I've only read about Mr. Knox & really like his ideas but would like to hear him elaborate on them. Specifically, on how he plans to achieve his goals.
Will he have the support of fellow politicians, etc...
I am currently registered as a Rep. but would seriously consider changing parties to vote in the primary if he has a solid plan of action.

• The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m., by Joe Menkevich, President of NWC.

• Pastor Paul Andell, of St. James Lutheran Church, began the meeting with a moving and eloquent prayer for Officer Gary Skerski, his family, and the community he served so selflessly.

• Joe read an email from Mary Tracy of SCRUB, notifying residents of two important zoning hearings scheduled for May 17th and May 19th. See below. Joe will be in attendance at those meetings.

• Invitations to attend the May NWC meeting were extended to Councilman Darrell Clarke’s office, Council President Anna Verna’s office, Robert D. Solvibile (L&I), Preservation Alliance, the 15th Police District and the City Planning Commission.

• There was much discussion about the problem of parking tractor/trailers on residential streets in Northwood, which is a violation of the Philadelphia Parking Code. Many calls have been made by residents of Northwood to the Police but to no avail. Tickets have not even been issued. One of the vehicles does not even have permanent registration. Joe asked neighbors to step up their calls to 911. There was a professional truck driver at the meeting who said that the calls should be directed to the State Police. The consensus was that there is not enough police officers to handle all these quality-of-life type issues and that we need more cooperation from the police as well as more Officers on the street.

• A representative from Councilman Clarke’s office was present at the meeting and said that she would follow up on the Greenwood Cemetery issues. The files pertaining to the Cemetery were given to Anthony Ingargiola from Councilman Mariano’s office at a previous meeting, but nothing was accomplished.

• Anyone interested in obtaining more information with regard to the Burke Deed Restriction can go to myworthwood.net.

• Michael Thompson from the City Planning Commission spoke to residents about the Conservation District. Created by City Council in 2004, the purpose of the Conservation District is to preserve the integrity of form and design of a neighborhood, i.e., regulating facades and continuity of style and design of residential buildings, new construction, etc. Although the application process is a long and tedious one, a large majority of those in attendance voted, by a show of hands, to pursue this. There were approximately 60 people in attendance at the meeting. If NWC is successful in becoming a Conservation District the community can determine the boundaries, develop enforceable guidelines such as building materials, colors, setbacks, etc., for all existing and new construction. Barry Howell suggested that an exploratory committee be formed to begin the process. Volunteers came forth at the end of the meeting to sign-up to serve on the committee. If successful, our neighborhood will become the first Conservation District in the City. Queen Village has shown some interest in the process but is not presently a Conservation District.

• More information on Conservation Districts can be found at philaplanning.org. Mr. Thompson said there is an excellent article posted there entitled The Political and Community Service Boundaries of Philadelphia.

• Preservation Alliance has shown interest in some of the historical buildings in Northwood. Debbie Klak is working with Mr. Thompson to identify certain buildings in the neighborhood which might be certified as “historical”.

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Attachment:
From: Mary Tracy
RE: ZBA to hear TWO Major SCRUB cases next week
Location : 1616 Arch Street 18th Floor
1:00 PM Wed May 17 and 9:00 AM Fri May 19
Taxpayer Standing to be Challenged at Special ZBA Hearing on Friday May 19

Friday May 19th at 9:00 AM - At a special hearing before Philadelphia’s Zoning Board of Adjustments, Keystone Outdoor Advertising will be challenging the standing of citizens and community groups as part of their appeal for a variance to erect a billboard in a protected area. The billboard company is invoking PA Act 123 of 2004. This legislation formerly called HB 1954 included a stealth amendment added to an existing bill during a late night session in Harrisburg. The bill was vigorously opposed by citizens and community groups after its passage. Many legal experts, including Philadelphia’s Law Department, interpret the bill as not doing what the billboard industry intended.

Friday’s hearing will establish the record for what is seen as the test case to be taken up through the courts. PLEASE try to attend this hearing. If you can only attend one ZBA hearing-- this is the one. The case involves a variance request to erect a double sided 70 foot high billboard structure, each with a sign face of 1200 square feet at 3610 South Front Street, which is located within the Food Distribution District, an area that prohibits billboards and non-accessory signage. The proposed billboard structure would also be located within 500 feet of an existing billboard and exceeds height and size regulations.

