Mixed news for E. Frankford

By Diane Villano
Times Staff Writer

Richard Redding, acting director of the Philadelphia Planning Commission’s community planning division, offered the East Frankford Civic Association good news and bad news at its Jan. 5 meeting.
The good news is that Frankford is one of four Philadelphia neighborhoods designated a Pennsylvania Main Street Community. The others are Allegheny West, Mount Airy and West Philadelphia around 40th and Lancaster.
The Main Street program is designed to develop a community’s commercial district with a Main Street manager, beautification, and economic and promotional programs for Frankford’s business corridor.
Along with that is the "Elm Street" program that focuses on revitalizing residential areas approaching the business corridor.
The bad news is that a combined total of only $500,000 is awarded to both programs over a period of five years.
"The grants sound bigger than they are. It surprised me how little money is attached to these programs," Redding said.
Also, the first year of the grant allows only for the salaries of the Main Street and Elm Street managers — the Frankford Community Development Corporation’s Tracy O’Drain and Tamara Lanier-Davis, respectively.
The overall benefit is to keep the struggling Community Development Corporation going and guide revitalization, Redding said.
In other business, attendees voted to send a letter of approval to the city Zoning Board of Adjustment regarding property at 4233-39 Frankford Ave., provided the used-car lot owners agree to secure front fence and wall; agree to no parking on the sidewalk, demolition of a wall on Salem Street, control rats and avoid parking cars on public areas of Frankford Avenue and Salem Street. ••
The next East Frankford Civic Association meeting will be held at 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 2, weather permitting.
Reporter Diane Villano can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com