Opinion Eyes on the Street

June 12: Dow selling building | Wilson could go charter | Rec center cameras | Excavation site safety | Farewell Traffic Court

Eyes on the Street

June 12, 2013

Alexander Wilson School owl — (Jane Golas)

Happy Wednesday Streeters. We’ve got questions this morning:

Want to own the Dow building on Independence Mall? The Business Journal reports that the building is back on the market, after a failed attempt four years ago. The building is 98% occupied, primarily by Dow and the General Services Administration. And with a new owner, it’s possible that the first floor corporate lobby and terrace could become a retail/restaurant space.

Will the Alexander Wilson School become a charter school after it closes? West Philly Local reports that there is a community meeting at 6pm Thursday night (tomorrow) at the 46th Street Baptist Church (46th and Woodland) to discuss the prospect with Marc Mannella, CEO of KIPP: Philadelphia Schools, and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.

Can surveillance cameras make the city’s rec centers safer? The Daily News reports that after last year’s violence at playgrounds and rec centers, City Council will put $3.6 million toward installing four to eight cameras in all 162 of the city’s rec facilities. As of last year only four had cameras.

Near 8th and South an excavated lot was improperly shored, causing an alley wall to collapse late Monday. At least one neighbor had called 311 fearing an accident, but L&I didn’t see any problem with the site’s condition. (L&I has since cited developer Robert Volpe for improperly shoring up the excavated site.) Rain started weakening the unsupported excavated walls, eating a piece of sidewalk, utility pole, and finally the alley wall. Daily News columnist Ronnie Polaneczky asks: What else were neighbors supposed to do? One answer: If something looks imminently dangerous – call 911, not 311.

Are traffic cases headed for Municipal Court? The bill to abolish Philadelphia’s scandal-ridden Traffic Court unanimously passed the state Senate on Tuesday, reports the Inquirer. Governor Corbett is expected to sign the bill into law, which will go into immediate effect.

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