The People’s Emergency Center (PEC) is at work revitalizing lower Lancaster Avenue in University City, an area tucked between the spur of development west of 30th Street and the rising popularity of neighborhoods like Spruce and Walnut Hill, and Clark and Cedar Park in West Philadelphia. Lancaster Avenue is a zipper thoroughfare that brings together five neighborhoods: Belmont, Mantua, Sanders Park, West Powelton and Mill Creek.

Looking down Lancaster

In the past two years, PEC purchased two long vacant and bruised buildings on the 3800 block of Lancaster Avenue. That and the 3900 block are areas that PEC has identified as primed for revitalization in its Make Your Mark Lower Lancaster Revitalization Plan published last summer. Its current work on the 3800 block of Lancaster is part of a larger about $4M investment project, realized through two separate but connected developments.

That includes renovations…

Something we’ve started to notice when we research abandoned, deteriorating properties, or sites where years old zoning notices hang beaten and weathered, is that there tend to be property tax issues. Similar to the owners of this overgrown Brewerytown lot that we told you about last week, the owners of 1101-1103 Frankford Avenue have accumulated a hefty sum of unpaid property taxes, according to the BRT. Owners 1101 Frankford LLC acquired the property for $595K in 2004 and made payments until 2008. In just four years, they’ve piled up $79,833.35 in delinquent taxes.

The building

This civil court case, which lists 1101 Frankford LLC as one of the defendants, gives us the idea that the story of this property is complex indeed. There are at least three other lawsuits that the owners of this property are involved in, which sheds a…

There she sits, on the southwestern corner of Broad and Wharton Sts., a classic gem frozen in time. For years, we’ve wondered about 1400 Wharton St., drawn like a moth to an open flame by its wonderful neon sign, confused by its oddly preserved storefront, apparently changed little since the store closed over a decade ago.

From the south

That sign kills us

Mannequins still in the windows, which are covered in graffiti

The building is owned by Salvatore and Carmela Meglio, who bought the building in 1944, or perhaps earlier. Whether either are still with us is an open question, but the property remains in their names. The taxes are paid up on the property, indicating that someone, be it the owners or a member of their family, is keeping tabs…

In West Philly, members of Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) dream of a revitalized Baltimore Ave. bringing renewed energy into their entire community. A year of community discussion and a collaboration with the Community Design Collaborative (CDC) produced the 2010 Baltimore Avenue Corridor Community Design Study.

The project area

This plan synthesizes responses generated from community discussion and the expertise of architectural, design, and planning professionals from CDC, regarding the areas on and around Baltimore Ave., between 49th and 52nd Sts.

This stretch of Baltimore Ave. includes Vix Emporium and Klash Boutique on the 5000 block, a health center, a church, a pharmacy, Philly Fire and Credit Union, Dock Street Pub, along with numerous vacant buildings and empty parcels. Also on those blocks are thirteen city owned parcels, according Maureen Tate…