PA Ballet’s demo plans, Zoning reform vote next week, Endangered Buildings, Fancy Brigade time, N. Kensington’s poverty

The Pennsylvania Ballet is building a new home on North Broad Street, and in the process plans to raze the former Willys-Overland Motor Company building at the corner of North Broad and Wood streets, creating a corner courtyard. PlanPhilly’s Alan Jaffe looks into the Ballet’s plans, including the demolition, reuse of an adjacent building, and the construction of a studio that replicates the Academy of Music’s stage dimensions. “We are sacrificing that one building to get the functionality that we need for the studio and ballet school,” John Gattuso, of the Ballet’s building committee, told PlanPhilly. The building only has a National Register designation, and there was little local discussion about razing the property despite use of city funds.

In one week, Philadelphia should have its first new zoning code in 50 years, reports PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey. City Council will vote on the rewritten code next Thursday, December 15th. The code will take effect eight months after the vote.

The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia released its annual Endangered Building list today, reports the Inquirer. The list reflects nine sites, ranging from a WPA-era mural in the Spring Garden Post Office to Joe Frazier’s Gym, that are threatened largely by vacancy and neglect, and in some cases demolition plans.

Proof that the year is ending: South Philly Review starts its preview series of the Fancy Brigade Finale Show at the Convention Center. Part 1: The Fancy Brigades March to Arch, with a history of the Fancy Brigades and Part 2: Dressing Up the Strut, about the new-era shows after the parade.

Between Lehigh and Castor, B, and Amber and Venango in Kensington 58% of the population lives in poverty, marking a 29% rise since 2000. The Daily News reports this is the city’s highest concentration of poverty, according to its recent census data analysis.

 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.

 

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