The People Powered Voice for a Better Community

Log in

Publications


News Blog

  • 22 Sep 2022 1:14 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Many of the protections have now been restored thanks to the signing earlier this month of City Council Bill 200118. The Bill came about through the efforts of CCRA's Remapping Committee working with the City Planning Commission, City Council members, the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, and fellow RCOs in Center City. 

    View Bill Here

  • 22 Sep 2022 10:03 AM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    A 41-year-old man was shot in the abdomen along South 20th Street near Sansom Street shortly after 7 p.m., police said

    Man Shot During Argument With Driver in Rittenhouse – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)


  • 19 Sep 2022 3:05 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Enhanced enforcement of bus lane restrictions along some of Philadelphia's busiest downtown streets will mean more tickets for drivers who don't follow the rules of the road, transportation officials said Monday.

    PPA to Increase Ticketing of Illegal Bus and Bike Lane Parking – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)


  • 14 Sep 2022 3:54 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Amtrak has canceled all long-distance trains nationwide starting Thursday, as it prepares for a possible freight-rail strike that would impact its service.

    Amtrak Status: All Long-Distance Trains Cancelled as of Thursday – NBC New York

  • 09 Sep 2022 2:53 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    The rise of digital news and the pandemic have decimated a once thriving business. Survivors are pivoting to snacks and lottery.

    Philadelphia newsstands disappearing, fewer than 100 remain - On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)


  • 08 Sep 2022 5:12 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Starbucks is planning to open a new store in Center City Philadelphia that will be a radically scaled-down facility for the national chain, after it said it was closing another downtown store over the summer, along with 15 other U.S. locations, citing safety concerns for employees.

    At less than 1,600 square feet, the planned store at 1709 Chestnut will be for take-out only: it willnot have public seating or a public bathroom, according to the leasing agent involved in the deal.

    “Starbucks is always looking for great locations to better meet the needs of our customers, and we are happy to confirm that we will be opening a new Starbucks Pickup store location in Philadelphia,” a company spokesperson said.

    Larry Steinberg, a commercial leasing agent who worked with Starbucks on the new store, described the design as a departure from the norm for the Seattle-based chain.

    “I’ve done a bunch of Starbucks leases and this is the first one that they are calling their new urban concept,” said Steinberg, senior managing director with Collier’s urban retail division in Philadelphia.

    With this new concept “they’re avoiding having to entertain the public, and give them seating and bathrooms,” he said. “Then they don’t have to deal with any of these other issues.”

    When Starbucks announced the closure of its location at 10th and Chestnut Streets in July, along with 15 other stores on the West Coast and in Washington, D.C., the company said its baristas were facing safety issues and broader societal challenges that “play out within our stores.”

    Staff are“seeing firsthand the challenges facing our communities – personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use,” read an open letter signed by Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelsen, senior vice presidents of U.S. operations.

    Starbucks, in the July letter, said it would consider adjusting store formats, furniture layouts, and operating hours, and using restroom occupancy sensors to ensure it could continue providing a “safe, welcoming, and kind third place.”

    The notion of a “third place,” is meant to evoke a space for human interaction outside the home or the workplace. For decades, Starbucks has traded on this concept, providing public WiFi, abundant tables, bathrooms and, until 2019, print newspapers.

    But drug use in bathrooms at Starbucks’ 10th and Chestnut location, and at other businesses nearby, was a problem, the head of the Center City District business group told The Inquirer in July.

    “They closed [the 10th and Chestnut location] because they are tired of needles in their bathroom,” said Steinberg.

    Starbucks had created an open-bathroom policy after an incident at a Philadelphia store resulted in nationwide headlines and claims of racial discrimination.

    In 2018, two Black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, were arrested before meeting an acquaintance in a Starbucks location at 18th and Spruce. The two men hadn’t purchased anything as they waited, and a manager called the police. The ensuing scandal resulted in an apology tour and company wide anti-racism training.

    The new store model coming to 1709 Chestnut would appear to minimize public interactions overall.

    “Their core is to sell you coffee and pastries and that’s it,” said Steinberg, about the new style of location.


  • 08 Sep 2022 1:39 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)





    Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. Britain's longest-serving monarch—and the second-longest serving monarch in world history—passed away on Sept. 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.


