[UC] Fw: [phillyblocks] Free Legal Intake Clinics in July (Philadelphia Bar Association, CLS, etc.)
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[UC] Column in the Inquirer this morning by one of our neighbors
City's survival depends on all http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/9042733.htm The rich, the suburbs and the business community should help improve Phila. By Greg Downs It's no surprise that city lawmakers can't make our budget add up. It's simple math. You can't give away millions of dollars to the region's richest people and still pay for services for the needy. The mayor knows it. Responsible City Council members know it. And, most important, the people who rate the city's bonds know it. Last month was depressing: Tycoons lobbying for tax givebacks; Council members padding their 2007 mayoral hopes at the expense of their constituencies; local Democrats suddenly taking tax-cutting cues from congressional Republicans who have nearly bankrupted our federal government based on the fantasy that cutting taxes increases revenue. What can people do to take back the government from the greedy and the gluttonous? First, call out the religious leaders. Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim clergy should shun regional politicians who voted to give millions to the rich while telling the poor to forget about recreation centers and well-staffed police patrols. These politicians have done the least for the least of these, and they should not be welcome among people of faith. Second, vote out the business community. Philadelphia is a first-rate city with third-rate business leaders. Compare Philadelphia to Chicago. In many ways, Chicago has it worse than Philadelphia - a more corrupt political machine, worse housing stock, worse weather, a weaker industrial base. And yet Chicago booms. Why? Here's one answer: Unlike Philadelphia, Chicago has a business community with some foresight. The fabled combine - a 50-year alliance between (mostly Republican) business leaders along the city's prosperous Loop and the city Democratic machine - produced a tradeoff. City business leaders get the licensing and zoning they want, and in return they whip the rural and suburban legislators into shape. They demand that those legislators use state dollars to help fund the city's growth. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's giants whimper about their weakness in Harrisburg. Here's the bottom line: Chicago gets 16 percent of its revenues from annual, recurring allocations of state taxes. Philadelphia gets 10 percent. That's why Philadelphia is both underfunded and overtaxed. Business leaders won't whip the state government into shape, and instead fiddle with their bankrolls while the regional economy burns. Third, lobby for slot machine parlors - in the suburbs. Make suburbanites pay their share toward regional growth a quarter at a time. Paying for tycoons' tax breaks with nickels and dimes from the city's poor should be unthinkable, and yet it is the plan most likely to pass in Harrisburg. Turning our historic city center into a little Las Vegas is a prostitution of our heritage and a crime for which our children will curse us. There is a simple solution: gigantic, gleaming slot machine parlors in Bryn Mawr, King of Prussia, Buckingham and West Chester. Those suburbanites scavenge on the city's carcass, gathering their profits and refusing to pay for its upkeep. Let's get them to pay...a quarter at a time. And let them foul their ugly shopping districts instead of our historic city center. Fourth, lobby for something that actually would make a difference: the combination of the five Pennsylvania metropolitan counties. Merge Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, and Philadelphia into one huge regional force. Call it War-Bucks-Chest-Mon-Adelphia. Develop a governing body that would run a truly regional plan where we can scavenge on other people, like those in New Jersey and Delaware, instead of upon each other. Suburbanites who complain about the city's politics and schools could put their money where their mouths are. A regional school district would have the resources to attack its problems. Any regional governing body would face what is, finally and irrevocably, true: Philadelphia and the suburbs cannot last long fighting each other for scraps. To borrow from Ben Franklin, they can either hang together or hang separately. Greg Downs of West Philadelphia is a doctoral student in history at the University of Pennsylvania. = = The West Philadelphia Democratic Club http://www.geocities.com/westphillydems To subscribe to our email list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Post a message to our email list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???