Owners in Wall Wrap Case Challenge Constitutionality of Philadelphia’s Sign Laws
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 1:00 PM- Callowhill Center, having litigated and lost their appeals all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States is back trying once again to get a variance for a 7,650 square foot wall wrap. These owners are challenging the constitutionality of Philadelphia’s Sign Controls and have hired an expert witness whose exhibits include a power point depicting those who support controls on outdoor advertising signage as provincial, elite and reflecting the values of one small group. Hope to see some of you there. Please let me know if you plan to attend and which hearing. Thanks.

(I attended the Friday, May 19th ZBA hearing for with SCRUB,)

Northeast Times and the News Gleaner attended the meeting.

The news Gleaner decided not to publish the story.

Pastor honors slain
policeman’s memory

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

The Rev. Paul Andell, pastor at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, delivered a moving prayer at last week’s Northwood Civic Association meeting in memory of slain police officer Gary Skerski.

Skerski, the 15th Police District’s community relations officer, was shot to death May 8 as he responded to an armed robbery at a Northwood bar.

Andell said, "Lord God, our minds can’t quite comprehend what happened here last week. We had taken for granted the relative peace and safety of our neighborhood. Now we have been jolted into a reality we never sought — a senseless killing of an officer.

"Be our strength, calm our fears, unite our hearts in a renewed commitment to each other and this community. And, although you are ultimately our peace and safety, we pray for the peace and safety of our neighborhood and streets.

"As we now remember officer Gary Skerski for his selfless courage and death, we pray that you, God, would guide those who can bring justice to his loss, that you would bring your consolation to his family, hollow his memory and hold him in your love’s embrace. In the savior’s name, amen."

Despite the prayer, many people remained angry at the brutal murder and other neighborhood crime.

"Don’t send the National Guard to Mexico," said civic association president Joe Menkevich. "Bring them here to Frankford."

In other news from the May 16 meeting:

• Before he died, Skerski was working with Len Williams, a member of the civic group’s board of directors, to ticket or remove tractors and tractor-trailers from the streets. The trucks have been parked on the 1000 block of Wakeling St. and the 1100 block of Kenwyn St.

• Mike Thompson, an environmental planner for the City Planning Commission, explained the Neighborhood Conservation District.

City Council created the district in 2004. In any neighborhood that adopts the concept, the planning commission would have to approve any demolition, construction or facade changes on residential properties.
So far, only Queen Village has pursued the idea.
Thompson, the Northwood Civic Association board of directors and neighborhood volunteers were scheduled to meet on the subject on Tuesday at Simpson Playground.

• The Historical Society of Frankford, at 1507 Orthodox St., will present two upcoming events.

On Sunday, June 4, from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be a reception for an exhibit titled The New Face of the Greater Northeast: Exploring Recent Immigration in Northeast Philadelphia.

The exhibit will highlight the work of the seventh- and eighth-graders at Frankford Friends School.

On Tuesday, June 13, historian and educator Harry Silcox will present The Immigration to Northeast Philadelphia Past & Present. Guests are encouraged to bring a salad, tea sandwiches or dessert to share at a social that begins at 6 p.m. Silcox will speak at 7 p.m. Call 215-743-6030.

• The Grand Army of the Republic Museum, located at 4278 Griscom St., is raising money to restore a white marble obelisk at Cedar Hill Cemetery, at Frankford Avenue and Bridge Street.

The landmark bears the names of area men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. It is surrounded by 33 unmarked graves of war veterans. The monument is in need of repair, and head stones need to be installed on the graves.

Checks can be made payable to Frankford C.W. Monument Fund and sent to Monument Committee, c/o GAR Civil War Museum, 4278 Griscom St., Philadelphia, PA 19124.

For more information, call Bud Atkinson at 215-673-1688.

• The Frankford Yellow Jackets, a professional minor league football team, will open their season on July 22 with a road game against the Rockland (N.Y.) Bruins. The team will play two more road games before opening its home schedule on Aug. 12 against the Jersey Cynder. Home games will be played at Frankford War Memorial Stadium.

