Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion. Multiple people were injured after a messy crash in the Kensington section of the city. Gun shots are heard at night. Not by the thousands who call it home and certainly not by the merchants who, every day, open their businesses. Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. [57] Rodriguez confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison in 2012. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Story. These are bakeries, daycares, artist spaces, and coffee roasters; businesses selected to draw foot traffic and fill much-needed service gaps. The part of Kensington below Lehigh Street, or as it has been rebranded[citation needed] "Lower Kensington" or "East Kensington", is the part of Kensington most clearly experiencing gentrification. [10] Initially, employment focused around the nearby waterfront and the activities of fishermen and ship- and boatbuilders. Kensington has traditionally been known as one of the working class centers of Philadelphia. neighborhood street scenes in kensington, philadelphia, pa - kensington philadelphia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Discarded needles are seen at a heroin encampment in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 7, 2017. Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit. It happened shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday in the area of Fairhill Square Park at 4th Street and Lehigh Avenue. Kensington and Somerset. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Progress, even the slightest measures, can have enormous impact. Even more concerning are the fetishizations of the corridor, which go something like this: Yes its bad, but it can be fun to visit because its bad. Postal service considers 19134 (Richmond Station) as the area known as Port Richmond. Compared to the infamous Skid Row in Los Angeles, Kensingtons homeless problem doesnt seem as bad. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). But this is an ongoing process. [34], Kensington is home to a large population homeless individuals, many of whom suffer from addiction. The City of Philadelphia, Police and social services are along Kensington Avenue near Willard Street on Wednesday morning August 18, 2021, clearing the streets of homeless in the center of the opioid epidemic in the city. Skidrownews July 1, 2021 12:21 pm Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington Philadelphia Drug & Crime Problems Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. Ever since the strangler, addict Will Sims says, we do everything out in the open and the cops are cool with it. Several other addicts out here concur: The reason for all the bustle is that Kensington Avenue has become a drug-bust-free zone. The square is home to the neighborhoods library, many of whose bookkeepers regularly run out with Narcan to help prevent overdoses. Ironically, even some addicts on Kensington Avenue dont believe in legalization. Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a "hellscape." The situation toward Allegheny Avenue grew even more intense after SEPTA briefly closed the Somerset El stop in January. You cant walk down the sidewalk, he said. They eventually set up a new encampment under another railway bridge nearby. Man stabbed to death in Kensington, attacker seen running away Police: Man dead after shooting in Kensington 2 people shot in separate incidents in Philadelphia overnight Police seek suspects. Kensington is home to a large population of Hispanic Americans, mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and African Americans. Not everyone who takes advantage of the trade on Kensington Ave lives nearby, though. [36] The closure, which happened without consulting with residents and lacked advanced notice,[37] was ostensibly to repair elevators that had been damaged by human waste and trash and concerns about safety for workers. People are hanging out everywhere, turning tricks and working petty hustles. "[12][13][14], Deindustrialization eventually took hold in the neighborhood in the 1950s, leading to a significant population loss, high unemployment, economic decline, and abandoned homes. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. As it is just north of Fishtown, higher income residents have been moving further up, increasing property values and rents. A silver Toyota pulls up to the curb and a heavy-set blonde hops out. Commercial revitalization in the form of businesses a community has use for is a powerful weapon. No one denies this. Kensington has several medium and small sized parks and playgrounds which offer a variety of uses for visitors. McKinney says the city could use regional support in creating a long-term solution for Kensington. You have to bring services to addicts, offer them treatment. Crack, meth, heroin, oxycodone, weed, percocet, PCP these are all the usual suspects around Kensington Ave. PHILADELPHIA - Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Ricardo Carrion, a.k.a. Kensington's river ward identity puts it in contrast with the neighborhoods to its west. (Instead of a paywall). Mark Squilla is the Councilmember for District 1 and Maria D. Quiones Snchez is the Councilmember for District 7. Police said the victim is a 43-year-old man, who was stabbed multiple times. ", "Philly, Conrail near deal on cleanup of Kensington drug encampment", "Mother Jones leading a protest, circa 