Neighborhood crime and a couple of zoning issues dominated the informal discussions at last week’s Frankford Civic Association meeting, with a local pastor talking about the easy availability of drugs and “anything you want” at some local stores.
The Rev. Jon Clodfelter, pastor of St. Mark’s Church on Frankford Avenue, has been making a habit of walking through the streets immediately around the church. He has learned who the dealers are, where the dealers are and where they hide their stashes. He also knows where some retailers are selling things they shouldn’t.
You can ask for Oxycodone in one store and drinks by the glass in another. Neither is a pharmacy or a bar. He said he is going to keep up his neighborhood walks and told residents, “You’re welcome to join me.”
One resident said she thought Frankford residents should jointly focus on one of the neighborhood’s many problems. Others said they agreed, but felt the civic group would have to grow.
“We need to get attention,” she said. “We get treated the way we act.”
“And we have to keep doing it,” Clodfelter said.
Pete Specos, the civic association president, said he still is trying to see what kind of business is being readied at Oxford Avenue and Griscom Street. Last year, neighbors rejected a plan to put a chicken restaurant at the location that was once a shoe repair shop. Specos said it appears some sort of restaurant is going to open there, but he does not know what.
He also complained that there seems to be a lot of unauthorized daycare businesses springing up throughout Frankford. He said he reports them to the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, but nothing is done. “There is no enforcement,” he said.
According to Specos, the following neighborhood events are scheduled:
• A dinner for the homeless will take place at noon on Saturday, Oct. 11, at St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave. For information, call Pat Smiley at 215–520–5616. The church will host a Christmas dinner for the homeless at noon on Saturday, Dec. 20.
• Residents can talk directly to police about neighborhood crime during the monthly Police Service Area 1 session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the second-floor cafeteria of Aria Health’s Frankford campus, 4900 Frankford Ave. Subsequent PSA 1 meetings will be at the same time and place on Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.
• The civic association’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in Aria’s second-floor conference room. The last session of the year will be conducted at the same time and place on Dec. 4. ••
