Columnist Stacey McCarthy has the week off. Today, we’re running her post from this time last year.

Q: I am so excited! I make settlement on my first home in Holme Circle on Friday and I don’t know how to get the bills in my name. I want to make sure I have all my bases covered, so I want to call the utility companies asap. Who do I need to call? And will the seller’s bills already be paid off?

A: Congratulations! Owning your first home is very exciting. One thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is the seller’s utility pay-offs. The title company you use to make settlement will make sure the seller’s utility bills are paid up. 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 Rev. Charles Engelhardt and former parochial school teacher Bernard Shero were convicted in the abuse of the same altar boy at St. Jerome’s parish in Holme Circle in the late 1990s. 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 »

Plans for affordable housing for vets was the topic at a crowded Holme Circle Civic Association meeting Nov. 28. Photo/Shannon McDonald

“This meeting is going to pot.”

It was 8:49 p.m. Wednesday and Holme Circle residents had just spent nearly two hours listening to details of a plan to convert the old Sisters of Nazareth convent into affordable housing. The soon-to-be property owners had trickled out and residents had begun to carry on sidebar conversations as Holme Circle Civic Association President Joe Razler called everyone back to order.

It had been a long two hours, as residents asked repeated questions about the project – which does not need a zoning variance – that the four representative from Columbus Property Management struggled to answer effectively.

The convent is adjacent to but separate from Nazareth Hospital at 2723 Holme Ave. The hospital president will address the plan at the next HCCA meeting in January, but told residents last night, “we have nothing to say about it.”

But Holme Circle residents, joined by representatives from the Ashton Square and Winchester Park civic associations, had plenty to say. Namely, they were concerned about CPM’s inability to guarantee that the 44 new housing units will be reserved for veterans. continue reading »

The Northeast Community Center on Holme Avenue was scheduled for sheriff’s sale Tueday. Image/Google Maps

The Northeast Community Center at 2840 Holme Ave. was scheduled for a sheriff’s sale on Tuesday, according to its executive director, Stan Cohen.

The center owes $1.1 million to TD Bank that the center borrowed to build an addition, and the lender has foreclosed, Cohen said.

If the center is sold and eventually  closes, its 900 members and several local organizations will be unable to use its large pool, gym or fitness room and youngsters won’t be able to take part in its pre-school and after-school programs.

Read the rest of this story from the Northeast Times

A tree blocks traffic and part of a home on Cresco Avenue near Rhawn Street. Photo/Lucia Volpe

Sandy blew through Philadelphia Monday with fierce winds and heavy rain. Though the city escaped relatively unscathed, the storm left residents with clean-up duties. Trees that couldn’t withstand the wind are now strewn across roads and in yards, and have left many without electricity.

After a tree branch came crashing into the side of Sally Manners’ house at 9:30 p.m. Monday, she said she was worried about waking up Tuesday morning to find extensive damage to her home. continue reading »

Q: I’m looking for a home around Holme Circle for a decent price. I have been into many homes I might have considered buying if they weren’t such a mess. Why do people selling homes think I might want to buy their dirty house?

A: What can I say? Some sellers don’t realize how important a clean, clutter-free house is to their bottom line. Obviously, buyers like you are a prime example why they need to keep it clean at all times or risk actually selling their home. continue reading »

Monsignor William Lynn, the former Philadelphia Archdiocese official convicted of child endangerment for failing to prevent other priests from sexually abusing children, will remain in jail for the foreseeable future.

Lynn’s attorneys tried and failed to get their client out on bail pending his appeal in the case. Attorney Jeff Lindy says Judge Teresa Sarmina really wasn’t inclined to give his client any degree of freedom during the appeal process. continue reading »

Philadelphia has been plagued in recent weeks by a rash of water main breaks in its aging system. Here, new water mains crisscross at 21st and Bainbridge streets. (Emma Jacobs/WHYY)

An entire intersection is missing at 21st and Bainbridge streets in Southwest Center City where part of a major water main was blown out almost two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, city officials are investigating the fourth water main break in less than two weeks. With 3,200 miles of water pipes, the Philadelphia Water Department usually has just one big break like this a year. continue reading »