbus Property Management for CPM’s plans to house veterans at the old convent on Nazareth Hospital’s property.

From the Holme Circle Civic Association: continue reading »

The City of Philadelphia will hold a property tax meeting March 14 at Archbishop Ryan High School. Image/Google Maps

Northeast Philadelphia residents are invited to Archbishop Ryan High School Thursday night to get answers about their property assessments and taxes.

The meeting is one of several organized by the City of Philadelphia to help residents understand Actual Value Initiative. continue reading »

There were no zoning issues to discuss at the Frankford Civic Association meeting on March 7, but there was a host of old business to update. continue reading »

Philadelphia will hold a property assessment meeting March 7 in Bustleton. Image/Google Maps

Philadelphia is trying to talk directly to residents about the citywide overhaul of property taxes. Question and answer sessions are starting Thursday.

To help residents understand the new property assessments that were mailed last month, there will be sessions throughout the city as well as some telephone town halls.

Northeast resident can attend tonight’s meeting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Rd. continue reading »

Former Holmesburg Civic Association President Fred Moore worked for more than a decade to get historical recognition for the Pennypack Creek Bridge. Photo/Jessica Lopez

Update May 9, 2013 ConRail has agreed to allow the Holmesburg Civic Association paint the bridge, and will waive the fees, registration and insurance.

The Pennypack Creek Bridge that connects Holmesburg with Upper Holmesburg has been cleaned up and remains under surveillance by town watch and police.

But as Holmesburg works to maintain the part of the park around it, the train trestle that crosses over Frankford Avenue is still an eyesore. continue reading »

Pa. Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-172nd, led last week’s panel on methadone clinics. Photo/Tiffany Goforth

Beverly Haberle, executive director of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., opened the Frankford Civic Association meeting Thursday by addressing an issue that has residents of several Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods up in arms.

On Jan. 30, Pa. Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-172nd, held a hearing at the Mayfair Community Center discussing methadone clinics, their impact on neighborhoods and access to treatment. With zoning approval for two Holmesburg clinics pending, no one is quite done talking about the issue. continue reading »

The Stella site plan. See full documents at the end of this article. Image/Columbus Property Management

Documents related to this story are embedded at the bottom of the article. The Holme Circle Civic Association stuck fliers in about 1,200 doors advertising Wednesday night’s meeting as part of a renewed effort to grow the membership.

It worked. The line to sign into the meeting was out the door as HCCA board members scurried to add more chairs to the St. Jerome School hall to accommodate the roughly 200 people who attended the meeting.

They were there to talk about The Stella, the affordable housing units planned for the old convent on the Nazareth Hospital property at 2723 Holme Ave. When the HCCA last met in November, Columbus Property Management shared plans to turn convent into 44 affordable housing units for veterans. continue reading »

The Northwood Civic Association voted no on a variance request to operate a commercial business in a residential property. Image/Google Maps

At the Northwood Civic Association meeting Jan. 15, the civic voted to not support the request for a variance for 5260 Castor Ave.  The owner, Hazel Williams, was represented by her attorney Michael Etkin at the meeting.

continue reading »