The original Frankford Yellow Jackets played in the NFL from 1924 to ‘31. Most of their home games were played on a field at Frankford and Devereaux avenues. The team won the NFL title in 1926.

• Northwood Civic Association’s next meeting is set for Tuesday, June 20, at 7 p.m., at St. James Lutheran Church, at 5185 Castor Ave. (at Pratt Street). ••

Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com

LOL!!!!! Too funny! That should be Frankford's slogan!

I was so happy to see this thread tonight. I lived in Northwood for the first 18 years of my life, moving 2 years ago (not for any reason having to do with the quality of life in this wonderful neighborhood). I was there last night to visit some friends, and again today, and Northwood remains in better shape than much of the city, but there are problems. I was happy to see that Northwood is looking at becoming a Conservation District, although to be honest this points to a key problem in the Civic Association's focus. Fence height and house color or texture are not the bigger issues in Northwood. A sustainable neighborhood needs a sustainable business district, and this Northwood does not have. A sustainable neighborhood needs a community feeling, and Northwood does not have that. No one knows where Northwood is, even when they're there. No one knows it exists. The Wyoming Circle project is great, and the Northwood Park signs are great, but there are more things that can be done to public spaces to make the neighborhood look better. Fox Chase, several years ago, secured funding for new lighting, benches and planters. Mayfair has done this too. These are things that can be done by a Civic Association.

Would Northwood benefit from forming a CDC? Yes. The Frankford CDC is busy trying to shore up the Frankford Avenue corridor. Northwood needs a supermarket to serve it's residents, it needs business that they will use, not 4 nail salons and 2 less-than-a-dollar stores. A bookstore, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a florist, a bakery: these are businesses that need to be attracted to Oxford Avenue. Business and development need not be a scourge on the community if attracted properly and focused effectively.

Joe, I wrote a letter to you one year ago and did not hear back, a letter about this very set of topics. The Civic can and must do more for Northwood to continue to thrive. Complaining about fences will only cause more to go up.

__________________
"If wishes were horses we'd all be knee deep in crap."

Northwood Civic Association is ahead of the curve in posting its minutes and newspaper accounts of its meetings online. This is a great way for people in and around the community to get a better sense of what goes on at meetings and what the issues confronting the community are.

President Joe Menkevich and other community leaders deserve a lot of praise for being one of the first Philadelphia community organizations to fully take advantage of what phillyblog has to offer.

__________________
Improving government for the average citizen


Thanks for electing me Delegate to the Democratic National Convention From the First Congressional District Supporting Barack Obama. Serving as an Obama delegate was a truly inspiring experience.

By doing what? You talk about not wanting dollar stores, but that's all there is. It takes real investors with real business plans. The Frankford CDC with the help of the ex-councilman have socialy engineered Frankford in reverse for so long that it may already be too late. Saving Frankford from itself is kind of like trying to plug the hole in the ozone layer by filling it with more pollution, while suppressing the scientists that disagree with those who believe they are in the position of power. The truth will come out in the end.

Your post reminds me of what I believe is the typical mindset of the American Public, which is, the mass media brainwash of the Dollar-store world of disposable diapers, throw away bottles & can mentality. I don’t care if it takes a war, I want cheap dollar gasoline and I want it now! Cheap cremations for the dead, euthanasia for the old and dying and I ain’t praying to any god until I get sick and think I need some help with my life. Health care, the hell with health care, it cost too much.

It’s the Blockbuster-Hollywood-Candid-Camera-I am an undiscovered star- dollar store disposable world mentality, where everything that cost more than a dollar is too expensive, while anything that cost less than a dollar is cheap and worthless.
Civic Association!? Dues? Meetings??? Screw that! I’m not paying any dammed dues! And when I am done scumming up the place with my trash, I am not picking it up; someone else will do it for me. It is easier and cheaper to just move someplace else that is clean.

That is the problem. No self-respect and no respect for others, but plenty of time and money for self-indulgent vices like cigarettes and beer/hockey, beer/football, beer/basketball, beer/baseball, beer/golf, beer/gambling and then Hennesy, cigars and sex for desert, and nothing for anyone else. But I’ll post my critiques anonymously on the blog. That will help me vent my frustrations so that I can survive another day. You know what they say – "Another day, another dollar."

