SOSNA NEWS - October 2002

New NAC Director | Remembering Ron Washington | Marian Anderson Exhibits | Thrift Shop | 22nd and South Planning Meeting | New Banks | SOSNA Online | 17 & Carpenter Affordable Housing | Meet the Authors Night at Rec Center

Eve Lewis Hired as New SOSNA NAC Director

The Board of Directors of SOSNA has hired Eve B. Lewis as its new NAC Director, with October 7th as Ms. Lewis' first day on the job. Ms. Lewis had served as Operations Manager for Universal Community Homes, where she supervised administrative support staff, handled scheduling, managed the database, and worked on client and community issues. She had previously worked for the Housing Authority of the City of Camden, N. J., and also planned and implemented a Drug Elimination Program for the Rahway, N.J. Housing Authority. Ms. Lewis lives in our neighborhood.

"The Board of Directors was very impressed with Ms. Lewis' credentials and her commitment to the area," said Angela Richardson, the SOSNA Chair. "We are certain that she will bring positive energy and new ideas to her job, and work with the Executive Director, the SOSNA Board, and all residents and groups in the area to help our neighborhood in one of the most crucial periods of its growth."

The SOSNA NAC Director is responsible for administering SOSNA's contract with the Office of Housing & Community Development, including client in-take at the SOSNA Office at 1711 South Street, monthly reports to OHCD, liaison with City agencies on problems in the area, strategic planning, and coordination of the many housing and development initiatives now underway.

Remembering Ron Washington

Ron Washington, owner of Ron's Ribs on the 1600 Block of South Street, passed away on September 28, 2002. Ron's life was celebrated at a funeral mass held at St. Charles Borromeo Church on October 3rd, attended by many friends and associates, who expressed their condolences to his family. A City Council Citation was read at the funeral, commending Ron for his contribution to the community.

Ron was a member of SOSNA and a past president of the South Street West Business Association. He had been a force and presence on South Street since 1984, when he opened Ron's Ribs at 1627 South Street. He also operated a second restaurant at 16th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Community sentiment on the loss of Ron Washington was summed up by Alan Mandel, the SOSNA Treasurer: "Ron had a wonderful sense of humor, and could always be relied upon to make the day a little bit brighter. He was a caring father to his young sons, took a strong interest in community matters, and worked very hard through the lean years to move South Street along to the renaissance we are now witnessing. He will be missed."

Marian Anderson Exhibits in Area & City

Marian Anderson and her mother on Martin Street, July 1954

On Monday October 14th, the Marian Anderson Historical Society and the Atwater Kent Museum (at 15 South 7th Street) will hold a reception from 5-7:30 PM for the Philadelphia release of a stunning new children's book, When Marian Sang, by author Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrator Brian Selznick. The Museum will also hold a special exhibition of rare Marian Anderson photographs, documents and memorabilia. At The Astral Plane restaurant at 1708 Lombard Street, there is an exhibit of photographs entitled Duke Ellington Meets Marian Anderson. For those newcomers to the area who don't know, Marian Anderson is the hero of our neighborhood, a great contralto who was born on the 1700 Block of Webster Street, lived at 762 S. Martin Street, sang at Union Baptist Church, and became the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Ms. Anderson became known world-wide in 1939 when the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to permit her to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington because she was an African American. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the President then arranged for her to sing at a historic Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Ms. Anderson was named a delegate to the United Nations by President Eisenhower. If you wish to tour the Marian Anderson Home, call Blanche Burton-Lyles at 215-732- 9505. [Related link: Marian Anderson collections at the University of Pennsylvania Library]

SOSNA Thrift Shop at 1635 South Street

The SOSNA Thrift Shop, Seconds on South, has a new inventory of designer clothes for the fall season. Before you mortgage the house for your new fall wardrobe, check out the buys at the thrift shop. If you are looking for a kitchen or dining room table, there are 2 oak top tables for only $25 each. There is also an art deco waterfall wardrobe, dresser and nightstand at $800 for the set. The Thrift Shop phone number is 215-732-8151.

SOSNA Planning Meeting Concerning 22nd & South Hospital-Owned Lot: Monday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., Greater St. Matthews, 24th & Grays Ferry

Graduate Hospital has placed 3 large sites on the market, including its ground on the 1600 Block of Kater, fronting on 17th Street, its office building and parking lot on the north-side of the 2100 Block of South, and its parking lot on the south-side of the 2100 Block of South. Developers interested in these parcels have been calling the SOSNA office asking what the neighborhood wants to see developed at these locations. At 17th and Kater, the community consensus is fairly well set on single family homes. The office building will probably remain an office building, depending on the plans of a potential purchaser. But the parking lot on the southside of the 2100 Block of South demands a community decision. Most developers interested in the site want to build single family dwellings. That would generate the most immediate profit. But SOSNA needs input from the residents and the business community on whether or not commercial development should be required for South Street frontage on the 2100 Block of South. Accordingly, SOSNA will alert the residents and businesses to a planning meeting to be held within the next month to provide guidance for our answer to developers. Should the business district around 23rd and South be expanded east of 22nd Street? It's your neighborhood. You have to tell us.

Business Buzz: New Banks on South Street

At 1701-07 South Street, developer Ben Shienbaum will build a new building with first floor commercial space and apartments above, and is reportedly negotiating with a bank which might lease the first floor. At 1900-02 South Street, developer Rich Acciavatti is awaiting a decision from Sharon Savings Bank on a new branch at that corner. SOSNA was instrumental in attracting Sharon Savings Bank to the area. When Sharon Savings Bank advertised their intention to close their branch on Snyder Avenue in the legal notices in The Inquirer, SOSNA objected in a letter written to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, charging that South Philadelphia residents were under-served by financial institutions. The FDIC halted the Snyder Avenue closing until Sharon Savings Bank executives toured the area with SOSNA, including South Street, Point Breeze Avenue, and the Pathmark Shopping Center at 30th and Grays Ferry Avenue. Sharon personnel were so impressed with the amount of development activity in our neighborhood that they decided to scout for a location here.

Residents Join SOSNA on Line

The new SOSNA website, www.southofsouth.org, provides residents with an opportunity to join SOSNA, receive the newsletter, receive alerts to community meetings, access forms, and stay in touch with developments in the area. Have you sent us your email address?

View plans for 17th and Carpenter affordable housing

17th & Carpenter Plans to be presented at November 13th General Meeting

Architect George Marks will be the featured speaker and present the plans for over 20 new-construction affordable town homes in the vicinity of 17th and Carpenter Streets. SOSNA and Universal Community Homes are co-developers of the project. If you are interested in purchasing a home, call Luz Harper, SOSNA Housing Counselor, at 215-546-0699.

Meet the Authors Night at Rec Center on Friday, October 18th, at 6:30 PM

The South Philadelphia Renaissance Association will showcase the literary talents of the Philadelphia area this Friday with a program at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center. Featured writers include: Sharne Algottson, Alice Woodson, Awilda Drummond, Jeff Taylor and Elizabeth Gore. Musical artists who will entertain are Hazelita Fauntroy and Road Dog. Refreshments will be served. Suggested donation is $5.00. Call 215-985-4969 for information.

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. (Note: This year the December meeting is changed to the first Wednesday, December 4, and will be held at the St. Anthony's Senior Center, 2300 block of Carpenter Street. There is also an additional meeting at St. Anthony's on May 21 in addition to the May 14 meeting at the Marian Adnerson Center.)

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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.