Nice documented timeline. Thanks. Were you able to find any links about the UC New School as well? -Wilma On 6/29/04 11:54 PM, L a s e r B e a m [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dubin, Elisabeth wrote: I'm not sure how this image is a nuanced look. back in the day (late 80s, early 90s), the uchs envisioned an historic district called the west philadelphia streetcar suburb historic district. look how big it was, shown here on the uchs website: http://uchs.net/HistoricDistricts/HistDistmap.html later (november 2001), it was announced that uchs and shca had joined forces to nominate the spruce hill historic district: http://uchs.net/Newsletter/newsletter11-01.html this spruce hill historic district, as it was now called, comprised an area much smaller than the streetcar district. look: http://sprucehill.uchs.net/map.htm this covers a distinctive area within the Spruce Hill neighborhood, and if approved, would provide property owners with an effective tool for maintaining our neighborhood's beauty and historic integrity...the boundary of the Spruce Hill Historic District...does NOT follow the boundary of the Spruce Hill neighborhood meanwhile, as early as sept 1998, uchs and shca were asked by penn to assist with the planning for the new penn-assisted school: http://uchs.net/Newsletter/newsletter9-98.html later (july 2000) the catchment area for the new penn-assisted school was drawn: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v47/n19/PreK-8Map.gif and immediately after (sept 2000) the shca opposed and left the uccc over the catchment area issue (uccc wanted a lottery, shca wanted a catchment area): http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/3af96d5179bc8?in_archiv e=1 Amy Williams, vice president of the Squirrel Hill Community Association, said in an e-mail to a community listserv that Grossbach simply overreacted to being on the losing end of the democratic process. She said the UCCC passed resolutions that Grossbach opposed -- including one against the then-proposed catchment area for the new Penn-assisted public school -- and that the shca withdrawal was based on an inability to work with the council's other members. today, the penn-assisted catchment area and the shca's proposed spruce hill historic district coincide rather neatly: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rrorke/WestPhilly/districtpluscatchment.jpg and this coincidence exists even though the 2000 census figures for that area show an overwhelming majority of people living there are renters, not homeowners (89.4% renters and 10.6% owner occupants), and they're not likely to have school-aged kids (family households: 24.9%; non-family households: 75.1%). in other words, we've ended up with lines bounding both a catchment area for a new school and a proposed historic district -- for an overwhelmingly small % of people likely to consider either to be in their main interests. but there may be good reasons for all this, according to jim lilly, shca treasurer and new owner of metropolitan bakery along penn's recently revitalized 40th street. as he wrote to this list in april 2004: An important fact we all need to keep in mind is that only 18% of the properties in the proposed Spruce Hill Historic District are owned by single families. All other properties are owned/controlled by developers and landlords. That's less than one out of five. We can fight over the facts and nuances of period designation, paint colors, spindles, slate, etc. but except for zoning, historic designation is the only other city program that has the ability to give such a minority some control over what happens to a neighborhood as unique as ours. Do we really believe that the majority of other 82% cares at all what happens to Spruce Hill outside of making money for themselves? meanwhile, sensing that at least one of these boundaries might not make sense if the other one was, tony west pointed out (june 2004) on this list: There HAS TO be a way that the reasonably attractive (but not fanatical) character of our community can be preserved, according to the standards of ordinary people, without burdensome regulations that -- bluntly put -- state the slate on your roof holds a higher priority than the education of your child. Some of think that by spending to educate our children, we are also doing our part to preserve the neighborhood. * * * how the boundaries got here and why they coincide today and how together they represent and continue to serve the interests of the people living here (as well as those of competing institutions and community organizations) -- very interesting, wouldn't you agree, elisabeth? nuanced, even. . laserbeam [aka ray] You are receiving
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???
