IAFF Local 22, the union for Philadelphia firefighters and paramedics, told Upper Holmesburg Civic Association members that it plans to move its headquarters to the southeast corner of Torresdale and Linden avenues.
Local 22 president Mike Bresnan, recently re-elected to a third term, was joined by his attorney, Lance Rogers.
At present, Local 22 is at 415 N. 5th St. Bresnan said the building is too small and does not have enough parking.
Bresnan said 70 percent of Local 22 members live north of Lehigh Avenue, adding that a new home in the Northeast makes sense.
Lincoln Technical Institute is at 9191 Torresdale Ave., but will be moving to Bucks County. Bresnan said he expects the union to buy the property for $2.3 million. In a vote of Local 22 membership, 86 percent approved the purchase.
Local 22 will have offices, a banquet hall, a lounge, kitchen and up to 135 parking spaces.
The property is zoned industrial, and Local 22 needs a variance for an assembly use.
UHCA members seemed to support the plan, and will have a formal vote when Bresnan returns for a follow-up visit in a few months.
City Councilman Mike Driscoll said he supports the proposal, and hopes Local 22 does not run into any environmental issues.
Bresnan hopes to have the keys to the new site by the end of the year, and expects renovations to take a year.
In other news from the June 19 meeting:
• Laura Cassidy, Director of Sustainability – Operations at the city Department of Prisons, and Bennett Compost owner Jen Mastalerz outlined the prison system’s composting program. Under the program, which has been in existence for a decade, the prison transforms food waste into compost that is donated to people for use in their gardens. Compost is also given to New Foundations Charter School for use in its garden. Cassidy said there have been no complaints of odor.
Mastalerz brought compost samples for civic members to take home.
The prison held a news conference on June 24 to announce that it has been awarded a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection to allow it to receive organic material from the community to be composted.
• Councilman Mike Driscoll said speed cameras will be coming to Frankford Avenue. The cameras will be installed on Frankford Avenue, from Grant Avenue to Harbison Avenue, to slow down vehicles. The speed limit on Frankford is 30 mph. Tickets at $100 will be issued for vehicles traveling 11 or more mph over the limit.
At some point, Driscoll said, speed cameras will be installed on Torresdale Avenue.
Driscoll said Mayor Cherelle Parker has committed to adding police officers to the 8th and 15th police districts.
• The North Catholic Alumni Association will be ordering a banner through the civic association’s Hometown Heroes program, which honors past and present members of the military. North Catholic, which opened in 1926 and closed in 2010, lost 199 graduates in World War II, 29 in the Korean War, 20 in the Vietnam War and one in Afghanistan. The location of the banner is yet to be determined, but one possible site is outside the alumni office at 2700 Rhawn St. Next year, the alumni association will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the school’s opening. The alumni continue to give back, recently distributing $500,000 to students attending local Catholic elementary schools, high schools and colleges. ••
