BENEFIT BANK SERVICE SITES

Logan CDC and the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center are Benefit Bank sites.  The Benefit Bank is an internet based, counselor-assisted service that helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families file for tax credits and benefits for which they are eligible.  If you are in need of assistance filing your 2009 Federal and State taxes or applying for PA State Benefits*, call 215-457-3014 or 267-335-3626 to make an appointment.

*PA State Benefits include:  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps), Selected Medicaid Programs,  Medicare Rx Extra Help, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), PACE/PACENET,  Adult Basic,  TANF Cash Assistance,  Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP),  Property Tax and Rent Rebate,  Child Care Works,  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),  National Voter Registration Application

LOGAN CDC MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO REVITALIZE NORTH BROAD STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT

Logan CDC is poised to launch the “North Broad Street Improvement Project,” a comprehensive business district revitalization program, and is currently recruiting community members to serve on volunteer committees. Business attraction, a safe corridor, and storefront facelifts are among the program’s goals.  The improvement area includes the 4700-5100 blocks of North Broad Street and the 4700-5100 blocks of Old York Road.

The program aims to increase the economic and aesthetic strength of the corridor, resulting in increased safety, expanded job opportunities, and more diverse small businesses. Ultimately, the project seeks to establish the Logan Business District as the main hub of community economic activity, thereby significantly increasing the quality of life for residents by creating an attractive destination for visitors.

Volunteer committees, consisting of community stakeholders, will drive the project. The four committees will be Design, Clean & Safe, Promotion, and Business Recruitment & Retention.  Sylvia Okechukwu, Business District Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA member of Logan CDC, will oversee the committees. “I have received a lot of positive feedback from the community and local business owners about this program,” says Okechukwu.  “I am excited about working together with the volunteers to help re-energize the Logan business corridor.”

A general informational meeting for the North Broad Street Improvement Project will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2010 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Yorkhouse first floor ballroom (5325 Old York Road).  All individuals with an interest in seeing the Logan area thrive are invited to take part in this initiative.  For more information, visit http://LoganCDC.org or contact Business District Coordinator, Sylvia Okechukwu at (215) 457-3014 or Sylvia@LoganCDC.org. 

Through collaborations and independently, Logan CDC seeks to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses through a broad range of revitalization efforts, including transformative community and economic development, commercial corridor and affordable housing development, and community-focused education and organizing. Key projects include the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center, the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee, a comprehensive downtown revitalization initiative, and development of the Logan Urban Renewal Area.

GRAND OPENING OF THE CARLTON SIMMONS COMMUNITY TECH CENTER

When: Tuesday, January 26th from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Where: 4542 N. 11th St.

What: The new technology center will offer free computer and internet access, as well as computer training programs and workshops to members of the Logan community

Regular Hours:

M/Th : 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. &  Tu/Wed/Fri : 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

For questions regarding the technology center please contact Ryan Kelly at Ryan@LoganCDC.org or 267-335-3626.

Grand Opening of Carlton Simmons CTC [PDF]

AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS SPRUCE UP LOGAN’S COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

As part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Logan CDC hosted a successful corridor clean-up project for the 4800-5000 blocks of North Broad Street.  Under the umbrella of Empowerment Group, a group of twelve AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members from various non-profits around the city took on the difficult task of cleaning the North Broad Street corridor.

Armed with industrial brooms, shovels, rakes, and a lot of determination, the volunteers were able to clear 15 bags of garbage and three bags of recyclables from the corridor.  Residents, storeowners, and passersby were very appreciative of the hard work of the volunteers, approaching the group with expressions of gratitude or simply honking their horns and giving a “thumbs-up”.

“The positive responses are further validation that the community needs and supports collective and coordinated efforts to bring long-term improvements to the Logan business corridor,” said Cicely Peterson-Mangum, executive director of Logan CDC. “We are grateful to have partners like the Empowerment Group and the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers working to strengthen our neighborhoods and improve the economic conditions in underserved urban communities.”

Next month, Logan CDC will launch “The North Broad Street Improvement Project,” a volunteer-driven comprehensive downtown revitalization project.  This spring, Logan CDC will hire a part time street cleaner to service the corridor two to three days a week.

Through collaborations and independently, Logan CDC seeks to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses through a broad range of revitalization efforts, including transformative community and economic development, commercial corridor and affordable housing development, and community-focused education and organizing. Key projects include the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center, the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee, a comprehensive downtown revitalization initiative, and development of the Logan Urban Renewal Area.

The Empowerment Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating economic growth in distressed urban communities by cultivating local entrepreneurship. Empowerment Group envisions successful businesses and empowered individuals sustaining and enriching their communities, thus building a stronger Philadelphia.

