The Fall 2017 Newsletter is here!
In this issue, you will find:
Dear Friends and Neighbors of Cedar Park,
Once again, Cedar Park Neighbors, in cooperation with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, will prepare and distribute food baskets for those in need during the holiday season.
In 2016, we were able to reach over 150 local families. As a continuation of this successful event, we need your financial help and support!
Please consider a suggested donation in the amount of $36. Support at this amount will help us feed two families and foster our commitment to “neighbors helping neighbors.” For your convenience, we have also included payment options to join or renew your annual membership with Cedar Park Neighbors as well as an “any amount” option.
https://www.memberplanet.com/campaign/cedarparkneighbors/holidaybasketdrive2017
We will be packing and distributing the baskets on Saturday, December 16, 2017 from 8:30am -10:30am at Renewal Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of 47th and Cedar Avenue. All volunteers are most welcome! Please feel free to contact us at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you have any questions. We thank you in advance for your support!
If you are interested in donating bulk items, please contact Michelle Lewis at mlewis1071@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Michelle Lewis and Beverly Rouse
Nine young Cedar Park residents’ return to school will be a little bit easier this fall thanks to the Cedar Park Neighbors’ Gary Bronson Memorial College Scholarship Fund. In addition to scholarships for educational expenses, the students will also receive mentoring, care packages, and networking opportunities from the fund throughout the school year.
New to the Gary Bronson Memorial College Scholarship Fund are two incoming college freshmen.
Khadijah Yadulla is a 2016 graduate of Hardy Williams Mastery Charter High School attending Drexel University. Kayla Lewis is a 2016 graduate of Oldfields School, attending Widener University.
Returning scholarship recipients include:
Ruby Anderson, who is in her third year studying at Oberlin College where she is double major in Sociology and Comparative American Studies with an education minor.
Mable Bakali, who is completing her Engineering degree at Temple University.
Abdoulaye Dia, who is in his third year at Denison University where he studies Global Commerce.
Ainye Clarke, who is in her fourth year studying Psychology at Rosemont College.
Andrew Kulasegram-Wilson, who is completing his Mechanical Engineering degree at Drexel University. Danielle Little, who is completing her Communication degree at DePaul University.
Robin Siddall, who is in her second year at Wellesley College.
These scholarships are possible through the generous support of the donors to the Gary Bronson Memorial College Scholarship Fundraiser. Sponsors of the April 2017 event included:
Sustaining Neighbor Sponsor
Fleming Family Fund
Benefactor Neighbor Sponsor
Fred Wolfe, Jr.
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
Patron Neighbor Sponsor
Amara Rockar & Mustapha Berkshan
Ana Lisa Yoder & G. Anthony Lapp
Claudia B. Hamilton-Ruffin
Duwayne Terry & Julia Katz Terry
Jacques-Jean Tiziou
Jesse Fuchs-Simon
Lisa Mitchell
Melani Lamond, Urban & Bye, Realtor
Susan Kay Weiler
Zachary Spence
Friendly Neighbor Sponsor
Alfred C. Airone & Carolyn J. Kelly
Brad Wayland
Brandon Alcorn
Camden Segal
Darryl Bundrige
David Hincher & Mara Hincher
David Wengert
Debra L. Detweiler & L. George Detweiler
Elizabeth K. Sands
Jeff Lutzner
Jessica Lowenthal & Ryan Godfrey
Joyce A. Brock
Kelly J. Ryan
Lewis Baum
Linford D. Martin & Marcella J. Zimmerman
Louis N. Tannen & Catherine C. Carr
Margaret Dowling
Mark McGuire & Jo-Ann M. Verrier
Maureen Tate & Gerald McHugh
Michael Froehlich
Michael W. Jennings & Alfred A. Giosa
Patricia J. Lavelle
Patricia Warner
Scott Geryk & Nancy Geryk
Sharon Smith & James Smith
Suzanne Banning Anderson & Kelvyn Anderson
We thank those sponsors and all who contributed to making the event a huge success! Cedar Park Neighbors is extremely proud of these active and dynamic students and their accomplishments. Please join us in congratulating these young members of our Cedar Park community, and wishing them the best in their studies.
Interested in becoming a member of Cedar Park Neighbors? Click here to join. To support Cedar Park Neighbors and its initiatives such as Gary Bronson Memorial College Scholarship Fund make a donation here.
[Cover photo L-R: David Hincher, CPN President, Suzanne B. Anderson, Chair, Scholarship Committee, Whitney Martinko, Scholarship Committee, Ainye Clarke, Khadijah Yadulla, Kayla Lewis, Fred Martin Wolfe Jr., Scholarship Committee, Mable Bakali, Darryl Bundridge, Scholarship Committee, Robin Siddall.]