On Jun 29, 2004, at 11:54 PM, L a s e r B e a m wrote: back in the day (late 80s, early 90s), the uchs envisioned an historic district called the west philadelphia streetcar suburb historic district. look how big it was, shown here on the uchs website: The streetcar suburb historic district is a National Register of Historic Places (Federal) district, and was approved in 1998. Listing on the national register makes individual buildings (or contributing buildings, in the case of historic districts), eligible for many grants that wouldn't otherwise be available and carries no restrictions on altering buildings when the work is funded or carried out by the federal government. (See http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/owners.htm). Partly because of the different boundaries and partly because of the different types of restrictions, not everyone who supported the Streetcar Suburb district also supports the Spruce Hill one. Daniel You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Polluted air, very hard on anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma! Last I checked, this was _not_ the fault of a one-day music and arts festival. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival
IDIOT !! You just don't get it, do you?
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? - Historic District Conspiracy theories
Regarding Ray's detailed email showing the historic district called the west philadelphia streetcar suburb historic district. look how big it was apparently shrinking to an area roughly similar to the Alexander School's catchment area later (november 2001), it was announced that uchs and shca had joined forces to nominate the spruce hill historic district: Sorry to keep sending clarifying emails, but the conspiracy theories are multiplying! The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT is alive and well, in its large size! See the UCHS web site page on historic districts - http://www.uchs.net/ - which says: On February 5, 1998, most of the Spruce Hill and Cedar Park neighborhoods were placed on the National Register of Historic Places The new West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District joins other University City locations on the National Register, such as Garden Court, Powelton Village, University of Pennsylvania, as well as many individual sites ranging from The Woodlands to the WFIL-TV Studios where American Bandstand was produced. The areas of Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, and Squirrel Hill that are included in the new district were considered to be significant by the National Register because of their wealth of architectural styles and because of the neighborhoods' importance in the transformation of residential patterns in Philadelphia. The range of architectural styles represented here is impressive. Architects and builders have worked in the Italianate, Victorian Gothic, Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Classical Revival styles, as well as in many variations and combinations of these styles. The Spruce Hill PHILADELPHIA LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT is a separate entity, one that UCHS has been working on since 1987. Work was stalled on all Philadelphia LOCAL districts when the Philadelphia law was challenged, but then upheld by the PA Supreme Court. In the meantime, UCHS had gone on to work on the larger NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT. I was UCHS president when we asked Philadelphia's Historical Commission to let us revise our proposal to include the entire larger area - there was pressure from neighbors in the wider area to be included - but the HC said it would be too large and unwieldy for them to process, so UCHS would have to submit other areas later, separately. None of this had anything to do with the Alexander School, and all of this predates the Alexander School. Melani Lamond
Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: *IDIOT !! You just don't get it, do you?* I saw a message titled Clark Park Festival, and it read Polluted air, very hard on anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma! in large, angry red letters. The obvious inference was that the Festival was somehow to blame for this. Suddenly I'm greeted with the word IDIOT! in even _bigger_, angry red letters. Without even an explanation as to why I'm an idiot. If you'd like to engage in name-calling and insults, I'd be _more_ than happy to participate. But allow me to warn you, Mrs. Grundy-with-a-Degree-in-Art: I am _extremely good_ at that sort of thing. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
RE: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???
