SEPTA is presenting an open information meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, on improvements planned for 40th and Market St. Station. This is a great chance to learn more about the project, which will address ADA and some other improvements at the station. The 40th St Station ADA Accessibility Project is expected to begin this winter and will take more than a year to complete – through Spring 2017, according to SEPTA. The project broke ground earlier this month.

The scope of the project includes the following work at the station and in the adjacent area:

• Installation of a machine roomless elevator on the NW & SE corners of 40th & Market Streets
• Installation of new headhouse covering to all four stairs accessing the station
• Installation of new restrooms in the subway level
• Reconstruction of new city sidewalks within work area
• Installation of new informational signage
• Installation of new doors, gates and architectural enhancements

The meeting will take place at Oshiver Hall, 3901 Market St., beginning at 6 p.m.

Here’s a chance for neighborhood residents to learn more about the University of the Sciences‘ plans in the area, meet the administration, and ask questions. USciences is inviting all interested individuals to their December community meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7-8:30 p.m. The meeting will feature remarks from university leadership, an update on the university’s Campus Master Plan, an open forum for questions, and a chance to interact with various University departments and partner representatives. Light refreshments will be served during the Meet & Greet part of the meeting, from 7:45-8:30 p.m.

The meeting will take place at McNeil Science and Technology Center, 45th and Woodland (#20 on map).

As a reminder, some of USciences’ plans in the area include converting the former Alexander Wilson Elementary School building (pictured) into student housing and student-focused retail. USciences purchased the 1.03-acre parcel at 46th and Woodland last fall.

If you want to learn more about Pennsylvania’s state budget and its impact on the community, come to the Walnut Hill Community meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6 – 8 p.m. State Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr. and State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown will be at the meeting to talk about the budget. They will also answer questions and address any concerns from community members.

The final draft of Walnut Hill 2015 Neighborhood Plan will also be presented at the meeting (7-8 p.m.).

The meeting will take place at The Enterprise Center (4548 Market Street).

Garden Court Plaza.

Development is on the agenda of the upcoming annual meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA), which will include a presentation by the new owners of the Garden Court Plaza.

Matthew A. Pestronk, president of Post Brothers, which recently bought the 13-story Garden Court Plaza at 4701 Pine St. (pictured) and plans to invest more than $250 million in housing development in the area, will speak at the meeting, slated for Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Griffith Hall on the USciences campus.

Pestronk will open the meeting at 6:30 p.m. His topic is “Investing in Philadelphia’s Neighborhoods, 2015 – The Challenges and Opportunities.”

After Pestronk’s talk, there will be reports on SHCA activities in the last year and election of officers.

“Come out to mingle, vote and learn about and discuss development in the neighborhood,” said Monica Calkins, SHCA president.

Eric Santoro is running for president and heads up an unopposed slate that includes Calkins for executive vice president.

The entrance to Griffith Hall is on 43rd St. between Regent Sq. and Woodland Ave.

The Friends of Clark Park (FoCP) Membership meeting will take place on Monday, Oct. 19, starting at 7 p.m.

The agenda includes:

• Elections are scheduled for President, Vice President, Secretary, and half of the FoCP Board.

• A discussion is planned about trash removal in the park and associated problems.

• A discussion of various upcoming projects including folding chair replacement, new chess tables, and planning for next year’s events.

The meeting will be held at Griffith Hall Lecture Room A, 600 S. 43rd Street, on the University of the Sciences Campus. All are welcome.

This is late notice, but we wanted to pass along news that the newly formed Cobbs Creek Neighborhood Association will meet for the first time this Friday at 7 p.m. at West Phillie Produce at 18 S. 62nd Street. Cobbs Creek Neighbors is working on community projects and events west of 52nd Street and south of Market. Here’s their Facebook post about the meeting:

“Hello friends and neighbors! We are very happy to announce that this Friday [Oct. 16] we will be having our first EVER meeting of the newly (finally!) formed, Cobbs Creek Neighbors Association. West Phillie Produce has kindly offered their upstairs space to us at 62nd and Ludlow (just a block or two from the 63rd St. El stop), and if we’re lucky we might also get to hear some live music by the Black Fridays house band. Here’s your chance to get involved and meet some like-minded neighbors. Please come out!”