A seemingly small expansion at a decades-old East Torresdale bar made a big difference to the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections recently. On Oct. 10, members of the neighborhood civic association helped the bar owner in navigating municipal red tape.
The East Torresdale Civic Association voted unanimously to approve a “special assembly occupancy” license for The Taggart House at 9961 Frankford Ave. That’s the former City Line Tavern just south of the Poquessing Creek Bridge into Bucks County.
During the civic meeting, the bar’s owner, Sean Taggart, explained that he had a deck built on the property. As a result, the legal occupancy increased from 42 patrons to 50.
Neighbors didn’t even notice a difference, but L&I did. An inspector visited the property and informed the proprietor that he had to apply for the special assembly license, which is required of any “restaurants, bars, catering halls, night clubs or other gathering places with dancing and a lawful occupancy of over 50 people,” according to the city’s website.
Taggart applied for the license. But the city told him he needed the community’s approval, too.
During the civic meeting, one immediate neighbor of the bar said that he was unaware of any nuisance problems involving the bar, such as excessive noise or public drinking. Hearing no complaints, ETCA members voted 19–0 to endorse the license application, which still requires final approval from the city.
In unrelated meeting business, ETCA’s parks chairman, Alan Babnew, invited the community to help out a cleanup of Pleasant Hill Park on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m.
The park entrance is at Linden and Delaware avenues. Volunteers will meet at the children’s play area, next to the restroom building.
ETCA Vice President Bill Kennedy announced that a state trooper specializing in liquor control enforcement is expected to be a guest speaker at the group’s Nov. 14 meeting.
Also, the ETCA will open nominations for the civic association’s executive board. The election will be held at the group’s Dec. 12 meeting. The ETCA meets at Liberty Evangelical Free Church at 7 p.m. ••
