MAYFAIR TIMES - Check Us Out Inside the Back Cover of the Northeast Times

The Mayfair Business Association and Mayfair CDC, in conjunction with Mayfair Civic Association, will now have a standard ad inside the back cover of the Northeast Times.  This ad will run weekly and act as a newsletter for the neighborhood.
Here is the first weeks ad:

We will update this ad weekly with neighboorhood news and will profile neighborhood businesses and events.

Philadelphia Pool LAW

In Case You Missed It:

B-3109.4.4 Location. Above-ground swimming pools that are 12 feet or greater in maximum dimension and their appurtenances shall be located in the rear yard and shall be placed a minimum distance of 2 feet from property lines and buildings on the same lot to provide for maintenance of the pool and adjoining property. In- ground swimming pools shall be located in the rear yard and shall be a minimum distance from property lines equal to the depth of the pool adjoining such property lines. 162

Mayfair Memorial Playground Fundraiser

Mayfair Memorial Playground Fundraiser at the Grant Avenue Toppers Yogurt!!

Tomorrow, Friday June 27th from 12 noon to 11pm. 

A portion of the proceeds from the sales for the WHOLE DAY go to the playground. No need for a flier or to mention us but we would really appreciate your support so we can buy our next piece of playground equipment. We'll be even more appreciative if you get EXTRA toppings! See you there and spread the word! Thank you!!! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1431905620405935/

ZONING DECISION: 6101 & 6137 Frankford Avenue (Auto Zone & Dollar Tree)

Via Email                                                                                                                                June 25, 2014

Ms. Julia Chapman, Chairperson

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Municipal Services Building

1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA  19102

Re:          RCO Meeting Summary

Appeal No. 22818

Permit #532285 for Special Exception and Use Variance

6101 and 6137 Frankford Ave

Wednesday June 25, 2014 2PM

Dear Ms. Chapman:

                Please accept this letter on behalf of the Mayfair Civic Association (“MCA”) which represents the neighbors of the Mayfair Community as their Registered Community Organization (RCO).  Two meetings were held, in which another RCO, the Northeast Quality of Life Coalition attended, at the Mayfair Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent St.  The first meeting, held on Monday May 19, 2014 was continued when residents and developer could not come to an agreement.  Nevertheless, after much discussion between the meetings, a second meeting was held on Monday June 23, 2014 with the final vote   A few dozen area residents attended this public meeting and Fourteen voted to NOT OPPOSE WITH THE FOLLOWING PROVISOS (one voted not to oppose):

Business / Commercial Provisos

1.        Join and maintain Membership with the Mayfair Business Association,

2.        The outside of your establishment must be kept clean, maintained, graffiti free, and swept at all times,

3.        Signage to be kept to a minimum:
     a. No nailing of banners to the walls
     b. No excess signage in the windows - Windows should be easily seen through at all times
     c. No illuminated or flashing signs
     d. No advertising flags, banners, or free standing signs of any kind other than those that were presented to the community and allowed by right.

4.        Add and maintain an outdoor trashcan(s),

5.        Snow removal to be done within 6 hours of the storm, and during business hours,

6.        Contact information (Name - Phone Number - Email) to be provided to the Mayfair Civic Association for the tenant, as well as the property owner / landlord, and property manager, and

7.        Notify the MCA and Mayfair Business Association that you are seeking new hires and hire within the community if possible.  As well as

Additional Provisos – (Agreed to by the developers via email)

8.        Remove the Auto Zone sign that faces onto Hawthorne Street, 

9.        Install security cameras along the rear property line of the site, 

10.     Change the materials of the fence from wood to PVC, 

11.     Site lighting (consistent with the Code) with minimal lighting spillage at the property lines from within the site,

12.     Eliminate all curb cuts and access onto Hawthorne Street,

13.     Join and maintain Membership with the Mayfair Business Association,

14.     The outside of your establishment must be kept clean, maintained, graffiti free, and swept at all times,

15.     Signage to be kept to a minimum – No nailing of banners to the walls, or excess signs in the windows, All windows should be easily seen through,

16.     Add and maintain an outdoor trashcan,

17.     Snow removal to be done within 6 hours of the storm, and during business hours, and

18.     Contact information (Name - Phone Number - Email) to be provided to the Mayfair Civic Association for the tenant, as well as the property owner / landlord, and property manager.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the number below.  

