Members of the Frankford Neighborhood Advisory Council’s Zoning Committee on April 10 heard about plans to create a park and an art gallery on the 4600 block of Paul Street. They also listened to a proposal for a parking lot on Orthodox Street for a Northwood charter school and a request to clarify a deed to garages on Haworth Street.
There was no opposition to any of the plans presented during the committee’s session at the Second Baptist Church of Frankford, Meadow and Mullberry streets.
Kimberly Washington, executive director of the Frankford Community Development Corporation, talked up Destination Frankford, a project to restore and beautify the 4600 block of Paul. Two of the first projects will be a garden in a vacant lot and a series of art gallery exhibits in the old Doral building next door.
She said the CDC might later move its offices in the building. She said she was hoping to have a series of events in the lot before it is transformed into a garden.
The first “pop up” gallery opening was on April 19 and was accompanied by a block party from 2 to 5 p.m.
The exhibit’s theme was “Reclaim,” and featured the work of Philadelphia’s “Dumpster Divers,” who create artworks using discarded materials. That exhibit will run until May 17.
ZONING ISSUES
What used to be the Neumann facility at Orthodox Street and Adams Avenue has been a vacant lot for about a year and is not a particularly attractive parcel.
The Northwood Academy Charter School wants to upgrade the lot and use it for parking. The school will add landscaping and fencing to the lot.
Amy Hollister, the school’s chief executive officer, said the lot will provide the school with 31 parking spaces, freeing up street parking for local residents. Hollister said the plan requires a zoning variance because the land is commercially zoned.
Joe Krause, president of the Northwood Civic Association, was the only nearby resident at the NAC’s April 10 meeting, and he had no problem with the proposal.
Southampton resident Ana Nowacki wants to sell nine garages she owns on the 2100 block of Haworth Street, her attorney, Christian Johnson, told committee members. But there’s a problem with the deed, he said.
Nowacki has owned a property that originally included the garages, a detached house and a detached garage since 1964. Over the years, the property was subdivided and the house and detached garage were sold. The subdivision was done incorrectly, so Nowacki, who thought her deed was just for the garages, was before the committee on April 10 to ask for members’ support in clearing up any problems with the deed that obscured what she owned and didn’t own, Johnson said.
“We would create a deed of correction,” Johnson said, adding that Nowacki just wants to legalize long-standing use. There will be no new construction or changes to the property, he said.
Nowacki wants to sell, but doesn’t know what the property will be used for once it changes hands, the attorney said. ••