1903", "Today in labor history: Mother Jones leads march of miners' children", "Kensington: A Lot Of Heart Has Gone Into Revitalizing A Community", "Kensington: Rise and Fall of the Housing Market", "Kensington: Artists Make New Homes Amongst Longtime Residents", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Clifton Mills, 1809-11 N. Howard Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Columbia Works, 155-59 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Decorating Plant of Gillinder & Sons' Franklin Flint Glass Works, 1700-06 N. Howard Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Frankford Avenue Baptist Church, 2437-49 Frankford Avenue, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Harbisons' Dairies, 2041-55 Coral Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Kensington's historic milk bottle flashing refurbished look", "Kensington's giant milk bottle gets historic designation", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Kensington Hospital for Women, 128-40 Diamond Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Peter Woll & Sons, Curled Hair & Bristles, 173 W. Berks Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places: Second Associate Presbyterian Church, 1527 N. Front Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Star Carpet Mills, 1801-03 N. Howard Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Weisbrod & Hess' Loading Room, Condenser & Storage/Boiler & Wash House, 2117 E. York Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA", "Gentrification disproportionately affects minorities", "How Fishtown, Philadelphia Became America's Hottest New Neighborhood", "Philly residents in areas affected by overdoses want a say in talks over a supervised injection site", "SEPTA To Indefinitely Close Somerset Station In Kensington To Develop Safety & Security Strategy, Repairs", "Kensington protests closing of SEPTA's Somerset El station, a lifeline for a battered neighborhood", "SEPTA closing Somerset Station temporarily to fix elevators, confront safety concerns", "SEPTA to Reopen Somerset Station on Monday, April 5 | SEPTA", "Safehouse drops South Philly plans, looks to Kensington after judge suspends launch", "Safehouse vows to take more community input on supervised injection site plans", "Kensington neighbors dismayed by ruling on supervised injection site", "Who We Are - NKCDC - Community development should benefit residents", "Three Catholic schools closing in Bucks County", "As the pandemic surges, 'no one deserves what's brewing in Kensington. Called the largest open-air narcotics market on the East Coast, Kensington Avenue has, without a doubt, made a name for itself. The right to shop locally in your community is enjoyed by most Philadelphia residents, and Kensingtonians are taking their corridor back. McPherson Square, the park at the heart of the neighborhood, is home to at least 80 to 100 people every night, said Bill McKinney, executive director of the New Kensington Community Development Corporation who lives nearby. Those of us who work and have worked in this community are routinely disappointed by these narratives, and the merchants on Kensington Avenue have their livelihood betrayed by them. On January 4, 2016, Jim Kenney was sworn in as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia. The drug market is so strong in Kensington and the joblessness and institutionalized racism so engrained, the community struggles while the state flounders with resolutions. The city has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. This number is shockingly low compared to the overall Philadelphia average of $122,113 but is still better compared to previous years. Then they, like Kensginton, began to decline further. She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since. On the night we visited, police cars cruised past, their lights flashing, but never stopped. Despite research on the positive effects of these sites, the Trump administration blocked them from being established. The citys violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas.1 Also alarming is Philadelphias drug overdose rate. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. For too long, Kensington residents have resorted to other neighborhoods to shop. I cant just arrest someone for hanging out on a stoop looking like theyre high on drugs., Even if Philadelphia hasnt officially decriminalized drug use in Kensington, the citys addicts are well aware that this is a place where they can get high without police harassment. "PR," age 41, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted at trial of all counts with which he was charged, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute crack and heroin, arising from his leadership role in supplying a drug . He also sold to recent German fishermen immigrants. Along with having a high rate of drug overdose deaths, 80% percent of Philadelphias overdose deaths involved opioids2 and Kensington is a big contributor to this number. People are scared to take the train to work. They were en route to more serious crimes going down to the west in the Badlands. (Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Top 10 Things To Do In Harleysville, PA In 2022, Top 11 Things To Do In McDonald, PA In 2022. link to Who is Henry Winklers Son? Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. Kensington is a primarily low income area after the loss of its industries in the 1960s during deindustrialization and the subsequent loss of much of its working class population to the suburbs. This should not be ignored, and is, in fact, impossible to avoid. Its mid-century decline due to deindustrialization paralyzed Kensington. Its how we live. When officials shut down the four bridge encampments between 2018 and 2019, Gladstein said 65% of people went into housing, and of those, more than half remain in housing today. Johnson knowseven with a colorful awning and bright lightingher cafe might not get a lot of consumer street traffic. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. Addicts can be found in the woods along the Tracks openly cooking and shooting drugs in broad daylight, a daily occurrence that indicates this is territory clearly forsaken by the law. Representatives from these organizations economic development teams work hand in hand with business owners, residents, developers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the business community. The Decorating Plant of Gillinder & Sons' Franklin Flint Glass Works, 1700-06 N. Howard Street (1876). But a day later, and not far away, on the 1700 block of West Atlantic Street in North Philly, there was bloodshed and death. Jackie is missing. Afaik other neighborhoods declined with crack, but Kensington was notable for pills and opiates. This Philadelphia neighborhood is said to have the largest open-air heroin market on the East Coast, with many neighbors migrating to the area for heroin and other opioids. Kim Gary shared a video drive-through of Kensington that will leave you speechless that city Democrats are ignoring the real problems in their city. Is the city now looking the other way when it comes to heroin users? They marched from Kensington to Oyster Bay, New York, carrying banners demanding, "We want to go to School and not the mines! Two smiling beat cops dressed in crisp, pressed uniforms foot-patrolled the areas perimeter but steered clear of the crowds around Somerset Street. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Kensington was founded by Anthony Palmer in the early 1730s. The most conservative boundaries of the neighborhood, shown in the map below, are Front Street and 5th Street to the west, the Amtrak train tracks to the North, Trenton Avenue, the Trenton Avenue train tracks, and Frankford Avenue to the east, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the south. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . [40] In Kensington, most residents have opposed the plans and organized against the site being located in Kensington, including leaders of five civic organizations in the area. From there, drug dens sprung up across the neighborhood and allowed for gangs to breed in the area. What sort of reprieve Wednesdays action will offer neighbors and business owners remains unclear. Stop writing about Kensington Avenue like its Mordor. Dealers stand out in the open, hawking their wares. February 28, 2023 Police seek person who cut Comcast lines on Super Bowl Sunday, causing panic among Eagles fans Approximately 17,000 Xfinity customers in Fishtown and Kensington were affected by . Despite what you may read, Kensington Avenue is open for business, and there are plenty of reasons to visit the Avenue. kensington ave philadelphia - summer daytime compilation GDPGDP Many now-users originally sought out street drugs due to injuries or post-surgery pains and couldnt afford the legal medicines to soothe their pain. 0:00 / 25:40 Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today, Saturday, Sept 11, 2021. When we can make the right connection for people, its really successful, Gladstein said. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 5.3M views 7 months ago #SBCNews Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of. Because of the high number of drugs in Kensington, the neighborhood has a drug crime rate of 3.57, the third-highest rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia.3 Like a lot of the country, a big part of this issue is a result of the opioid epidemic. [48], In 2011 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the closures of three Kensington Catholic schools, as their student numbers had declined: Ascension of Our Lord, St. Anne, and St. Hugh of Cluny.[49]. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. There was a major street gang located at K&A that started as a burglary ring but eventually moved into drug trafficking in the 80s. A loan from a Community Development Financing Institution (CDFI) or a Storefront Improvement (SIP) or In-Store grant from the Department of Commerce carries the capacity to transform a block and breathe life into a business. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time. Users flock to the scene. The United States Post Office operates the Kensington Post Office at 1602 Frankford Ave.