Manayunk
Neighborhood Council
May
2003
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Manayunk
Neighborhood Council May
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COMMUNITY LIFE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CLIP)The Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) was created by Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and the City Managing Director's Office to deal with Quality of Life issues in the northeast. Mayor Street's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative launched this program in June 2002. CLIP, geared toward preserving stable neighborhoods, has been expanded to the 7th and 9th Council Districts. In West Philadelphia, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell tailored The West Philadelphia Improvement Program after CLIP. We asked Councilman Nutter to bring CLIP or a similar program to Manayunk. CLIP involves a coordinated effort among city departments - police, fire, licenses and inspections, streets, health, parks and recreation - to enforce a zero-tolerance for the nuisance problems that contribute to neighborhood blight. This includes citing overgrown lawns and unsightly yards, unsafe buildings, animal feces, trash, and rodent and insect infestations. Under CLIP rules, once owners are issued a violation they have 10 days to abate the problem. If not, the city cleans it up for them and bills owners for the work. During recent budget hearings, some Council members questioned Managing Director Phil Goldsmith about CLIP funding. Councilman Nutter, was one of them. Afterwards, Mayor Street indicated that he is willing to discuss plans to expand CLIP to other areas. We are confident Councilman Nutter will continue with efforts to bring this much needed program to Manayunk.
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TWO SUMMER CONCERTS IN PRETZEL PARK
The Manayunk Neighborhood Council will present two concerts in Pretzel Park this summer. The concerts are free and open to the public. The park is located between Silverwood, Cresson, Rector and Cotton Streets. Both events begin are from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Refreshments will be sold in the Park. On Wednesday, July 16, The Rick Gazda Band, a six person ensemble, will play Polish polka favorites and ethnic music from around the world. On Wednesday, July 30th, the Fairmount Brass Quartet will play ragtime, patriotic and classical music. The concerts are funded with a grant from the Philadelphia Activities Fund. Over the last few years, the Manayunk Neighborhood Council has received grants from many sources funding improvements to Pretzel Park. These concerts will give the public a new way to enjoy the new park house, benches, paths, dog park, playground and gardens.
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MNC TESTIMONY AT THE SEPTA HEARINGService cuts and fare increases are not a viable option for balancing the budget. Funds must be secured from State and Federal sources to keep SEPTA functioning. Public transit is critical to the Philadelphia region. It contributes to economic development, increased safety, energy conservation, a cleaner environment, less traffic congestion, higher real estate values and more vibrant, livable communities. The benefits of transit are clear yet we are continuously subjected to threats that jeopardize transit and discourage riders. Transit works! Transit is the lifeblood of this region. Without it we would be paralyzed by traffic congestion and pollution. State operating subsidies have increased only twice in the past eight years. An annual inflationary increase of 3% is essential. The 2004 state budget further reduces subsidies by an additional 6%, $15 million. SEPTA's state operating subsidy level is at a 1996 level. This is unacceptable. SEPTA's fare box revenues are among the best in the nation, well above Boston and Los Angeles. SEPTA is a outstanding transit agency. It is unfair to blame the agency when the entire country is plagued with transportation problems. Funding must be found. There is plenty of room for improvement in SEPTA but the burden is not theirs alone. Government must embrace transit as crucial to the entire country. Long-range plans must be devised to lead Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia region into the future. Along with these plans, dedicated funding sources must be established. Revising the fare system is called for to increase funds, ease access and accounting, and encourage new riders. However, any rise in fares must be skillfully designed so the riders benefit, such as a free transfer to offset a higher base fare or deeper discounts for passes. Transit riders demand that they be part of the plan. The riders are what transit is about. As previously stated, transit is vital to the entire region. It is important to suburban counties and communities throughout the city. We do not want to cut transit in other areas to save our own routes nor do we want to battle with our neighbors over service cuts. Transit is an important means by which residents in our community travel to work, to school, to health care