Dear L-Beam, I appreciate the effort you took to put this email together, so let's conitune this dialogue a little bit. I am curious about this boundary issue. Clearly, thought has gone into both boundaries; if not, they'd just be circles or boxes drawn around the epicenter of each issue (the school and the Spruce Hill Neighborhood). With regard to the first issue, the West Phialdelphia Streetcar Suburb IS a National Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Anyone who's interested in the difference between a National and Local Historic District can find out a lot just by googling what is the difference between a national and local historic district? so I won't cut and paste anything here. My understanding of it is that it boils down to a few issues: National Register status affects federal funding for federally owned lands and buildings (interior and exterior), while local status allows a local board (the Historical Commission) to review permits submitted to L/I foir exterior work. Most of you already live in the West Philadelphia Historic Streetcar Suburb National Register District. I agree, it is bigger than the proposed SHHD, but still not sure what your point is about that. Sorry to be daft. Next, I see how the Sprucehill website makes sure to point out that the boundary of the proposed district IS NOT the same as the boundary of the Spruce Hill Neighborhood. What is the boundary of the Spruce Hill Neighborhood? Why or why wouldn't it be the same? Then I read about the disputes between the UCCC and the SHCA over the school district boundary. Sorry, but maybe you can spell it out for me again. I follow you to the point where you are saying that neither boundary is in the interest of the residents, which I could argue with, but how does this argument change if you tweak the boundaries one way or the other? Both boundaries will still basically surround the areas they concern. How are the nuances of the boundaries of issue? I still don't understand your point about the coincinding boundaries. Sorry. Thanks, Elisabeth -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of L a s e r B e a m Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 11:55 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? Dubin, Elisabeth wrote: I'm not sure how this image is a nuanced look. back in the day (late 80s, early 90s), the uchs envisioned an historic district called the west philadelphia streetcar suburb historic district. look how big it was, shown here on the uchs website: http://uchs.net/HistoricDistricts/HistDistmap.html later (november 2001), it was announced that uchs and shca had joined forces to nominate the spruce hill historic district: http://uchs.net/Newsletter/newsletter11-01.html this spruce hill historic district, as it was now called, comprised an area much smaller than the streetcar district. look: http://sprucehill.uchs.net/map.htm this covers a distinctive area within the Spruce Hill neighborhood, and if approved, would provide property owners with an effective tool for maintaining our neighborhood's beauty and historic integrity...the boundary of the Spruce Hill Historic District...does NOT follow the boundary of the Spruce Hill neighborhood meanwhile, as early as sept 1998, uchs and shca were asked by penn to assist with the planning for the new penn-assisted school: http://uchs.net/Newsletter/newsletter9-98.html later (july 2000) the catchment area for the new penn-assisted school was drawn: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v47/n19/PreK-8Map.gif and immediately after (sept 2000) the shca opposed and left the uccc over the catchment area issue (uccc wanted a lottery, shca wanted a catchment area): http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/3af96d5179bc8?in_archive=1 Amy Williams, vice president of the Squirrel Hill Community Association, said in an e-mail to a community listserv that Grossbach simply overreacted to being on the losing end of the democratic process. She said the UCCC passed resolutions that Grossbach opposed -- including one against the then-proposed catchment area for the new Penn-assisted public school -- and that the shca withdrawal was based on an inability to work with the council's other members. today, the penn-assisted catchment area and the shca's proposed spruce hill historic district coincide rather neatly: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rrorke/WestPhilly/districtpluscatchment.jpg and this coincidence exists even though the 2000 census figures for that area show an overwhelming majority of people living there are renters, not homeowners (89.4% renters and 10.6% owner occupants), and they're not likely to have school-aged kids (family households: 24.9%; non-family households: 75.1%). in other words, we've ended up with lines bounding both a
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???