                                                                                                                Very Truly Yours,

                                                                                               

     

                                                                                                                                Joseph J. DeFelice, Esq.                    

                                                                                                                                Legal Counsel                                                                                                                                                                                                                         (215) 292-3926

cc:            Lisa Deeley, Councilman Bobby Henon

                                                                Mike Scotese, Mayfair Business Association

                                                                Donny Smith, Mayfair Civic Association

                                                                Thomas Chapman, Attorney for Applicant

                                                                Philadelphia City Planning Commission

Merchant of the Week and other Northeast Times News

This week we were chosen by the Northeast Times as their Merchants of the Week because of our collective work for the business community.  Here is the language of the above:

The Mayfair Business Association, Mayfair CDC, & Mayfair Civic Association

Several years ago the above organizations were reenergized by a dedicated group of volunteers and what they have been able to accomplish is extraordinary.  These groups started the annual Mayfair May Fair and the Mayfair Fallen Heroes Run, built the Mayfair Memorial Playground, performed storefront improvements along Frankford and Cottman Ave., brought the Thanksgiving Parade back to Frankford Ave., secured $85,000 in yearly funding from Allegheny Iron and Metal Corporation, retained their CleanSweep program, were awarded a $20,000 planning grant, successfully started the Mayfair Townwatch, created a Christmas Village and Tree Lighting, streamlined the Steuben Parade, stabilized the Annual Shamrock Shuttle, led the charge against nuisance business, took over and cleaned up blighted residential properties through the Act 135 Conservatorship program, began Third Thursdays and the Mayfair Farmers Markets, initiated the annual Halloween and Christmas House decorating Contests, wrote legislation for a new overlay, modernized an approach to area zoning, held an annual Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Spooktacular, worked with Pennypack Music Festival to keep music in Pennypack Park, proposed a split of the 15^th Police District and kept Mayfair an great place to live and an awesome place to visit. 

 If you would like to get involved and help us continue to grow and move forward, please feel free to contact us at mayfaircivicassociation@yahoo.com or visit us at the above websites.

Also, starting nextweek you will be able to find a weekly Mayfair bulletin board on the back inside cover of the Northeast Times.  This will be our permanent spot for the next year where will post much of the above along with other events and where we will be highlighting local businesses.  

THIRD THURSDAY TONIGHT!!!!1 5-9PM - COTTMAN & FRANKFORD

 

It's Midsummer in Mayfair! Well, it's a couple days early but that doesn't mean we still can't celebrate the summer!

The Mayfair Community Development Corporation is proud to kick-off our Third Thursday's during the summer! What do you want to celebrate? The end of the school year? Longer days? Warmer nights? Easy living? Fireflies and ice cream?

Third Thursdays is going to be a monthly party to celebrate the community of Mayfair at Cottman and  Frankford Avenue with a little bit of everything mixed in! We're starting TONIGHT and going until October!

Local businesses, a produce stand courtesy of Capriotti Brothers Fruit & Produce, beer garden courtesy of The Grey Lodge Pub, artisans, crafters, food vendors, live music and entertainment for the kids and families! Bring the kids out for some dinner, dessert or both! Stick around and listen to music, dance, whatever you want! It's summer, there are no rules! We'll have face painting and balloon animals and much more!

