Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-30 Thread Wilma de Soto
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???

2004-06-30 Thread Daniel Flaumenhaft
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

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Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? - Historic District Conspiracy theories

2004-06-30 Thread MLamond
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] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-30 Thread Dubin, Elisabeth
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

Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-30 Thread Bill Sanderson
(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] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why??? - Historic District Conspiracy theories

2004-06-30 Thread L a s e r B e a m
[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]











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RE: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-30 Thread S. Sharrieff Ali
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 ...

2004-06-30 Thread MLamond
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

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Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-29 Thread L a s e r B e a m
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 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]

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Re: [UC] Catchment Area: Why oh Why oh Why???

2004-06-27 Thread Lillja
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???

2004-06-27 Thread L a s e r B e a m
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
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?

for a nuanced look, see how neatly the catchment area 
overlaps with the spruce hill's proposed historic district:

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rrorke/WestPhilly/districtpluscatchment.jpg
.
laserbeam
[aka ray]







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