Update: 2018 Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser!

Thank you to the more than 60 neighbors who came out to Dock Street on a sunny beautiful afternoon for our 11th Annual Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser on April 22!

We are additionally grateful to Kayla Lewis, one of 2017’s NINE scholarship award recipients, who was able to join us and share the genuine impact these funds and community support have had on her and her studies.

These scholarship funds exemplify the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors! To date, this year’s median donation is $100, and over 75% percent of our donors live in Cedar Park with almost the entire remainder coming from other West Philadelphia neighborhoods. We have raised approximately 92% of the funds necessary to match last year’s award numbers and amounts, and keep scholars motivated with care packages and academic break get-togethers.

To help us reach our goal, donate online or write a check to “Cedar Park Neighbors” memo line “Scholarships Committee” and mail to 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143. Donations of any amount are appreciated! Sponsor level donations with opportunities for recognition remain available.

The 2018 Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship applications are now available here. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2018 5:00 p.m. EST.

Special thanks to our in-kind contributors, West Philadelphia Foot Tappers for their live music, Dock Street Brewery for helping defray fundraiser food costs, and Aksum for covering the scholar’s Winter Social.

Finally, please mark your calendar for Friday, July 13th for the Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship award ceremony in Cedar Park at 49th and Baltimore. The ceremony will take place during the 7:00 p.m. set break for the evening’s Cedar Park Jazz concert. In addition to presenting the scholarship awards to recipients, we will also be recognizing our sponsor level donors.

Sustaining Neighbor $1,000-$2,499

Fleming Family Fund

Jeanne Pinkham

Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

Benefactor Neighbor $500-$999

Anonymous

Fred Wolfe, Jr.

VIX Emporium

Patron Neighbor $250-$499

Alexander Gillett & Carol Stein

Amara Rockar & Mustapha Berkshan

Duwayne Terry & Julia Katz Terry

Lisa Mitchell

Mark McGuire & Jo-Ann M. Verrier

Melani Lamond, BHHS Fox & Roach, Realtor

Bandit Sign Round-up for CPN!

Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) is participating in the city's first ever "Illegal Signs Initiative." The city will pay CPN 50 cents for every bandit sign that we gather before Saturday, June 16th. CPN will then use the money to host our Friday night jazz series, administer our scholarship program for neighborhood youth, organize zoning meetings, distribute holiday baskets, and more. 

What is a bandit sign?

Bandit signs are signs that are illegally posted on public property, such as the ubiquitous "We Buy Houses" signs. However, for this project, CPN is ONLY interested in predatory commercial real estate signs. CPN has NO interest in collecting signs about yard sales, house parties, lost pets, etc.

What should I do when I have collected bandit signs?

Please drop your bandit signs off on the porch of one of the following CPN board members: 1008 South 47th Street (Al), 506 South 48th Street (Mike); 5117 Catharine Street (Catherine); or 934 South Saint Bernard Street (Joe).

What's the problem with these signs?
The "We Buy Houses" signs are particularly nefarious as they often prey on long-time homeowners who are in desperate situations into giving up their family homes for pennies on the dollar. It destroys the inter-generational transfer of wealth and worsens the racial wealth gap.

A typical situation unfolds like this: A family faces financial hardship - mom loses job, cousin is locked up and needs bail, dad needs to hire immigration lawyer, etc. The house is worth $100,000 with a $50,000 mortgage. They contact one of these We Buy Homes outfits. The buyer comes to the house and says, "Your house is worth $75,000, but it looks like your mortgage is almost $60,000. Let's see what we can work out." Buyer then offers homeowner $15,000 (i.e., $75,000-$60,000), but then says, "There's a 10% fee for the buyer, and it's going to cost an additional $3,000 for the taxes plus an additional $500 to record the new deed." Homeowner accepts a net of $10,000 because that's what the buyer says they are due. Meanwhile, if homeowner had gone to a legitimate realtor, they may have netted $45,000.

Many people also think these signs are ugly.

Are these bandit signs illegal?
Yes. Philadelphia Code 10-1200 prohibits the posting or advertising upon any sign on a utility pole, streetlight, traffic or parking sign or device, including any post to which such sign or device is attached; historical marker; or city-owned tree or tree in the public right-of-way.

Can I collect only bandit signs in Cedar Park?
Please gather signs from anywhere in Philadelphia.

Have another question?

Please email michaelrfroehlich@gmail.com.

2018 Cedar Park Jazz Series Lineup

Cedar Park Jazz

Every Friday, 6 to 8 PM, June + July

Get ready! 

The 18th annual Cedar Park Jazz series returns this summer! Join Cedar Park Neighbors every Friday night in from 6 to 8PM in Cedar Park through June and July for music, dancing, and community. Celebrate West Philly's incredible musical talent with an amazing lineup: 

June 1: ALFIE POLLITT TRIO - Facebook Event
June 8: RED ROSE COMBO - Facebook Event 
June 15: FIGURATIONS QUARTET - Facebook Event
June 22: BOBBY ZANKEL & THE WONDERFUL SOUND SIX - Facebook Event 
June 29: JAMAL JONES & THE BUREAU OF SONIC WONDERLAND - Facebook Event
July 6: NAZIR EBO & FRIENDS - Facebook Event
July 13: CLEF CLUB ENSEMBLE - Facebook Event 
July 20: FIRESTORM - Facebook Event
July 27: GRETCHEN ELISE & FRIENDS - Facebook Event

Bring your lawn chair, cooler, and dancing shoes!
Family-friendly event. 
FREE and OPEN to ALL

Presented by Cedar Park Neighbors' Jazz Committee.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors: 

