Skerski, firehouse are main
topics at Tacony Civic

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

This month’s Tacony Civic Association meeting started the same way it did last May, with a moment of silence for Gary Skerski, the 15th Police District community relations officer who was shot to death on May 8, 2006 while trying to thwart an armed robbery at a Northwood tavern.
"It’s the one-year anniversary of a friend of this organization, a great servant of the city of Philadelphia, a friend of many, many neighborhoods," said Anthony Naccarato, the civic group’s president. "Think about Gary, think about his family, say a prayer for them."
Skerski was fatally shot by the lone gunman as the officer responded to the report of a robbery at Pat’s Café. A suspect, Solomon Montgomery, was apprehended 10 days later and is awaiting trial in connection with the policeman’s slaying.
A memorial tree will be dedicated to Skerski at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Christa Lewis Memorial Arboretum, Keystone and Disston streets. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.
During other business on the civic group’s agenda, representatives of the Managing Director’s Office and the Philadelphia Fire Department discussed the need to relocate the Engine 38 firehouse. A new southbound on-ramp for I-95, which will be part of a highway project to reconfigure the Cottman and Princeton avenues interchange, is forcing relocation of the firehouse at 4960 Longshore Ave.
The proposed new location is at Unruh and Keystone streets, adjacent to the train tracks and directly across the street from St. Leo Catholic Church. The move two blocks from its present location will not affect response times to emergencies and will make it easier for crews to get to the other side of I-95, said Richard Tustin, a director with the city’s Capital Program Office.
"It’s an older facility, and an opportune time to build a new state-of-the-art facility," he said.
The proposed $8 million firehouse will be more than 12,000 square feet and have four bays instead of two, as well as a second-floor multi-purpose room that may be used by community organizations for educational purposes. The current firehouse is 6,800 square feet.
According to Tustin, the timeline depends on Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approval, after which it will take about 12 months to design the firehouse and solicit construction bids. It could take 18 months to two years to build it.
Some members of the civic association questioned whether the proposed site might be subject to a deed restriction requiring it to remain as open space in accordance with the will of Henry Disston, the 19th-century industrialist and Tacony land baron. While city officials said there did not appear to be any deed restriction, the civic association will consult with the Tacony Historical Society for a closer look at the issue.
In other business, Chris Creelman, of the Major Artery Revitalization Committee, told association members that work on the Torresdale Avenue Project will begin this summer.
The business-district project along Torresdale Avenue, from Harbison to Cottman avenues, will include improved crosswalks, shorter 17-foot light posts that will shine more light on the street, and neighborhood banners, benches and trash bins.
Creelman also presented a check to the Tacony Historical Society for its annual History Day celebration.
Representatives of the Delaware River City Corporation were on hand to give civic members an update on plans for the Tacony riverfront.
According to executive director Sarah M. Thorp, work will start this summer on Lardner’s Point, a 4.5-acre site south of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. She said the DRCC’s five-year-goal is to complete three greenway trail segments along the Delaware River from Allegheny Avenue to the Glen Foerd mansion, at the mouth of the Poquessing Creek.
Thorp also invited civic members to join DRCC on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon for a walk along the proposed path of the North Delaware Greenway, from Rhawn Street (behind the Riverview Home and the prison complex) to the mouth of the Pennypack Creek. It is the second in a series of five walks to be held on the third Saturday of each month through August. Participants should meet at the fishing pier at the south end of the park.
"It’s a great chance to get into the park and check out the restored wetland," Thorp said.
For more information about how the trail will impact Tacony, visit www.drcc-phila.org/tacony.htm
It also was noted during last week’s meeting that Tacony residents who want to get in shape and meet other people in the community are invited to join the Tacony Walking and Fitness Club.
People should meet at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, outside the Disston Recreation Center to discuss walking times, meet possible workout partners and generate ideas for the club.
After a brief meeting, there will be a walk.
For more information, call 215-901-8052 or send e-mail to portkuv@aol.com ••
Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com