Representatives from The City School explain their plans to SHCA (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

Last night, representatives from The City School unveiled plans to redesign the entry way of its Spruce Hill campus at 4115 Baltimore Avenue, building what they called “a more identifiable, uniformed” entrance that would better introduce the Christian academy in the neighborhood.

The Spruce Hill Community Association Zoning Committee considered The City School’s plans during a routine meeting Wednesday night. According to school representatives, the Spruce Hill campus redesign will include construction of a new facade that will build out the elementary school’s entrance right to the sidewalk. Currently, the frontage of the Baltimore Avenue site has multiple entrances for varying purposes, often confusing guests coming to the academy. Creating a singular front entrance, they claim, would rectify this issue.

As outlined at the meeting, the project would introduce a cedar wood terrace with iron wood brackets displaying the academy’s name, new black wrought iron gates, an art mosaic, and updated planting in the frontage.

The representatives did admit the redesign runs into property line issues, so once they hear the SHCA Zoning Committee’s feedback, they plan to seek a zoning variance within the next month in order to move the project forward. Jake Becker, head of The City School, said during the meeting that they hope to start construction in July and have it complete before the 2014 – 2015 school year starts in September.

Formerly known as the Spruce Hill Christian School, The City School’s Spruce Hill campus is one of three schools run by academy, which includes a middle school at 4501 Walnut Street and the former City Center Academy high school at 315 South 17th Street. In 2006, Spruce Hill Christian School merged with City Center Academy, but the unified school continued to operate under two names until last year.

“Being committed to the neighborhood is important to us,” Becker said at the meeting. “While we changed our name, we’re committed to being a good neighbor.”

During Wednesday night’s meeting, the SHCA Zoning Committee also heard from the owner of 517 South 41st Street regarding her application to convert her three two-bedroom apartments into six one-bedroom units, which she said she would market to graduate students and young professionals. In order to go forward, the owner, who bought the property in October, would have to seek a zoning change for the property, which is currently zoned as three-family dwelling. (The owner was already granted an interior alteration permit in January for renovations on the existing apartments.)

The plans received a lot of pushback from the Committee and other community members present, with one committee member suggesting creating smaller units “will not improve the urban condition on that block.” Committee Chair Barry Grossbach said plainly the owner’s desire to convert the house goes “against the grain” of what the SHCA “is encouraging,” which is the development of more single-family units. Grossbach and other members pressed to the owner that her building has existing features—like a large backyard and close proximity to transit—that would attract young families and couples as renters.

Grossbach said the Committee will get in touch with the owner about their opinion within the next few days. In the meantime, a zoning hearing is scheduled for the property on March 19.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Here are a couple of updates from local businesses.

West Philly acupuncture fans rejoice: after a few delays and setbacks West Philly Community Acupuncture is finally opening its doors at 4636 Woodland Ave on Tuesday, Feb. 25, according to owner Sarah Lefkowich. “It’s so exciting to be finally accepting appointments,” Lefkowich told West Philly Local via e-mail.

A $10 treatment special we told you about earlier is now from Feb. 25 until March 25 and you can schedule it online at www.westphillycommunityacupuncture.com or by phone: 215-222 -2303. WPCA is open Tuesday/Thursday: 3-7 p.m., Wednesday/Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In other news, West Philly’s popular coffee shop, Green Line Cafe, has started accepting credit cards at their Baltimore Avenue location. The news prompted some lively discussion on Twitter:

Cash only NO MORE at Baltimore Ave. Bring yr cards! @westphillylocal http://t.co/0Cf7StCXLa

— Green Line Cafe (@GreenLineCafe) February 21, 2014

@WestPhillyLocal @GreenLineCafe woohoo! Welcome to the 20th century everyone, it’s gonna be awesome!

— kyle cassidy (@kylecassidy) February 21, 2014

@kylecassidy @WestPhillyLocal … ’bout time…we know! 🙂

— Green Line Cafe (@GreenLineCafe) February 21, 2014

If you want to leave a tip, there’s an option of cash or credit card, so no worries.
 

