Frankford Civic frustrated
over proposed rehab center

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

The prospect of another drug-rehabilitation center on Frankford Avenue brought out the frustration of Frankford residents at last week’s meeting of the Frankford Civic Association.
Some residents remain dismayed by the NorthEast Treatment Center’s recent acquisition of the old Third Federal Bank building at 4625 Frankford Ave.
Last week they learned that the Wedge Medical Center intends to open an alcohol- and drug-treatment center at 4243-47 Frankford Ave. It also operates seven other facilities in South Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Germantown, Logan, Olney East, West Oak Lane and in Mount Airy.
The Frankford center would be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and possibly 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
While Wedge administrators did not need a zoning variance for the building, and therefore were not required to contact the civic association about their plans, the organization learned of the proposed treatment center in December and filed an appeal of Wedge Medical’s operating permit. A hearing on the matter was continued.
Patrick Palmer, Wedge CEO, attended last week’s meeting of the civic group and faced the opposition while armed with one dozen letters of support, including letters from state Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-3rd dist.), state Reps. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) and Dwight Evans (D-203rd dist.), and City Councilwoman Marian Tasco (D-9th dist.), in addition to correspondence from other organizations that have worked with Wedge.
Tasco, chairwoman of the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services, wrote of her support of programs offered by the medical firm.
"The services that the Wedge Medical Center has provided in Philadelphia over the last 13 years have helped to bridge the gap in areas that are either underserved or where resources are scarce," the councilwoman wrote. "The Wedge Medical Center has been a committed entity within the communities where their centers are located. Moreover, they have been attentive to the needs of those seeking treatment, and understanding of the concerns of neighboring residents and business owners."
The letters, however, didn’t count for much with civic members who repeatedly said they weren’t opposed to the services that Wedge provides. They are dismayed that another rehab facility is coming to Frankford, a neighborhood that already is home to eight other licensed facilities, opponents said.
"We’re full," said Liz McCollum-Nazaria, president of the Frankford Business and Professional Association and a board member of the Frankford Special Services District.
Residents especially are concerned about the proximity of the treatment center to the Police Memorial PAL, at 4253 Frankford Ave.
Palmer, the Wedge Medical executive, told civic members that the majority of the center’s clientele would be coming from the Frankford area, and thus his center would be serving a need in the community.
One civic member reiterated that there already are enough centers in the area. Noting that she is not addicted to drugs, nor does she have a need to obtain an educational GED, the woman explained that what she really needs is worthwhile stores she can patronize along Frankford Avenue.
Members of the civic association voted to continue their opposition to the Wedge Medical proposal. An emergency civic meeting to discuss the issue will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in the second-floor conference room at Frankford Hospital, Frankford Avenue and Wakeling Street.
City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sanchez (D-7th dist.) was in attendance at the meeting, as was state Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist).
Quiñones Sanchez, who took office in January, has been meeting with Frankford organizations, including the Frankford Community Development Corp. and the Frankford Special Services District, to gauge the needs of the community and address claims that the neighborhood is saturated with non-profit agencies.
The councilwoman is working with the city to create a map of social services, particularly halfway houses and shelters or similar programs in the 7th district.
The research will include those that offer state and federally funded programs. The completed map will show which areas are saturated and which are able to handle additional special-needs services.
In other business, Chad Enos, a recruiter/trainer with Philadelphia Operation Town Watch, spoke to civic members about the possible formation of a Frankford Town Watch.
Enos explained that there are three types of Town Watch groups: an "eyes-and-ears" group who report what they see from their homes; a neighborhood patrol unit; and block watches.
Eyes-and-ears groups receive about 90 minutes of training in one session. Patrol groups would attend two training sessions for a total of three hours.
Also at last week’s meeting, James Amato, Catholic Social Services deputy secretary, revisited the civic association to seek its approval as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia moves forward with its plan to convert the St. Joachim convent, at 1509 Church St., to a community-based home for 16 dependent girls between the ages of 12 and 18. Amato initially met with the civic group in December to discuss the plan.
The city Zoning Board of Adjustment had denied the archdiocese’s request for a variance, as there are no designations for group homes within current city zoning, only boarding houses. The archdiocese appealed the decision on March 5.
The civic association voted to send the zoning board a letter of support for the planned St. Joachim group home. ••