The Lawncrest Community Association last week voted to not oppose a plan by Oak Street Health to move into a former CVS at 5843-45 Rising Sun Ave. (at Van Kirk Street).
Attorney Leonard Altieri, of the Klehr Harrison law firm, outlined the plan.
Oak Street will feature medical and dental offices, but no pharmacy. The office will provide care for Medicare patients. There is a van to pick up and drop off patients.
Much of the care will be preventative, to keep patients out of emergency rooms and hospitals. There will be a community room where patients can use computers, listen to speakers, socialize and take yoga and stretching classes.
Patients will walk into an entry space before being buzzed in by a receptionist.
Hours will be weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be 20 to 30 employees, and residents are concerned that there is only a small parking lot.
The LCA encouraged Oak Street Health to explore parking options at the nearby Burger King and Wells Fargo ATM lots.
Members would also like Oak Street to hire local residents, resurface the parking lot and provide security.
In other news from the Jan. 18 meeting:
• Capt. Marc Metellus, Lt. Joe Mortimer and community relations officer Mark Mroz represented the 2nd Police District.
Mroz spoke of shootings at Rising Sun Avenue and Rosalie Street and on the 5400 block of Howland St. Also, two vehicles were shot on the 5900 block of Bennington St., and a bullet hit the living room window of a house on the 6400 block of Oxford Ave. In the last month in the district, there were 25 thefts from autos.
Mroz also discussed last week’s shootout near Borbeck Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, outside the Barbera car dealership. A man in a parked vehicle began firing at police officers responding to a 911 call. The area was barricaded, and SWAT officers arrived on the scene. The man continued shooting, and SWAT officers returned fire and killed him.
Meanwhile, a benefit will take place on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6-10 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road, for three 2nd district officers shot in October during an incident on the 7500 block of Whitaker Ave. The event will honor Sgt. Mitchell Farrell and Officers John Hesdon and Samantha Gress. There will be a silent auction, DJ and raffle baskets. No tickets will be sold, but monetary donations will be accepted at the door. For more information, call Officer Judy Kinniry at 267-515-8887, Cpl. Christopher Bennett at 215-605-0414 or Erin O’Donnell at 215-205-1922.
• Programming will end on March 1 at Lawncrest Recreation Center in advance of a massive renovation of the property.
• Brendan Van Gorder introduced himself as the new pastor at Crescentville United Methodist Church, 412 Sentner St.
• Lawncrest Community Association will meet on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at St. William’s Monsignor James E. Mortimer Memorial Hall, Argyle and Robbins streets. ••
