April 18: Family Court’s moving costs | Neighborhoods consider improvement districts | Philly homes portrait collection | Lincoln Drive gateway project | Manufacturing upswing | Kelly Drive detour

The chief judge of the Philadelphia Family Court is asking for a budget increase to cover expenses that arise when owning, rather than renting, a building. The Family Court is expected to move into its new home on the Parkway later this year. At the moment the court is housed in a rental property where things like hand soap in the bathroom and security are covered. According to Newsworks, Chief Judge Kevin Dougherty has asked the City for $1.1 million to cover new expenses tied to the move. 

PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey reports that community groups in Washington Square West and Mayfair are actively considering improvement districts but are moving ahead with caution since the last two attempts to create Neighborhood Improvement Districts in Philadelphia “crashed and burned.”

A photo collection of Philadelphia’s unique, colorful home facades and front doors is forming on Instagram. City Paper took a look at the 1,000+ photos tagged #phillyhomeportrait and found striking photos that “gracefully display how varying and intricate even the simplest Philly architecture can be.”

Newsworks caught up with community groups in Northwest Philadelphia who have secured $30,000 needed to rebuild the long-forgotten pergolas that make up a historic Lincoln Drive gateway. There is still fundraising work left to be done, but fabrication could begin as early as May.

Manufacturing in the Philadelphia region is on the upswing, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. According to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s monthly survey, nearly all indicators (new orders, shipments and employment) increased from March. 

Friendly reminder: Kelly Drive from Mansion Bridge to Fountain Green Drive will be detoured this Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restrictions will make way for the Kerr Cup Regatta on the Schuylkill River. Newsworks has rerouting details. 

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