Neighbors and all interested individuals are invited to a monthly Spruce Hill Community Association’s Zoning Committee meeting, which will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St).

A few zoning applications will be discussed, including two new business operations in the neighborhood:

• A new coffee shop is being proposed near 42nd and Baltimore, at 500 S. 42nd Street. This business operation requires a special exception for the proposed use as a “prepared food shop”.

• A Reach Climbing + Fitness operation is being proposed in a church building at 41st and Ludlow (see photo). The building is on the local historic register and the applicant will discuss how they are seeking to adapt the current structure to the intended use.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting and ask questions and offer comments.

Locust Moon Comics, a local publishing business that until recently also had a shop near 40th and Chestnut, has revealed plans to move into the former church complex at 47th and Kingsessing. The plans will be discussed during a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m.

The complex, which is undergoing extensive renovation, began welcoming its first tenants this winter. One of the first commercial tenants to move onto the grounds, Children’s Community School, is holding an open house at the new space on Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 – 10 a.m., with more open houses scheduled for March 10, April 1 and April 28.

Along with two childcare centers, Children’s Community School and Little Learners, The Soapbox Community Print Shop & Zine Library was also announced as a likely tenant for the complex. The organization was raising funds late last year to help cover space renovation and moving expenses.

Locust Moon Press and The Soapbox will present their plans during Tuesday’s zoning meeting of the Southwest District Services at Kingsessing Recreation Center (50th and Kingsessing). Here’s more information from Locust Moon’s Facebook page:

“There’s a community meeting to assess our viability for the neighborhood. The Soapbox Publishing Center and Zine Library will also be presenting their exciting plans for the basement of the church. This meeting is a crucial step in getting into this wonderful new space. Please come out and show your support for independent comic publishing in West Philly!”

The firm of renowned architect Frank Furness designed the 115-year-old church building, which was saved from demolition last year and converted into commercial space.

As many of you know, the 115-year-old Frank Furness-designed church building at 47th and Kingsessing was saved from demolition last year and is currently undergoing renovation. Developer Guy Laren is planning to re-purpose the building by opening two local day care centers, Little Learners and Children’s Community School, in that location after the renovation has been completed. Rezoning is necessary for this plan to come to life, and the first community zoning meeting for the church conversion project will take place this week.

Community members are invited this Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m. to Kingsessing Recreation Center at 50th and Kingsessing to hear more about the project and provide their feedback. The meeting is being organized by the Registered Community Organization (RCO) for the area – Southwest District Services.

The project stakeholders also asked community members to show their support of the church conversion project by signing a petition last month. Over 250 people have so far signed the online petition on Change.org. Tuesday’s meeting is another opportunity to gauge the amount of support of the plan by the community.

Renovation underway at 47th and Kingsessing.

Neighbors backing the plan to bring two pre-schools to the recently purchased church building at 47th and Kingsessing are collecting signatures for a zoning change that would help make the plan a reality.

Back in January we reported that the 114-year-old Frank Furness-designed church building at 47th and Kingsessing was undergoing renovation thanks to local developer Guy Laren, who bought the deteriorating building and saved it from demolition. Laren’s plans include opening two pre-schools that would occupy about 40 percent of the large building after the renovation has been completed. The schools are Little Learners, currently located next to Four Worlds Bakery on the 4600 block of Woodland Avenue and Children’s Community School, currently in the basement of Calvary Center at 48th and Baltimore. Relocation to the church building would allow both schools to expand and accept more kids for the next school year.

The petition can be downloaded here. Supporters are asking those interested to sign the petition and drop it off at Four Worlds Bakery, 4634 Woodland (you can put it in the mailbox if the shop is closed). You can also show your support for the zoning changes at the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing on April 15 at 2 p.m. The address is 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor. Guy Laren and the directors of Little Learners and Children’s Community School are expected to be at the hearing.

UPDATE: There’s also an online version of the petition on Change.org.