Frankford can expect
to see streetscape improvements

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

City Councilman Dan Savage (D-7th dist.) may have only six months left in office, but he has a long list of things he plans to accomplish before Maria Quinoñes-Sanchez — who defeated him in May’s Democratic primary — or Republican candidate Gary Grisafi claims his seat in January.
Savage’s chief of staff, Liz McCollum-Nazaria, told East Frankford Civic Association members last week that a number of improvements are coming to Frankford.
The commercial corridor will see new banners and trash cans. Possible pedestrian lighting and other streetscape improvements also are under discussion between Savage and representatives of the city’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, the program introduced by Mayor John Street in 2001 to counter urban decline and revitalize Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
The improvements will be funded through the ReStore Philadelphia Corridors program. Its goal is to help revitalize commercial corridors.
Also, the Gambrel Recreation field, at Wakeling and Ditman streets, will get an "extreme field makeover," thanks to Fox Sports and the Pop Warner League. A June 14 groundbreaking is planned.
McCollum-Nazaria also announced that bids are being sought for the installation of security cameras along Frankford Avenue. The first corner to be outfitted with the electronic crime-busters is Frankford Avenue and Foulkrod Street. Others are slated for the Margaret-Arrott streets intersection at Frankford, Orthodox and Griscom streets.
Also, the 4100 to 5200 blocks of Frankford Ave. will soon see new meter parking signs requiring patrons to pay only until 6 p.m. instead of the current 9:30 p.m. McCollum-Nazaria said the change will allow more customers to patronize the avenue, especially in areas where the most revitalization is taking place, namely around the jazz restaurant, mozaic, at 4524 Frankford Ave.
In other business, civic association president Peggy Hoch told members that volunteers are still needed for the city’s curfew center at the Frankford Group Ministry, 4620 Griscom St.
"I can’t (go) until six o’clock in the morning three nights in a row. We really, really need volunteers," Hoch said.
A few newcomers to the civic group asked for applications to volunteer.
"This curfew center, I know it’s doing great things down in Whitehall, and I really appreciate it," one woman said. ••
The East Frankford Civic Association will meet on Thursday, July 12, at 7 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of Frankford Hospital’s Frankford campus.
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com