Empty lot on Calumet

[Dalvah219]

Does anyone have a status update on the empty fenced off lot on Calumet? It's starting to look like a playground and accumulate garbage.

[Hypebeast]

It basically IS a playground at this point. I could hear everyone playing from all the way over on Stanton street last night. Sounded like a possible fist fight as well.

[Dalvah219]

Anything we can do about it? I'm getting sick of being cat called and feeling uncomfortable when I walk by it on my way home from work at 3am and there's 3-7 kids and teenagers in there.

[The Rox]

Maybe try the new Philly 311 app.

It allows you to take a picture and follow up. It's too new to say whether it works or not; but it's free, easy to use, and definitely worth a shot. Good luck!

Philly 311 Goes Mobile - Video Interlude - Curbed Philly

[edit215]

A group of Calumet St. neighbors have contacted the EFCC, PHA, Councilman Jones, Mayor Nutter, et al. about this and have not heard anything back. Parking has been even worse than usual since all those spots are gone and the college students are back. And the trash is piling up.

[justinc848]

I walk through the lot daily and have noted an uptick in garbage as well. It was always used as a playground (as evidenced by the hanging tire), however, I believe that the steps have made it a hangout. I left work early the other day and had to excuse myself and then step through/over the 4 or 5 folks in their mid 20s blocking the steps at 3p. I'm going to call 311 as well. We need to stop, this ball before it starts rolling.

[Hypebeast]

In my opinion, if you are going to leave playground/hang out features in this parking area, that is exactly what you are going to get, people congregating. Of course the trash will soon follow. Stroll down to the basketball courts on any given morning and you will see a ton of trash strewn about, and they have trash cans down there!

EFCC, PHA, Councilman Jones, Mayor Nutter, et al. about this and have not heard anything back.

That's basically who you have to thank for this:




Is this a win for the neighborhood??

Curiously, I noticed last night that the fence was down. The lot hasn't been paved yet, but now there are individuals parking in it again.

[Mike D]

If the fence is gone here now, maybe we can hope the fence on Midvale will be addressed. And by addressed, I mean the problem that is the reason they put the fence up.

[Dalvah219]

...So, I dont know if anyone else was awake for this, but about 12:15 Tuesday morning, 3 kids came walking over from the PHA housing through the new ramp onto Calumet St. ( I live right next to it so I saw them) they proceeded to walk up the street, almost to the bridge either fired a gun, or smashed something that sounded a lot like a gun and walked back over to the other side...via the ramp. The police are now circling the neighborhood. I gave them the information based on what I saw, but one of the kids saw me, he walked by me after the cops left giving the stink eye (wow, I feel safe) 311 clearly isnt doing anything. Is there anything that we can do as a community about this? If no one gets arrested, I only see it escalating. Ive lived on this particular block since May and I feel like Im already seeing a downslide.

[PASnow]

I actually heard that. I was awake in bed & thought "hmmmmm, ok maybe that wasn't a gunshot!"

But now I suppose it was.

[PASnow]

Anything we can do about it? I'm getting sick of being cat called and feeling uncomfortable when I walk by it on my way home from work at 3am and there's 3-7 kids and teenagers in there.

Sorry, but I do find it amusing that at 3am in the morning there are "kids and teenagers" still out. Guess it all traces back to parenting, or lack thereof.

[The Count]

...So, I dont know if anyone else was awake for this, but about 12:15 Tuesday morning, 3 kids came walking over from the PHA housing through the new ramp onto Calumet St. ( I live right next to it so I saw them) they proceeded to walk up the street, almost to the bridge either fired a gun, or smashed something that sounded a lot like a gun and walked back over to the other side...via the ramp. The police are now circling the neighborhood. I gave them the information based on what I saw, but one of the kids saw me, he walked by me after the cops left giving the stink eye (wow, I feel safe) 311 clearly isnt doing anything. Is there anything that we can do as a community about this? If no one gets arrested, I only see it escalating. Ive lived on this particular block since May and I feel like Im already seeing a downslide.

