Catholic school closure fallout, Philadelphia airport expansion fight, remembering architect Anne Tyng, PHA will not build on burial ground

Philadelphia’s Catholic school communities were left reeling as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that dozens of the region’s schools would close this year. The closures and consolidations come as the archdiocese tries to reorient its educational system in light of dropping enrollment and a grim financial picture. Among the city’s 21 Catholic school closings, The Inquirer finds South Philadelphia is particularly hard-hit. On Friday as students left West Philly Catholic High School, the Inquirer reported students were in tears. “My future, it’s been taken from me,” wept Brandi White, 17, a junior from Overbrook. “I won’t get this education anywhere else.” This morning, philly.com reports St. Hubert High School students protested their school’s closing picketing on Torresdale Avenue.

US Airways is fighting the planned Philadelphia International Airport expansion, the Inquirer reports. US Airways and other airlines take issue with the city’s claim that a new runway will reduce delays, and contest the cost that would largely be borne by the airlines. Rina Cutler, Deputy Mayor for Transportation, says the city will move forward with the runway whether the airlines like it or not. But experts say there’s a real risk with moving forward without carrier support.

Anne Tyng, the trailblazing female architect, best known as a collaborator and romantic partner of Louis Kahn, passed away at 91 in December. Inga Saffron remembers Tyng’s accomplishments, including her critical contributions to some of Kahn’s major projects including the Trenton Bathhouse and Yale Art Gallery. Tyng was a longtime Fitler Square resident.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has scrapped its plans to build 50 affordable housing units on site the Germantown Potter’s Field, used from the 1760s-1916, reports the Inquirer. The burial ground is largely between PHA’s two Queen Lane Apartment towers, which are planned for demolition soon.

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