[47] The U.S. This section of Philadelphia is considered the center of opioid drug use and the city and community are working to bring the crisis under control.Read more ANTHONY PEZZOTTI / Staff Photographer Its the hottest night of the summer, and on Philadelphias Kensington Avenue, underneath the elevated train tracks at Somerset Street, mills a crowd of addicts nearly 100 strong, the biggest ever to flock to this well-known drug corner. The stranglers final victim, a prostitute named Casey Mahoney, was murdered here. Parts of the neighborhood lie in the 177th or 197th Districts, represented by Joseph C. Hohenstein and Danilo Burgos respectively. When the coronavirus pandemic hit in late December 2019, heroin abuse in Kensington worsened. But the Tracks, like Kensington Avenue, resemble a libertarian utopia gone wrong. Kensington belongs to or divides Lower Northeast and North Philadelphia. Groups of Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Asian Americans also make up the neighborhood. This isnt a Kensington problem, he said. McKinney, of the New Kensington CDC, said the successful rehousing services touted by officials during these clearouts 10 people here, 20 people there are modest in the scope of the crisis. Personal items will be held in city storage for 30 days, officials said. The city's violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Some residents of Kensington wont go out without driving, not wanting to walk through the neighborhood despite living there. Strong community groups and nonprofits in Kensington have used the neighborhood's empty lots as an opportunity to create community garden spaces. It is my sincere hope and belief that Kensington is arming itself against the forces of apathetic, tone-deaf gentrification. Each program mixes interviews with guest travel experts, your call-ins with questions and comments, and music. There have been many petitions by residents to take care of Kensington. Commissioner [Charles] Ramsey does not support it; no one in this department does. Today, the neighborhood is full of decrepit two-story rowhouses and many abandoned commercial spaces: defunct factories and vacant lots. A Google search for " Kensington Avenue Philadelphia " yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time and are disputed among locals. The original area of Kensington is now more commonly called "Fishtown," mainly because of the shad fishing that was one of the dominant businesses in Kensington in the 18th and 19th centuries. Also alarming is Philadelphia's drug overdose rate. And public homelessness ranks high on the list of concerns. They're visible within seconds of exiting the subway: injections in broad daylight, tent encampments, legions of trash and squalor. There was a homeless camp set up in a railroad gulch in Kensington called El Campamento. They paint a picture of a poverty zoo. Over time black and Hispanic street dealers took over larger portions of the drug trade, especially heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. But users who buy in the Badlands come to Kensington to shoot up. Please give today. These sites have proven to avoid overdoses and connect users to long-term help. According to police, the man was transported to Temple. More simply, some define Kensington as the triangular area bounded by Erie Avenue to the north, Front Street (and sometimes Fifth Street) to the West, and Trenton Avenue to the East. But Gladstein said many people remain shelter resistant for various reasons and the number of emergency beds near Kensington where people actively use drugs is limited. Probably for. Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles Skid Row, Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles' Skid Row, Is Philadelphia Safe To Visit? Max Winkler is an American director, writer and producer and is also the son of legendary actor Henry Winker. The dualities are stark; Kensington is still an avenue of pain and trauma, ground zero for the opioid crisis, prostitution, and poverty. Upwards of 100 people camp out there every night and its not for stargazing. City personnel help to clear an encampment on the 3200 block of Kensington Avenue, raze a large-scale encampment known as El Campamento, after SEPTA briefly closed the Somerset El stop. Any given day, a walk down Kensington Avenue yields ample reminders that the neighborhood is the "aortic valve of the region's opioid crisis," as Billy Penn's Max Marin recently put it. It has one of the largest rates of shootings in the city and is the scene of many murders. Give your readers the whole story. Along with its teeming trade in illicit materials, Kensington is also a highly dangerous neighborhood. Along with having a high rate of drug overdose deaths, 80% percent of Philadelphias overdose deaths involved opioids2 and Kensington is a big contributor to this number. The drugs are just too cheap and too accessible. The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the McPherson Square Branch at 601 East Indiana Avenue,[50] and the Kensington Branch at 104 W Dauphin Street. The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler". The drug overdose rate in Philadelphia is also concerning. Philadelphias District Attorney Seth Williams risked backlash from hardcore law-and-order types when he recently stopped criminally prosecuting minor marijuana offenses. Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. Thats anywhere from three to six times the mere 100 emergency shelter beds that were available in June, WHYY News reported. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Every day Jorge Rosario, 52, a resident of the Kensington section Philadelphia cleans the sidewalk along the 2700 block of Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. Last month, the city announced plans to clear out two of the larger encampments: one just north of K&A, the other about a mile south on Lehigh Avenue. All About Max Winkler. The generally accepted boundaries of the neighborhood[citation needed] are Front Street and 5th Street to the West, the Amtrak train tracks to the North, Trenton Avenue, the Trenton Avenue train tracks, and Frankford Avenue to the East, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the South. