In recent months, the 5000 block of Baltimore Avenue has become a politically-charged center of controversy that has West Philly residents both frustrated and perplexed. Should the block, flanked by some boarded-up buildings, evolve with the help of local businesses into a commercial strip? Or should the city step in, reclaim the land and enlarge an existing health center and include parking?

A public meeting scheduled for next Thursday (see details below) will provide an opportunity for business owners and residents to discuss these two possibilities.

As Naked Philly reported earlier this month, community members learned in November about possible tentative plans to redevelop mostly privately-owned properties between 50th and 51st Streets. The redevelopment, which would happen through eminent domain, could make way for an expansion of the Mercy Wellness Center at 5008 Baltimore Avenue as per a proposal currently being considered by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA).

Baltimore Avenue near 51st Street.

For many residents, the tentative expansion proposal, submitted to the PRA by the Baltimore Avenue Redevelopment Corporation (BARC) — the non-profit that owns the Wellness Center—runs contrary to the needs of the community. In business owner Saba Tedla’s view, what the neighborhood needs along the slowly developing stretch are more restaurants and retail spaces that can solidify the Baltimore Avenue Corridor as a destination point—and without the use of eminent domain. (According to a recent City Paper article, the BARC proposal is “in flux” and may have already lost steam as inferred by statements made by BARC’s current president, Dr. Benjamin Smallwood.)

After all, more foot traffic on that block can only help Tedla, who owns Seeds Gallery at 5011 Baltimore Avenue and the restaurant Aksum further east on Baltimore and  plans to open a second restaurant across from the center this spring. She wants the competition.

“People like myself feel that the needs of the community are more for commercial retail than it is to have an expansion of a parking lot and a healthcare center,” Telda told West Philly Local. “If I know I’m opening a restaurant, why am I asking for restaurants? Because I am a member of the community. It’s productive and economical for more people to have more jobs [and] to attract more young professionals.”  Continue Reading

In addition to the Little Baby’s Ice Cream zoning meeting, there will be two more important neighborhood development and safety meetings this Thursday, Feb. 21.

– Garden Court Community Association invites residents and business owners to join them at 6:30 p.m. at 4725 Chestnut Street for a meeting and potluck dinner. Small business and economic development within Garden Court (45th St. to 52nd St. and Locust St. to Cedar Ave.) will be discussed at this meeting. Here are some of the topics:

• Do you want information on starting a business?
• What kind of services and retail do you want to see in the Garden Court neighborhood?
• Are you interested in what community members can do together to improve business districts within neighborhoods?
• Are you a neighborhood entrepreneur interested in resources to help your business?
• What would you like to see in the neighborhood business districts (48th & Spruce and 52nd Street)?

The panel includes the following speakers: Angela Dowd-Burton (Executive Director, Office of Economic Opportunity, City of Philadelphia Commerce Department), Rojer Kern (Neighborhood Markets Manager, City of Philadelphia Commerce Department), Iola Harper (Senior Director of the Business Acceleration Group), and Mahari Baily, Esq. (Love Real Estate Group).

You can also hear updates on GCCA membership, planning, and education activities and more. For more information, please contact Kate Mills, Corresponding Secretary, at katewmills@gmail.com.

– A monthly community meeting with police will be held at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore), beginning at 6 p.m. Bring your questions and concerns and discuss crime and other neighborhood issues with Lt. Brian McBride and Sgt. Ron Washington of the University City Division of the Philadelphia 18th Police District.

Longtime resident Fran Byers (center) during the re-opening of Clark Park last year.

A piece of advice for would-be purse snatchers: Don’t mess with the lady who organizes the meet-and-greets with the police.

Plain-clothes officers nabbed two teenage purse snatchers on bikes after they grabbed a shoulder bag from longtime resident Fran Byers near 48th and Baltimore at about 2 p.m. on Monday. That’s the same Fran Byers who organizes the monthly community meeting with officers from the University City Division of the 18th Police District. In fact, she was passing out flyers for the meeting when it happened. The teenagers rammed Fran from behind then grabbed her bag, pulling it so violently that her shoulder was dislocated, according to friends.

Fran won’t be at tonight’s meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at the usual spot in the basement of the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (801 S. 48th St.) The meetings provide an opportunity for residents to share information and concerns with police about crime and neighborhood issues.