As you’re probably well aware, many Queen Village residents have the pleasure of basically living next door to I-95. As such, Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) was granted the right to create a community parking lot several years ago under the highway at Front and Christian Streets, according to Jeff Hornstein, QVNA president. QVNA leases the land at low cost from the Interstate Land Management Corporation (ILMC), the quasi-government agency that oversees the 100-foot right-of-way on either side and underneath I-95. QVNA charges 95 people $95 a month to park there. In turn, they use the revenue generated to run their organization and to provide grants for the community through a competitive grant process. Last year, the Nebinger and Meredith Schools both received grants.

Queen Village parking lot

Now, new plans are in the works for QVNA to rent a second lot,…

A reader in the neighborhood reached out the other day, wondering about 729 E Passyunk Ave., formerly home to the Meredith Preschool and Nursery. According to this thread on Philadelphia Speaks, the day care shut down back in 2009 due to complaints filed by a disgruntled former employee. We can’t tell you whether it reopened at any point after that specific incident, but it’s definitely been gone for at least a couple of years.

The building

Meredith school nearby

The reader tells us that the building has been in varying states of renovation since the preschool closed, and that the contractors that have come and gone at the site have not exactly inspired a sense of confidence among neighbors that they are doing a particularly professional job. The state of the interior would seem…

The Philly school system has been underfunded for years. In Queen Village, neighbors are parlaying the power of organizing and civic groups to provide 30 students access to summer school they need but would have been refused due to cuts in the Philadelphia School District (PSD) budget. This year, citywide summer school programs have been cut to bridge programs for students entering high school and seniors who need one or two more credits to graduate.

City Paper covered the vast issues that have weighed and continue to weigh down city schools in May in an article entitled “Who’s Killing Philly Public Schools.”

A partnership between members of the Queen Village Neighborhood Association (QVNA) and the Mother Bethel AME Church led to

Neighborhood improvements are on in the way in Queen Village, where new schoolyards will soon be built at the Meredith and Nebinger schools.

Since August, neighbors and parents of students at the Meredith School, located at 5th and Fitzwater Sts., have participated in a series of meetings designed to generate community input and feedback for plans for a new schoolyard they’re calling Meredith Green.

Meredith today

From another angle

In June, Meredith Home & School received a grant from the Community Design Collaborative that provided services from volunteer landscape architects, designers, contractors, and other professionals to help improve their schoolyard. The cost, estimate and final design are set to be presented to the community in February. The plan includes aspects like landscaping, vegetable gardens, a green…

After Philly AIDS Thrift moved around the corner from their location at 514 Bainbridge St. over the summer, their old retail space didn’t stay vacant for long. The new tenant for the space is Queen Village Art Center, a spin-off from the Fairmount Art Center at 2501 Olive St.

In the past

Still under construction, but opening today

The 3000 sqft space was completely redesigned by Salerno Ziegler Architects. Like the other location, the Queen Village Art Center will offer art classes and workshops for adults along with classes, after school programs, party space and art camps for kids. This should be a very welcome addition to this neighborhood, especially with strollers everywhere and the Meredith School just a couple of blocks away.…