Re: [UC] Proposed Use-4508-4538 Chestnut
A homeless shelter, especially one that is well planned and well run, would be a much needed facility. How often have we complained about those individuals on the streets who refuse to go into shelters because of their perception that it is actually better on the sidewalk than in the shelter because of stealing, overcrowdedness, unbearable rules, filth, etc. And yes, it does add a measure of diversity to the community that some people would rather not see. I, personally, would welcome any facility that provides a much needed service, and feel especially saddened by those who can only see as far as their own (obviously) comfortable lives, where most or all their social service needs are met. However, I must add, that it is not snooty to be concerned about property values. That in itself is a reasonable concern for all us property owners. I do agree with you, David. To place the concern of property values over the larger needs of the community can be construed as ignoring social justice, and the Not-in-my-backyard attitude does reek of snooty-ness... [EMAIL PROTECTED] .edu (DavidTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Toccafondi)cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent by: Subject: Re: [UC] Proposed [EMAIL PROTECTED]Use-4508-4538 Chestnut purple.com 03/28/03 04:06 PM Please respond to davidtoc I don't think I'm comfortable having someone as a neighbor who would oppose a homeless shelter. You mention that our neighborhood has been on an upswing. I would argue that a facility of this sort continues that progress--or were you thinking about property values instead of social justice? The way I see it, the addition of a shelter to our neighborhood would have a double benefit. Not only would it provide much-needed services, but it might also serve to chase the snooty people away. Hell, I'm calling Jannie's office right now! Thanks for the tip. dave -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pobox.upenn.edu/~davidtoc Dear Neighbors: The property once occupied by Mercy-DouglasHuman Services(not part of the Hospital group) at the above location is up for Sheriff's sale on Tuesday, April 1st. Cost $1,208,937.95 The property is directly across the street from West Philadelphia Catholic High School. It has come to the attention of the neighbors that one of the bidders on this property is connected to a city agency to turn this 200 bed property into a Central In-Take Facility for the Homeless for the City of Philadelphia. (The City would be closing down current facilities on Juniper Street and North Philadelphia). Our neighborhood has undergone many changes over the past 20 years. We are currently on a great upswing. This proposed use would turn away any new prospective homeowners and businesses. I would appreciate your help in contacting today Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell-408 City Hall, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Her phone number is 215-686-3418 Fax is 215-686-1933. Thank you. Betsy Magill 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. 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: Fresh Grocer (was: Re: [UC] Proposed Use-4508-4538 Chestnut)
I read about it online at the Philadelphia Business Journal's website. I often search for and find things about our community there way before hearing about it other wise. The url is http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2003/03/24/story8.html They ask you to create a free login before you read articles, so I'll paste the article below for those who don't want to bother. Anthony Fresh Grocer delivers goods with two new Phila. stores Peter Van Allen Staff Writer An Upper Darby-based grocery chain that has mined urban and older suburban markets has two more stores in the offing for Philadelphia. Next week, Fresh Grocer will break ground on a 51,000-square-foot supermarket at 56th and Chestnut streets. Meanwhile, in North Philadelphia, the company earlier this month signed a deal to open a 42,000-square-foot store in Progress Plaza Shopping Center, which was developed by a prominent minister and is still mutually owned by his congregation. "We approached [Fresh Grocer]," said Wayne Snyder, chairman of Kravco, the company that is redeveloping Progress Plaza for its owners. "The size is appropriate for what they need and they've proven they know how to serve a community of university students as well as the general community." Fresh Grocer, which is owned by Patrick Burns and Mike Ranier, has been a focal point in another urban market, at 40th and Walnut streets near the University of Pennsylvania. That store, which opened three years ago, garners $20 million a year in sales and has helped transform a corner once dominated by fast-food restaurants and discount stores. The 40th and Walnut store, which is open 24 hours a day, buzzes with activity around the clock. At lunch, people clog the prepared-food section. At night, the mezzanine-level cafe is filled with students studying and socializing. Late night, as the prepared foods are marked down for quick sale, another crowd gathers. "There are people everywhere," Burns said. "Christmas day, the mezzanine was packed with students sticking around for the holidays, with people from the neighborhood. "We were hoping for a meeting place for people from West Philadelphia, Penn and Rittenhouse Square. People shop three times a week and they appreciate that we're open 365 days, 24/7." Fresh Grocer specializes in prepared foods and organic foods but also more traditional fare. It combines the prepared foods of a chain like Food Source with the organic foods of a Whole Foods, while still offering standard supermarket fare like Pop Tarts and Fritos. "We're perishables-oriented," said Burns. "We have one of the largest meat departments and prepared foods. Whole Foods does a great job with all-organic food. We also have organic but also traditional products like Tide and toothpaste." For the store at 56th and Chestnut, Burns said the offerings