Northwood Civic Association members heard an update on the proposed district health center at Friends Hospital at their Aug. 20 meeting.
The city plans to build health centers at Friends and Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street – just 1.4 miles apart – because of the long wait for appointments at the center at 2230 Cottman Ave.
Northwood Civic does not dispute the need for another center or two, but has a number of issues with the Friends site, which would see an estimated 31,000 people per year.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to demolish the 175-year-old Lawnside building, a former superintendent’s residence that, along with Friends, are designated national historic landmarks.
St. James Lutheran Church, the Historical Society of Frankford and St. Mark’s Church Frankford also oppose demolition of Lawnside, which is not within the footprint of the proposed center.
After an appeal, the city Board of Licenses and Inspections Review voted 7-4 to affirm the historical commission’s vote to demolish Lawnside.
Attorney Sam Stretton is representing those challenging the Lawnside demolition, and the matter will be heard in Common Pleas Court.
Meanwhile, City Council – led by Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada – voted to change the zoning at Friends from single-family residential to civic, educational and medical, allowing construction of a new health center. Mayor Cherelle Parker signed the bill.
Opponents of the Friends site believe a health center will disrupt the calm and tranquility of the campus and chase away the wildlife. They also note the challenge of patients crossing 12 lanes of speeding traffic on Roosevelt Boulevard to get to the site.
In addition, Native American artifacts such as arrowheads and tools have been found on the Friends site, and there is a call for an archaeology survey and excavation.
The center at Frankford and Pratt, across from the Frankford Transportation Center, is supposed to handle 5,000 people per year.
Opponents of the Friends site believe the Frankford and Pratt site can be expanded. Moreover, they say, clients would easily be able to get to Frankford and Pratt via public transportation, “coming from all different neighborhoods,” said Northwood Civic vice president Terry Heiser.
Despite the fact Parker signed the bill, Northwood Civic might appeal directly to the mayor.
Mari Carrasquillo, president of Northwood Civic, suggested putting the center in Juniata, since that neighborhood’s civic association supports the plan. ••