On Monday, October 16th, we welcomed the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia to host their "Neighborhood Preservation Workshop" at our October Board Meeting.
They presented an overview of historic preservation policies and the current extent of preservation protections in Cedar Park, highlighting some of the unprotected historic buildings found in our initial survey. They also listened to our neighbor's thoughts and concerns about preservation and development in the neighborhood.
Here is the link to resources as mentioned during the presentation: http://www.preservationalliance.com/what-we-do/nomination-and-report-library/
Here are the slides used during the presentation.
ABOUT: The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the appreciation, protection, and appropriate re-use of our region’s historic buildings, communities, and landscapes. This year, the Alliance is undertaking a project to identify and inventory historic buildings in Philadelphia neighborhoods that are facing heightened development pressure. For it to be truly successful, the project must be a collaboration of the Alliance, community-based organizations, and individual residents. We hope to get community input and feedback from the outset about those historic assets most prized by neighbors, those often overlooked, and those most threatened by demolition.
Mr. Frank DiCicco, Chair
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Municipal Services Building
1401 JFK Boulevard, 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Re: 5047 Baltimore Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 10143
Calendar No: 31105 Permit No. 769535
Dear Mr. DiCicco:
Cedar Park Neighbors did not reach an agreement on the application for a use variance for proposed new construction at 5047 Baltimore Avenue.
A public meeting of Cedar Park Neighbors was held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community to review this project and the proposed variance. Attorney Darwin Beauvais, the developer JMSK, LLC, and the project architect described the proposed project, a four-story infill apartment building in the middle of the block. The proposal includes a ground floor retail space in the front, and three three-bedroom apartments, occupying the basement through fourth floors. In addition to six members of the CPN zoning committee, seven additional members of the public attended this meeting, along with the project team, several others who did not participate in the final vote, and a local reporter.
Three of the neighbors voted to support this project; three voted against it; one had no opinion. Of the zoning committee, one member supported this project, four voted against it, and one member recused. The committee members felt that the drawings were unclear – one of the units, which has all three of its bedrooms in the basement, appears to have window wells for those bedrooms that are covered by building structure and will not get the requisite light and air required for a dwelling unit. Although this is not a zoning issue per se, the applicant is requesting a use change to increase the number of units from two to three. We feel that a claim of hardship for this increase is unwarranted – the unit being added is substandard, and therefore we did not feel that an increase in the unit count represented a benefit to the community. Several members of the committee felt that a plan which included a third unit, but did not rely so heavily on the use of the basement, might be better; however, without drawings that are more clear, it is too difficult to make a firm decision at this time.
Attached for your information and records are the Attendance Sign-In Sheet and the Meeting Summary Form.
Very truly yours,
Katherine Dowdell, Cedar Park Neighbors Zoning Committee
Cc: Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell
Darwin Beauvais, Attorney
City Planning Commission (rco.notification@phila.gov)
Southwest Philadelphia District Services, Baltimore Avenue Business Association, Southwest
Community Development Corporation, Southwest Community Advisory Group, 51st Republican Ward
2017 Live Jazz Fridays in Cedar Park is here!
Sponsored by
Thank you to the Cedar Park Neighbors’ Jazz committee including chair Renee McBride Williams, Monica Allison, and Jo Ann Fishburn!
Getting to Know Cedar Park Houses of Worship (FB Event Page)
Date: Thursday, May 25
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: People’s Baptist Church, 5039 Baltimore Avenue
Have you ever walked by a house of worship in Cedar Park and wondered what went on inside? What do they believe? Who are their members? How do they live out their faith in the community?
Cedar Park Neighbors and The People’s Baptist Church are hosting a townhall called “Everything you always wants to know about the houses of worship in your Cedar Park neighborhood.”
Houses of worship are such vital parts of our neighborhood and we know that many neighbors want to get to know better the places of worship here in our neighborhood.
Come hear from members from
1. People’s Baptist Church
2. Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church
3. Calvary United Methodist Church
4. Kol Tzedek Synagogue
5. West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship
6. Renewal Presbyterian Church
The panel will be moderated by someone on the board of Cedar Park Neighbors, and each panelist will be asked about the history of their house of worship, what makes their service unique, and how their community is involved in the world.
We will then have an opportunity to have questions and answers from the audience.
We look forward to seeing you!
Michael Froehlich, Cedar Park Neighbors board member
Rev. Eric Goode, Senior Pastor, People’s Baptist Church and Cedar Park Neighbors board member
Cedar Park Neighbors, West Philadelphia