I would contact Meg Greenfeld of the EFCC.

I would also move - that PHA housing isn't going anywhere.

[Naveen]

...So, I dont know if anyone else was awake for this, but about 12:15 Tuesday morning, 3 kids came walking over from the PHA housing through the new ramp onto Calumet St. ( I live right next to it so I saw them) they proceeded to walk up the street, almost to the bridge either fired a gun, or smashed something that sounded a lot like a gun and walked back over to the other side...via the ramp. The police are now circling the neighborhood. I gave them the information based on what I saw, but one of the kids saw me, he walked by me after the cops left giving the stink eye (wow, I feel safe) 311 clearly isnt doing anything. Is there anything that we can do as a community about this? If no one gets arrested, I only see it escalating. Ive lived on this particular block since May and I feel like Im already seeing a downslide.

You should go to the next EFCC meeting and bring this up, at the least. Speak to Tom Sauerman, the president, ahead of time to try and get it on the agenda. He is a nice guy and very approachable.

[Hypebeast]

. Is there anything that we can do as a community about this? If no one gets arrested, I only see it escalating.

Unfortunately what can be done?

Would have nice to have a wall erected to close off Calumet from the PHA development rather then a better access ramp. Even when the fence comes down (it's back up btw) and the lot resumes use as parking again, you'll still have people hanging out at the ramp and passing through there.

*waits for billy ross to come in the thread and explain how the PHA development and ramp are great for the neighborhood*

[thoth]

How many people even live in that development? 30? 40?

[billy ross]

How many people even live in that development? 30? 40?

Probably about 500. Keep in mind that the market rate stuff is getting built out and occupied. It's about 30 acres, and I think it was set up for somewhere around 300 units.

I invite people to walk or bike through the pass-through, as I do. There's a tire swing, a rope ladder, and a sliding board there, arrayed in a row. Real threatening stuff, the kind of stuff that puts chills down your spine. Plus there's less trash than when it was a parking area; I used it as a pass-through before the present 'improvements' were effected. I applaud the kids for their initiative, although it seems that there is a problem with people not keeping the curfew. There is management on-site, and it would seem that if they were informed that the curfew-breakers are making people uncomfortable I am sure that they would put an end to it. I also think that whatever park/sitting area these kids feel they need would probably be better if it were located inside of the development, since the panic button pounders in the neighborhood are clearly uncomfortable with having a play area contiguous with the neighborhood.

[Mike D]

Regardless of whether things arranged nicely, the fact is we are now talking about gunshots!

[alex]

... since the panic button pounders in the neighborhood are clearly uncomfortable with having a play area contiguous with the neighborhood.

It isn't unreasonable for Dalvah to feel uncomfortable with being yelled at when she's on her way home late at night and the neighbors are asleep. She isn't being a "panic button pounder."

[edit215]

Probably about 500. Keep in mind that the market rate stuff is getting built out and occupied. It's about 30 acres, and I think it was set up for somewhere around 300 units.

I invite people to walk or bike through the pass-through, as I do. There's a tire swing, a rope ladder, and a sliding board there, arrayed in a row. Real threatening stuff, the kind of stuff that puts chills down your spine. Plus there's less trash than when it was a parking area; I used it as a pass-through before the present 'improvements' were effected. I applaud the kids for their initiative, although it seems that there is a problem with people not keeping the curfew. There is management on-site, and it would seem that if they were informed that the curfew-breakers are making people uncomfortable I am sure that they would put an end to it. I also think that whatever park/sitting area these kids feel they need would probably be better if it were located inside of the development, since the panic button pounders in the neighborhood are clearly uncomfortable with having a play area contiguous with the neighborhood.

Clearly you skipped over the part about the woman being harassed late at night and a possible gunshot last night...on a street you own property on.

[edit215]

And the idyllic playground scene painted by Billy is currently a smashed up pile of plastic parts that once was a slide.