Holmesburg Civic
Association
Executive Board
Position Statement
In June 2011, the Executive Boards of the
Holmesburg Civic and the Mayfair Civic Associations met to
discuss the area between Sheffield and Cottman Aves east of
Frankford Ave to the Delaware River, an area that has been
unrepresented by a civic association for most of the past
decade. It was clear that the situation could not continue.
The option of forming a new civic association was deemed
impractical due to the relatively small size of the area and the
lack of cohesive and experienced leadership. The small sample
of residences from that area who attended the meeting were, when
asked, generally inclined to consider themselves part of
Holmesburg.
(The Mayfair Civic’s boundaries are west of
Frankford Ave, south of Sheffield. The Tacony Civic is east of
Frankford Ave, south of Cottman Ave. The Holmesburg Civic’s
current boundaries are north of Sheffield on both sides of
Frankford Ave from the Delaware River to Pennypack Creek.)
The Executive Board of the Holmesburg Civic
voted at a separate meeting a couple of nights later to expand
the HCA boundaries to Cottman Ave east of Frankford Ave. The
general membership of the HCA was advised of that decision at
the June 14 general meeting, the last before the summer break.
The HCA Executive Board has been revising
the HCA bylaws to incorporate the new boundaries and to
generally tighten up the bylaws, which have been in place since
1987. The new bylaws will go into effect with the approval by
vote of the general membership at the next meeting, September
13, 2011.
The enormous recent outpouring of concern
and outrage over a proposed methadone clinic at 7900 Frankford
Ave (which is within the present HCA boundaries and will remain
so) that resulted in 800 people attending a joint special
meeting of the Holmesburg and Mayfair Civic Associations at
Lincoln High School demonstrated very clearly the vital need
for civic awareness and representation. Many of the most
proactive citizens opposing the clinic live in the currently
unrepresented area a few blocks south of 7900 Frankford Ave.
The HCA Executive Board has been at the
fore front in opposition to this clinic, along with the much
appreciated and acknowledged might of the Mayfair Civic and
Business Associations, the Mayfair CDC, and our elected
officials. It is critical that no segment of our
population be without proper civic representation. We will
continue to band together to oppose those who set in motion
forces that would collide with the wellbeing of our communities,
our residences, and our businesses.
Executive Board
Holmesburg Civic Association
August 2011
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