
NEWS
ALERTS
NOTICES AND UPCOMING EVENTS
GENA JOINS UNITED S/SSW COALITION
June 12, 2021
In light of the decommissioning of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery and its recent takeover and cleanup proposals by Hilco, the GENA board has joined a new Community Benefits Association, the United South/Southwest Coalition for healthy Communities. The purpose of the new CBA is to ensure that cleanup and redevelopment plans for the old PES site take into account the health, welfare and prosperity of the surrounding neighborhoods. At present, there are sixteen civic associations and neighborhood groups in "US", including West Passyunk Neighbors Association and Packer Park Civic Association. The coalition's mission statement reads,
"Our Coalition’s mission is to develop and achieve a Community Benefits Agreement with Hilco Redevelopment Partners, the company redeveloping the former refinery land. We also seek to monitor and ensure enforcement of CBA terms, and to pursue accountability and transparency for surrounding neighborhoods at every stage of Hilco’s redevelopment."
Community Benefits Agreements are legally binding agreements between developers and coalitions of community organizations, addressing a broad range of community needs. They enable local residents to have a meaningful seat at the table with public agencies and developers, shaping large scale development projects in their neighborhoods, pressing for community benefits tailored to their needs, and holding developers accountable for their promises.
You can read more about "US" on their webpage,https://www.unitedsouthsw.org/
GENA will continue to update our community about progress with the CBA, but you can also get direct info by signing up at https://www.unitedsouthsw.org/join-us
PHILADELPHIA CROSSTOWN COALITION EXTENDS GENA'S REACH
In 2017, GENA joined the Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition, a federation of civic associations which have united to advocate on a non partisan basis for quality of life issues and to share resources, best practices and economies of scale for the benefit of the Coalition and of its member organizations.
In recent meetings, The Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition, has supported City Council legislation providing for extending police confiscation powers to include ATVs and Dirt bikes. The legislation was proposed by Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Squilla, and Councilmember Green in response to the recent spate of dangerous activities in residential neighborhoods by owners of these vehicles, and was passed on June 12th (Bill 210043)
PCC also asked council to tighten licensing requirements on air BnBs. The City will require those who offer their primary residences as short-term rentals to be either owners of the properties or tenants who have written permission from the owner to profit from the use of the properties by others. The city would treat them as businesses and require them to get free commercial activity licenses as well as proposed limited lodging operator licenses for $150 per year. City officials adapted the legislation from similar rules in New York and Boston. (Bill 210081)
GENA voted in support of both these measures.
You can see what they PCC is all about at: http://www.philacrosstown.org/
GENA ZONING COMMITTEE SCHEDULE, 2021
We will resume live meetings
as soon as the Library Schedule permits
All Meetings Take Place at
6:30PM in
Donatucci Library
1935 Shunk Street
Tuesdays
ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
GENA GENERAL MEETING SCHEDULE, 2021
We Are Back! Live meetings!
Wednesday, July 14
Wednesday, September 22*
Wednesday, October 13*
Wednesday, November 17*
*VIRTUAL MEETING
As of September 2021, we are switching to a Virtual format.
When we return to in person,
Meetings Take Place at
7:00 PM in
the Abbey facility
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity
2336 South 18th St
(just north of Ritner by the cemetery gate)