The Fire Works (Photo from The Fire Works website)

As an independent journalist, sometimes working from home can feel isolating.

Sure, I have my cats and reruns of Dallas, but staying confined to my bedroom’s four walls while furiously typing away can induce pseudo-cabin fever. And setting up shop in a local coffee joint isn’t always better—while there’s activity buzzing around you, you’re still among strangers who may not be up for much conversation.

That’s why coworking spaces like West Philly’s The Fire Works, which recently opened above Dock Street at 701 S. 50^th Street, are a growing trend in the city. Coworking hubs give professionals without a permanent workspace an opportunity to be independently productive while building a like-minded, synergized community. It’s a win-win for most people.

For owner Linford Martin, The Fire Works is meant to achieve just that in West Philly. Opened earlier this month, The Fire Works is an enhanced version of a small coworking group that met in a studio at The Cedar Works—Martin’s 15,000 square-foot community-oriented work and meeting space at 4919 Pentridge Street. Martin approached the group in October about joining forces after Philadelphia Community Acupuncture vacated the third floor of the Dock Street firehouse at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, which is already home to neighborhood mainstays Dock Street Brewery, Firehouse Bicycles and the Satellite Cafe. The Fire Works, he said, would be a larger coworking community in West Philly built on their foundation.

“Over the past year, I got to know the group better and understand more about how coworking communities function and how important it can be for people working independently or remotely for an organization,” Martin told West Philly Local. “As we brainstormed about how what shape that might take, we got jazzed about the possibilities and decided to go for it. We didn’t (and still don’t) have everything figured out but we’re enjoying working in the space and having informal discussions about how to make this coworking community an enjoyable and productive place to work.”

So The Fire Works set up shop in the former PCA space, which was revamped to include a conference room, small meeting room, kitchenette and a shared work table in an open space accessible to members only. So far, members of The Fire Works include cartographers, activists, educators, web developers, musicians, and writers according to its website.

But coworking in the 2,000 square-foot hub isn’t free. The four levels of membership range from $60 a month for five days of access a month to $200 a month, which gives you 24/7 access as well as desk and storage space. If you want to use The Fire Works beyond your membership allotment, it’s $12 for each additional day.

Still, if you can afford to drop down the cash, The Fire Works is worth checking out—particularly for the chance to connect and collaborate with local creatives.

“As we’re beginning to grow and welcome new members, we’re realizing our coworking community is really an extension of our geographical community,” said Martin. “Most of us see each other around Cedar Park or surrounding neighborhoods and have interactions with each other outside our physical space. It’s been fun to see new connections happening already.”

–Annamarya Scaccia

There will be a regular trash collection today, despite the fact that today is a federal holiday, according to the Philadelphia Streets Department. Residents whose regular trash pick-up day is Monday are asked to set trash and recycling at the curb today. Please note that there will be no rear driveway collections this week.

Trash and recycling pick-up was suspended Thursday and Friday due to the snow emergency.

UPDATE (2/15/2014): Many residents around 48th and Warrington are without water this morning, as the broken main has been shut off and water department crews are at the site trying to repair it. The repairs may take several hours and the water service is expected to be restored by this evening, according to PWD.

(2/14/2014, 10:43 p.m.): West Philly Local readers reported a water main break at 48th and Warrington, shortly after 10 p.m. A sinkhole has also formed in the middle of the street (see photos below). The police currently have the road blocked at 48th Street. The water to the neighboring blocks will likely be shut off shortly, according to the officers on site. Photos by Tom Gaeta.

A crew working on the building at 722 S. 49th St. on Friday afternoon.

Part of an abandoned residential building at the corner of 49th and Florence collapsed this morning. No injuries were reported when the rear of 722 S. 49th Street caved in.

City Paper‘s Ryan Briggs reports that neighbors have been warning city officials about the building. The city declared the building “imminently dangerous” in September and ordered its demolition.

The building’s lengthy list of violations is available here.

The long-abandoned building has a lengthy list of code violations and was slated for demolition. It’s unclear why it was still standing. (Photos by Mike Lyons/West Philly Local)