The City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment will hear the case today of the Subway franchise that is proposed for Baltimore Avenue near 46th Street. The franchise is planned for the storefront at 4533 Baltimore Avenue. The Spruce Hill Community Association is still finalizing its position on the Subway franchisee’s application for a takeout permit, which is required for all restaurants. If approved the Subway is expected to have a limited seating area and the owners plan to open it early next year.

Today’s Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. today at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor.

Two people, including a police officer, were hospitalized after a three-vehicle accident early Sunday morning near 49th and Baltimore.

CBS Philly is reporting that a police cruiser collided with two parked cars. A 26-year-old passenger in one car, a late-model BMW that remained at the scene this morning, was hospitalized along with an 18th District officer. Both were listed in stable condition this morning. The police car hit the BMW from rear as it was parked on the north side of Baltimore Avenue, pushing it into another vehicle.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

From the Spruce Hill Community Association’s Facebook post:

“A Subway sandwich shop wants to open up at a chronically vacant storefront on Baltimore Avenue and is scheduled to go before the city’s Zoning Board later this month. Lots of controversy swirling about this with neighbors for and against it for lots of reasons. The SHCA Zoning Committee has been compiling community input, concerns, and recommendations. What do you think, and if you could nudge the franchisee to make this amenable to the neighborhood, what would you like to see them do/not do?”

Leave a comment and we will forward it to the SHCA.

Former Pickles & Pies storefront. (Photo West Philly Local)

A deal is in the works to bring a Subway franchise to 4533 Baltimore Ave., the former site of Pickles and Pies. Franchise representatives reportedly shared plans with members of the Spruce Hill Community Association last night.

No zoning variance is required for the location, but there is a Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing scheduled for December.

Barry Grossbach, who handles zoning issues for the Spruce Hill Community Association,  said that the Subway franchise has applied for a takeout certificate, which is required of any restaurant. The Subway will likely have limited seating.

“Our zoning committee is still discussing the application for a take out certificate,” said Grossbach by e-mail. “[A zoning hearing] is scheduled for December 21st. We expect to have a decision before then.”

The zoning hearing will likely be at the regular ZBA spot – 1515 Arch St., 18th Fl.

Here’s an opportunity to use your design skills and have your artwork displayed all along Baltimore Avenue (plus win a few prizes).

The University City District has announced an open call for participation in the Baltimore Avenue Banner Design competition. The winner’s work will ultimately be fabricated as a 24 x 36 inch banner and installed along Baltimore Avenue. The banners currently on display along Baltimore Avenue between 45th and 50th streets will be replaced next spring with new ones, possibly featuring your design.

Here are the details of the competition.

• The design competition is open to everyone.

• An individual can submit multiple concepts.

• There is a particular interest in work that is responsive to Baltimore Avenue and the neighborhood, but the sky is the limit!

• The winner will receive $200 in University City restaurant gift certificates and $300 in cash, and your artwork on over 70 banners.

• Submissions are due Friday, March 2. Late submissions will not be accepted.

If you are interested in submitting a design please email the following to Mark Christman at: mark[at]universitycity.org:

Name, Address, Email and telephone number, Proposed design (jpg or pdf), and one-two sentence description of proposed design(s).

A selection committee will be comprised of Baltimore Avenue and neighborhood business owners, artists and neighbors.

There is a dangerous sinkhole on the 4800 block of Baltimore Avenue. A reader Joe described it as about two feet deep and stretching at least a couple feet in either direction. It is in the middle of the bike lane on the north side of the 4800 block, in front of 4827/29.

“Don’t let its demure appearance fool you. It wants to eat you and your bike,” Joe warns.