Frankford hears that blocking
rehab center won’t be easy

By Jon Campisi
Times Staff Writer

A week after Frankford Civic Association members learned of a plan to open another drug- and alcohol-rehabilitation center on Frankford Avenue, organizers called an emergency meeting to devise a plan of action.
The civic group, which unanimously opposes the center slated for 4243-47 Frankford Ave., is looking at ways to block the proposal.
Such an action, the group has been told, may be difficult to achieve.
"This is a very hard thing to stop, you guys know that," said Ghaith "Gus" Dababneh, zoning and small-business representative in the office of City Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez, whose 7th district includes Frankford.
But that didn’t deter residents in their desire to stop Frankford from becoming, as one civic member said, a "dumping ground." Opponents have claimed that eight licensed treatment facilities now exist along Frankford Avenue.
Frankford has found support from neighboring Northwood, whose civic group similarly does not favor more treatment centers.
"We’ve got to battle . . . because this has been going on for so long in Frankford," said Barry Howell, president of the Northwood Civic Association.
Howell maintains that these rehabs have been opening in Frankford because the agencies behind them have not faced strong opposition from residents.
"I think we can beat Wedge; I know we can beat Wedge," Howell said, referring to the Wedge Medical Center, which would operate the latest treatment facility.
The center is scheduled to operate weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and possibly Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are those who support the Wedge proposal. City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco (D-9th dist.) drafted a letter to the Frankford Civic Association last month that pledged support of the rehab center. She lauded Wedge Medical Center’s reputation for running top-notch facilities in other sections of the city, she said.
"Moreover," Tasco wrote, "they have been attentive to the needs of those seeking treatment, and understanding of the concerns of neighboring residents and business owners."
However, Frankford Civic members have questioned Wedge’s intentions. The leadership has been dismayed that the company initially failed to inform the civic association of the proposal, even though Wedge is not required to because there is no need for a zoning variance. The treatment center is a permitted use under current zoning.
Association members have said the work undertaken by these facilities is commendable. Their problem is with the number of these facilities in Frankford.
while they agree the type of work done at these facilities is commendable, they simply see Frankford as "full." The neighborhood also has eight licensed rehab facilities.
"We’re pretty full," said Liz McCollum-Nazaria, president of the Frankford Business and Professional Association.
Dababneh, the aide to Councilwoman Sanchez, told residents at the meeting that the existing zoning, because it permits the treatment center, will make the issue a difficult one to win.
He added that Sanchez has not yet formed an opinion on the matter.
In light of the circumstances, McCollum-Nazaria said the association plans to fight by other means, particularly by filing an appeal against Wedge’s operating permit. Plans are in the works to perhaps still pursue a zoning challenge, she added.
Howell, the president of Northwood Civic, said he has fought proposed rehab centers twice before — and won both times. Despite what they’ve been told, he doesn’t believe his Frankford neighbors have "a slim chance at fighting this."
"I’m in this to win," he said.
At one point during last week’s meeting, Dababneh delivered a message from Councilwoman Sanchez, who thought the civic members had been a bit harsh while questioning Patrick Palmer, the Wedge CEO, during his discussion of the proposed treatment center at the previous meeting.
Some civic members insisted they merely had asked Palmer some important questions, which they considered their right.
A Wedge spokeswoman said Palmer did not want to comment for this story. However, she added that Wedge is looked upon highly in communities where it operates facilities, something indicated by numerous letters of support for the Frankford proposal.
Other elected leaders have stood with Tasco in her support of Wedge and the treatment center. They include state Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen, and during a previous meeting, Palmer distributed letters of support from state. Reps. Dwight Evans (D-203rd dist.) and George Kenney (R-170th dist.).
State Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.), who attended last week’s meeting, sided with the civic group when asked what he thought of another rehab center in the neighborhood.
"I’m against it," he replied. ••
Reporter Jon Campisi can be reached at 215-354-3038 or jcampisi@phillynews.com