appointments, to grocery stores, and to sources of entertainment and recreation in and around Philadelphia. Manayunk, like other dense urban neighborhoods, desperately needs transit. The mission should be to make transit work in Manayunk, and elsewhere, not to dismantle and cripple it. Manayunk Neighborhood Council is acutely aware of the danger of service cuts. The route 35 bus is regularly threatened with removal because of low ridership. However, it is a unique route in a unique neighborhood. The steep hills and narrow streets make walking difficult for many residents. While Manayunk is a dense neighborhood, services are concentrated at the top and bottom of the hill while people are concentrated in the middle. Cars park on sidewalks, in front of fire hydrants, and close to the intersections making Manayunk unsafe for pedestrians and restricting access by emergency vehicles. Pedestrians are forced to walk in the street. The Route 35 bus takes residents up and down the hills. Without it they would be forced into cars, worsening the problem, or they would become housebound. This route was recently improved and the potential to increase this ridership is great. Parking in Manayunk has reached its limit while residential developments continue to be built. The infrastructure cannot handle more cars. We need transit now more than ever. We hold SEPTA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania jointly responsible for the current budget crisis and jointly responsible for fixing it. Now is the time for SEPTA's board and senior management to step up, do it's homework, and make a compelling case to the Commonwealth for additional funding. SEPTA must mobilize riders, motorists, environmentalists, labor, and business leaders through coalition building. Not just worst-case scenario scare tactics. We call upon the Governor and the State Assembly to provide immediate financial relief to SEPTA to prevent service cuts or fare increases in fiscal year 2004. Adequate and dedicated funding sources for transit must be established. Funds must be increased and our transit system must be expanded. As when SEPTA tried to shut down its web page as the internet was exploding, transit is being crippled just when rising gas prices, dwindling oil supplies and increased congestion are heralding a new transit era. Let's not usher in that era going backwards.
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ELECTION RESULTS - NEW OFFICERS
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BE A MANAYUNK TREE TENDER!The next Tree Tenders Training will be: Wednesday June 11, 18, 25 6-9 pm and To register or get more information contact Mindy at 215-988-8844 or mmaslin@pennhort.org
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Main Street Dance Hall'sThe Manayunk Brew Pub, 4120 Main St., has applied for a Dance Hall License. The July 1995 agreement the Brew Pub signed with Manayunk Development Corporation states: "The Applicant/Licensee agrees it will not permit dancing on the licensed premises" and "...shall not apply for, obtain nor permit an adult cabaret license nor conduct any activities governed by that license...." Chemistry's Dance Hall License is due for renewal, May 31, 2003. They held an outdoor event on May 3 in violation of the operating agreement they signed with Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association (WNCA) and MNC on Feb. 2002. That agreement stated they would not hold outdoor events except during Manayunk Development Corporation sanctioned events. Captain Maye had additional police on the street to mitigate the disturbance to residents. This helped but we cannot always count on extra Officers. Chemistry cannot be allowed to continue with outdoor events through the summer. WNCA plans to oppose the dance hall license application because of the proliferation of nuisance activities associated with bars and dance hall licenses. They are also opposing the renewal based on the May 3, 2003 event. MNC would like to join WNCA in opposing the license application and renewal but we need to hear from you. Please come to the June 4 meeting and voice your opinion.
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CRESSON STREET MURALLocal artist Ken Millington completed the illustration for the Cresson Street mural. He will display his work at the June 4 meeting. The mural's focus is an historic steam engine framed with the Manayunk factories on along the river and the residential neighborhood up the hill. The mural will be painted on Cresson Street just below the ramp from the outbound train station. Bobby Morganstein, owner of the newly opened Beat Street Station, will install lights to illuminate the mural. Ken would appreciate the services of a few volunteers. No artistic experience is required. Help is needed in painting large areas before the fine art is added. Local artists interested in the program are also encouraged to join in. Residents interested in restoring the mural on Main Street just above Green Lane are encouraged to attend the meeting. The Mural Arts Program can help direct or fund local artists interested in repairing Manayunk's first mural.
