Bass opens 8th District council office in Northwest Philly

Two decades.

It’s been at least that long since residents in the 8th Council District have had a district council office.

That will change this weekend when a brand-new space opens in Nicetown.

The storefront property at 4439 Germantown Ave. is just feet from Wayne Junction Station, a busy regional rail hub.

SEPTA’s Route 23 bus also rumbles past the front door.

Or, if you’re a nearby resident like Carla Terry, you can stop by on foot.

“Most of the time you have to go through the phone first so that’s a whole other thing and then they don’t get to it right away so it’s easy just to walk around the corner or down the street or whatever,” said Terry.

Three years ago, 8th District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass ran on a platform on accessibility and transparency.

She vowed to open a district office as part of that vision.

“We want people to come in, see, and to sit down and talk to us, and tell us what their concerns and issues and thoughts are because that’s how we’re able to solve problems,” Bass said. “We can’t do it without our constituents.”

The rented office, owned by Nicetown CDC, will be staffed Monday through Saturday.

Bass, who is wrapping up her first term, said she would have opened the office sooner, but it took this long to find funding.

The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.