The University City District released its annual “State of University City” report on Thursday night. It shows what most of us already know: home prices are up; new retail spots are opening left and right; and the population is growing and getting younger.

UCD roughly defines “University City” as the area bounded by the Schuylkill River to the east, 50th Street to the west, Market Street/Powelton Avenue/Spring Garden Street to the north and Woodland Avenue/University Avenue to the south.

Here’s what the report, which covers trends through 2016, shows in key areas:

Real Estate Development

During 2016, 28 projects were either completed or made significant strides toward completion. These include academic, commercial, medical and residential projects. Curbed Philly has a handy map with many of the new projects covered in the report.  Continue Reading

The race for district attorney in Philadelphia has been one of the most-talked-about local elections in the country, thanks mostly to the candidacy of Larry Krasner. But the DA’s seat is not the only one up for grabs tomorrow.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 7). Go here to find your polling place. Remember, you don’t need ID unless you are a first-time voter.

Krasner, the civil rights attorney who has promised major reforms, is running against Republican candidate Beth Grossman for the DA’s seat. That’s getting all the hubbub, of course, but here are offices to think about (click on each office for links to profiles at the non-partisan Committee of 70):  Continue Reading

        Winnie Harris

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a second suspect in the murder of well-known community advocate Winnie Harris.

Isaiah Reels, 30, is wanted in connection to the February 2017 murder. Earlier this week, police announced the arrest of 39-year-old Nelson Giddings, who was already in police custody in Delaware County on unrelated charges. Giddings has been charged with murder, robbery and weapons offenses.

Police say Giddings and Reels broke into Harris’s home late on Feb. 2 and shot her when she confronted them. Harris, 65, was found in her home on the 300 block of North Holly Street the following day.  Continue Reading

Science Leadership Academy (SLA), the highly successful magnet high school, is starting a middle school at its Beeber campus near 59th and Malvern.

The school is now recruiting students for its first fifth grade class, which will start in the 2018-2019 school year. The middle school – 5th through 8th grade – will be housed in the former Beeber Middle School, a building it will share with the SLA high school there. SLA also has a high school in Center City and another new middle school near Drexel in the Powelton Village neighborhood.

Like its other schools, admission to the new middle school will require an application and an interview. Once admitted, though, students can automatically move on to the SLA Beeber High School, one of the more selective high schools in the city.  Continue Reading

Public response was generally favorable during a Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee meeting on Tuesday toward a proposed three-unit building with ground floor commercial space on a vacant lot on the 5000 of Baltimore Avenue.

The building, which would occupy a vacant lot at 5047 Baltimore Ave., requires approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment because it will exceed the two apartments allowed under the zoning code. One of those apartments will include basement bedrooms, which allowed the developer to keep the building within the zoning code’s height requirements. The other two units would include two and three bedrooms each.  Continue Reading

The Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee will consider a proposal on Tuesday for a three unit, multi-family building on the vacant lot located at 5047 Baltimore Avenue.

The building would include commercial space on the first floor and two additional floors. The maximum height of the building is 48 feet.

Community members are invited to meet with the owner, see the plans, ask questions and voice their opinion. More information can be found on the Facebook event page.

The hearing begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Center at 801 S. 48th Street (2nd floor).