  • 07 Sep 2022 4:43 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Public Notice Monday September 5, 2022 Dear Residents and Business Owners AC Film Production, Inc. will be filming scenes for a new motion picture in your neighborhood. Our film, “Audrey’s Children" is the scripted, biographical feature film about Dr Audrey Evans -- Revolutionary CHOP oncologist and Co-Founder of Ronald McDonald House Charities. For more information, please visit our website: www.audreyschildren.com In order to park our equipment trucks and campers, we are working with the City of Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia Film Office to temporarily restrict parking on a number of nearby blocks. Cars that do not move at the designated times may be relocated. To avoid towing, please observe all posted NO PARKING signs that will be posted as follows:

    FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 5:00AM to SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 6:00AM

    - 2200 Block of Walnut Street from S.22nd to S. 23rd Street – South Side

    - 2300 Block of Walnut Street from S. 23rd to Walnut Street Bridge – South Side

    - 200 Block of S. 22nd Street from Chancellor St. to Walnut Street – East Side

    - 100 Block of S. 22nd Street from Walnut St. to Sansom St. – East Side

    - 100 Block of S. 23rd Street from St. James Place to Locust Street – East Side

    - 200 Block of S. 23rd Street from Locust St. to Manning St. – East Side

    - 2200 Block of Locust Street from 23rd St. to 22nd Street. – South Side

    - 2100 Block of Locust Street from 22nd St. to Van Pelt St. – South Side

    - 2200 Block of St. James Place from 22nd to 23rd St. – South Side

    We will be offering resident displacement parking on the North side of Locust Street between 20th and 21st Streets and the North side of Pine Street between 20th and 22nd Streets (parking in the Bike Lane). This parking will be available beginning Thursday, September 8, 8:00 PM and last until Sunday, September 11, 11:00 AM. Please, park per the resident displacement parking signs, avoid parking on corners and avoid truck and bus turns. If you have any questions or concerns about our filming, please contact our Location Department representative on the block or call the number listed below. Also, if you have scheduled deliveries or accessibility needs, please call our Locations Department at 215-701- 4850 so we can make accommodations. We thank you in advance for your understanding, consideration and cooperation. Sincerely, AC Film Production Inc. Location Department info@phillylocations.com / 215-701-4850

  • 07 Sep 2022 9:33 AM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    MOMS' MEETUP SWITCHING TO FRIDAYS AT 10:30AM 

    Come meet other Moms in your neighborhood and future friends for your little ones, at this free meet up. Grandparents, dads and all caregivers welcome! New meet up location is the Tot Lot (little kids playground) behind the Markward Recreation Center. See you there!


Center City Quarterly

CCRA publishes the Center City Quarterly to provide information on Center City people and events from the point of local residents.  You'll be guaranteed to learn something interesting about your neighborhood in every issue!

Archived issues of the Quarterly are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can download it directly from Adobe.

Advertisers:  To advertise in the Center City Quarterly, download our AdvertiserForm and email the completed form to centercity@centercityresidents.org or return to us by mail with your payment.  Upon receipt of your completed form, a member of the Newsletter Committee will contact you regarding any specific requirements.

2020 Issues

Summer Issue  Spring Issue

2019 Issues

Winter Issue   Fall Issue     Summer Issue   Spring Issue

2018 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2017 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2016 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2015 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2014 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2013 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2012 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue — Missing

2011 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring Issue     

2010 Issues

Winter Issue      Fall Issue      Summer Issue      Spring 2010 Issue     

CCRA Photo Gallery

Center City has a large number of talented amateur and professional photographers. Share your images of local events and sites.

We reserved the right to scrub any images we consider offensive. All copyrights are reserved to the contributor, who grants CCRA the rights to display images uploaded in this web site. No commercial information, please!



Join our email list

Questions? Email Travis Oliver, Managing Director

©2023 Center City Residents' Association. All Rights Reserved.
1900 Market St, Fl 8, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215.546.6719 | Email
: centercity@centercityresidents.org

OUR SPONSOR(S)

We would like to thank our sponsors for supporting our mission

Heroes



                       CCRA Believer                       

                               

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software