(sorry--accidentally sent off-list originally) If Carolyn and I are recalling correctly, UCNS made the decision to close in February, 2001. September 2001 was the start of the school year in which it didn't operate. I agree with Melanie Lamond's characterization of the events leading to the school's decision not to continue operating. We were involved parents, as were many others, but not board members, so there may be others who can say more, or more accurately. - Original Message - From: Wilma de Soto [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; UnivCity listserv [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 2:15 PM Subject: Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? Please forgive if I did not make my self clear. As a community organization participant in every ³University City Saturday² held by the University City Promotions Group, I must admit that I do not remember discussion with regard to forming the UCCC at that time. I am not saying that is not the case, just perhaps I was not privy to the discussion. Also allow me to clarify that some people in the UCCC felt left out because they supported the UCCC of which the SHCA was a ³founding member² as you have stated, and felt the final decision on catchment area weighed heavily in Spruce Hill¹s favor. It might have been people felt that the SHCA stood to benefit inordinately from increased property values (as you stated the fears of people at that time proved to be unfounded). Perhaps they felt that after the area was established in Spruce Hill¹s favor, that the SHCA was reluctant to rally for change of the catchment area and you can correct me if I am in error here, SHCA withdrew as a member of the UCCC over this issue. Their concerns had no bearing on what happened at The Woodlands, and I apologize if I implied it did. As for the Woodlands issue, it seemed to me that after the UCHS was removed from there in the spring 1996 and the UCCC was formed in January of 1997 that the momentum behind the formation of the group was somehow related. The University City Promotions Group had ceased to hold University City Saturdays after the Penn Mortgage Program began in 1995 or thereabouts. The last one I remember was in April of 1994. The UC New School was forced to move from their site to make way for the Penn-assisted school. Many people saw the school as a viable alternative to the neighborhood schools. Now here is where I am not entirely certain as to why it closed. Did the UC New School formerly receive some sort of assistance from Penn (besides the use of the land)? Is that why it could not sustained? I remember people tried very hard to save it . The date of its closing is important here for I believe the Penn-assisted school became a hope for many of the groups in the UCCC, who looked forward sending their children there and not just SHCA parents. If anyone knows exactly when the New School closed I¹d appreciate the information. There was also the issue of children in UC who were bused to the Powel School. Some parents feared that those who lived in the catchment area who attended Powel, would abandon those who did not. People feared the exodus of those who would attend the Penn-assisted school instead would alter dramatically the racial and socio-economic status at Powel. For some, the feeling of being left out after lending their support behind the Penn-assisted school was genuine. So from 1996 when the UCHS had to leave The Woodlands, until the limited opening of the Penn-Alexander School in 2001 (for K-1 students) many things happened. If I am still in error in the timeline or anything else, feel free to correct me either publicly or privately. Wilma On 6/29/04 12:46 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I want to comment on some misinformation about the Alexander School, contained in Wilma's email below. But I hope that we can then move on to more current topics, since this one is a fait accompli. The school is built; it appears to be doing a good job in educating its students; it did help raise awareness about the needs of other local schools, as Sharrieff points out. Hopefully, now, all those who have concerns about local schools will work on the changes coming for West Phila. HS. The Alexander school did NOT, as it had been earlier feared by many, make the excluded areas of our neighborhood unpopular with homebuyers. As someone said at one of the School Board hearings, the problem is NOT the Alexander School; the problem is that the School District doesn't have enough money TO MAKE THE OTHER SCHOOLS AS GOOD. Spruce Hill Community Assn. didn't lobby heavily to start the UCCC. It was started by the ad hoc University City Promotions Group, as I believe I wrote on this list not too long ago. (SHCA was, however, a founding member of UCCC.) UCPG realized, when holding a party for new
Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival
Actually, the air in the northeast has become quite bad: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/06/30/air.quality.ap/index.html But today, in Philadelphia, it is 'moderate': http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/airnow.cgi?MapDisplay=WHEREILIVEMapDomain=pa Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. (also applies to lazy americans) get someone else to do it - Homer Simpson - John On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: IDIOT !! You just don't get it, do you? You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] PENN/UCD/SHCA Bashing
Ah yes, that damn UCD- it has hadsuch a NEGATIVE influence on the neighborhood with all its trash pickups, positive marketing campaign, andambassador patrols. Thank goodness UC is blessed with so many responsible landlords who properly maintain their properties and are involved in bettering the community. Jonathan A. Cass -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:43 AMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival In a message dated 6/30/2004 9:32:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Polluted air, very hard on anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma!Last I checked, this was _not_ the fault of a one-day music and arts festival. Doesn't the blame actually fall on the absentee landlords and local slumlords who want to move beyond desecrating our lovely Victorian houses and start spreading the spoils of their greed by ruining more than just the built environment? Let's get SHCA to pass a law, and UCD to enforce it! Always at your service and ready for a dialog,Al KrigmanFor an admittedly biased report on the first "forum" bungled by the Task Force on Historic Designation Reform, check the online equitable urban revitalization bulletin board at www.urbanrevit.blogspot.com.
