The City Council recently voted to add the Summer Winter Community Garden in Powelton Village to the Neighborhood Gardens Trust in an effort to save it from development pressure.

The volunteer-run garden, located at 33rd and Race (near Summer and Winter Streets), has been a fixture in the neighborhood for decades. Increased development has surrounded the garden, much of it tied to Drexel University.

The City Council passed legislation authored by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier that moves the one-acre plot to the NGT, which will provide liability insurance and some maintenance support. Most importantly it keeps the valuable plot a community garden.

The Summer Winter Garden joins other West Philly community gardens protected by the NGT, including the Chester Avenue Community Garden, Five Loaves Two Fish, the Pentridge Children’s Garden, Saint Bernard Community Garden, and the Warrington Community Garden.

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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UPDATE (6/11/25): The fire at the former Admiral Court Apartments has been ruled an arson and the case is currently under investigation, according to reports. The blaze was caused by an unknown incendiary device, according to the results of an earlier investigation by the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday afternoon.

The structure was heavily damaged in the fire and is considered in an imminent danger of collapse, according to the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Several fire trucks were back on the scene near 48th and Locust on Monday:

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Beginning Monday, June 2, The Woodlands will be closed to visitors until 4 p.m. through June 5 due to tree maintenance. The closure is necessary to keep visitors and workers safe as high-risk trees are removed from high-traffic areas.

Due to this critical work, the Woodlands gates will open at 4 p.m. daily and close at dusk from Monday, June 2 through Thursday, June 5.

Storms and insects, such as the emerald ash borer, have taken their toll on many Woodlands’ trees in recent years. To mitigate risk to visitors and make room for replacement plantings, 20 high-risk trees will be removed next week, and three more will be pruned and preserved as wildlife snags.

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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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