And didn’t you hear the Frankford CDC is being audited, and all their personnel are laid off. It is something about not filing the right papers with the IRS. I wonder who messed that one up? I heard his first name was Steve.

Neil, I believe that was the name on the letter I received a year ago. It was a very nice letter. I even read it aloud at a meeting. But it was a bit paradoxical.
The last thing Northwood wants is a commercial district. Northwood is a residential district. Is there something wrong with living in a place where it is JUST ALL RESIDENTIAL?

On top of all of it, tell me how the Civic can do anything when the people are too caught up in the material world to volunteer some time and donate a few dollars? It takes money just to print and circulate the newsletters. It takes money to fight the fight, and NO ONE IS GIVING US ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF MONEY OR TIME! Do you understand? Truthfully, I am getting tired.

You claim that you have lived in Northwood for 18 years but you haven’t learned anything about Northwood in 18 years. If you have lived here, then you haven’t, or your parents haven’t attended any meetings or paid any dues. Because if you had been a part of this community, you would have understood this flyer from 1996:

NORTHWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19124
PRESIDENT: Nicholas A. Barnardo
VICE-PRESIDENT: Francis J. Hanssens, Jr.
TREASURER: Susan C. Byer
SECRETARY: Mary Ellen Kirkwood
DIRECTORS: James Creaturo
Robert Donnelly
Cecilia M. Ruppert
Mike Hondros
Walt De Lury
NEXT MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996
TIME:7:30 pm.
PLACE: St. James Lutheran Church (Castor Ave. & Pratt Street)
AGENDA: IMPORTANT VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP!
The Civic Association has a policy of enforcing all zoning laws and deed restrictions absent the consent of the membership. At the February meeting of the Association, a significant number of members of the Association asked that enforcement of the Philadelphia Zoning Code and of the Burk Deed Restrictions be relaxed with respect to a specific case on Wakeling Street. This request deserves consideration by the full membership of the Civic Association. The Board of Directors views this as an opportunity for the membership of the Association to review and either reaffirm or modify the policies of the Association.
The vote at the March meeting will not affect the rights of individual neighbors to enforce the Philadelphia Zoning Code and/or the Burk Deed Restrictions.
The Board views its existing policies as applicable to four distinct situations:
SHOULD THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION RELAX ITS ENFORCEMENT OF THE PHILADELPHIA ZONING CODE AND OF DEED RESTRICTIONS
1) WITH RESPECT TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AT RESIDENTIAL SITES?
2) WITH RESPECT TO MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING AT SINGLE-FAMILY SITES?
3) WITH RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS (DECKS, WALLS,
EXTENSIONS OF BUILDINGS, ETC.) IN FRONT OF HOUSES?
4) WITH RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS BEHIND HOUSES?
If the vote on #4 is to relax enforcement, the Civic Association will not pursue further action on the Wakeling Street matter.
ONLY MEMBERS WHO HAVE PAID ANNUAL DUES IN 1995 OR IN 1996 PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE ROLLS FOR THE MARCH MEETING (3/15) MAY VOTE.
*********************
Northwood Civic Association meets the third Tuesday of each month
(Continued on side 2 of this flyer)
__

(side 2 of the 1996 flyer)
__
DRAFT POLICY STATEMENT
ON ZONING AND LAND USE ISSUES

Through five decades the Northwood Civic Association has worked to preserve the residential character of Northwood. Prior to the existence of the Civic Association, going back to the late 1800's, individual neighbors worked, and in some cases sued, to preserve that residential character. The Civic Association was founded in the 1950's to organize neighbors to preserve Northwood.

The Association has two main tools with which to protect the neighborhood:

1) Zoning. 2) The Burk deed restriction and similar deed restrictions.
Zoning is a set of City ordinances designed to control land use. Zoning is enforced by the City of Philadelphia, primarily through the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The Zoning Code can be relaxed by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but only in cases where enforcement of the Zoning Code would cause hardship.
Deed restrictions are agreements among owners of real property to restrict the use of their real property. Deed restrictions are enforced by the property owners, not by the City of Philadelphia. Deed restrictions are often more restrictive than the Zoning Code. The City of Philadelphia cannot enforce or waive any deed restriction. In Northwood, Louis Burk and his wife placed deed restrictions on most of the properties

(1) Between Arrott and Pratt west of Castor and (2) between Harrison and Oxford Avenue east of Castor. These restrictions are on file at City Hall, and property owners are legally deemed to have notice of these restrictions.

