Q: I really want to buy a home in the Northeast but the absolute most I can afford is $100,000. I really don’t want a fixer-upper or anything that “needs TLC.” What can I get for that price and where should I be looking?

A:  In the Multiple Listing Service Trend, there are 268 homes listed for sale today in Northeast Philadelphia for $100,000 and under. Out of those homes, there are 116 active listings that are noted as “Average +” continue reading »

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office has filed charges against a Castor Gardens man for lying about a home invasion and the circumstances of his wife’s death.

Judith Hartdegen, 74, died Monday in the couple’s home on the 6700-block of Castor Avenue. Her husband Lou, 75, who suffered injuries, told police they couple had been victims of a home invasion perpetrated by a neighbor.

Police announced Tuesday that Lou Hartdegen had later confessed to killing his wife during an argument. Hartdegen is charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime, abuse of a corpse, false reports, unsworn falsifying and aggravated indecent assault. He is being held without bail.

Image/Online-Utility

Castor Gardens is taking steps to prevent an issue many Northeast neighborhoods deal with – truck parking.

The large trucks parked on residential streets that block views and act as an eyesore are a perennial problem brought up at civic association meetings, including the Take Back Your Neighborhood meetings in Castor Gardens. continue reading »

Two Castor Gardens residents are among Temple University students awarded scholarships. Photo/Temple University

Carlos Denos and Lauren Lam, residents of Castor Gardens, each received a surprise $12,000 scholarship earlier this month from Temple University.  They’re both second-year students and are studying Sport and Recreation Management and Tourism and Hospitality Management, respectively. continue reading »

In less than 24 hours, a business was damaged and two people were killed in separate accidents along two very different parts of Bustleton Avenue.

Charges were filed Wednesday against 33-year-old Mayfair resident Robert Bregenzer. His bail is set at $500,000 and he’s due in court in two weeks for DUI, homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, simple assault and reckless endangerment of another person charges [updated Nov. 14, 3 p.m.]. continue reading »

Image/ Philadelphia City Planning Commission

There are two weeks left to comment on the draft plan for the Lower Northeast Planning District.

Presented at an August open house, the plan lays out long- and short-term goals for transportation, greenways, public health and other neighborhood factors in Frankford, Northwood, Summerdale, Lawncrest, Oxford Circle and part of Castor Gardens.

The comment period began in late August following a presentation to the City Planning Commission, and will close Oct. 1. Comments should be sent to ian.litwin [AT] phila [DOT] gov.

 Realtor Stacey McCarthy is off this week and will return next week with a new column. This installment of Real NEastate was originally published in August 2011.

Q: I sold my house in Castor Gardens and I’m moving to North Carolina for a job, but I will still be working here until January. I can’t afford to be saddled down with a year lease here and I have too much stuff to move into an apartment. Can I rent a house for five or six months? I have to be out of my home by the end of the month.

A: If it wasn’t such a good rental market it might be easier to find a short-term lease agreement for a house. Home rentals are in high demand right now and there are few available in the area. You might have to do some searching to find someone who will accept less-than-a-year lease but it’s not totally impossible. You should check with your realtor, newspaper listings or Craigslist for rentals and ask around. continue reading »

Image/Philadelphia City Planning Commission

One of many things on the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s agenda Tuesday is a review of the Lower Northeast District Plan.

Residents of Frankford, Northwood, Summerdale, Lawncrest, Oxford Circle and Castor Gardens got a preview last week of the plan that will be presented at the afternoon meeting in Center City. continue reading »

Image/Philadelphia City Planning Commission

In the lobby of a building filled with innovators, residents of the Lower Northeast District planning area gathered Tuesday to see the highlights of four months’ worth of ideas for Frankford, Summerdale, Lawncrest, Northwood, Oxford Circle and part of Castor Gardens.

The third and final public meeting for the planning district was set up as an open house at Frankford’s Globe Dye Works for residents to review the highlight of a plan that will be presented to the Philadelphia Planning Commission later this month. At the first two meetings, participants worked with city planners to identify their neighborhoods’ strength and weaknesses and develop suggestions for improvement. Transit, greenery and connectivity were themes that came up frequently.

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The third and final planning meeting for the Lower Northeast District is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 7 at Globe Dye Works [map] in Frankford.

The first two meetings – held in April and June – called on residents, business owners and other invested community members to talk about their visions for Frankford, Northwood, Lawncrest, Summerdale, Oxford Circle and part of Castor Gardens. continue reading »