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? - Historic District Conspiracy theories
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Regarding Ray's detailed email showing the historic district called the west philadelphia streetcar suburb historic district. look how big it was apparently shrinking to an area roughly similar to the Alexander School's catchment area later (november 2001), it was announced that uchs and shca had joined forces to nominate the spruce hill historic district: Sorry to keep sending clarifying emails, but the conspiracy theories are multiplying! The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT is alive and well, in its large size! See the UCHS web site page on historic districts - http://www.uchs.net/ None of this had anything to do with the Alexander School, and all of this predates the Alexander School. sorry to be clarifying clarifications and nipping multiplying conspiracy theories in the bud, but I'm not saying that the west philadelphia streetcar suburb district was abandoned, or shrunken to become the spruce hill historic district. I'm pointing out that in 2001, according to the uchs website, uchs and shca worked together (in collaboration, as mike hardy puts it) to nominate the spruce hill historic district. and that this spruce hill historic district is smaller than (only a portion of, as hardy puts it) the streetcar district. and I'm pointing out that this spruce hill historic district is located in an area that now neatly overlaps the catchment area. in 1998 uchs and shca were asked by penn to assist with the planning of the penn-assisted school; in 2000 a catchment area for the new penn-assisted school was drawn and shca supported it, in opposition to uccc; in 2001 uchs and shca joined forces to nominate the spruce hill historic district. . laserbeam [aka ray] You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
RE: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???
Title: Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? Yes Wilma, I should have included Wilson. Very important school if the south border is expected to grow. S. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Wilma de Soto Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 7:12 PM To: S. Sharrieff Ali; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; UnivCity listserv Subject: Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? Dear Sharrieff and Jim, Do not forget the Alexander Wilson School at 46th Woodland Ave within our boundaries along with Drew, Lea and Locke. You are quite right that the catchment area has been a serious bone of contention. Despite the vehement efforts of the some people in UC to change the catchment area, the SDP (School District of Philadelphia) wanted this to be a true neighborhood school (according to guidelines and in collaboration with the U of Pa. This eventually weighed in SHCAs favor) and therefore negated the need (perhaps for SHCA at that point) for a united UC front such as the UCCC. Since SHCA, lobbied heavily to start the UCCC, after the Woodlands Cemetery forced the UCHS to move out, several of the other community group members of the UCCC who were not included in the area designated for the future Penn-Alexander School claimed they had felt bamboozled (rightly or wrongly). Also, the closing and dissolution of the much revered and beloved UC New School (to rally support for the future Penn-Assisted School by which these community groups hoped to benefit) added to that feeling. Perhaps it should be lobbied further now but to what end, I dont know. However, I do like that this school is in the neighborhood and pleasantly surprised the Penn-Alexander School chooses to link its website to the website (my Tech Leader and I co-designed and co-authored and built in 2001-02 for our school) for grades 1-5. By the way, I found this out quite by accident and was surprised. (RE-ally!) UC Rides Again. -Wilma By the way I discovered this quite by accident. -Wilma On 6/28/04 10:45 AM, S. Sharrieff Ali [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey Jim I didnt comment much on this thread. I would agree with you that know one really knows Penns input on the catchment and the school district probably had a strong voice or formula in determining the boundaries. The catchment issue is a difficult one on both sides. Everyone wants the catchment to extend yet another block to reach their child. What we know is that there are 3 other schools that are very close to the boundaries, Locke, Drew, and Lee. It is hard to make a case that the boundaries should extend additional blocks when the other schools are within walking distance as well. The obvious problem is the difference in the facilities and the perception of a better educational value at PAS. We really need to strengthen our relationships with the other schools to improve them. Quality public schools are critical to our overall community plans. PAS shouldnt be our only beloved public school. S. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2004 7:48 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? Sharrief, Why didn't you mention the Phila. School District? My guess is that they were the the strongest voice in determining the catchment area. I don't think anyone knows exactly how much input Penn had in drawing the boundaries for the school. Singling them out and bashing them for it seems unfair in the least and continues a perception that Penn is behind every (perceived) mistake or problem in the neighborhood. I thought we were beginning to see things in a more nuanced and informed way. No? Jim Lilly
Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? - Historic District Conspiracy ...
