The application is for a banquet hall for under fifty (50) people. No live entertainment or dancing (assembly and entertainment) (no activities as defined in 14-603 (13) of Philadelphia Zoning Code) and proposed retail sale of prepackaged food and non-alcoholic beverages (retail sale of food, beverages, and groceries) (same tenant) on entire 1st floor with existing 14 family dwelling above as previously approved in an existing structure.
WICA, as the coordinating RCO, has scheduled a Public Zoom Meeting on August 18th at 7pm in advance of the public hearing to discuss the project. All neighbors are invited to attend. An official vote will be taken and a summary of the results sent to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) in the form of a letter.
The WICA Online Yard Sale is live! Dozens of items are available for you to bid on. Donated by your neighbors, items include: • Handcrafted wooden bowls • Vintage light fixtures and lamps • Chairs • Bicycles • 100 steps prints • House plants, and more!
The WICA Online Yard Sale is hosted through Bid Beacon. Participants must create an account to place bids on items. The auction ends on Thursday, August 20th.
All proceeds for the yard sale will go directly to the WICA legal action fund.
The next General Membership meeting is Wednesday, August 12th at 7pm. The meeting will be held via Zoom, a free online application available on your computer or smartphone. All neighbors are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues.
On July 1, 2020, Sowinski Sullivan and McCormick Taylor presented the latest Wissahickon Transportation Center designs on behalf of SEPTA. The full PDF presentation can be found here. This submission is considered 30% completion of conceptual design. SEPTA plans to start construction in the middle or end of 2021 with the project taking 18-24 months to complete.
Photo courtesy SEPTA
Highlights of the questions and concerns raised at the meeting include:
• Pedestrian and cyclist circulation and safety • Proposed bike path access and security • Architectural characteristics and design features reflective of the lower Northwest neighborhoods • No enclosed waiting area to protect riders in inclement weather • No designated drop-off/pick-up area for passengers (referred to as “Kiss and Ride”) • Connection and ADA accessibility of the transportation center to the train station • Location of the site in the 100-year floodplain and stormwater management
The Art Commission decided not to approve the conceptual design as presented. The Commission requested that SEPTA work to improve the design with guidance from an Art Commission subcommittee and consideration of community feedback. SEPTA will present design updates at the September 2 Art Commission meeting.
To watch the full presentation of the July 1 Art Commission meeting, click here. The Wissahickon Transportation Center presentation begins at 00:12. Feedback from Representative DeLissio (01:20), John Hunter representing the Northwest Coalition of Civics (01:08), and Wendy Green-Harvey representing SEPTA (01:42), were all provided. Comments included written feedback (56:00), phone-in inquiries, and comments via Zoom.
Once the community concerns are addressed, WICA supports the update and redesign to the Wissahickon Transportation Center and believes it will be a major improvement and asset to the area.
Following the success of our first online auction, we’re launching a virtual yard sale. Please consider donating your unwanted household items. From air conditioners and bicycles, to household games and accessories, we are accepting any donated pieces that are in good condition. Auction will be held July 20 – August 20, 2020 ›› The auction is hosted through Bid Beacon where you can browse and bid on items and track progress and updates.
All donations welcome, but items of particular interest include: • Bicycles, kayaks, outdoor furniture, outdoor storage boxes, games, kiddie pools • Air conditioners and fans • Computers and work-from-home accessories including webcams, headphones, standing desk converters, etc. • Family games for children, art and crafts items, household items, decorative items
Send a picture, description, and suggested starting bid to lisa@wissahickon.us or greg@wissahickon.us soon. We will upload your item to the auction and if it sells, we’ll arrange a no contact, socially-distant pick up.
All proceeds for the yard sale will go directly to the WICA legal action fund.
The next General Membership meeting is July 15th at 7pm, one week later than the standard second Wednesday of the month. The meeting will be held via Zoom, a free online application available on your computer or smartphone. All neighbors are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues.
With WICA’s annual officers election this month, we want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and preview what’s in store. We invite you to help us keep the momentum going and get involved.
The next General Membership meeting is June 10th at 7pm and will be held via Zoom, which is an online application available on your computer or smartphone for free. All neighbors are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues.
The General Membership Meeting scheduled for May 13th has been rescheduled to May 27th at 7pm and will be held in an online format (Zoom). You are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues. The Zoom Meeting invite will come via email. If you are not on our email list and would like to be, please make a request through the Contact Us form on the website.
We are very sorry to relay the passing of Jeff Allegretti, a former Executive Board Member and Zoning Chair of WICA and longtime champion of our neighborhood. His energetic spirit and commitment to our community will be greatly missed.
Our community has suffered a great loss and we are left better for his efforts. WICA offers our sincere condolences to the Allegretti family.
WICA is a community-based, volunteer organization. We welcome your support and generosity. All donations are tax deductible.
ShopRite Save-A-Tape Program
Turn your ShopRite purchases into funds for WICA! ShopRite reimburses WICA for 0.5% of the total receipts we turn in. Save your receipts and bring them to any of our meetings, send them to Lisa Wetzler at 124 Sumac Street, or we can arrange to pick them up from your home. Receipts must be no older than 5 months.
What is WICA?
WICA is the Civic Association representing the Philadelphia, PA neighborhood between East Falls and Manayunk at the gateway to the park where the Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon Creek merge.
Get Involved
There are multiple things you can do to get involved in the Wissahickon community. Become a member, attend monthly meetings, join a committee or make a donation. Every little bit helps.
