Future of Frankford
is at a tipping point

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Frankford will be the first community in Philadelphia to take advantage of the city’s move to transit-oriented development zoning.
"Neighborhoods like this are at a tipping point," said Janice Woodcock, director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, at last week’s Future of Frankford meeting.
The organization, composed of Frankford business owners, civic leaders, officials with non-profit groups and representatives of city agencies, meets quarterly.
City Councilman Dan Savage (D-7th dist.) and Maria Quiñones Sanchez, the Democratic candidate hoping to succeed Savage after the Nov. 6 elections, were in attendance, along with Sharon Krause, community relations officer of the 15th Police District.
Savage is expected to introduce legislation in City Council this week to create a zoning classification for what is called a neighborhood rail-transit center district. The measure, if it gains City Council approval, would permit a mix of uses for new development, including office, residential, retail and public spaces, ultimately creating a walkable community complemented by public transportation.
City Council members Joan Krajewski (D-6th dist.) and Frank DiCicco (D-1st dist.) will co-sponsor the legislation, according to Savage.
Woodcock talked about the transit-oriented development — or TOD — zoning ordinance being part of a "layering effort" in Frankford. Other layers already in place include funding from the city’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative for streetscape and business corridor improvements.
Savage is also using NTI dollars to aid the city Redevelopment Authority’s purchase of the old Art Holiday Theater in Frankford. A deal to purchase the property and turn it into an arts center recently fell through for Frankford Associates, a development firm. Savage wanted to ensure that any future use of the property would be restricted for the betterment of the community.
In July 2006, consultants rolled out the Frankford Avenue Corridor Transit-Oriented Development Plan, a strategy that focused on the Church Street, Margaret-Orthodox and Frankford Transportation Center, detailed market conditions and offered urban-design suggestions. The plan can be viewed online at www.philaplanning.org
"It will be the first transit-oriented development zoning in the city — a pilot case. We’re very concerned that it be successful," Woodcock said, adding that the community will have the planning commission’s attention as it tweaks the ordinance.
Laureen Boles, a civil engineer and environmental planner for the Philadelphia Water Department, gave meeting attendees an update on the Frankford Greenway project, which focuses on the Frankford Creek corridor, from Castor Avenue and the Juniata Golf Course southeast to the Delaware River. The greenway project would provide residents with access to the creek and the river, in addition to enhancing opportunities for recreation and renewal of the lower reaches of the creek.
Early action strategies of the project include redesign and incorporating wetland installations into the Juniata Golf Course — perhaps making it a chip-and-putt course — a redesign of historic Womrath Park, and creek restoration.
To date, however, the project has sufficient funding to cover only one of the strategies. Boles also stressed that the water department has no intention of taking property as part of the project. It does hope, however, that property owners might donate some land close to the creek and that industries would work with the city to clean up the sites. More community meetings will follow.
In other business, attendees were left with the question of whether the Frankford Community Development Corp. has their support.
"This is Tracy talking here. Either you support the CDC or you don’t," said Tracy O’Drain, manager of economic-development programs for the agency.
For the past two years, say CDC board members, they have been putting out fires kindled during a previous administration.
Marie Delany, president of the board of directors, assured those at the meeting that money has never been missing from the organization’s coffers. However, when the organization was having some tough times, it didn’t pay payroll taxes.
"Enter the IRS — everybody’s worst nightmare," Delany said.
The IRS has put about $45,000 worth of liens on the CDC’s holdings, making it difficult, if not impossible, to sell them, she said. The organization had been on a payment plan with the IRS but ran out of money to make those payments and has received another extension. Until the debt is paid, the liens will continue to impact the CDC’s progress, she said.
Funding provided to the agency is for programs that it administers, and not for operational expenses or to take care of payroll taxes. If CDC doesn’t settle its debt with the IRS, it will be considered non-compliant and will lose its contracts.
"Now is a point of tipping. We’ve done all this. We’re about $40,000 to $45,000 away from being on good, solid ground," O’Drain said.
In a post-meeting e-mail, O’Drain announced that the board of directors of the Frankford Community Development Corp. is looking for volunteer members to serve on the board.
Candidates can submit resumes or letters of interest to Tracy O’Drain, 4900 Griscom St., Philadelphia, PA 19124; send an e-mail to frankfordmainstmgr@yahoo.com; or fax material to 215-743-6582. Phone calls and personal visits cannot be accepted.
Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 15. They will be reviewed by the CDC nominating committee. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com