Former Greensgrow West site at 5123-5129 Baltimore Ave. (Archived photo)

For many years, 5123-5129 Baltimore Avenue operated as Greensgrow West – the West Philly hub of a nonprofit organization with the mission of growing fresh produce and making nutrition accessible to all Philadelphians, regardless of income. Due to unexpected financial challenges, Greensgrow closed in 2022.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s office is soliciting ideas for acquiring and reactivating 5123-29 Baltimore Avenue through an Open Call for Ideas process. They have been researching ways to maintain the space for community use, particularly by a non-profit organization as a garden, open space, recreational area, or other community-centered ideas. This process will allow the Councilmember’s office to identify a non-profit organization with an innovative, feasible, and community-centered proposal for reactivating this property. They will then work with the selected application to complete the City’s land application process.

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University City District’s popular summer concert series is set to return next month after a few years’ hiatus and will be held at two new locations. The University City Summer Series features family-friendly evenings of free entertainment at standout public spaces in the neighborhood.

This year, UCD is partnering with World Cafe Live to present two concerts – on Thursday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Sept. 12. The August 15 concert, featuring house music mainstay Lady Alma and Vertical Current, will be held at the Lawn at uCity Square (37th and Filbert). The September 12 concert, featuring Indie pop singer/songwriter Marielle Kraft, will take place at Drexel Square (3025 Market St).

The University City Summer Series shows run from 5 – 8 p.m. DJ AfrVbz kicks things off from 5 – 6:30 p.m., and then headliners perform from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Both shows are free to attend, but RSVPs are recommended to guarantee your spot. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Also in August, outdoor movie fans are invited to Clark Park to enjoy free weekly screenings at sundown. More info is available here.

Also, don’t forget to check on this year’s University City Dining Days, which kicks off Thursday, July 18.

Victorian vistas like this one on the 4200 block of Osage Avenue will be safeguarded going forward. (Photo by Tony West)

The Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC) unanimously approved the creation of the Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District on July 12. The boundaries of this district run generally from Spruce St. to 39th St. to Woodland Ave. to 43rd St. It will encompass three smaller districts that already exist there in addition to more than 500 surrounding houses that share a distinctive Victorian architecture.

Historic Districts define and protect the external look of period “contributing” buildings, blocking demolition except when in dangerous condition and requiring outside repairs or additions to preserve the original appearance as much as possible. They do not impact building interiors.

Most of Spruce Hill has long been in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. This federal designation gives the neighborhood noteriety but no protection. The Spruce Hill Community Association began to push for a city historic district with enforcement power 37 years ago, but was repeatedly blocked by opposition from property owners who feared it would increase maintenance costs. That concern has been less widespread since SHCA, counseled by University City Historical Society, launched its latest bid in 2021. Many real estate developers have opposed it for decades.

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Free, Live and Family-Friendly

The 2024 Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival promises to be the best one yet, as it returns to Saunders Park Greene (39th & Powelton) on Saturday, July 20 from Noon to 7 p.m. The Festival celebrates West Philadelphia and jazz musicians with spectacular live performances, local vendors, fun children’s activities, and delectable treats from food trucks.

The all-day event is free and open to the public, organized by HopePHL (formerly People’s Emergency Center and Youth Service, Inc.), The Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and a committee of community members, with technical assistance from Nu Millennium Media Productions.

“We are very excited about this year’s Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival,” said Bernadine Hawes, HopePHL Community Development Corporation Board Chair, “it’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable day out for anyone in or near West Philadelphia on July 20.”

This year’s headline act is Jamaaladeen Tacuma Quintet featuring Odean Pope. Other performers include Joe Block Quintet, Timothy Vaughan Inside Outside Ensemble, Mollie Ducoste, Deborah Smith, and returning audience favorite, Glenn Bryan & Friends.

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Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (center) celebrating the reopening of the upgraded 48th and Woodland sprayground with local families. (Photo by Wendi Wu)

Here’s some great news for West Philly and Southwest Philly youth and their families who have been battling the heat. The 48th & Woodland sprayground has reopened after some new renovations and upgrades. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Tuesday.

The playground site at 48th and Woodland was updated with new water play equipment that is tied to the theme of learning. One of the main goals of this renovation project was to create a sprayground where children can combine learning and fun. Other new amenities include a shade structure and new seating (see more photos below).

The project was a $700,000 investment by the City in this important local community space.

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The Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival is keeping live music alive with a series of four pop-up events presented by HopePHL and partners leading up to the Festival later this month! HopePHL’s team will be at 4017 Lancaster Avenue on Friday, July 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature a jazz performance by Justin Bowden. Everyone is welcome to listen and tap their feet to the music during the two-hour performance, curated by Leo Gadson at the Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia.

All are welcome to celebrate summer and jazz music – deeply rooted in West Philadelphia’s music scene –  at this free event, while talking to neighbors and making new friends. Other pop-up events this season featured performances by The Brent White Band, Wayne Smith Jr. Quartet, and Mervin Toussaint Quartet (pictured).

The Community pop-up series precedes the Lancaster Avenue Jazz  & Arts Festival on Saturday, July 20 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. at Saunders Park Greene, 39th & Powelton Avenue. The Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival has been nominated for Metro Philly’s Best Annual Event/Festival and HopePHL has been nominated in the Best Not For Profit category.

You can vote once a day until August 9th. Vote daily in each category and share!

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