Our vendors for Third Thursday, June 19, 2014:
Capriotti’s Brothers Produce
The Grey Lodge Pub
Gigi’s Boys Water Ice
Jaelyn’s A Lil Bit of Everything
Ryan McGill Photography
Eternal Flame Candles
Heavenly Handmade: Bath Essentials by Katie
Origami Owl representative Brianne Nevrotski
Tinker Chicks
Tacony Gear
Squirrel Designs
Kathleen Hannigan Jewelry Designs
Steel Your Idea
Edible Art by Christina and Mary
Thirty One
Kasher Kreations
Tastefully Simple
Kit Kat Pillow Sacks
She’s Crafty
Tickled Pink Paper and Ink
Shop N Bag
Kelly Panella Wreaths

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter @MayfairCDC  

Zoning Meeting Monday June 23rd at 7PM for 6101 & 6137 Frankford Ave (with updated plans)

Zoning Meeting for 6101 & 6137 Frankford Ave
Monday June 23, 2014
7PM
Mayfair Community Center
Updated plans below - rear curb cut removed

Learning from the Mayfair Civic Association

Incorporating the The Germantown Chronicle & The Northwest Independent

6661 Germantown Ave • Philadelphia, PA 19119 • 215-438-4000 • germantownnewspapers.com

 

 

 

 

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Learning from the Mayfair Civic Association

 

A recent visit to Mayfair opened an interesting door to civic action. Just recently I made a trip to the scheduled meeting of the Mayfair Civic Association in the Northeast, not a regular stop for someone who mostly attends meetings in my home territories of Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.

 

Sometimes it’s good to get a fresh perspective, especially when it results in coming away from a community meeting with a positive view of everything that just happened, as was the case that night in Mayfair. (I can’t remember the last time that happened in troubled Germantown or Run in the Dark Mt. Airy).

 

I was directed there primarily because Councilman David Oh was scheduled to make a presentation just before the primary election on his proposed change in the “Resign to Run” laws for city elected officials.  Considering the potential of such a change, I thought it would be worth listening to it firsthand.

 

What I saw there should be a model for how Civic Associations across this city operate.  First, the turnout was significant; although I did not do a count, I would guess 65-70 people were present sitting or standing. Second, it was an up-front lesson in working social change.

 

Spending most of my life in this city, there was always a cliché that named Mayfair “The Great White Northeast.”

 

Well, it’s been while since I took notice, but there was a greater mix of race and ethnicity there than I would have ever imagined in past years; it was not one or two token individuals, and those who were there were all vocal and focused.

 

A significant agenda was well managed, and I sat through all of it as Councilman Oh was scheduled last.

Sub-committee folks were prepared to report, critical issues got time and feedback, a major zoning change proposal was well critiqued by numerous near and not-so-near neighbors with legitimate concerns and questions, and order was kept when needed by some very careful leadership by Chairman Joe DeFelice and his associates. 

 

A surprising coincidence came on May 29, when a prominent Inquirer story by Dan Geringer told how Mayfair Civic bootstrapped itself back from the dead. It was all done through the efforts of citizen activists and particularly Mr. DeFelice who went hands on a few years back in 2009.  

 

When the city funded agencies turned Mayfair Civic down for what they saw as neglected facilities and essential services, Mayfair Civic did not just cry the blues and beg politicians. They knocked on doors, raised nickels and dimes and held fundraisers. Once the grassroots efforts got noticed, Mayfair Civic got some serious sponsorship from local businesses and a major donation from a large area supermarket that recreated closed playgrounds and funded upgrades everywhere.

 

For far too long, I have watched the fragmented and narrow agenda focused so-called civic groups in my home territory talk the talk, fight among one another, and accomplish little except wasted effort.

 

As with Mayfair, city departments ignore them in the Northwest too, except when some inside deal with specific political interests are in the mix, and then just about every one of them tries to position themselves for public money, often with some back door dealing. Worse, the big business types actually dominate political control and in effect take money from the community one way or another. The concept of any of them donating $80,000 for a playground or any other project is pure fantasy.

 

The folks in Mayfair apparently get it. If the city is too inept or corrupt to do their job, walk around them and do it yourself. That is how it should be done, and congratulations to Mr. DeFelice and his whole organization. Civic activists everywhere can learn a lot from their experience.

 

Jim Foster

Editor

215-438-5171

editor@germantownnewspapers.com

http://www.germantownnewspapers.com/Welcome_to_Germantown_Newspapers.html