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. There are real, endemic issues at play on the Avenue. He adds that the department does the best it can to guarantee public safety and stop drug use with the resources it has, but that it cant lock up people without good reason. Answer (1 of 3): Kensington is the dark side of Western Industrialized society. Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia is infamous for drug abuse and prostitution. [10], By the mid-19th century, Kensington became one of the leading centers of the textile industry, particularly in carpet. [32], Kensington's high percentage of low income renters puts its residents at risk of displacement from gentrification. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, (Short Clip #53) Monday, Sept 6, 2021. Palmer was an English merchant who came to Philadelphia by 1704 from Barbados. Fishtown, formerly a small subsection of Kensington, has transformed with a new population of more college educated white people as well as increased investment from real estate developers. Drug activity is not hidden here, especially not when heroin can go for as cheap as $5 a bag. Kensington Independent Civic Association), This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 14:40. More by Max Marin. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. The city has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. This Philadelphia neighborhood is said to have the largest open-air heroin market on the East Coast, with many neighbors migrating to the area for heroin and other opioids. Harbisons' Dairies, 2041-55 Coral Street (1895). [37] The station was reopened on April 5 with increased police presence. Mainstays such as Martins Deli, Four Sons Pizza, and Bentleys Place operate as they have for decades, plugging along, believing in the strength of their community. Multiple people injured after crash in Kensington. The New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. These boundaries have since shifted so that a large area north of Lehigh Avenue is now considered part of Kensington, while Fishtown is no longer considered part of the neighborhood. Police confirmed that a total of eight vehicles became involved in a messy collision in the [] Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue the city shut them down one by one, vowing improvement at every step of the way. The white residents fled to the suburbs and people of color and limited means moved in. In recent years, Kensington has experienced increasing social issues primarily related to drug abuse. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Through it all, I consistently found myself impressed in awe of the merchants on Kensington Avenue and hopeful for their entrepreneurial futures. Estimates vary between 300 and 650 people living on the street. Whos got works? she calls out to nobody in particular. Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. The help is there, but its not enough. Tony Rogers, a recovered heroin addict and reformed career criminal who warmly calls the motley crowds on Kensington Avenue my old tribe, says, In 20 years of using back here, I never once saw a cop come on the Tracks unless they chased somebody in here.. It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. I also undertook strategies to address chronic issues of blight and vacancy. The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools. To the east of Kensington, Port Richmond and Olde Richmond are each predominantly white neighborhoods. Knowing Kensington Avenue like I do, I am distressed by its predominantly negative and fetishized depiction in the media. My name is Mariska and I'm living my best life while living the van life. Driven by a resident engagement process, this is a best practices model for how to equitably manage what could be a tidal wave of gentrification as Philadelphians continue to discover the under-the-radar appeal of the area. 'Savage Sisters' care for those with addiction in Kensington, Philly firefighters rescue dog from house fire in Kensington, A group in recovery helps those battling the same addictions, Kensington teacher-turned-baker makes school sweeter, Man, woman in critical condition after being rescued from rowhome fire, Police searching for suspect after deadly Kensington hit-and-run, Man stabbed to death in Kensington, attacker seen running away, Police: Man dead after shooting in Kensington, 2 people shot in separate incidents in Philadelphia overnight, Police seek suspects who attacked, robbed mechanic inside repair shop, 3 shot outside Kensington elementary school; dozens of rounds fired, 2 men found shot in the head inside Kensington home, Police: Woman shot by boyfriend in Kensington, 2 men shot after confrontation turns violent in Kensington, Crime Fighters: Man gunned down while washing car; killer at large, Suspect in custody after baby wounded in shooting, Suspect identified in shooting that left baby wounded. Construction is slated to start this week on Arguto Court, an adaptive reuse project featuring office space and a cafe. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting.

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