will include a larger fresh-meat department. He said that's what the community there wanted. Burns said the Fresh Grocer model is working well enough that he plans to convert three other stores in his holdings to Fresh Grocer. The markets, which now bear the Great Valu flag, are in Upper Darby, Drexel Hill and Wilmington and would bring the total number of stores to six. At Progress Plaza, Fresh Grocer also needed to buy into serving both a diverse community and working with the shopping center's active, involved ownership. The shopping center was developed in 1968 by Rev. Leon Sullivan, who asked members of his Zion Baptist Church to invest $360 apiece. Today, Progress Investment Associates Inc. has several hundred shareholders all of whom had their say in which supermarket was chosen, Snyder said. On North Broad, Fresh Grocer will draw on students from Temple University as well as residents from nearby communities. "It will have the same feel [as the 40th and Walnut store]. It has to have a quality feel," said Snyder of Kravco. "We looked at a variety of stores and were approached by several discount stores. But that's not what the community wanted." Progress Plaza store fell well short of the 50,000 to 60,000-square-foot minimum many supermarket chains require. "For large retailers, it's often difficult because of the real estate requirements. They also face higher cost of labor, unions, cost of transportation," said Bob Vosburgh, an editor at Supermarket News in New York. "Small urban grocers are a small piece of the [supermarket industry]. However, in urban markets, they're very viable because they can market to a neighborhood, rather than a state or a region. They can really tailor to the market." Fresh Grocer has, in fact, done just that, said Burns. Progress Plaza store, at 42,000-square-feet, contains about 12,000 square feet more than Fresh Grocer has at 40th Walnut, but 9,000 square feet less than that of 56th and Chestnut. "Instead of being a cookie-cutter supermarket," Burns said, "we try to cater to what their needs are." In a message dated 3/31/2003 10:33:18 AM
questions Re: [UC] Proposed Use-4508-4538 Chestnut
hi. I've been following this conversation closely, and at this point have some questions: (1) Does anyone know the name of the for-profit organization that is supposed to run this intake shelter? (If I missed that I apologize). We could check to see what its track record is, positive or negative. There are many residences and centers run by non-profits in the city which are good neighbors, including in our own area (such as St. Christopher's near 42nd and Chestnut, run by Project Home). But a for-profit place worries me, given the track record of some of the for-profit shelter operators. Doesn't rule it out. But raises many concerns. (and not every non-profit would be a good neighbor either. Just better odds, again given history in Philadelphia). (2) Does anyone know the specific plans for the center? Will it be for men and womenchildren, who now primarily get started at two different places? Will its intent be just intake and then transfer somewhere else? Will this be transitional housing for a very short period, longer? What special services will be provided (housing counseling, drug and alcohol referrals, medical care, etc. etc.)? What hours will it operate? Who will directly oversee it, if it's contracted out to some agency? What would be the neighbors' recourse if there are problems? (3) Which community organization covers that area? Walnut Hill? (which I know little about). Spruce Hill? only to 45th, or is it 46th? Garden Court? No I think too far north. Who besides the UCD is working for the betterment of the entire area? (and is the UCD doing anything in that area?) I'm reading about huge problems in the area that are happening regardless of whether there is a new shelter or any empty building. Are there any initiatives to address those? To which community organization should neighbors with concerns turn? Is there any need for zoning change for this building to become a shelter? (I kind of doubt it, but don't know). I think all of these are important questions, which can be useful to help us understand what it is we are talking about, and who can be mobilized to address it. I think both sides have raised some useful points which shouldn't be ignored. Personally, given the severe shortage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) (nursing home) beds in the city, (and I'm speaking about for those who no amount of money or services can provide a safe home environment), I'm saddened that what is a relatively modern building can not become a new SNF. But the economics are completely not there unless a big non-profit foundation like New Courtland wanted to take it on. So the empty building has to become something else, or be torn down. How can we as a neighborhood unite so that this will be a positive something, whatever it is? Peace, Naomi Naomi Segal Regent Square 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] Proposed Use-4508-4538 Chestnut
In a message dated 3/28/03 5:10:23 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Even if you're feeling kind of NIMBY about homeless shelters, come on -- it's Chestnut Street -- it's wide, it's busy, it's commercial. It can absorb a service like this, that might be unsightly to some or make some uncomfortable. It's not like putting a 200-bed shelter on some tiny residential street. Let's see if I've got this right... Those of us who have chosen to buy residences on Chestnut Street are automatically obliged to accept the unsightly, discomfort-causing facilities that wouldn't be acceptable for "more residential" parts of UCity? We shouldn't want to see the residential aspects of Chestnut Street enhanced and improved? We shouldn't want to have a voice in what kinds of commercial activities come onto the street where we live? Yeah, I've got it...A "NIMBY" attitude is OK if you live in Garden Court or on Regent Street, but violates the zoning code if you live here on Chestnut!
