SOSNA NEWS - September 2002

Tax Increases | Gardens at Risk | Housing Counseling Office
News Briefs | Thrift Shop Reopens | Support Local Businesses

Tax Increases Again Jolt Area Homeowners

A new round of increases in property assessments are on the way, with area homeowners receiving the bad news in white envelopes being mailed out by the Board of Revision of Taxes. The tax increases are fueled by the red hot real estate market, with record sales prices for area properties. In response, SOSNA has invited a representative from the BRT to its Wednesday, September 11th, 7:30 PM General Meeting, to be held at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center on 17th Street, just south of Fitzwater. Linda Callen from Council President Verna's office will also attend to answer questions and assist homeowners with tax appeals.

If you believe that your assessment is too high, SOSNA urges you to file an appeal before the deadline, October 7, 2002. SOSNA can assist you in filing your appeal. Be sure to pick up a copy of the SOSNA publication, "Tips for Tax Appeals for SOSNA Members," or access it on our web site. This document provides important information on key factors to cite in writing your appeal.

If you are over the age of 65 and your income is $14,000 a year or less for a family of one, or $17,200 or less for a family of two, then you are exempt from any increase in either taxes or real estate assessments. SOSNA can assist you to file an exemption. Call 215-732-8446. [Related link: SOSNA Tax Appeal Tips]

A Tale of Two Gardens

Garden at 2020-2024 Fitzwater Street, now destroyed by construction.

The development pressures in our neighborhood are placing at risk many of the most prized community gardens which were established over many years by neighborhood residents. At 2120-24 Fitzwater Street, developer Richard Brown of Oxford Consultants, LLC purchased a privately-owned parcel in the middle of an award-winning garden, brought in a bulldozer, and proceeded to destroy one of the best gardens in the neighborhood to build a new-construction home. Mr. Brown spurned offers from the gardeners, SOSNA and Council President Verna to swap his privately-owned parcel in the middle for a City-owned parcel on the end, which would have saved 2/3 of this garden. Mrs. Verna even secured funds to compensate Mr. Brown for his expenses to date, but Mr. Brown rejected the deal. [related link]

Garden, S. 19th Street

At 702-06 S. 19th Street, we have a garden story with a happier outcome. There SOSNA persuaded developer Glenn Gould of JMS Properties, Inc. not to build on land he recently purchased, but to donate his property to a land trust in a swap for vacant City-owned properties elsewhere, thus preserving the garden. Mr. Gould said: "I don't want to be a bad guy. I want to be a good guy and work with the community to preserve the quality of life in the area." Thank you, Mr. Gould, for your public-spirited attitude. Thanks also to Council President Verna and her staff for effective use of City government to preserve open space in this rapidly developing neighborhood.

SOSNA Plan for Gardens and Parks

Map of SOSNA neighborhood and surrounding areas. The green spaces are parks, and SOSNA has none.

Green space is very important to make our neighborhood attractive, and our neighborhood has no parks. SOSNA is proceeding to develop a greening program for the neighborhood, with proposals to be submitted to foundations, corporations, and individual donors for funding. In addition, funds for acquisition of vacant ground might be secured through the Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.

The coordinators of the greening effort are Board Member Laura Blanchard and Executive Director Doug Norman. [related link]

SOSNA HAS WEBSITE

SOSNA has a new website thanks to the work and talents of Laura Blanchard, a new member of the SOSNA Board of Directors. The website may be accessed at www.southofsouth.org.

"Our new website provides a quantum leap forward in our ability to communicate," said SOSNA Executive Director Doug Norman. "The newsletter is now available on-line, along with our mission statement. We intend to post our list of meetings, and provide neighborhood residents with the means of accessing forms and other materials on-line. We can email the newsletter to every resident who signs up."

