Frankford Civic: No enforcement because ‘this is Frankford’

Tag Brian Wisniewski

Frankford Civic Association executive board votes ‘No’ on the Bridge 15

May6

The Frankford Civic Association voted Thursday night to write a letter of opposition to the city’s Zoning Board, asking it to deny a zoning variance for the development of a new facility for the Bridge, a school for boys suffering from drug, alcohol and behavioral issues.

“We’ve been just overwhelmed with drug-related facilities, so we need to say ‘no’ because we’re the closest civic,” said association president Brian Wisniewski, referencing tumult over whether the local Frankford, Northwood or Juniata neighborhood group had the authority to vote on the facility. “At first, the Bridge wanted to go to Juniata but they got together with Northwood to try to bum rush Frankford… We have something to say too.”

Frankford Civic Association meeting ends in shouts, accusations and no vote on the Bridge 29

Apr8

The two and a half hour Frankford Civic Association meeting that started 20 minutes late and ended with heated conversation on the controversy of the moment in that beleaguered neighborhood didn’t feature a single vote.

Local opinion of plans for the Bridge, a celebrated, four-decades-old, adolescent residential treatment facility, to develop a campus on a nine-acre plot of nearby land along Adams Avenue, is split between pragmatic support for a known entity and firm opposition for any more recovery programs in the neighborhood. To develop the property, the Bridge will need a variance from the city’s Zoning Board, which can be influenced by neighborhood group opinion.

After spilling into inaction, Barry Howell, president of the Northwood Civic Association, told reporters that on Monday he was going to sign a neighborhood agreement with Bridge representatives.

Frankford Civic Association: April 7 meeting on proposed Bridge school for boys 1

Mar4

Whether a school for troubled boys is a stable, controlled business to fill a trash-strewn vacant lot or a new draw for outside people recovering from addiction was the central focus of the Frankford Civic Association meeting Thursday night.

At next month’s meeting, to be held April 7, residents are encouraged to attend to ask questions and ultimately vote on supporting the Bridge along Adams Avenue, as first discussed at a public meeting last month.

“I’m torn,” said new President Brian Wisniewski. “The school has a lot of outpatient services…but the Bridge seems like a responsible facility.”

Frankford Friends expansion gets neighborhood civic association OK 1

Sep10

Joe Hohenstein, the clerk of the Frankford Friends School board committee and a 1979 graduate, discussing expansion plans at the Sept. 9, 2010 Frankford Civic Association meeting.

Updated: 9/10/10 @ 3:56 p.m.

A $1.6 million expansion project that would remake the capacity of a fixture of Frankford was given approval Thursday night by the neighborhood’s civic group.

The Frankford Friends School, at the corner of Penn and Orthodox streets, would see a modern, single-floor, multi-use, 32-foot additional building constructed east of its historic 1833-era school house if the city’s zoning commission approves a change to the property’s zoning distinction.