(L-R)
Alix Howard, Partnership CDC
Alex Jaskula, Philadelphia Development Partnership
Haley Loram, The Community Design Collaborative
Ryan Kelly, Logan CDC
Emily Yoder, The Empowerment Group
Katie Aument, Marianna Bracetti Academy
Corey Bell, The Girard Coalition
Rachel Feldman, North 5th Street Revitalization Project
Ben Kincaid, Sustainable Business Network
Zac Sivertsen, Sustainable Business Network
Sylvia Okechukwu, Logan CDC
Lindsey Shapiro, The Empowerment Group

LOGAN CDC CARLTON SIMMONS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER GRAND OPENING

LOGAN CDC OPENS TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTER DEDICATED TO FORMER PEPSI BOTTLING AGENCY EMPLOYEE

Logan CDC will celebrate the opening of the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. The event will take place at the Technology Center, located at 4542 N. 11^th Street, and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from local elected officials, including Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco and Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller.

With support from Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) and the local Tri State Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG), Logan CDC established the community technology center as a place where Logan residents can access computers with broadband Internet service free of charge.  The center is named in memory of Carlton Simmons, a former PBG employee and lifelong Logan resident.

Recognizing the vital role technology plays in the lives of community residents, the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center was established to help address the digital divide prevalent in urban communities. Through its community technology center, Logan CDC hopes to increase technology access for residents of the Logan section of Philadelphia by offering a community space with free Internet service, Wifi access, computer training, and reading materials.  The technology center will also serve as an office for the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), Benefit Bank services, and a space for outside organizations to host meetings, trainings and workshops.  Through coordinated education programs and services, the center will bring free technology to Logan’s underserved community and enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses.

“Half of the households in the city of Philadelphia are not connected to the Internet, and the absence of access is highlighted in underserved communities like Logan, “ said Cicely Peterson-Mangum, executive director of Logan CDC. “We are grateful to have partners like Rebuilding Together Philadelphia and The Pepsi Bottling Group to support our efforts to help bridge the digital divide and connect residents to crucial information and opportunities.”

Through collaborations and independently, Logan CDC seeks to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses through a broad range of revitalization efforts, including transformative community and economic development, commercial corridor and affordable housing development, and community-focused education and organizing. Key projects include the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center, the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee, a comprehensive downtown revitalization initiative, and development of the Logan Urban Renewal Area.

Save the Date: Grand Opening of the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center

The Grand Opening of the Logan CDC Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center will take place on:

When: Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: 4542 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140

Save the Date: Logan CDC & Logan Community Events for September and October 2009

Neighborhood Advisory Committee’s community meeting

Did you know that parents have rights to obtain special education services from their public schools?  This meeting will discuss the basics of the federal law – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – which provides rights to students for free educational evaluations, appropriate special education and related services, and academic instruction.

Also, during this meeting, we will hold a special election of the first-ever Neighborhood Advisory Committee advisory board.  Residents who attend this community meeting will be asked to vote on those nominated for the two (2) year term.

The NAC community meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Yorkhouse Ballroom, 5325 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA.

Lets Love Logan Community Festival

Let’s Love Logan Community Association, Inc. will present the 9th Annual Let’s Love Logan Community Festival on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Rain Date is September 19, 2009).  The community association, along with other civic organizations, elected officials, local businesses, banks, healthcare providers, as well as the Logan community, will join together to put on a fantastic festival.  For more information on participating, please call Michael Hayward, chairman of LLLCA, at 215-455-3123.

Building Bridges Community Festival

On October 3, 2009 from 12 – 4 p.m., The Pacific Rim Resource Center and the Wedge Medical Center, along with various community partners (including Logan CDC), will host a health resource fair.  The purpose is to educate and provide information about medical, mental, social, and behavioral health resources available to the Philadelphia community.  Please join us in helping to raise awareness about available health resources.  This event will take place outdoors on the 4900 block of Old York Road.

Food for Firearms Anti-Violence Event

Logan CDC and Logan NAC will be collaborating with several organizations to host the first anti-violence/food for firearms community event, which will serve the Logan, Olney and Nicetown communities.  This event will take place on Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church, 4541 North Broad Street (the intersection of Belfield Avenue and Broad Street).  We’ll keep you updated with more information as the day approaches.

LOGAN NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKS ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVE ON ITS ADVISORY BOARD

Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), located in the Yorkhouse, 5235 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA, seeks to promote collaboration and cooperation between Logan CDC, the City of Philadelphia, residents, area businesses, and community leaders.

Key components of the NAC will be to provide residents with opportunities to participate in an advisory role in the planning and implementation of local activities such as beautification, safety, and zoning issues, while also distributing information on City services to improve the quality of life for residents throughout the community. So far, the NAC has successfully hosted three neighborhood service briefings, cleaned four vacant lots previously used as dumping grounds, coordinated the planting of 50 trees, and co-hosted a block cleaning competition in which participating block committees were treated to a day at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Currently, Logan NAC is looking for ten (10) board members to help us meet our goals.

Advisory board candidates must be residents or work in Logan, be dedicated to the progression of the community, and meet one of the following criteria:

• Be an ACTIVE stakeholder in the Community (block captain, townwatch leader or member of a block or townwatch association);
• Be a representative from a social or human services organization;
• Represent a local religious institution;
• Be a business leader; or
• Serve as a leader in a community or neighborhood organization.

