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CENTER CITY QUARTERLY Newsletter of the Center City Residents' Association Vol. 10 No. 1 Spring 2019 Contents It’s Academic It’s Academic Trinity Playgroup Celebrates 50 Years .................... 1 Greenfield School tudentsS Raise Thousands Trinity Playgroup Celebrates 50 Years for Six Nonprofits ........................................................... 5 in the Fitler Square Community Philadelphia School Partnership Offers Programs By Susan Souffie, TPG Board President and Services to Support Education ......................15 Walk by the corner of 22nd and Spruce in with rector Charles Penniman, formed Town Square 2018: A Year of Accomplishments, with the 8 – 9 a.m. weekday hour and you’re a small co-operative where children Thanks to Our Members and Sponsors ................ 2 sure to see a child or two eagerly skipping could play together. This early form of PROTECT&ELECT Presents an up to that big red door, green lunch bag daycare was established as a program for Educational Forum ......................................................15 in hand, with parent, grandmom or nanny the growing number of children in the President’s Report a few steps behind, waiting to be buzzed neighborhood, and primarily served the A Brief History of My Life in Center City ................ 3 inside for another fun-filled day of learning families with a stay-at-home parent—in Dining Scene and play. Much of what goes on inside those days, moms. One of the main A Treasure Hunt for Quiet Spots to has been preciously preserved through a concerns of the founders was to provide Dine and Talk ................................................................... 7 love of tradition and a mission to serve the a way for moms to get a break from their City Lit community for the past 50 years. kids—a progressive idea for the time. It also PCI Library Annual Book Sale To Be gave children a chance to play together and Held in May ...................................................................... 7 A Brief Look Back form early friendships in the neighborhood Lives of Libraries – Complex, It all began in 1969, when five families rather than being isolated at home. Evolving, Essential .......................................................19 from Trinity Memorial Church, together Continued p. 4 Out & About Ethical Society Sends City Kids to Camp for Free ................................................................. 9 Bet on Us! Casino Night in CCRAville ....................20 CCStreetwise Getting from Here to There: Transit First in Philadelphia ......................................10 Continued p. 2 To Your Health Penn’s Village Health Pals Helps Members Navigate the Healthcare System ............................13 Shop Talk CCRA Business Member Directory ........................17 What’s Going On CCRA Spring Calendar—Get Out! .........................19 CENTER CITY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 1900 Market Street, 8th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-546-6719 Chris Kircher, Metcalfe Architecture & Design Metcalfe Chris Kircher, [email protected] Schimmel V. Lynne www.centercityresidents.org The Rev. Charles Penniman, July 1970 Town Square 2018: A Year of Accomplishments, with Many Thanks to Our Members and Sponsors By Maggie Mund, CCRA President CCRA’s board and staff would like to say a Licenses and Inspections. Following the CCRA worked closely with the Philadelphia BIG THANK YOU to all who supported us in meeting, which included affected neighbors, Police Department to identify problems on the past year of change and progress. It’s hard L&I initiated efforts to stop the over-rental 15th Street between Spruce and Chestnut. to stay one step ahead of legislation, public of the property and limit its use to those As a result of our cooperation, including safety and quality-of-life issues that impact permitted by the Code. In 2019, CCRA hosting concerned-citizen forums, the our neighborhood, but with your help we had distributed a survey for its members to assess Police Department increased the number of many successes. Below is just a short summary any issues related to limited lodging. officers stationed along that part of the 15th of accomplishments for the year. Street corridor. Sponsors CCRA teamed with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association to lobby local, CCRA served on several Vision Zero task Lead Sponsor - William Penn House state and federal officials to pressure CSX forces to discuss concerns and mitigate any AMC Delancey to reduce the frequency of trains idling next issues related to the bike lanes on the following AT&T to Schuylkill River Park. CCRA worked streets in our neighborhood: Spruce, Pine, Boyds, L.P. with both U.S. Senators Pat Toomey and Lombard, South, Market and JFK Blvd. CCRA Brandywine