Part of the Tacony Town Watch patrols has become reporting suspected prostitution to police. Photo/Jessica Lopez

Fourteen years ago, Joe Nicoletti made the decision to come back to his roots in Tacony where family settled in the 1890s from Italy. Nicoletti wanted to start a family with his wife and grow old together.

“Someone told me the neighborhood isn’t what it used to be so I decided to get involved,” Nicoletti said. “You’d be surprised what you don’t know is happening in your neighborhood after one in the morning.”

On a recent Friday evening, Nicoletti and five other citizens met in a designated parking lot along Frankford Avenue. The Tacony Town Watch members discussed their concern over the recent racially driven graffiti on the Tacony Train Station before dividing themselves into three teams of two and setting off in their cars to their respective patrol areas.

“The Northeast is being plagued with a hodgepodge of issues, and that includes narcotics and prostitution,” Nicoletti said. continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski breaks the news to members that the Philadelphia Housing Authority has not settled on development plans for Liddonfield. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Upper Holmesburg residents holding their breath to find out what will occupy the site of the former Liddonfield Homes are in danger of turning blue.

When members left last month’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, they expected to learn at the April meeting what proposal the Philadelphia Housing Authority would approve for redevelopment of the property on the 8800-block of Torresdale Avenue. No such luck. continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg residents have decided to pass for now on a chance to build a playground at Pennypack Street and Frankford Avenue.

Stan Cywinski needed to act quickly. When the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association president received a call from KaBOOM!, the playground-building organization told Cywinski if the neighborhood wanted a new playground, a decision had to be made — and soon.

With a Friday deadline, Cywinski made the matter a top priority at Thursday’s UHCA meeting.

KaBOOM! had reached out to the UHCA to offer to help build a playground, like the organization has done in many cities. Citing the progress with KaBOOM! at the Mayfair Memorial Playground, Cywinski thought the opportunity seemed like a good one, and he had just the spot: the unused space on the 4300-block of Pennypack Street at Frankford Avenue.

But the residents had already discussed other uses for this space at previous meetings with the City Planning Commission, so Cywinski decided if the property is going to have a playground, it should be the “membership’s call.” continue reading »

At a February meeting, Upper Holmesburg residents identified areas that need improvements or enhancements.

Four months’ worth of work came together Thursday night at the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association, where the City Planning Commission unveiled its “Neighborhood Goals and Strategies Report” for neighborhood development and improvement.

The report is based on the efforts of the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association, the Planning Commission and neighborhood planning team and the 100-plus residents who attended meetings to share their ideas for the neighborhood.

“It’s just amazing what we did here,” UHCA board zoning officer Paul Definis said.” Definis, along with others, has been involved with deciding what Upper Holmesburg would like to see come out of the Planning Commission’s proposals, which are part of the city’s larger Phila2035 plan. continue reading »

With the help of the City Planning Commission, PHA and Philadelphia Sports Zone, Upper Holmesburg residents identify areas of note and trouble in their neighborhood that could be improved with better planning. Nearly 100 people attended the meeting.

Last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting drew nearly 100 people, as representatives from the Planning Commission and Public Housing Authority were scheduled to speak.

Ian Litwin, the Commission’s community planner for parts of the Northeast, was the highlighted guest, as the meeting is the first of many to address how Upper Holmesburg fits into the Philadelphia2035 plan.

But five representatives from PHA also stopped by to hear concerns, specifically regarding Liddonfield. The low-income development has been demolished, but residents want to know what’s coming next.

PHA has “no commitments to do anything at the site,” said Michael Johns, head of community planning design at PHA. Johns faced many questions from residents about what’s planned for the Liddonfield property and what will happen in the meantime. continue reading »

Edward Vassallo of OEM

It is possible to be organized in an emergency. So long as you’ve planned ahead.

At last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, Edward Vassallo of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management gave useful tips for how to prepare for an emergency that may call for an evacuation or shelter in place. He cited Tuesday’s explosion in Tacony as the type of event resident need to be ready for. continue reading »

A portion of property proposed for a sports complex in Upper Holmesburg

In what would be the first of its kind in the nation, the Philadelphia Sports Zone, along with several local leaders and Italy’s AC Milan, are proposing a sports complex development in Upper Holmesburg.

The complex, designed for the east side of Tolbut Street and Torresdale Avenue, would boast fields and courts for basketball, baseball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, flag football and primarily, soccer. (Photo of the rendering is below.) continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg Civic Association Zoning Officer Paul DeFinis leads the zoning discussion at the March meeting.

Auto-related businesses were the focus of last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, with zoning issues being the highlight of the 90-minute gathering.

Zoning Officer Paul DeFinis began the zoning portion of the evening with 8301 Torresdale Ave., whose occupants are seeking to legalize the many auto-related businesses in the industrialized area. continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski announced he will step down in 2010 to allow for "new blood."

The final 2009 meeting of the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association was a short one. About 20 people gathered in St. Dominic’s Marian Hall for the 30-minute holiday meeting.

Much of the focus was on the upcoming year, which will begin with board elections at the January meeting. Nominations began last night, when three-year President Stan Cywinski announced he’ll step down and serve the Association in another capacity.

“It’s healthy for an organization to have these changes,” said Cywinski, who earlier said it’s time for “new blood.” continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski discusses zoning issues. Photo by Christopher Wink.

Presidents from two other Northeast civic associations addressed the Upper Holmesburg civic about what they say is becoming a big problem in the area: neglect from the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Lou Iatarola of the Tacony Civic Association and Sean McAleer from the Holme Circle Civic Association, shared their neighborhoods’ experiences with the zoning board, as requested by Upper Holmesburg President Stan Cywinski, who said the zoning board needs a change. continue reading »