Holmesburg Civic Association President Fred Moore (foreground) speaks about proposed legislation for narcotics treatment facilities. Background from left: Mayfair Civic Association Joe DeFelice, 6th District City Council candidate Bobby Henon, State Rep. Kevin Boyle, Sen. Mike Stack. Photo by Bill Achuff

As Holmesburg awaits a Zoning Board decision on a proposed methadone clinic, legislators and neighborhood leaders gathered today on Frankford Avenue to announce their plans for the regulation of narcotics treatment facilities.

Championed by Rep. Kevin Boyle and Sen. Mike Stack, an amendment to a 1972 act would require more scrutiny of proposed narcotics programs like the one slated for the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.

“The proposed facility in my district would have a significant impact on the neighborhood. Many community leaders and residents have come together to fight against the proposed clinic,” Boyle said. “This legislation would provide the tools necessary to fight back against such a situation happening elsewhere in Philadelphia and across the state.” 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 »

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 »

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

Dennis Kulp and Carl Primavera were booed at a meeting last night to discuss a methadone clinic in Holmesburg, but neither was around to hear it.

Primavera is the attorney for Healing Way, Inc., which has plans to open a methadone clinic at 7900 Frankford Ave. Kulp owns the property.

As the meeting at Lincoln High School got started last night, Mayfair Civic Association President Joe DeFelice announced Kulp had emailed him earlier in the day to say he’d been advised by his attorney not to attend the meeting in case it should interfere with future litigation. Primavera hasn’t answered any attempts to reach him.

DeFelice and Holmeburg Civic Association President Fred Moore cohosted the meeting, which drew an estimated 750 people to the school’s auditorium, and featured guest speakers 6th District Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, 5th District Sen. Mike Stack, 173rd District Rep. Mike McGeehan, 172nd District Rep. Kevin Boyle, 202nd District Rep. Mark Cohen and Karen Grumankin, who presented a letter written by Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz. continue reading »

People lined up outside Guppies Childcare Center last week to sign petitions and T-shirts in opposition of a methadone clinic on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.

Organizers are expecting more than 500 people at tonight’s meeting to discuss a methadone clinic set to open on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg.

The two-hour meeting at Lincoln High School is organized by the Holmesburg Civic Association, Mayfair Civic Association, Mayfair Business Association and Mayfair Community Development Corp., sparked by public opposition to the clinic.

A panel of speakers will address the issue before taking questions from guests. continue reading »

Hundreds attended a rally last week to express opposition to a methadone clinic on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.

Councilwoman Joan Krajewski’s office announced earlier this month plans to appeal the city permits that would allow Healing Way, Inc. to open a methadone clinic on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.

An update came today from staffer Linda Lawrence, who says Krajewski’s request for an Aug. 31 hearing with the Zoning Board of Adjustment has been met. The hearing, open to the public, will be on the 18th floor of 1515 Arch St. at 1 p.m. continue reading »

People lined up outside Guppies Childcare Center Tuesday to sign petitions and T-shirts in opposition of a methadone clinic on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.

As the sun beat down and the skies darkened to the north with the threat of rain Tuesday evening, Milt Martelack stood in the bed of a pickup truck, leading the crowd.

“Just say no to methadone,” the crowd cheered, speaking out against an addiction treatment clinic planned on the avenue by Healing Way, Inc.

Hundreds of people were chanting as cars whizzed up and down Frankford Avenue and police officers reminded those at the rally to stay out of the street. Residents and business owners of Holmesburg, Upper Holmesburg, Mayfair and beyond gathered to rally against the opening of a methadone clinic at 7908 Frankford Ave., across the street from schools and a daycare center.

“Can you imagine having to walk my 18-year-old son to the bus stop?” Sonia Latouche asked. Her son takes the 66 bus to school, waiting for it on the corner of Frankford Avenue and Decatur Street, where the clinic is set to open.

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Update July 19: As of today, the Holmesburg, Upper Holmesburg, Mayfair, Tacony, Holme Circle and Morrell Park civic associations have expressed opposition to the location of the clinic.

Update from Krajewski’s office, July 15: Councilwoman Joan Krajewski has appealed the city permits, and is awaiting notification of a hearing date with the Zoning Board of Adjustment. That hearing will be open to the public, and could result in a second hearing if the ZBA determines this situation requires further review.

Linda Lawrence of Krajewski’s office says the initial permit application submitted to the city was for a “medical office,” but the applicant’s true intentions for the property have since come to light.

Both Boyle’s and Krajewski’s offices confirm the permit obtained is legal, but the fight against the methadone clinic is a quality-of-life one, not a legal one.

For the better part of the past two weeks , my staff and I have been vigorously working with city and state agencies and other elected officials to confirm reports that the property at 7908 Frankford Ave. is intended to be a methadone clinic. It is my responsibility to inform you that indeed the Pennsylvania Department of Health has received an application for a narcotic treatment facility from Healing Way at that address. The power to issue a license now rests with the state Department of Health.

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Vacant houses like the one across the street from 6th District Council candidate Sandy Stewart in Tacony prompt concerns about absentee landlords.

This is the third in a three-part series covering the 6th District Council race. You can read part 2 here. You can read Part 1 here.

As Philadelphia’s City Council braces for the biggest turnover in 20 years, residents of the 6th District will not have to worry about an unknown face elected into office.

The three candidates running for the seat in City Council all have strong connections with their communities and the district as a whole. continue reading »