Future for former segregated firehouse; Code Blue declared | Morning roundup

The history of Philly’s once segregated Engine 11

Isaac Jacobs was hired as the Philadelphia Fire Department’s first Black firefighter, joining Engine 11 in 1886. Eventually, all Black firefighters in the city were assigned to the station on South Street.

The building is now owned by Waters Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, which hopes to use the space to better connect the surrounding community. Continue reading…

Code Blue: Winter storm could bring rain, sleet and snow

Tuesday morning’s commute could include many brake lights and a few headaches, as freezing rain and snow are forecast for the Philadelphia metro area.

The winter storm system will bring mostly rain to the southeast corridor of I-95, according to the National Weather Service. Philly will mostly see rain and sleet until around 9 a.m. before snow enters the equation, of which 1-2 inches are expected. Continue reading…

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• I-95 is closing for another weekend as part of the highway CAP project that will bring a park to the area. [6ABC/BP 2023]

• Gov. Shapiro defended his plan to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate crimes on SEPTA, removing the jurisdiction of DA Larry Krasner. [NBC10]

• The long-discussed plans to reimagine the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is moving ever-so-slightly forward thanks to new funding for a possible Eakins Oval redesign. [Billy Penn]

• Pennsylvania’s last large private mountain is being preserved for public use after Pinchot State Forest took over ownership of Miller Mountain in December. [Bay Journal] 

• The Germantown Urban Village Historic District is now part of the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The new historical district includes dozens of buildings and vacant lots located on dense cross streets, including Church Lane, School House Lane and Lena Street. [WHYY]

• The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is opening limited-release lotteries for rare whiskeys. [ABC27]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Tuesday.

ON THE CALENDAR

🎶 Suzanne Sheer “makes music to cry and kiss to,” according to her Instagram. The Philadelphia R & B singer-songwriter will perform a free concert at Love Park on Valentine’s Day. (5-6 p.m., Feb 14)

🤹🏽‍♂️ Join the circus: The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts offers an interactive juggling workshop at the Fox Chase Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.