2019 Philadelphia Marathon course map (click to enlarge).

The 2019 Philadelphia Marathon will be held this weekend, with some events, including a half-marathon, scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 23 and the main event on Sunday, Nov. 24 (beginning at 6:55 a.m.). The event attracts over 30,000 runners and 60,000 spectators,  so road closures and detours begin as early as Friday. If you’re planning to drive in the area this weekend, check out the details below.

The following road closures have been announced ahead of the 2019 marathon:

Friday, November 22

The inner-drive lanes (both directions) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.. At 2:45 p.m., all lanes will be opened for the afternoon rush hour. Inbound, inner lanes from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street will remain closed.

Saturday, November 23

Motorists and pedestrians can expect significant delays when trying to cross roads or streets that are adjacent to the course. The following streets will be affected across the city on Saturday from 2 a.m. until 3 p.m.:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Market Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
• Chestnut Street, from 5th Street to 8th Street
• 6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
• 5th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• South Penn Square
• Juniper Street, from Chestnut Street to Market Street
• John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from Juniper Street to 17th Street
• 15th Street, from Race Street to Chestnut Street
• 16th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
• Lombard Street, from 5th Street to Broad Street
• 13th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Chestnut Street
• Walnut Street, from 12th Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Spring Garden Street
• 34th Street, from Spring Garden Street to Girard Avenue
• Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
• Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
• 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Cecil B. Moore Avenue
• Reservoir Drive from 33rd to Diamond
• Mt. Pleasant Drive
• Fountain Green Drive
• Kelly Drive

Sunday, November 23

The Parkway (22nd Street to Eakins Oval) will be closed from 2 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Other streets along the race course will reopened as runners pass by and the streets are cleaned.

The following streets will be affected across the city on Sunday:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
• 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Streets
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
• Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 23rd Street
• 22nd Street, from Locust Street to Market Street
• Walnut Street, from 21st Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
• Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
• 34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
• Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
• South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
• East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
• Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
• Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
• States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
• Lansdowne Drive to Black Road
• Black Road
• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• Kelly Drive
• The Falls Bridge
• Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
• Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street

All streets are scheduled to be reopened by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.

For information on SEPTA bus detours on Saturday and Sunday, go to septa.org.

For additional information, including course maps, schedules, and cheer zones, visit the official Philadelphia Marathon website.

Lobbyist, longtime Philadelphia politico and West Catholic alum Eleanor Dezzi, seated left, discusses the proposal to change the zoning on West Catholic High School’s parking lot at 46th and Chestnut to allow the construction of a large apartment building. Attorney Ron Patterson (also a West Catholic alum), standing, and real estate developer Jim Paterno are also part of the West Catholic group. Drawings of a possible design are in the background (Photo by West Philly Local).

The Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee is considering a deal with West Catholic High School that would change the zoning on the school’s parking lot at 46th and Chestnut to make way for what could be a seven-story, 260-unit apartment building with ground floor commercial space.

The parcel is currently zoned CMX-2, which limits the height of the building. If West Catholic can secure a change to CMX-3, which allows for a much larger building, the parcel will become far more valuable to a potential developer.  Continue Reading

The slowly crumbling sidewalks around the perimeter of Clark Park will be replaced thanks to a grant secured by State Rep. Jim Roebuck, according to an announcement by his office.

Roebuck announced that $110,000 in state funding has been awarded to the University of the Sciences, which is across the street from the park, for its sidewalk improvements.

“These funds should help bring pedestrian safety improvements and make the area more accessible for everyone in the community,” Roebuck said in a statement. “I am pleased that this grant money was awarded so that more residents can take advantage of the outdoor spaces at Clark Park.”  Continue Reading

The Spruce Hill Community Association’s zoning committee will hold its monthly public meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 with a single, but major item on the agenda. A group representing West Catholic High School asked the zoning committee last moth to rezone the school’s parking lot at 46th and Chestnut in hopes to sell it to a developer. The proposed zoning changes – from CMX2 to CMX3 – would allow construction of a large apartment building on the lot.

Monday’s meeting is a continuation of a discussion first introduced at the committee’s October meeting.  Continue Reading

Skills Initiative program graduate Jacqueline Saunders spoke about her experience with the program at the check presentation ceremony.

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), the nationally recognized job training program, has just received an investment that will allow them to expand their reach to employers across the region. The program, which has been connecting unemployed West Philly residents with University City employers since 2011, has received a $125,000 contribution from the Citizens Bank’s Charitable Foundation, which will go to support their expansion efforts. Since 2012, the Citizens Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $450,000 to the program.

“We are proud to support the [West Philadelphia Skills Initiative] organization as it takes its efforts to the next level, providing more opportunities for unemployed Philadelphians to get the training and support needed to succeed in the workforce,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank, Mid-Atlantic Region, during a presentation that took place this morning at WPSI’s office (see photo).  Continue Reading

Newly elected Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier will be a guest speaker at the Garden Court Community Association’s fall membership meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14, which will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator (260 S. 51st St.).

The proposed luxury apartment development near 51st and Spruce will likely be among the topics she will address. This meeting is an opportunity for residents to hear the newly elected Councilwoman’s thoughts on the neighborhood’s future and ask questions.  Continue Reading