Frankford year in Review 2007

This is just our take on it. I am sure there are some things that should be included here but have been overlooked.

• We had a councilman representing us once again. Dan Savage took over the seat held by Rick Mariano. Although he lost the primary to Maria Quinones-Sanchez, he continued to represent us and worked on his agenda for the remainder of his term.


• The Art Holiday closed. This cesspool was a blight on the neighborhood and deserved to die long before the end came. Shame on us for tolerating it.
  


• Sale of the Third Federal Bank building to NIT caused a tremendous uproar. So far nothing on the Avenue has changed as a result.
  


• Demolitions of properties throughout the neighborhood began again this year. The removal of the blighted properties improved the blocks where they had been and creates future opportunity for development.
  


• Frankford's Gambrel recreation center was highlighted on national television with an extreme makeover.
  


• Deni playground once again saw organized baseball for kids thanks to councilman Savage.
  


• The Prisoner re-entry program has continued to be a political issue.
  


• Northwood Civic Association leadership twas urned over to a new team
  


• East Frankford Civic Association also found new leadership and was rechristened the Frankford Civic Association.
  


• Frankford Creek Greenway Master Plan was published.
  


• Frankford Business and Professional Association leadership was turned over to Elizabeth McCollum-Nozario.
  


• Councilman Savage re-established and reorganized the Frankford Special Services District.


• Councilman Savage introduced a bill designating Frankford as a Transit Oriented Development District for the purposes of the rezoning of the City. This is a fundamental part in planning for the future of Frankford.
  


• Mozaic, restaurant and Jazz venue closed on December 7th.


• The Frankford Gazette appeared on the web one day in May.

Happy new Year from the Frankford Gazette.

Anonymous comment:

Thank you for all your hard work.

January 4, 2008 1:44 PM

Welcome to Frankford

On Wednesday, December 27, 2007 on the 4800 Block of Frankford Avenue, Councilman Daniel J. Savage unveiled the new "Welcome to Frankford" and "Historic Frankford” Banners for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.

The new banners are part of Councilman Savage’s plan for streetscape improvements for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor. Councilman Savage said, "Revitalizing business corridors are key to revitalizing our neighborhoods. These banners will add a touch of warmth and class to the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.” Before cutting the ribbon Councilman Savage said, “This is my Christmas present to Frankford.”

Anonymous comment:

Wouldn't the money be better spent on trashcans, increased lighting, or something that would make shoppers feel more comfortable while patronizing the Avenue's businesses? I hope these banners are not indicative of how the 1 million dollar grant will be spent.

December 31, 2007 2:34 PM

Next week in Frankford

• From the GAR museum: Annual General Meade Birthday Celebration Philadelphia, Penna.: Monday, December 31, 2007 - see community calendar for details
• Tuesday - New Years day
  
• The meeting of the Frankford Civic Association has been rescheduled to be held next week on Wednesday, January 10th
  

Frankford man murdered in West Philly

From today's Daily News:

After visiting with relatives in West Philadelphia Christmas night, Shawn McKnight, 35, went to the Intocable Food Mart on 60th Street near Haverford Avenue to get a Mountain Dew.

He never made it home. He was shot to death outside the store.

"He was the victim of an apparent robbery," said Homicide Lt. Philip Riehl.

McKnight, of Edmund Street near Margaret in Northeast Philadelphia, was shot at about 7:30 p.m. outside the corner store where he had stopped to make the purchase.

Police found him lying on the ground and took him to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at about 8:10 p.m.

Riehl said detectives were still trying last night to get a description of the killer.

It was reported that McKnight was survived by his fiancee, a 3-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old stepdaughter.

Read the entire article here.

Frankford Christmas Lights

Thanks to a tip from a reader, we have the final picture in our collection tonight. All of these photos were gathered over several nights. We have to admit that we discriminated against those folks who did a great job of decorating their homes but did not end up with something that was easily photographed at night. As my partner noted you can see some of these displays from the space shuttle they were so bright.

Our solution is that next year we will do a daylight tour and also include some video since some displays now include music and those neat inflatable moving snow globes.

This one is from Orchard near Church Street. You can see the full show here.

Special services to return to Frankford

From the Northeast Times:

Business owner Bill Goldshlack tried hard to block re-establishment of the Frankford Special Services District, but, in the end, he just couldn’t pull it off.
In a last-minute push, Goldshlack, who owns the Victor Stores, needed 51 percent of Frankford business owners to oppose the Special Services District — and in particular the taxes that would be assessed by the city to support it.
Goldshlack couldn’t muster that opposition. As a result, Mayor John Street’s endorsement of a bill creating the district is expected to have it up and running before he leaves office in January.
The Frankford Special Services District will encompass both sides of Frankford Avenue, from Torresdale Avenue to Bridge Street, and certain side streets that include parts of Kensington Avenue and Foulkrod, Gillingham, Griscom, Margaret, Meadow, Orthodox, Paul, Pratt, Darrah and Unity streets.

Previous criticism that the system failed in the past due to poor management does not seem to be addressed in the new proposal. Read the entire article here.

"Welcome to Frankford"

From Councilman Dan Savage:

Philadelphia - December 27, 2007 at 10:00 AM on the 4800 Block of Frankford Avenue, Councilman Daniel J. Savage will unveil the new "Welcome to Frankford" and "Historic Frankford” Banners for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.

The new banners are part of Councilman Savage’s plan for streetscape improvements for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor. Councilman Savage said, "Revitalizing business corridors is key to revitalizing our neighborhoods. These banners will add a touch of warmth and class to the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.”