Major Artery Revitalization Committee - PhillyBlog

MARC-CLEANSWEEP · #1 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 11:56 AM

The Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC) is here for you.

With the number of civic-minded community members that visit PhillyBlog, we felt this would be a great way to inform the community as to our projects and recruit volunteers to help beautify the neighborhood.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please post a reply, visit our website www.marc-cleansweep.com, or email us at marc.cleansweep@gmail.com.

In recent MARC news:

August 7, 2006 – MARC provided a $2,000 grant to the Northeast Detectives in an effort to keep the streets of the community safe.

Since 2004, MARC has given $12,000 to the NE Detectives. In 2004 and 2005, MARC delivered $5,000 each year to aid the police department’s fight on crime.

July 27, 2006 – The Diskin/Gallagher Community Arts Center, in Tacony, received a $2,000 grant from MARC.

Previously, MARC teamed-up with the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) to place flower boxes and plant trees around the arts center. They also helped paint a mural on the rear wall of the studio.

For more information about the art programs, contact the Diskin-Gallagher Community Arts Center at (215) 624-0437.

David Carl · #2 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 01:44 PM

Congrats Ed on your position.

$21,000 / 16 years = $1,312.50/yr.

Marbugkid · #3 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 01:52 PM

Why is this too little too late?

Sounds like a good group to me. Is there something I am missing here?

Tom Burleson · #4 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 02:03 PM

Good luck Ed, and thanks for the update. Great
website ! I see the good things these young
kids are doing for the neighborhood. Keep
up the good work. I hope there is more
to follow.

MARC-CLEANSWEEP · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 02:12 PM

Thanks, David, but it's only a part-time position. After leaving the News Gleaner for my current full-time job, I was looking for a way to stay involved with my community and MARC presented the opportunity. So far, it has been a great experience. I wish I had more than just my nights and weekends to devote to it.

Also:

Thanks, Tom. I'm glad you like the website. I hope to have it completely updated by Labor Day.

cammycap · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2006, 11:02 PM

Can you please send the kids to that block, it seems that the people on it do not know how to use a broom and the 6600 of Hegerman and the 6800 block of Vandike, and ALL OF Torresdale Ave. 6400 & 6500 Block of Marsden St. Do the kids get to drive the Golf Cart?

Scoats · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2006, 10:01 AM

I hear a lot of negative things about MARC and some of them may well be true; I really don't know. It should be noted that MARC has made some very pleasant improvements and they shrewly picked some very high impact areas.

The vinyl fence with the plants in front of it on Levick east of Torresdale near Players looks great everytime I am stopped at that light. It really does improve the appearance of the neighborhood.

The plantings on Princeton just east of Keystone always makes me smile too when I am in car turning right off of Keystone to get to 95 or State Road.

As a pedestrian, the plantings on Torresdale Ave between Disston and Longshore are quite pleasing.

cammycap · #8 (**permalink**) 08-18-2006, 03:55 PM

I know the area because I own Players and I regularly pick up the trash left in the bushes. I think that no body can knock it but I also think that if you paint and old house it's still an old house, that has cracks in the foundation. So I expect my elected people to look at the fundamentals to make change. Not paint pretty pictures, and claim to be saving the neighborhood. And it's really Joan Krajewski in my mind that deserves the credit for quite frankly doing ANYTHING, as you know we are not the usually the beneficiary of any services, if you ever drive around in the winter you know this.

MARC-CLEANSWEEP · #9 (**permalink**) 08-18-2006, 06:00 PM

To answer your question:

The Youth Employment Program sweeps Torresdale Avenue every day between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Currently, the youth program concentrates on the business districts of Tacony and Wissinoming. However, MARC will send their Street Sweeper to those locations you mentioned early next week.

If you have a specific property that is a nuisance (overgrown lawn, trash, etc.) contact the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) at 215-683-2547.

Also, MARC does not allow the kids to drive the golf cart.

Thanks for you input,

Scoats · #10 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cammycap

So I expect my elected people to look at the fundamentals to make change. Not paint pretty pictures, and claim to be saving the neighborhood.

I don't think the plantings are the ultimate answer, but as long they happen at reasonable cost they are a piece of the solution. Perception very often has a way of becoming reality. One of the major successes of Ed Rendell's mayorial tenure is that he\they changed people's perceptions, which was a first step in changing reality.

I know there is a lot of history and water under the bridge regarding MARC and longtime (and long-effective) neighborhood groups. I also know I have gotten at least 12 copies of MARC's very expensive looking booklet saying how great they are. They do however deserve credit for the plantings which are both shrewdly located and wisely executed (they seem very low maintenance). Hopefully we can build some bridges, work together, and create an "us and us" instead of an "us vs. them" situation. We have what probably is a once in a lifetime opportunity here with the money for Torresdale Ave.

There was a large investment in Torresale Ave (and Rising Sun Ave) back in the day. The brick areas between the sidewalks and curbs still exist as a reminder. All that investment did nothing to change the destiny of either Torresdale or Rising Ave Avenue. We need to work together to learn from the past and figure out how to wisely spend that money to get the maximum benefit to the community.