In a message dated 6/30/2004 11:58:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: and that this spruce hill historic district is smaller than (only a portion of, as hardy puts it) the streetcar district. As I said in my previous email, UCHS asked the City's Historical Commission - I asked, as president - if the SPRUCE HILL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT we'd been working on since 1987 COULD BE EXPANDED to include all of the area in the National Register District. They said no; that was too large for them to process as one district. So UCHS had no choice but to CONTINE - not shrink, but CONTINUE - with the size set back in 1987 - 17 years ago, Ray. You were on the board of UCHS through part of this process; I find it hard to believe you aren't more aware of the facts. Melani Lamond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PENN/UCD/SHCA Bashing
Amen brother Cass!! Its tiresome isn't it-Original Message- From: Jonathan Cass <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Sent: Jun 30, 2004 8:33 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [UC] PENN/UCD/SHCA Bashing Ah yes, that damn UCD- it has hadsuch a NEGATIVE influence on the neighborhood with all its trash pickups, positive marketing campaign, andambassador patrols. Thank goodness UC is blessed with so many responsible landlords who properly maintain their properties and are involved in bettering the community. Jonathan A. Cass -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:43 AMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: [UC] Clark Park Festival In a message dated 6/30/2004 9:32:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Polluted air, very hard on anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma!Last I checked, this was _not_ the fault of a one-day music and arts festival. Doesn't the blame actually fall on the absentee landlords and local slumlords who want to move beyond desecrating our lovely Victorian houses and start spreading the spoils of their greed by ruining more than just the built environment? Let's get SHCA to pass a law, and UCD to enforce it! Always at your service and ready for a dialog,Al KrigmanFor an admittedly biased report on the first "forum" bungled by the Task Force on Historic Designation Reform, check the online equitable urban revitalization bulletin board at www.urbanrevit.blogspot.com. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see .
[UC] The fabric of the 4200 block of Osage Ave
Today's University City Review carried a letter by the Spruce Hill Community Assn Zoning Committee, along with a copy of its blessings on the project to the city's Zoning Board of Adjustments. Correct me if I'm wrong (yes, it does occasionally happen), butthe SHCA zoning committee seems to comprise a strong contingent of folks who ardently support the"historic district" nomination. So,it was rather shocking to see the support this Committee isgiving to a project that many in the neighborhood believe would destroy what the preservationists refer to as "the fabric" of the block. Among other things, because the setbacks from the sidewalk are so short compared with those botheveryhouse and the apartment building. Oh yes, for those who endorse the "nomination" but have never bothered to read it -- that block has 14 buildings on thenorth side (4215 to 4241)that ostensibly "contribute to the historic character of the neighborhood," nine on the south side that also supposedly do so (4208 to 4222 plus Webster Manor), plus one at the northwest corner that's "contributing," one at the southwest corner that's "contributing," and one at the southeast corner that's claimed to be "significant." What gives? Is the fabric only important when some dastardly Philistine wants to install a thermopane window or commercially-available turned (or, heaven forbid, vinyl) porch spindles (which can always be changed later), but not when someone who appears to have insider connections of one sort or another wants to build something that willalter the purportedly "historic" streetscape essentially permanently? Always at your service and ready for a dialog,Al KrigmanFor an admittedly biased report on the first "forum" bungled by the Task Force on Historic Designation Reform, check the online equitable urban revitalization bulletin board at www.urbanrevit.blogspot.com.
