Lawncrest Community Association members have approved, 26–11, a businessman’s proposal to convert a long-vacant property at 540 Levick St. into a tax preparation office.
The property is zoned residential. Opponents noted the numerous vacant storefronts on the Rising Sun Avenue commercial strip.
The support comes with provisos. The property must remain owner-occupied and a single family dwelling, and must accommodate off-street parking.
In other news from the May 15 meeting:
• Planning continues for the 97th annual Lawncrest 4th of July Celebration. The holiday is on a Wednesday this year.
The theme is A Community United.
The event will kick off at 9 a.m. with a parade. The grand marshals will be current and former teachers at St. William Elementary School, which will close on June 15.
All activities will take place at Lawncrest Recreation Center, Rising Sun Avenue and Comly Street. They include an American flag-raising ceremony, flea market, car show, children’s rides, food court, live bands, magic show, drill teams and fireworks at dusk.
Flea market vendors are not permitted to play music or sell fireworks, smoke bombs, sparklers, silly string, knives, swords, lighters or X-rated material.
The rain date is Saturday, July 7.
A bowling fund-raiser is set for Saturday, June 2, from 9 p.m. to midnight at Thunderbird Lanes, Willits Road and Holme Avenue. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door, or $125 per lane, with up to six bowlers.
The price includes shoe rental, pizza and drinks
Donations can be sent to Lawncrest 4th of July Committee, P.O. Box 24656, Philadelphia, PA 19111.
To reserve a space for the flea market or for more information, call 215–651–8470 or e-mail lawncrestjuly4th@hotmail.com
• Jim Ritvalsky, leader at Lawncrest Recreation Center, will soon retire. He’s worked for the Department of Recreation since 1969. Brian Andrews will replace him.
Ritvalsky will return to sit in the dunk tank at the July 4 celebration.
• The Friends of Lawncrest Library will hold paperback book and audiovisual tape sales on Wednesday, May 30, from noon to 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 31, from 2 to 6 p.m. The sales will take place in the patio area of the library, at 6098 Rising Sun Ave.
• The Philadelphia Protestant Home, at 6500 Tabor Ave., is inviting the public to attend three concerts on upcoming Thursdays.
The Ferko String Band will play on June 7 at 7:15 p.m. The Daisy Jug Band will entertain on July 19 at 7 p.m. The Midiri Brothers Swing Band will perform on Aug. 23.
• St. William School, which opened in 1924, welcomes current and former students and staff members and friends to a Mass and open house on Sunday, June 10.
The Mass starts at noon, followed by an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.
St. William, which opened in 1924, will close on June 15 due to declining enrollment.
• The City Planning Commission will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m., at St. Martin of Tours School, at 5450 Roosevelt Blvd. The meeting will focus on the city’s Philadelphia 2035 physical development plan for the Lower Northeast, which includes Lawndale, Crescentville, Summerdale, Oxford Circle, Northwood and Frankford. Recommendations will be accepted for zoning changes, public investments and city-owned land and facilities use. Parking is available in the school lot.
For more information, contact project manager Ian Litwin at 215–683–4609 or ian.litwin@phila.gov
• The Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors and City Councilwoman Marian Tasco (D-9th dist.) are co-sponsoring a free housing resource fair scheduled for Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at St. William Memorial Hall, at 6234 Rising Sun Ave.
There will be roundtable discussions, free credit checks, credit counseling, information on market rates and visits from representatives of banks, utility companies and real estate offices.
Guests will receive door prizes and be entered in a drawing for a Kindle. Call Tasco’s office at 215–686–3454.
• The Lawncrest Community Association usually meets on the third Tuesday of the month, but will move up the June meeting by two weeks. The meeting is set for June 5, at 7 p.m., at St. William parish hall, at Argyle and Robbins streets. City Councilman Bobby Henon (D-6th dist.) will discuss absentee landlord issues. ••
