We did a little consulting before running this one, worried we’re being too hard on news outlets that appear not to own maps or computers.

But friends in the neighborhood and the local media told us to persevere. A mistake is a mistake, after all, and we’ve corrected this one multiple times.

It’s the curious case of Frankford, in which large media outlets apply their lack of neighborhood knowledge to news reports by calling places Frankford. continue reading »

An area of green space on Griscom Street adjacent to a vacant property. These areas are targets of the PhillyRising Collaborative in Frankford. Photo by Pamela Seaton.

This is the second of a two-part look at revitalization in Frankford. You can read the first part here.

In the early 20th century, Frankford was a bustling neighborhood. With a growing middle-class population, it attracted residents from throughout the tri-state area, many of whom shopped at the popular businesses on Frankford Avenue.

In the 1950s, however, it lost a large amount of its population due to a great number of Philadelphians moving to the suburbs. White flight became a major problem in the 1970s and by 1990, more than 30 percent of the storefronts on Frankford Avenue were vacant, with more becoming vacant as the years went by.

Janice McDuffy, a former resident of Frankford for more than 11 years, witnessed Frankford’s downslide firsthand.

“When I lived there as a kid, it didn’t seem so dirty and there weren’t so many abandoned houses and businesses,” McDuffy said. “On the block where I used to live, there are now two empty lots that used to be homes. People dump their trash there.”

“All of Frankford is dirty and filled with litter . . . it’s a mess,” McDuffy said.

McDuffy said she quickly realized that there was a lack of economic opportunity in Frankford and moved out of the neighborhood after graduating from college, pursuing a law degree and an acting career. She said she hopes her family can move out of Frankford as quickly as possible.

“They [her family] couldn’t open a business in the future, if they wanted to . . . just look at all of the vacancies on Frankford Avenue,” McDuffy said.

“I don’t know why Frankford has deteriorated so drastically, but it’s a shame.”

Fortunately for McDuffy’s family and other Frankford residents, a few local organizations in Frankford are working to revitalize the neighborhood, including the PhillyRising Collaborative, the Frankford Special Services District and the Frankford Community Development Corporation. continue reading »

Photo of the Market-Frankford Line by Kirsten Stamn

This is the first of a two-part look at revitalization efforts in Frankford.

For the residents of Frankford, neighborhood revitalization efforts are nothing new.

The once thriving historic community has fallen on hard times and has succumbed to blight in the past few decades, evidenced by the empty storefronts, the graffiti and trash that decorate the street, and the lack of pedestrians going out and buying wares from the local shops.

Business is not booming, that much is clear. But the bigger problem is no matter how many programs have come through the area, not much has changed for the people who still linger in the area.

“We’ve been going over this since the ‘80s,” said Gilbert Pons, owner of Gilbert’s Upholstery. “I hope there’s change.” continue reading »

Toy drive photo by Flickr user tyner_slay

Two toy drives will benefit Frankford this holiday season, and you can begin dropping items off now.

Sen. Christine Tartaglione has announced her Toys for Tots collection for her constituents, including Frankford residents. Anyone wishing to donate a toy can drop it off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Tartaglione’s offices, including the one at 1061 Bridge St. continue reading »

Father Judge had a hazmat situation earlier this week. Which means mainstream media just discovered the school and tried to figure out what neighborhood it’s in.

That’d be Holmesburg. You know, where there are Holmesburg flags flying from telephone poles.

Kudos to our reader Mark Hanna, who spotted Fox29′s ridiculous error. The large media outlets jumped all over this story (were they there Thanksgiving week when Judge students helped break ground on a renovation project at Ramp playground?) Maybe spending some time in Holmesburg outside of the hazmat situation and methadone clinic might help. continue reading »

Friday – Police have some questions for a man found in Frankford Friday night with firearms and grenades, according to a West Frankford Town Watch alert. Responders arrived on the 1300-block of Harrison Street for a fire alarm call when they found a suspicious man and discovered the weapons. Bomb squad officers determined the grenades are inactive. continue reading »

It’s pretty clear at this point big media outlets aren’t putting in the work it takes to discern a neighborhood from a street.

So that non of us has to do work, may we suggest that the city just expand Frankford to include everything on Frankford Avenue?

The southern-most Frankford border along the avenue is at the Torresdale Avenue intersection — 3.3. miles away, you’ll find the 1500- and 1700- blocks of Frankford Avenue. continue reading »

Ramon Rodriguez/image courtesy of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Police in the 15th District are asking for the public’s help in locating a man who went missing last night.

Ramon Rodriguez was last seen just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday at his home on the 4300-block of Penn Street. Authorities say he suffers from schizophrenia. continue reading »

Before the Frankford Civic Association meeting got started Thursday, zoning officer Pete Specos had an announcement.

Alice Henry will withdraw from the board for personal reasons, with Specos taking the helm. Henry joined the board as vice president in January. continue reading »

The School District of Philadelphia recommends grade reconfigurations for Stearne School in Frankford and Lawton School in Wissinoming.

The School District of Philadelphia announced at Wednesday School Reform Commission meeting the recommended closure of nine city schools and reconfigurations to 17 others.

None of those closures are meant for Northeast schools, but two are part of the grade reconfigurations outlined in the district’s facilities master plan. Though specific plans for the schools haven’t been made clear, Henry W. Lawton School in Wissinoming and Allen M. Stearne School in Frankford both need reconfigurations, according to the district. continue reading »