SOSNA HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM CONTINUES TO ASSIST

The SOSNA Housing Counseling Division continues to assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers to qualify for mortgages and purchase home. If you complete the counseling program, you may qualify for a City grant for settlement costs. In addition, SOSNA also offers consumer education and household budgeting assistance. SOSNA can you to put your financial house in order by helping to arrange payments on credit card and other debt. If you are delinquent in rental or mortgage payments, SOSNA can help there too. Finally, thru its new certification as an Anti-Predatory Lending Counselor, SOSNA can help to restructure delinquent high interest loans and forestall mortgage foreclosure and loss of a home. The Housing Counseling Division is located at 625 S. 17th Street (corner 17th and Bainbridge) and the phone number is 215-546-0699. Luz Harper and Kirk Stevens are the Housing Counselors and they can be relied upon for expert and confidential assistance in this area.

NEWS BRIEFS

• The advertising firm which is handling the Demonstration Marketing Program will have a second meeting shortly with the Advisory Committee to present an advertising campaign for our neighborhood. SOSNA was one of six neighborhoods chosen for this program, sponsored by the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and funded by the William Penn Foundation.
• SOSNA's History Committee will also meet in the fall to discuss the next steps in securing additional funding for a booklet detailing the architectural and historic sites in our area. SOSNA received a $6,000 grant from The Philadelphia Foundation toward production of the booklet. The proposal was written by SOSNA Treasurer Alan Mandel.
• Work on a new 5 Year Strategic Plan for our neighborhood will gear up again after a summer break. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will provide important assistance to the planning process.
• SOSNA sponsored a briefing at Graduate Hospital for the business community on July 2nd on the tax benefits for business investment because of the area's new designation as a Federal Renewal Community. A similar briefing will be held in the fall for neighborhood residents at a SOSNA General Meeting.
• The architectural plans for the SOSNA/Universal new construction development of over 20 affordable town homes in the vicinity of 17th and Carpenter Streets are ready for presentation to the community at an autumn General Meeting.
• Council President Verna is sponsoring a town meeting on Tuesday, September 10th, at 7:30 PM at J & A Caterers, 1212 South Broad Street. Mayor Street is expected to attend. The topic is crime in the area.

SOSNA THRIFT SHOP REOPENS AFTER SUMMER VACATION

The SOSNA Thrift Shop, at 1635 South Street, has re-opened after an August vacation. The shop has nice couches and oak tables for sale, along with household goods, designer clothing and bric-a-brac. All the items in the thrift shop are donations from area residents. Because SOSNA is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, donators receive a charitable tax deduction for the value of the donated item. If you require further information, call the shop at 215-732-8151.

SUPPORT AREA BUSINESSES

Parisien Bakery, 1741 South Street

A new pastry shop, Parisien Bakery, has opened at 1741 South Street, and residents are reportedly buying croissants at a rapid rate. But while we welcome all new businesses, don't forget to continue to patronize the long established stores in the neighborhood, such as Pinky's New York Cheese Cake at 1824 South Street, and More than Just Coffee at 2108 South St. Indeed, try to patronize all the neighborhood businesses inthe South Street West Business Association flyer. Your purchase helps to support existing businesses and attract new shops and services to the area. [download the South Street West Business Association's flyer in Adobe Acrobat format. [Related link: South Street West Business Association]

SOSNA General Meetings

SOSNA General Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, September thru June, at 7:30 PM at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center. Published by South of South Neighborhood Assoc., Inc. 1711 South Street, Phila. Pa. 19146. Phone 215-732-8446. Fax: 215-732-2016. Web-Site: www.southofsouth.org. Doug Norman, Executive. Director. Angela Richardson, Chair; Doerte Smith, Vice Chair; Alan Mandel, Treasurer; Sam Porter, Controller; Paul Sanders, Acting Secretary; Marni Showell, Assistant Controller.

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SOSNA is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the area from South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street West to the Schuylkill River, funded by the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide citizen input into their redevelopment process in our community. SOSNA is a registered nonprofit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Site contents copyright SOSNA except where indicated.