One such is the cluster of businesses just off the Huntingdon Market Frankford Line stop, where two of Phillys best Vietnamese restaurants, Thang Long Noodle Restaurant and Caf Pho Gha Than Than reside. Kensington is home to a number of community development corporations working to improve housing conditions and economic activity in the neighborhood: Kensington is represented on the Philadelphia's City Council by Districts 1 and 7. Parks in and adjacent to the neighborhood include Harrowgate Park, McPherson Square, Hope Park, Fairhill Square Park, Norris Square Park, Mascher Park, Frankford Avenue Garden, Arcadia Commons, Trenton and Auburn Park, Letterly Green, Emerald Park, Konrad Square, and Palmer Park. 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. 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. Whos got works? she calls out to nobody in particular. On the night we visited, police cars cruised past, their lights flashing, but never stopped. 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. (2021 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Is Pittsburgh Safe To Visit? Please give today. would never let this happen in whiter, more affluent parts, New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), Phillys hot podcast studio: How two longtime producers are growing the citys audio scene, Tax cuts, a new forensic lab, library service, hotspot help: Takeaways from Mayor Kenneys final city budget proposal, Meet the 10 entrepreneurs vying set up shop inside Philly rec centers, A real art project at Quinta Brunsons former school in West Philly mirrors the Abbott Elementary Mural Arts episode, Former Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for taking bribes, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. However, the drug market remained decentralized, running through small groups of dealers that were harder to prosecute than, say, a crime syndicate. Words such hopeless and dystopian punctuate an endless scrawl of depressing articles. There is also a charter school, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. [34], Kensington is home to a large population homeless individuals, many of whom suffer from addiction. Kensington has become a welter of crisscrossing needs and opinions, a civic puzzle no one's been able to solve. They gotta do something about it, and this is coming from someone whos homeless living on the street., Out on the Kensington Avenue this morning, where just north of K&A homeless outreach workers and police begin to clear out yet another encampment. 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. Commercial revitalization in the form of businesses a community has use for is a powerful weapon. But users who buy in the Badlands come to Kensington to shoot up. During my career I concluded we werent making a dent in drug addiction or related crime. 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. Estimates vary between 300 and 650 people living on the street. Kensington has many playgrounds within or adjacent to its boundaries including Nelson Playground, Waterloo Playground, Hissey Playground, McPherson Square Playground, Heitzman Recreation Center, McKinley Playground / McVeigh Recreation Center, Scanlon Playground and Ice Rink, Harrowgate Park Playground, Fairhill Square Park Playground, Eric Casiano Field, Mascher Park / Maguire Playground, Black Coyle and McBride Playground, Pop's Playground, Pop's Skatepark, Hagert Street Playground, Shissler Recreation Center, and Towey Playground. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. Max Winkler is an American director, writer and producer and is also the son of legendary actor Henry Winker. Mark Squilla is the Councilmember for District 1 and Maria D. Quiones Snchez is the Councilmember for District 7. Palmer was an English merchant who came to Philadelphia by 1704 from Barbados. Kensington Avenue's ghoulish world of addiction and prostitution exists outside the law. In the absence of a larger plan, he was certain those encampments would grow in the coming weeks. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. Adjacent neighborhoods are Northern Liberties (ZIP code 19123), Fishtown and Olde Richmond (ZIP code 19125), Port Richmond (ZIP code 19134). Then they, like Kensginton, began to decline further. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. My name is Mariska and I'm living my best life while living the van life. Despite research on the positive effects of these sites, the Trump administration blocked them from being established. ", "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. The eyes of one woman in her 20s filled as she sobbed in the arms of a familiar woman, Marti Hottenstein, who pledged to get her off . Two men nodded in a drug-addled stupor on a sidewalk on Kensington Avenue. These 4 nieborhoods are very simialer as far as their economic situations. Police confirmed that a total of eight vehicles became involved in a messy collision in the [] "Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened today, Aug, 2021. https://t.co/6BCbZ2KEZv via @YouTube these people are not crazy this how just living . Multiple people injured after crash in Kensington. A former bank will become a commercial kitchen and event space. If he wants them to get treatment so bad, how about I round up all these junkies in Kensington and put them in his neighborhood?. While most of the large manufacturers have left, the area has many small shops and large renovated factories and warehouses for newer artisans to set up shop. The white residents fled to the suburbs and people of color and limited means moved in. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. The whole city, its always a battle for space, and any open space is going to get filled., Love Philly? I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. The town of Kensington was named for the area in London known as Kensington, which had been recently established as the residency of the British crown. 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. Some merchants, like Widdy Darts, a 108-year-old dartboard manufacturer, have been that way for a long time. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible tent cities that grew along a series of underpasses. These sites have proven to avoid overdoses and connect users to long-term help. Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). Kensington Avenue also benefits from the non-profit organizations operating there. Last year alone, Kensington Avenue was approved for over ten SIP grants to renovate commercial facades, which, when complete, will literally change the face of the corridor. Kensington Hospital for Women, 128-40 Diamond Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Peter Woll & Sons, Curled Hair & Bristles, 173 W. Berks Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Second Associate Presbyterian Church, 1523-25 N. Front Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (185254). If BP helped inform you, join as a member today! Some even offer free samples. 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. More by Max Marin. [Kensington] presents a prime opportunity for a heroin maintenance program where addicts could get heroin legally, safely, and free of cost so they dont commit robberies and other crimes to support their habits. 