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ABOUT THE MURAL ARTS PROGRAMSince its inception in 1984, the Mural Arts Program completed more murals than any other public art program in the nation - more than 2,100 indoor and outdoor murals throughout Philadelphia. This effort brought art to the cityscape, turning graffiti-scarred walls into scenic views, portraits of community heroes, and abstract creations. The benefits of public art are far reaching. Touching both residents and visitors alike, murals help beautify the City. In addition, murals help create a sense of community, as artists and community members develop relationships to turn their artistic visions into reality. The Mural Arts Program also works to involve the City's residents in the creative process, offering art education programs at recreation centers, homeless shelters, and other sites throughout Philadelphia. Created by former Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode in an effort to address the City's growing graffiti problem, the Mural Arts Program operated as part of the City's Anti-Graffiti Network, before becoming part of the Department of Recreation in 1996.
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ZONINGVenice Island UpdateThe Commonwealth court declined to re-hear our appeal for the Cotton Street development (270 units). We are appealing to the PA Supreme Court and will be filing our petition soon. We filed a petition with the PA Supreme Court for the Dranoff/NAMICO case last month. It is still pending. The PA Supreme Court could take from several months to a year to decide on the petitions. If they decide to hear the appeals it could be as long as two more years before the appeal is heard. Thank you to all those who have already donated. We have huge legal bills and there is more to come. If you support the cause please make a generous donation. Checks should be made out to Manayunk Neighborhood Council and sent to P.O. box 4667, Philadelphia PA, 19127. Gay and FlemingWe are in the final stages of negotiating an agreement with the Kolea brothers for the development of 235-49 Gay Street. This is the site of the old Manayunk Club. Twelve single family homes are planned. We hope to have a signed agreement before the June 4th zoning hearing (Calendar number 02-1499). Roy Hiser, a board member of Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, purchased property adjacent to the site and is planning a single home. Roy made a brief presentation at the April general meeting (see the minutes). He is in the very early planning stages and we have not sat down with him to discuss details yet. The property is already zoned residential but Roy will need a variance from some of the setback requirements. Ripka and Wilde StreetsDeveloper Sam Sherman failed to appear at our May 7 meeting. His group is finalizing their discussions with the present property owner, a process that took longer than they expected. They felt it would have been inappropriate to speak at our meeting until some issues were resolved. We will have them make a presentation at an upcoming meeting. Stay tuned.
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PRETZEL PARKThe park is looking better, thanks to the city and our volunteers. We were late in getting the park listed with the Department of Recreation for mowing. However, once the schedule is worked out, they will mow on a regular basis. Funding for community projects requires volunteer efforts to guarantee sincerity and stewardship. Benefactors will not fund losing proposals. Funds for park improvements were obtained only after the Friends of Pretzel Park was formed. The Friends committed to care for the park with monthly cleanups and public meetings. To receive additional improvements, volunteers must help with ongoing maintenance of the park. Pretzel Park has become a place the in which the community can take pride. The dog run is a huge success and the playground is an accomplishment we never even dared to dream. Transformed from an eyesore to a show place, the raised perennial garden along Rector and Cresson Streets is an beautiful sight to behold. The memorial garden at the Cotton and Silverwood entrance is flourishing but needs to be redesigned to improve its appearance. Gardeners are needed to maintain these gardens to keep them vibrant. There is plenty of other work to be done in the park such as spreading mulch, raking leaves, and painting benches. Please join us in Pretzel Park to assure a healthy future for the park and our community. Scheduled work and meeting dates are: Saturdays (10am to 1pm), May 31, June 21, July 12, and August 23; and Wednesday Evenings (6pm) May 14, June 11, July 23, and August 13. PRETZEL PARK TOWN WATCHBecome a steward of the park and surrounding neighborhood by calling 911 to report suspicious activities. Calls to 911 are anonymous. The biggest deterrence to vandalism is pedestrian presence and human vigilance. Join a friend and take a walk in the park whenever you can. You can help your neighborhood and improve your health.
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