GOLD

Holly Mack-Ward & Co, Coldwell Banker Preferred
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
University City Review

SILVER 

Aksum
Bookers Restaurant and Bar
The Green Tambourine 
Mariposa Food Co-op 
Spak Group 

BRONZE 

Dock Street Brewery
VIX Emporium 

FRIEND 

Spirited Tattoo Coalition 

2018-2019 Gary Bronson Memorial College Scholarship Application Open

Joint Statement Regarding Dorsett Court and Admiral Court Apartment Evictions

April 30, 2018

Garden Court Community Association, Walnut Hill Community Association, Cedar Park Neighbors, Cobbs Creek Neighbors, and The Enterprise Center CDC were dismayed to hear the recent news about the deplorable attempts of the property owners of Dorsett Court at 4710 Locust Street and Admiral Court at 237 S 48th Street to evict tenants, seemingly without proper notice or just cause.

Our organizations share a common affinity for supporting the residents of this area of West Philadelphia, and for working together with our neighbors to help shape communities that are vibrant, safe, and welcoming for the diverse group of people that call this area home. To that end, we are voicing our support for the tenants of these respective apartment buildings, and our commitment to advocating for the following short- and long-term goals.

In respect to the particular circumstances surrounding these properties, the owners, and the tenants, we support the efforts of the tenants and partners to:

• ensure that the tenants are treated fairly, allowed reasonable time for relocation, assisted with unforeseen moving costs, or allowed to stay in their apartments if possible,

• hold the property owners accountable to follow proper procedures and regulations for the upkeep, management, and/or closure of the properties;

• and hold any new buyer of the buildings accountable as responsible property owners and community members, or alternatively to assist in identifying prospective buyers who would be interested in renovating the properties and maintaining a degree of affordability at these sites.

• In addressing some of the larger concerns this situation brings to light, we seek to work with community stakeholders, policy advocates, and city officials to:

• support and protect the rights of both renters and homeowners to access safe, adequate, and affordable housing options;

• enact policies that preserve existing affordable housing in our communities and encourage the inclusion of new affordable housing units within the larger redevelopment of this area;

• and encourage developers, property owners, and property managers to be good neighbors and work with residents and stakeholders in the positive growth of communities that are accessible to people of different backgrounds and income levels.

• We are encouraged by the efforts of Community Legal Services, Philadelphia Tenants Union, Tenant Union Representative Network, and other organizations to assist the tenants. We implore the current property owner and any future owner to act reasonably, responsibly, and within the law. And we appeal to our peer organizations and elected officials to rally in support of these members of our community.

Read more about the Dorsett Court and Admiral Court Apartment Evictions  here. 

CPN Board Election + Info Session on Taxpayer Assistance Programs

Please join us for the executive and board member election at our annual meeting on Monday, April 16th at 6:30pm at the Calvary Community Center at 48th & Baltimore. Please enter on 48th Street for the chapel.

Vicki Riley from the Department of Revenue will speak about taxpayer assistance programs. 

SCHEDULE
6:30-7 Voting
7 - 8 Vicki Riley presentation + Q&A
8 - 9 Board Meeting

ELECTION INFORMATION:
You MUST be a CPN member to vote. You can join (or renew membership) CPN by going to http://www.cedarparkneighbors.org/join/

You can see the slate of candidates here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58976a82d1758e28994e3ac0/t/5acac016758d46742a6938c4/1523236887444/1804+spring+cpn+newsletter.pdf

Community Zoning Meeting (2nd Review)

At a public community meeting on last month, plans (pictured) for the project were presented; concerns were expressed by community members about the density and the size/massing of the proposed building. The developer asked to return with revised plans (not pictured) in response to the discussion.

Tuesday April 17, 2018 - 7:30PM
Calvary Community Center - 48th and Baltimore

Entrance is on Baltimore Ave, small side door.

We will be holding a second review for a proposed project on Baltimore Avenue

4829 Baltimore Avenue
The owner is requesting a variance as follows:
FOR THE ERECTION OF AN ATTACHED STRUCTURE WITH TWO (2) ROOF ACCESS STRUCTRES FOR USE AS MULTI-FAMILY (FIVE(5) UNIT) HOUSEHOLD LIVING WITH ROOF TWO (2) ROOF DECKS ACCESSED BY PILOT HOUSES AND REAR DECK ACCESSED THROUGH SECOND FLOOR (SIZE AND LOCATIONS AS SHOWN ON THE PLAN, NO SIGN ON THIS PERMIT)

This site is currently zoned RSA-3, which would allow a single-family structure by rights. The application was refused for use, and for lot coverage. The original appeal to the ZBA was to request a use variance for a five-unitbuilding in a single-family zone, and to request that 22% of the lot be open area, as opposed to the 50% open area required by zoning.

At a public community meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2018, plans (pictured) for the project as described above were presented; concerns were expressed by community members about the density and the size/massing of the proposed building. The developer asked to return with revised plans (not pictured) in response to the discussion.

Please come out to see the revised plans and elevations for the proposed building at 4829 Baltimore Avenue and to voice your opinions on this proposal. If you cannot make this meeting and wish to comment, please contact CPN.

Cedar Park Neighbors, 
Calvary Community Center,
4740 Baltimore Avenue, Phila., PA 19143
267-BALT-AVE (267-225-8283) 

zoning@cedarparkneighbors.org
www.cedarparkneighbors.org

Spring 2018 Newsletter

The Spring 2018 newsletter is out! Here you can find an overview of all executive and board members up for election inside this edition. 

Please join us for the executive and board member election at our annual meeting on Monday, April 16th at 7pm at the Calvary Center at 48th & Baltimore. More details and updates here. 

You can view a digital version here: