A pedestrian plaza at 48th and Baltimore.

Spruce Hill residents have a chance to learn more about a new traffic calming and pedestrian safety proposal for the busy intersection at 43rd and Spruce Streets.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Nate Hommel, the director of Planning and Design at the University City District (UCD) will present a plan for a pedestrian plaza at 43rd and Spruce at the monthly Spruce Hill Community Association Board (SHCA) meeting.

Pedestrian plazas are permitted by the City of Philadelphia through its Streets Department. Pedestrian plaza hosts receive a one-year Pedestrian Enhancement Permit that is renewable for up to three years. To receive a Pedestrian Enhancement Permit, an application must be submitted and approved by the Street Department. Pedestrian plaza locations are subject to review by the City’s Chief Traffic Engineer.

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The City’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which provides residents with an environmentally friendly alternative for the disposal of live trees, has kicked off today and will run through Saturday, Jan. 13. Residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to the Sanitation Convenience Centers listed below open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

• 3033 S. 63rd Street

• 5100 Grays Avenue

Residents may also drop their trees off at 13 designated locations on Saturdays, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The two locations in West Philly are:

• 54th St. and Woodbine Ave.

• 43rd St. and Powelton Ave.

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Homeowners in Philadelphia may qualify to receive a real estate tax credit, but the program application period expires soon.

This year, the city conducted property value re-assessment. If your home’s property value goes up, you will see an increase in your real estate tax bill. A special fund was set up in collaboration with the FORWARD program to help people who own a home in Philadelphia to pay their real estate tax bill. If your bill has increased, you may qualify for a one-time credit (up to $500) that will be added to your real estate tax account located at the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Revenue.

The money will be used to pay your 2023 or 2024 tax bill or will be added to your City of Philadelphia Real Estate Tax Account as a credit for future tax years.

To apply for the tax credit, fill out an application on this page. Application deadline has been extended until January 31, 2024 at 5 p.m.

A bridge construction on South 34th Street in Southwest Philadelphia is expected to begin January 3, according to a recent announcement by PennDOT. The project aims to replace the deteriorating 34th Street bridge over a former CSX rail line and future Schuylkill River Trail.

During the construction period, 34th Street will be reduced to a single lane in each direction between Grays Ferry Avenue and the ramp from I-76 East to Grays Ferry Avenue/University Avenue. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays may occur.

The bridge construction is expected to continue through October 31, 2024.

Information on PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects is available at www.projects.penndot.gov.

If you’re planning to use SEPTA during the holidays, please make sure to check modified schedules for Metro, bus and regional rail services.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, Metro (SEPTA’s new name for the Market-Frankford, Broad Street and Norristown High Speed lines, and trolleys), buses and regional rail operate on a Sunday schedule.

On Christmas Day, Metro and bus routes will also operate on a Sunday schedule. The following bus routes are not operating on Christmas Day: 204, 310, 311 and LUCY.

All Regional Rail lines will run on special Christmas schedules with reduced Sunday service.

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Amina Ocean Restaurant is coming to 3.0 University Place at 41st and Market.

The team behind Amina Restaurant & Lounge in Old City is opening up a new venture, Amina Ocean, in University City. The new seafood-focused restaurant has inked a deal with University Place Associates (UPA) to become the anchor retail tenant in 3.0 University Place’s ground floor retail space. The new 250,000 square-foot eight story commercial lab and office building is located at 4101 Market Street.

Encompassing 4,800 square-feet, the upscale dining and nightlife brand is the second retail partner to be announced by UPA, and will be located on the northeast corner of 41st and Market Streets. Lancaster, PA-based Fulton Bank, which occupies 2,250 square-feet in the center of the street level retail corridor, opened on August 7.

“My vision for Amina Ocean is ‘Southern Seafood Fusion,” entrepreneur Felicia Wilson said in a statement. “The theme and vibe of the restaurant will provide a Tulum-meets-Morocco feel.”

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