The University City Science Center (UCSC) will soon get its own residential building. Plans have been revealed for a construction of a 27-story apartment building on the UCSC campus near 36th and Market Streets. The construction, which will begin in the fall of 2013, is expected to be completed in early 2015. The new 400,000 square feet building will be a mix of studio, efficiency and one- and two-bedroom apartments (364 total!) and will also include a fitness center, a rooftop pool, 200 parking spaces, and about 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. In addition, the building will be topped off with a green roof.

“This new project will add an entirely new dimension to the Science Center and our campus. It will help us achieve our goal of ‘activating’ our campus and creating a dynamic environment in which to live, work and play,” says Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA. “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2013, we are looking to the future – and the future of the Science Center centers on a vibrant 24/7 community.”

The project is a joint venture between Wexford Equities, the parent company of Wexford Science & Technology, and Southern Land Company.

The UCSC, one of the nation’s largest urban research parks, was established in 1963.

After a week-long service disruption due to the fire at Elena’s Soul, Route 34 trolley has resumed normal operation this morning. SEPTA advises to expect some residual delays while full operations are restored.

The University Avenue/34th Street Bridge crossing the Schuylkill River in the Grays Ferry section will be closed for repairs and cleaning for approximately three weeks beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2, according to a PennDOT announcement. The bridge is part of a common route to access Interstate 76.

The bridge will be closed to all traffic, including pedestrians. During this period drivers should expect an increase in traffic and are advised to detour over Grays Ferry Ave., Woodland Ave. and 38th St. The bridge, which is a double-leaf drawstring bridge, has been in operation since 1930 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

In addition, Penn Public Safety has posted an announcement that Spruce Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 34th Street to 38th Street from 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on Friday, Jan. 4 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, for installation of a crane. Drivers are advised to follow marked detour signs during this time.

UPDATE (Dec. 30): The Wine and Spirits store on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue has reopened.

Crews have demolished the building that housed the popular bar and restaurant Elena’s Soul, which was destroyed by fire Monday. The demolition caused severe damage to adjacent buildings, prompting the city to order that those buildings either be repaired or demolished themselves.

The City placed an “imminently dangerous” notice on Gary’s Nails today after the walls of the three-story building that housed Elena’s collapsed through the nail salon’s roof. A wall in Gary’s was also severely damaged during the demolition. The notice requires the building’s owner to repair or demolish the building in a timely manner.

A wall from the Elena’s building also crashed through the roof of the adjacent Cedar Park Cafe, prompting the City to also serve notice to the building’s owner that it needs to be repaired or demolished.

The fire and demolition has also impacted the Wine and Spirit Store next door to Gary’s. The store has been closed since demolition began and a sign posted in the window says that it will be “closed until further notice.” It remained closed Friday afternoon.

So far there has been no indication of where or whether Elena’s will rebuild. Elena’s Soul carried on a long tradition of bars in the building, which was reportedly built in 1908. Before Elena’s, the building was the home of Leroy’s Showcase Lounge. Elena’s catered to a relatively young, multiracial crowd.

“That place brought a lot of different kinds of people together,” said one man as he watched the demolition today. “Gonna be tough to replace that.”

A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The liquor store adjacent to Gary’s Nails will be closed until further notice.

Shuttle buses have been replacing Route 34 trolleys between the 40th Street portal and 61st Street since Monday due to the fire at Elena’s Soul. We’ll let you know when the trolley resumes its service. In the meantime, here’s more information on the shuttle bus route.

Westbound (via Chester Ave)

– Right at 42nd St.

– Left at Baltimore

– Left onto 49^th St.

– Right at Springfield

– Right at 50th St.

– Left at Baltimore, resuming regular routing

Eastbound (via Baltimore Ave)

– Right at 50^th St.

– Left at Springfield

– Left at 49^th St.

– Right at Baltimore

– Right at VA Medical Center Dr.

– Right on Woodland and back to 40^th Street, resuming regular routing

If your normal trash and recyclables pick-up day is Tuesday please note that there will be no collection on Tuesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, according to an announcement posted by Philadelphia Streets Department. Instead, set out your rubbish and recyclables for collection on Wednesdays, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Also, the rest of the collections will be delayed one day during these two weeks. For more information, visit http://philadelphiastreets.com/
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