FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Aug 10, 2001

CENTER CITY - A group of residents and business owners has formed The Callowhill Neighborhood Association (C.N.A.) in northern Center City. The group has filed for non-profit status and has been holding neighborhood meetings biweekly. C.N.A. has defined the borders of the neighborhood as Vine Street to the south, Spring Garden to the North, and Eighth Street and Broad Street. The group has developed liaisons with the Chinatown North community, and both groups embrace the overlap in territories and neighborhood concerns. C.N.A. is currently forging contacts with many other civic associations.
After reviewing numerous suggestions, the group took its name from the well-known street running east/west through the neighborhood, which was named for William Penn's wife's family name. Volunteers from the area have founded and continue to guide the group, and members include diverse professionals, artists, local activists, business owners and developers. The mission of C.N.A. is to improve, develop and advocate for this section of the city, to represent the ethnic and occupational diversity of the people in the area and to continue to build community. Through networking, volunteer work and support of the live-work space and variety of function in this territory, the association hopes to contribute to the city's vibrancy and viability for local residents and businesspeople. Members of the association have formed action committees to focus on the following concerns: zoning issues; safety and lighting; greening and cleaning; communications and media; bylaws and membership; and fundraising and grant writing. Goals include securing funding for operations and special projects, improving quality of life, terrain and amenities and securing a dedicated community/arts space.

Since the spring, facilitators from C.N.A. have been working closely with their Councilman, Frank DiCicco and his staff, who are helping to address the specific needs of the neighborhood. A group member has established an association website containing the association's calendar, announcements, discussions and archived documents. C.N.A. members regularly discuss neighborhood identity, association by-laws, the future election of a board of directors, goals for physical and social improvements, and community activities. Several residents have already cleaned out an overgrown patch at Eleventh Street, Hamilton Street and Ridge Avenue and created a community garden there with the help of Philly Green and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

The area represented by C.N.A. contains both Philadelphia's history and its most modern fixtures. Several mixed-use and office buildings are occupied by internet and high-tech companies (sometimes referred to as "Phillycon Alley"), social service organizations, and artists. The area also contains newly developed loft buildings, various small businesses and manufactories, individual residences, and a carriage horse stable. Roman Catholic High School, Holy Redeemer School and Wakisha Charter School are also located here. Evidence of old industry and infrastructure still remain, including several converted factory buildings, the former Philadelphia City Morgue, the railroad overpass which once led into Reading Terminal, and the tracks from the Twelfth Street trolley line, once the longest street-running streetcar line in the world.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on this release or the Callowhill Neighborhood Association, contact:

Elizabeth Van Schaick
1238 Callowhill Street #807
Philadelphia PA 19123
eskoik@worldnet.att.net

Amy Hooper
1238 Callowhill Street #508
Philadelphia PA 19123
hooperamy@hotmail.com