Realty Trust Bob Casey, the City’s Managing Director also troubleshot several issues related to the Clemens Construction and Law Office, and the federal Surface Big Bellies in the neighborhood, working with Firstrust Bank Transportation Board to pressure CSX to end the Streets Department and local businesses. Republic Bank its idling practices. As a result, the number Robin Apartments and frequency of idling trains has been In collaboration with the Bethesda Project, Southern Land Company dramatically reduced, enhancing the qualify CCRA addressed homelessness in the City Trident Mortgage of life for neighbors living by and near the of Philadelphia. Last year, CCRA sponsored Independence Blue Cross Park, and allowing all to enjoy the Park free a successful Valentine’s Day dinner, “Hearts Special Thanks to: from train noise and obstruction. for the Homeless,” that fed over 40 men at St. DiBruno Bros. Mary’s Church, 18th and Bainbridge. Devon Seafood Grill CCRA has also been diligent in supporting Veda Restaurant neighborhood concerns about growth and CCRA partnered with the Markward development throughout 2018. CCRA’s zoning Recreation Center Advisory Council to host In May, CCRA held a public meeting committee heard 30 cases through September. two free outdoor family movie nights at addressing our residents’ many concerns about Over 80 percent of their recommendations the recreation center. Audiences enjoyed the reassessment process and how to appeal. were upheld at the Zoning Board of screenings of Inside Out and Black Panther A panel consisting of Michael Piper (Chief Adjustment. This is an enviable track record under the stars on beautiful October evenings. Assessment Officer for the OPA), Salima and a testament to their professionalism. Cunningham (Communication Coordinator, CCRA administers the Schuylkill River Park OPA), and attorney Stewart Weintraub fielded CCRA joined with neighborhood groups Community Garden ((25th and Lombard), questions from a packed audience. (who are paying for legal fees), on legal through a very active Steering Committee. appeals to the ZBA on two rulings, which With space in the garden dedicated to the City As part of the Crosstown Coalition, CCRA were in conflict with existing provisions of Harvest program, as well as more than 30 also distributed a handbook, How to Appeal the Zoning Code. One appeal was decided in individual gardeners’ volunteering space your Real Estate Tax Assessment, and testified CCRA and the neighbors’ favor; the other is in their plots for C.H. produce, in 2018 we in favor of Bill 171009, which provides relief pending appeal. were able to donate 1,164 pounds of fresh for taxpayers who appealed their reassessments vegetables, herbs, and fruit to help food- in 2018. It suspends interest and penalties for CCRA has been active in ensuring we challenged Philadelphians. those who timely pay their tax as computed maintain the livability and character of Center on the prior 2017 assessment and also timely City. CCRA initiated a Near Neighbors Finally, CCRA’s 2018 Annual Meeting pay the assessment determined via the appeal Pilot Program to allow applicants for zoning featured a panel with Anne Fadullon (Director process. The Bill passed after CCRA’er Jeff variances to meet with neighbors prior to of Philadelphia Department of Planning Braff, wearing a Crosstown Coalition hat, making a formal presentation to CCRA’s and Development), Jon Geeting (Director testified in the Bill’s favor and Crosstown Zoning Committee. We are facilitating of Engagement for Philly 3.0) and Paul Coalition representatives visited 15 Council dialogue between stakeholders with the goal Steinke (Executive Director of the chambers last November in support of the Bill. of increasing transparency, understanding Preservation Alliance for Greater objections from neighbors and reducing costs Philadelphia), to discuss growth and In response to neighbor complaints about a through better visibility of applications. After development in Center City. Pulitzer Prize- local non-compliant Airbnb, CCRA initiated a Pilot meeting in October, we are refining the winning architecture critic Inga Saffron of the a meeting with the city’s Department of process to better serve the neighborhood. Philadelphia Inquirer served as moderator. Page 2 Center City Quarterly | Spring 2019 CCRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President’s Report Maggie Mund ........................................ President Donna Cordner.............Executive Vice President A Brief History of My Life in Center City Philippa Campbell ........................Vice President When my husband So much has happened over the years in Dawn Willis ....................................Vice President and I moved to the Center City sometimes it’s hard to believe Richard Gross ........................................Secretary