The I-95 cap park on the waterfront is finally happening
After literal decades in planning, the cap park over I-95 finally gets an official groundbreaking next week, with the ceremony set for the day after Labor Day. The project will reconnect Center City to the Delaware River with an 11.5-acre green space that arcs above the highway from Chestnut to Walnut streets.
The $329 million project is still at least two years from completion, but there’s a lot to look forward to. Deesarine Ballayan and Heather J. Chin put together a recap of everything you need to know.
Philadelphia high schoolers turn food waste into mutual aid
A student-run program at Central High School is helping combat hunger not only among students, but also in the surrounding community. Called Feeding Philly, the program has engaged 340 teens as volunteers since launching at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
It runs a school fridge that stores unused food items from the cafeteria’s provided breakfast and lunch, freelancer Ella Lathan reports, and also hosts monthly giveaways in partnership with Sharing Excess.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering moving up the date of the 2024 presidential primary, perhaps holding it as early as March 19. [PennLive]
• The African American Museum will get a standalone new building and the historic columned structure next to the Free Library will become a fancy hotel, per plans revealed yesterday for redevelopment of the former Family Court complex on the Ben Franklin Parkway. [WHYY/Phila Gov]
• A 13-person workshop in Northeast Philadelphia is the only place where presidential and vice-presidential flags are hand-embroidered. The tradition apparently started 170 years ago in South Philly. [6ABC]
• Jim’s Steaks on South Street is targeting an October relaunch, more than a year after it was gutted by an electrical fire. It’ll be almost twice its previous size, taking over the former Eyes Gallery, which has already reopened down the block. [Inquirer$/Billy Penn x 2]
• Inquirer assistant managing editor Jamila Robinson is leaving to become the new editor in chief of Bon Appetit and Epicurious, reporting directly to Anna Wintour. [Front Row]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
• City public safety officials created what they hope is a one-stop-shop for residents looking for info and resources related to gun violence. However, its current format is a relatively non-accessible PDF. [WHYY/Phila Gov]
• Maleek Jackson’s Northern Liberties boxing gym, which we highlighted in 2021 for its programs giving kids an alternative to the streets, was featured on Good Morning America. [Billy Penn/ABC News]
• An initiative called “Operation Hug the Block” kicked off last week. A collaboration between Philly Truce and anti-violence activist Jamal Johnson, it aims to bring overnight peace patrols to 77 blocks in 77 days. [Philly Truce/KYW]By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 40: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 35 the week prior. [PCGVR]
- 1,210: Shooting victims this year so far, down 24% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
- 286: Year-to-date homicides, down 21% vs. last year’s pace; up 32% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins school officials at City Hall for an update on back-to-school safety and kids programs that will be available this academic year (1 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
📷 Check out prints by 24 photographers from Philadelphia to India in the 20/20 Photo Festival’s free Natural World exhibit at Cherry Street Pier. (5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1)
🍻The 151st edition (!) of the Cannstatter Volksfest Verein’s Labor Day weekend beer fest takes over the Torresdale fairgrounds. Admission is $10 for one day, $15 for two, $20 for all three. (Saturday to Monday, Sept. 2-4)
💸 Billy Penn is proud to headline the inaugural Philly Story Fest, joining journalists from media outlets around Philadelphia to tell the city’s best stories on stage at the Bok. Tickets are $25. (7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5)
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