Zoning is the most important tool to protect the neighborhood. The Association appears, as a matter of policy, at all hearings before the Zoning Board of Adjustment that relate to property within the boundaries of the Association (Roosevelt Boulevard to Sanger to Oxford Avenue to Leiper to Orthodox to Castor to Wyoming).

Unless the membership of the Association votes to support a variance, it will be the policy of the Association to oppose variances that relax the Zoning Code. The membership has voted to relax the Code on rare occasions, most recently when it permitted a muffler shop at Pratt and the Boulevard.

The deed restriction is important in those very rare cases where the neighborhood has lost a zoning fight or in those more common cases where the Zoning Code permits uses that the deed restriction forbids.

Unless the membership of the Association votes to relax a deed restriction in a particular case, it will be the policy of the Association to enforce the deed restrictions. To the best of our knowledge, over the course of 80 years, neither the neighbors nor the membership of the Association have voted to relax a deed restriction.
*****************
The membership voted in 1996, not to relax the Deed Restriction.
*********************

NORTHWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Adopted October 19, 1976. Effective February 15, 1978
(Amended May 19, 1981)

ARTICLE I. NAME and PURPOSE

Section 1.
This name of the Association shall be Northwood
Civic Association.

Section 2.
The purpose of the Association shall be to promote the civic, social, and moral welfare of the community: to preserve and maintain the amenities of the community and to peaceably protest inharmonious land uses, which tend to detract from and reduce property values in the community and adjoining areas.

Section 3.
For the purposes of the Association, the boundaries of the community shall run along the east side of the Roosevelt Boulevard from the southern line of Friends Hospital to Castor Avenue and Sanger Street; Sanger Street to Oxford Avenue; west side of Oxford Avenue to proximity of Leiper Street; proximity of Leiper Street to Orthodox Street; south side of Orthodox Street to Castor Avenue, Castor Avenue to Wyoming Avenue; Wyoming Avenue to Ramona Avenue; Ramona Avenue to Fishers Avenue, Fishers Avenue to the southern line of Friends Hospital and north to east side of Roosevelt Boulevard.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP and DUES

Section 1. Every citizen of the age of eighteen years and over, living within the boundaries of the community, shall be entitled to membership upon payment of dues. One payment of annual dues permits all members of a family to attend meetings, but only a dues-paying member or his family appointee may vote upon any issue that may come to the floor of the meeting. (Dues are now $10 and the legal fund is also in need.)

I am not posting the rest of the Charter Constitution and By-Laws.

Put your money where your mouth is.

I must respectfully disagree with you there. I think good retail is necessary for a neighborhood to be great, otherwise it's just another suburban subdivision. I think local retail really does help foster a sense of community.
Without it, there isn't much worth walking to. Instead people have to drive everywhere. By walking our streets we get to have unplanned interactions with our neighbors. More good citizens walking the streets also helps decrease crime by having more eyes keeping an eye on things.

I am aware that Northwood Civic has a long history of rejecting everything commerical, and I'm sure with good reasons, but it may be time for that to be reconsidered, at least where it already exists.

Northwood already has a commerical district on Oxford Avenue, like it or not. Oxford Ave could become a neighborhood asset and an attractive gateway to the residential area behind it. Nortwood could take control of this opportunity rather than ceding it to the organizations that have made such a mess in Frankford.

There are many places that show how residential and retail can be balanced, Newtown, Yardly, Chestnut Hill, Fox Chase, Collingswood, Haddonfield, Media, West Chester are just a few. I have always seen Northwood as more like Haddonfield and Newtown than as Cherry Hill or Southampton.

__________________
"Things are starting to get interesting right about now"

All comments made by me on his board are given freely and probably worth what you paid for them.

Wow. That's some serious rumour you're spreading there.
Are you implying that the Frankford CDC was not diligent in their accounting? Any facts to back up this rumour?