The issue is not about whether the drug dealing is "unusual" or not in a commercial building. The issue is how obvious it is in an area that is primarily residential with plans for strengthening the commercial corridor by the local city councilwoman, University, and UCD yet a growing presence of drug dealing.

The issue is also having local realtors renting to tenants who sell drugs and their response to neighbor's complaints about drug activity.

The issue is also the squeaky wheel of the Philadelphia Police Dept. and enforcing laws against this type of issue.

I was walking past that corner of 49th and Baltimore around 7 tonight going from the Satellite to the A-space when I saw a cop with his parked car talking to two people outside that address, including the guy with the dreads. As I got closer to 47th, a cop car with it's lights and sirens whizzed by in the opposite direction. While it's very possible the cop car was going elsewhere, I'm wonder if maybe something did happen between the dealers and the police. Does anyone know anything else?

Sean-
This being just around the corner from me, I would like to see it resolved. I don't usually have reason to go west of my street (48th), but if I see anything, I'll be sure to report it.

Also, have you contacted the UCD? That corner is within their jurisdiction. Perhaps a visit to their office on Chestnut St. would be in order.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.

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I just walked past there tonight about 20 minutes ago and the party was going on as per usual. I turned up Florence and phoned it into the cops as soon as I was out of earshot.

Its odd its such a nice warm late summer evening. Various folks were taking their recycling out or riding past on their bikes, even at midnight. Kind of an idylic evening in UCity in a way. The level of activity at 704 S. 49th is totally out of character with vibe of the evening. Its a shame.

I gave a pretty detailed description of the guy with the dreads to the Narcotics officer in my call this evening and made it clear in our converstaion that I was standing just out of view of the activity. This seemed to impress the guy, like that made it a higher priority. He did make it clear that there is a problem if its inside of a building - they need to get warrants and it really helps if someone has actually seen an actual exchange go down - which I honestly haven't. They dodge inside for a few minutes and then come back out.

I'm begining to wonder how much a good wireless webcam is, what their broadcast range is and whether Beaulah Tabernacle would let me put one on the roof of the building they are rehabbing to make a health center (next to the corner deli). I have no idea how feasible a plan like that is - it just popped into my head. It certainly would be interesting to set up such a web cam to see if it helped the cops kick into action.

I'm waiting to hear back from some other folks about the real estate angle.

Sean, you're doing great work. I, too, have a bit of a libertarian view of drugs, in the abstract, but the concrete issues that street dealing raises for innocent bystanders and neighbors trump that, at least for me. The warrant issue is a real problem, and probably the main reason they've gone indoors. Good luck with the landlord.

What a shame. I was hoping something was actually gonna be done last night. Let's keep fighting it. Sean, maybe you can get CPN involved like we already talked about.

The idea of a web cam might actually be a good idea and might be worth looking into. Keep us posted.

I work for O'Donnell Real Estate. I am involved with the commercial leasing and sales. Best as I can figure out we have no connection with that corner. We did not manage it, lease it, or sell it. Who told you we did? I mean we have more of a prescence in this neighborhood than any other Real Estate Company but it seems a little presumptious to assume that we have some connection with this corner. In the future Please call us to ask whether we have some kind of connection with a property before posting something that portrays us in a negative by association way. I mean Sean I have met you. Both myself and Chris and Grace O'Donnell were all down at the Clark Park Fair where you were a couple of days after you posted this thread. You could have come up and asked one of us. I am sorry to seem sensitive but in our business your reputation is extremely important. Nobody is in the office anymore but I checked the MLS (multiple listing service), BRT web(the city's website) and Yardi (our real estate program) The only thing I came up with is this as the owners of 706 S. 49th St. --- NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATIONS 5429 CHESTNUT ST STE M114 PHILA, PA 19139-3339. I think I know which corner (SW corner of 49th and Balt) you are talking about I went by it the other day and saw some shady types hanging out, but did not think too much of it. We have a sign posted across the street for an apartment for rent but that is the only thing I could think of. I will check with Chris and Grace tomorrow -- maybe they will know who owns/ manages that property.

You are right. I apologize. I have edited the post already. I must have missed you that day in Clark Park coordinating too many other things - I had meant to PM you to ask you to make sure but there are only so many hours in the day. I have been running around insanely busy as per usual and went on the off-hand comments of someone who seemed pretty familiar with the property and seemed pretty confident in their assertion. I should have double checked on the BRT website myself. Again I apologize.

Neighborhood Restorations, huh?

I think they are the ones redoing all the stuff along Springfield between 50th and 52nd and on 52nd near Springfield.

They are also #32 on the Hall Watch top corporate tax delinquents list. They are also the ones listed with Penrose to do the massive redevelopment of Mantua in Philly Planning commission documents. They actually seem to get a fair amount of work from the city, especially in West Philadelphia. That's kind of interesting.

Again I apologize for incorrectly besmirching the fine name of your place of employ, T.O.

BTW- the door at 704 S. 49th St. was doing pretty steady business tonight, again. T.O., I invite you to spend 5 minutes checking out the scene at this address after dark and I think you will not disagree with my assesment of whats going on there.

I hear that some various folks at UCD and some other local institutions are now asking around the 12th police district about getting this place shut down. I still think it best to call it in every time you see activity going down but beyond that to givet forces alreadyat play a chance to see what works out.

I'm confused. Is it 704 or 706?

Also, are people driving up to do this? If so, are you able to get plates?

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Actually after re- reading my post it seems that I was pretty short, yesterday I was kinda testy, don't know why, but I am sorry. I think I pissed off a couple of people yesterday - see Bon Jovi. After reading 100's of your posts, a few of them which spoke well of O'Donnell I shouldn't have written what I did, they way I did. Sorry. Anyway there was actually a lieutenant Fred Carbonera from the 18th district in my office - he dropped by to say hi to my boss Chris O'Donnell. I mentioned this thread to him and the location. He said he was aware of the situation. So if knowing is half the battle (GI Joe), there is hope that something will be done about it.

I actually was riding a bike by there a week ago and noticed that activity. I thought it was some type of rehab place. I was weird this older guy (mid 30's) was giving this speech to these younger guys (20 or so.) about how to live the thug life. I just caught a snippet of it. But it was like he was arguing againist it - I just remember it being strange enough that it stuck in my head for a few minutes. You would think it would be easier for the cops to deal with things like that. Around the corner from where I live is this notorious drug market known city wide. I had a conversation with the cops in front of my house about this the other day. The cops know about it, the addicts know about it. Why can't they stop it? What if they posted cameras on these corners. Would the dealers just go to another corner? I honestly believe if you got rid of crack and heroin dealing in the city there are many problems that would disappear with it. The only down side is that dealing actually does bring some much needed money into those neighborhoods, so you would have to replace that money somehow. A difficult problem to solve, but definitely worth solving.