The Mayfair and Holmesburg civic associations, state and local politicians and neighbors gathered against yesterday to protest the methadone clinic proposed on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue at Decatur Street.

Neighbors opposed the clinic Healing Way, Inc., wants to open based on the applicant’s apparent lack of qualifications to run such a facility, and the facility’s proximity to schools and other family centers. continue reading »

Northwood Civic Association President Barry Howell discusses the Frankford Y at the Sept. 20, 2011 meeting.

If action isn’t made on the historic Frankford Y, “it needs to be leveled before something awful happens there,” said Northwood Civic Association President Barry Howell Tuesday night.

“It is becoming dilapidated, and kids are starting to hang out there doing drugs and causing trouble,” Howell said at the civic group’s monthly meeting at St. James Church on Castor Avenue. “It won’t be long until someone breaks into the door and bad things are going to happen.”

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Tacony Civic Association board member Lou Iatarola reviews zoning matters at the September 2011 meeting.

Lou Iataroloa had less than an hour to zip through a dozen active zoning issues in Tacony at Tuesday’s civic association meeting.

Before 15th District Capt. Frank Bachmayer took the floor at 8 p.m. for his town hall meeting, the association board had an hour to review old business, new business and upcoming meetings.

The zoning issues involved a variety of issues, including illegal duplexes and auto body shops. The rundown Iatarola, a TCA board member, is below. For pending permits and variances, neighbors living within 500 feet of the properties in question will receive a notice prior to the TCA’s meeting and the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing. continue reading »

Photo from Bill Green's Facebook page.

City Council will address the zoning code reform this session, looking to pass the changes that have been in the works for years.

Councilman-at-large Bill Green has issued a memo outlining 10 amendments he wants made to the new code to impact the way it’s implemented. One amendment in particular deals with an ongoing issue in Holmesburg.

If the methadone clinic proposed for the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue had been proposed after these amendments were in place, here’s the way Green sees the process going: continue reading »

At a July rally, neighbors protested a proposed methadone clinic on Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg

“The Zoning Board of Adjustment will take three weeks to announce their decision on whether to revoke the permit for the proposed methadone clinic in my district,” State Rep. Kevin Boyle said after today’s hearing.

Neighbors joined politicians today in Center City as Councilwoman Joan Krajewski led the appeal on the clinic’s over-the-counter permits for a facility on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg. continue reading »

An estimated 750 people attended a meeting at Lincoln High School to protest the methadone clinic proposed for the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg.

A bus will depart Lincoln High School at noon tomorrow, carrying residents from Holmesburg, Mayfair and beyond to Center City, where a hotly contested methadone clinic will come under review at the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and others are expected to ask the city to remove the proposed clinic’s over-the-counter permit and prevent it from operating at Frankford Avenue and Decatur Street. continue reading »

UPDATE – The property at the center of Saturday’s shooting in Mayfair, as well as other neighboring properties, has been brought to the attention of the city and state and municipal politicians. These properties have a history of complaints against them. We’ll have more information for you as the story develops.

Saturday – A man was found shot in Mayfair early Saturday morning on the 6300-block of Frankford Avenue. According to reports and accounts from neighbors, the man was shot multiple times in a home on the 3100-block of Levick Street. He was taken to Aria Health-Torresdale after being found on the Avenue. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of theomnivorenow.blogspot.com.

Nicole DiZio, owner of Wit or Witout cheesesteaks, has been crowned a champion.

DiZio won the Guy Fieri Cheesesteak Battle in Atlantic City last week after she and cheesesteak chefs from PYT Philly, Sack O’ Subs, Bradley’s Steaks & Hoagies and Tony Boloney went head to head in a contest. continue reading »

UPDATE — At the Sept. 13 Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, the vote for the new bylaws, which included the expansion of the boundaries, was approved by the voting membership.  The vote was unanimous.

Following a meeting between the Holmesburg and Mayfair civic association boards, the two groups have decided the HCA will expand its coverage to include the area east of Frankford Avenue to the Delaware River between Sheffield Street and Cottman Avenue.

This area was previously not covered by any community organization. The HCA’s executive board has been revising its bylaws to incorporate the extra blocks, and those bylaws will be voted on by members in September. continue reading »

An estimated 750 people attended a meeting at Lincoln High School last Tuesday to get information about the methadone clinic proposed for the 7900-block of Frankford Ave.

As promised at last week’s meeting to discuss the proposed methadone clinic in Holmesburg, sign-ups have begun for the bus that will take residents to the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing to protest the clinic.

Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and State Rep. Mike McGeehan released a flier yesterday, encouraging interested parties to register for a spot on the bus. continue reading »