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. Were trying to make sure people are attaching to services rather than moving, Gladstein said. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington. Answer (1 of 3): Kensington is the dark side of Western Industrialized society. The case was dropped in July. The drug overdose rate in Philadelphia is also concerning. Its mid-century decline due to deindustrialization paralyzed Kensington. However, some sections of the neighborhood have been revitalized in recent years, especially those near Frankford Avenue, Kensington's neighbor south of Lehigh Avenue, and Fishtown, another traditionally working-class neighborhood which has seen rents increase. 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. Not by the thousands who call it home and certainly not by the merchants who, every day, open their businesses. While Kensington is still the centralized location in Philadelphia for buying and using drugs, some community members, like Bingham, don't believe the neighborhood is the ideal place to get treatment and maintain recovery. A Google search for Kensington Avenue Philadelphia yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. The number of drug overdose . In 2017 developers Shift Capital, in partnership with NKCDC, IMPACT Services Corporation, and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce launched the innovative Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge. Philadelphia, PA (February 26, 2023) - After noon on Sunday, February 26, a serious eight-vehicle collision with injuries took place in Philadelphia. While the moniker Killadelphia implies gangland warfare, Kensington is plagued by another culprit: the drug trade. Knowing Kensington Avenue like I do, I am distressed by its predominantly negative and fetishized depiction in the media. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50%, with more than twice as many deaths from overdoses as homicides. [15][16][17], Listed on the National Register of Historic Places:[18], Kensington has a population of approximately 42,000 people according to data from ASC 2020 survey. Hate crime charges for Hatboro woman who launched racist rant against Amys Pizzeria, Temple faculty still deciding on no confidence vote, Philly City Council considers moving budget hearings to in-person. For too long, Kensington residents have resorted to other neighborhoods to shop. Protestors demanded a clear reopening date for the station, safer conditions for SEPTA workers, addiction services, services for homeless people in the area, and more. [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]. SEPTA City Bus routes 3 (on Kensington Avenue, running underneath the "El") and 60 on Allegheny Avenue, with route 5 nearby on Frankford Avenue, also serve the K & A area. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Documentary, June 23-24, 2022. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Prevention Point Philadelphia, a public health organization providing harm reduction services to Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The government has shown attempts at trying. Theres a significant number of people who commute to this space to pick up what they need, making the residual effects of the narcotic empire spread far and wide. The city has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Groups of Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Asian Americans also make up the neighborhood. Afaik other neighborhoods declined with crack, but Kensington was notable for pills and opiates. The citys unrelenting heat wave has left them worse for wear, their exposed skin coated in a glaze of sweat, their tank tops and shorts smeared with street grime. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia is infamous for drug abuse and prostitution. Corridor vacancy, lower costs of real estate, and dedicated community groups and entrepreneurs make for an attractive location. Kensington Avenue is infamously regarded as 'the largest open-air drug market on East Coast' In 2019, the city removed four encampments in the area that was known to be frequented by drug. Things just got worse, and more violent, the more we arrested people.. Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion. Through it all, I consistently found myself impressed in awe of the merchants on Kensington Avenue and hopeful for their entrepreneurial futures. The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, Here's What Happened Today, Tuesday, Sept 7, 20 . During my three years managing commercial corridors for theThe New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), on Kensington Avenue and several other business thoroughfares, I got to know the small business owners, civic associations, and other stakeholders working every day to revitalize the local economy. 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. Stop writing about Kensington Avenue like its Mordor. Fairhill and Norris Square are separate from Kensington with a more central North Philadelphia identity; however, exactly where the neighborhoods separate is subject to much debate and there are people within both neighborhoods who identify with Kensington. Police said the victim is a 43-year-old man, who was stabbed multiple times. Agraduate of Temple University, he has produced award-winning journalism on local politics, criminal justice, immigration Almost half of the neighborhoods residents live below the poverty line. This train starts at Bridge st. From Frankford , Juanita, Kensington and Fishtown. Addicts say the police came down hard on indoor drug establishments. Dealers stand out in the open, hawking their wares. Xany bars are 2mg Xanax pills, the strongest dosage, often used with Suboxone to give users a heroin-like half-consciousness. City Managing Director Tumar Alexander, who oversees the police response in Kensington, said there will be a zero tolerance policy for new encampments on the two targeted blocks. Subs and Xany bars, subs and Xany bars, chant men in cockeyed baseball caps while pacing the corner, searching the crowd for potential customers. These merchants do not need your pity, they want your business, and they deserve to be taken seriously. Sections of the neighborhood are frequented by a significant number of people experiencing drug addiction and/or homelessness. "Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a . A Google search for " Kensington Avenue Philadelphia " yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. But a day later, and not far away, on the 1700 block of West Atlantic Street in North Philly, there was bloodshed and death. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. 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. Upwards of 100 people camp out there every night and its not for stargazing. 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. Construction is slated to start this week on Arguto Court, an adaptive reuse project featuring office space and a cafe. But this is an ongoing process. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. Welcome Van Life Wanderer! SEPTA's MarketFrankford Line runs to Center City from Kensington, offering short commute times.
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