ALL potential board members must meet ALL of following criteria:

• Board members must be team players with a demonstrated track record of working collaboratively;
• Board members must be innovative and forward looking;
• Board members must be willing to commit themselves to working on the NAC board for two (2) years and attend 75% of scheduled meetings;
• Board members must be willing to promote citizen participation and neighborhood growth; and
• Board members must have an eye for preserving the best in our neighborhood’s history while always seeking ways to improve the community.

Elections will be held at the NAC service briefing in September (date and time TBA). We are also looking for five (5) residents to serve on an election committee to help us find suitable nominees, run the elections, and count ballots.

For more information, or to receive an application for board membership, please call Charing Ball at 215-457-3014 or email: Charing@LoganCDC.org.

Logan NAC to Host Meeting, Poses the Question: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

Logan NAC and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health will host a special town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. at Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church, 4541 N. Broad Street (the intersection of Broad Street and Belfield Avenue). Join us for a special screening of the acclaimed documentary, “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” Also, stay for the discussion on action steps we can take to improve the health and condition of our community including serving as an advisory board member for the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Block captains, health care providers, teachers, community advisory boards, public health workers, students, and all who care about the health of Logan are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Charing Ball at 215-457-3014 or Charing@LoganCDC.org.

Residents, Logan CDC View Preliminary Plan for Commercial Corridor Facelift

 

Residents, Logan CDC View Preliminary Plan for Commercial Corridor Facelift

 PHILADELPHIA, PA (May 18, 2009) – Recently, volunteer architects and designers from the Community Design Collaborative presented the Logan community with some preliminary ideas for improving the appearance of the 4800 to 5000 blocks of North Broad Street. The meeting provided one last opportunity for local residents and businesses owners to offer suggestions before the drafting of the final plan.

 According to the design team, the key to the corridor’s revitalization may depend on how well it can capitalize off of its existing landmarks while working to develop new ones. Adam Supplee of KMS Design Group, LLC, lead presenter, discussed the existing conditions of the corridor, which he said was a wonderful mix of contemporary and 19^th century architecture.

Additionally, several properties including the old Bell Atlantic office building, Northwest Counseling Service, and the SEPTA Train Trestle are all wonderful architectural focal points, which could also help draw attention to the corridor.

 After conducting an analysis of properties along the corridor, the design team determined that certain sections of the commercial district have historic relevance, which might make it eligible to become a historic district. “This area paints a great story of the progression of the economic corridor and the neighborhood of Logan as well,” said Elizabeth Burling, historic preservationist of Kise Straw & Kolodner.

 Carl Kelemen of KMS Design Group, LLC, indicated that the Logan business corridor is currently underutilized. He said that the wide, empty sidewalks and fast moving traffic on Broad Street along with poor lighting and aesthetics (i.e. enclosed security grates and dark windows) give the entire area an appearance of being unsafe with closed or abandoned businesses. He said that by making wider, textured crosswalks and using traffic calming techniques such as landscaped pedestrian islands, textured pavement, and public art on Broad Street, drivers will be encouraged to slow down and discouraged from using Broad Street as a freeway. Adding street furnishings such as benches, trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks, sidewalk pavement with color and/or texture highlights, seating areas (especially if associated with businesses), trees and planters will help bring definition, color and life to the corridor.  

Mr. Kelemen also emphasized that businesses should invest in smaller signs, more uniform awnings, bright, interesting display windows and less obtrusive security features such as see-thru grates. Additionally, using open areas, such as the vacant land by the SEPTA Broad Street station entrance at Windrim Avenue as a small park or farmers market, supplementing street lights with pedestrian-scaled light fixtures and increasing the illumination level of street lights, will help make the corridor more pedestrian friendly. “The success of a business corridor depends on its ability to provide a friendly, safe environment that helps to develop and maintain pedestrian traffic and vibrant, active spaces. In order to do this, we must be able to create a Logan business district with interest, vitality and an identity,” said Mr. Kelemen.

 According to Cicely Peterson-Mangum, executive director of Logan CDC, the design team gave an exceptional presentation. “They were very engaging and it was clear they put a lot of thought into their research. The preliminary plan accurately reflected the thoughts and feedback of the steering committee. The crowd was very pleased,” said Peterson-Mangum.

 The final conceptual plan will be completed by July 2009 and may be used to guide additional revitalization along the business corridor. Additionally, the plan may allow Logan CDC to leverage additional resources to subsidize the cost associated with implementing the plan.

 Through collaborations and independently, Logan Community Development Corporation seeks to enhance quality of life for Logan residents and businesses through revitalization efforts: community development, residential housing programs and community-focused education.  Key projects include the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the Carlton Simmons Community Technology Center, Benefit Bank services, and mixed-use real estate development in the Logan Urban Renewal Area.