Inundating Eastwick | Assumption future unclear | TinyWPA at Rittenhouse | Roxy to go art house | N. Broad transformation: shelter to Starr

The Water Department and Mayor’s Office for Transportation and Utilities say flooding in Eastwick would not get worse with the addition of a new 772-unit residential complex, but residents aren’t convinced. PlanPhilly’s Kellie Patrick Gates reports that Eastwick residents remain very concerned about adding a development of that scale before the neighborhood’s serious flooding issues are adequately addressed. One such solution is convincing the Army Corps of Engineers to build an earthen berm along part of Cobbs Creek. At play here is a city land swap and settlement with developer Korman Residential. Councilman Jim Kenney said, “I’m a little suspicious when the issues during this project have more to do with the city’s desire to expand the airport, and Korman’s desire to maximize their development potential, than these people’s needs.”

John Wei, the developer who bought the historic Church of the Assumption, still has “no idea” what he’ll do with the property. Last week a Common Pleas Court judge upheld the Historical Commission’s financial hardship decision, granting permission to demolish the building. Wei told PlanPhilly: “I’ve got to check it out. Before, I was thinking of saving it. But now I see there are problems.” The Church’s building code violations, structural issues, and poor maintenance were disclosed to buyers and aren’t new. Callowhill neighbors intend to appeal the recent court decision.

At the PHS Pops-Up Garden in Rittenhouse Square, teenagers are working together to literally construct a place of their own through Public Workshop’s “TinyWPA” program. Hidden City Daily caught up with Public Workshop’s Alex Gilliam to talk about the power of enabling young people to build, reshape, and collaboratively create urban spaces.

The Philadelphia Film Society has signed a 16 year lease on the Roxy Theater, reports The Philly Post. The small theater has seen better days and as of last month its future was uncertain. Enter the Philadelphia Film Society, whose festival starts next week. Coming attractions at the Roxy: digital projection, great sound, new seats and true art-house selections. Philadelphia Film Society executive director J. Andrew Greenblatt said, “It’s safe to say that you’ll never again see Batman at the Roxy.”

The Daily News looks at the transformation on North Broad Street through the lens of the Ridge Avenue homeless shelter, which closed this summer and became Stephen Starr’s catering business. The shelter used to serve 500 men round-the-clock, daily and some say its closure marks another move to push the homeless further out from Center City. “They are regentrifying the neighborhood and unfortunately, a lot of us are getting lost in the sauce,” said Andre Jourden, who is currently homeless.

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