- Francisville residents are distraught upon learning that Winding Roses Park, a community garden and gathering place on a privately held vacant lot at Uber & Brown Streets, has been sold to a developer who plans to take advantage of the surge of gentrification from surrounding neighborhoods. Many in the area “are upset about the influx of high-income people.”
- West Philly Local reports that Strong Place Partners, which will likely have its purchase of the old West Philadelphia High approved this week, wants to convert the property into lofts with about 300 units “ranging from small studios to a few apartments as big as 1,600 square feet,” while retaining “much of the 100-year-old school’s existing infrastructure, including one of the school’s large theaters and its gym.”
- The Historical Commission approved Friday the mesh LED sign on the Lit Brothers building at 7th & Market Streets, in a 6 to 3 vote, reports Plan Philly. Building owner John Conners has agreed to cut down the advertising time by three hours (from 2AM to 11PM).
- The Philly Post’s Joel Mathis comments on the stunning numbers released a few weeks back on the plummeting circulation of the city’s newspapers: 10.5% in the last year alone (the national average is only 0.2%).
- Joe Frazier was finally laid to rest last week at Cedarbrook’s Ivy Hill Cemetery, with his gravestone being unveiled on Saturday.
About the author
Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.
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Why wouldn’t lower income homeowners want high-income homeowners to move close to them? Because the City then taxes the older homeowners out of their homes, via “reassessments”, pushing neighborhoods to become less diverse, rather than more diverse in the process. This doesn’t have to happen if actual cost-basis – what you paid for your home plus improvements – is used instead of a fantasy “marke value” assessment cooked up by an appraiser on the City payroll. This system is used in the State of CA, where there are many diverse neighborhoods.