A look back: Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski (center) addresses elected officials and Holy Family officials at the announcement of a redevelopment project for Liddonfield Homes public housing project in 2012. The group will celebrate its 10th anniversary this Saturday. PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER HOLMESBURG CIVIC
Like most strong alliances, residents of Upper Holmesburg unified as a result of a common enemy. And as is the case in many neighborhoods, the Upper Holmesburg folks saw misplaced development as the enemy.
It was about 15 years ago when residents found themselves in a fight to block an absentee property owner from starting a backyard business in the midst of a cluster of well-kept single homes, according to Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski. The UHCA wouldn’t evolve into a formal community organization until several years later, but the seeds were sown with that first property-use battle, Cywinski said during a recent interview.
This Saturday, the UHCA will celebrate its official 10th anniversary as a civic group with an Oktoberfest celebration at St. Dominic’s Marian Hall, 8532 Frankford Ave. The event, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., will double as a fundraiser to boost the group’s legal fund. The $25 admission cost covers a European-style buffet, drinks and entertainment. There will also be some 50 raffle baskets supplied by area businesses and other donors. Call 215–990–8128 for information.
A free open house and membership drive will be held at the same venue on Friday, Oct. 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. According to the longtime president, widespread community support and participation has enabled the group to preserve and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
“As you start a new organization, you’re not really sure of what the chores are,” Cywinski said. “Who orchestrates what? Who’s the front person? But over the years, I think we’ve figured that out.”
In retrospect, that initial zoning-related battle was a relatively small one, but its impact has been massive. Several years later, in fall 2004, other chronic neighborhood problems prompted a group of homeowners to revisit the unity concept. At the time, there was a troublesome public housing project in the area and two nearby supermarkets had closed their doors. Crime seemed to be growing.
“It was probably a combination of a lot of things,” Cywinski said.
Organizers included Paul Gonsiewski, who would become the first UHCA president, along with Pete Montini, Bobbie Gunning and the late Lou Carboni. Other neighbors didn’t necessarily adopt leadership positions, but they became reliable participants in the group, particularly during its monthly meetings.
Most of those originals are still involved, some as officers and others as members. Other key board members have included former vice president Bob Hall, recording secretary Nancy Quinn, zoning chairman Paul DeFinis and the late board member Paul Kauffman. Newer leaders like sitting vice president Tom Geisler have supplied the group with new blood, Cywinski said.
Together, they’ve accomplished a lot. Hall and Kauffman led the effort to establish a coalition of Northeast civic groups. The UHCA was a leading advocate for the demolition of the former Liddonfield public housing project and the planning of redevelopment there.
DeFinis represented the civic group in the City Planning Commission’s Citizen Planning Institute, while the entire UHCA helped the commission draft a long-term vision for the neighborhood as part of the Philadelphia2035 initiative.
“We were one of the first who did focus groups on transportation, parks, all of that,” Cywinski said. “There is a master plan on the books for Upper Holmesburg.”
The group took a national automobile salvage company to court to block it from establishing a junkyard in the community. And again, the UHCA won in the end.
“We may not get things fixed immediately, but we try not to drop the ball,” Cywinski said. “We stay on it.” ••
