Saint Joseph’s University announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its buildings south of Woodland Avenue to the Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance for an undisclosed sum.

“Potential plans for the space include a new affordable teachers college, which may help alleviate Philadelphia’s chronic shortage of well-qualified and experienced teachers, as well as a potential new school emphasizing public service and leadership,” a university statement emailed to university faculty and staff this morning read.

Property developer Michael Karp is the chair of Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance’s board of directors. The non-profit runs a charter school network in West Philadelphia and Center City.

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Trash drop-off at 50th and Locust. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Some 9,000 city workers – from trash collectors to 911 call center operators and school crossing guards – voted to strike early this morning, demanding higher wages and improved health and pension benefits.

The strike, which 95 percent of union members voted for, will impact a host of services. Health centers across the city will be closed and the Philadelphia Water Department will stop repair and maintenance services, among other service disruptions.

It’s the first walk-out strike in the city in 39 years. That strike lasted 20 days.

The city has established trash drop-off sites across the city. You can start dropping trash off there today at 5 p.m. After today, they will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Here’s a searchable map that will locate the nearest temporary trash drop-off site and recycling collection center (see more on recycling below).

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Architect renderings of the project (PZS Architects) on the 4700 block of Spruce Street.

UPDATE (6/19/25): The Department of Licenses and Inspections has ordered work at the site to stop until the developer obtains a building permit. The developer has until July 10 to obtain the permit, according to an “Order to Correct” issued June 6.

6/9/25: Demolition work has begun to make way for a 13-story apartment building with ground floor retail space on the 4700 block of Spruce Street, across from the Henry Lea School. The building will include 170 mostly studio and one-bedroom apartments and 28 underground parking spaces.

Zoned CMX-3, which allows residential and commercial uses without zoning variances, the project drew criticism during a May 2022 community meeting but developers were not required to implement design changes because of the zoning designation. The project has been on hold while an addition was being completed to the adjacent Garden Court Plaza complex.

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Home prices, rents, commercial construction and salaries in the neighborhoods that comprise the University City District (UCD) continue to outpace the rest of the city, according to the annual “State of University City” report issued late last week amid increased concerns about federal policies that could slow down the growth of “Eds and Meds.”

Median home prices in the neighborhoods (including Cedar Park, Spruce Hill, Powelton Village and Walnut Hill), were down slightly in 2024, settling at about $375,000, but the number of home sales was up slightly. Median home prices in Cedar Park jumped about 35 percent compared to 2023 and Spruce Hill continued to have the highest home value at about $550,000.

The median home sale price in Philadelphia was about $200,000 last year.

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Pennsylvania’s primary election is Tuesday, Мay 20 and here are some resources to help you before you head to the polls.

The most publicized race in this year’s citywide primary is for District Attorney. Incumbent Larry Krasner is running against Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan. The non-partisan Committee of Seventy has put together a voting guide on the race that includes candidate positions on a variety of issues. There is no candidate on the Republican side.

Incumbent Christy Brady is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for City Controller. Ari Patrinos, a stockbroker and Harvard grad, is running on the Republican side.

Several judicial races are also on the ballot, including:

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Driving around parts of West Philly has gotten more difficult recently thanks to a number of street projects, including new milling and paving work. The city is also relocating vehicles parked on these streets.

The Streets Department is conducting milling and paving work along a number of streets over the next several weeks. The work includes milling off the old asphalt, adjusting manhole covers and then repaving.

The streets impacted by this work include:

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