Nine years later and were still talking about it. But arresting heroin addicts? [53][54] The intersection of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street was listed number one in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly reporter Steve Volk. This isnt a Kensington problem, he said. At A and Indiana, an anxious crowd gathered, their eyes filled with the weary desperation that is so emblematic of addiction. Kensington was originally a blue collar neighborhood that thrived on the factories built there. Afterward, the city repaired a single section of iron fencing in a feeble attempt to seal the area, but enclosing structures at multiple other access points had collapsed. Johnson knowseven with a colorful awning and bright lightingher cafe might not get a lot of consumer street traffic. The drugs are just too cheap and too accessible.
Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, What happened - YouTube Persuading the federal government to change its prohibition stance will prove difficult, considering how fiercely divisive the issue is among law enforcement. They draw a diverse crowd: tight-pantsed hipsters and long-time residents alike enjoy the delicious food in equal measure. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, Here's What Happened Today, Tuesday, Sept 7, 20 . Addicts say the police came down hard on indoor drug establishments. [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. Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. Butterworth and Sons Company Building, Kensington Corridor Trust Community Garden, community development financial institution, Jules E. Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania", "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Beatty's Mills Factory Building", "Coral Street Arts House - NKCDC - An income based apartment for artists", "Insane Surge in Philadelphia Gentrification", "PhilaPlace - The Kensington Riots of 1844", "Maps make you wonder, what is Fishtown? PHILADELPHIA - Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Ricardo Carrion, a.k.a. Different tactics are required for each site, depending on whether its public or private property, he said. 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. Today, the neighborhood is full of decrepit two-story rowhouses and many abandoned commercial spaces: defunct factories and vacant lots. Kensington Independent Civic Association), This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 14:40. In 2017, the city cleared it out in an attempt to begin to tackle the cyclic issue of homelessness and drug use. 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.
MeekMill on Twitter: "Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What Probably for. City workers arrived in the early hours to clear out two homeless encampments the latest dustup in a years-long saga in Kensington and try to get the roughly 50 people living there into housing or recovery services. 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. 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.
Kensington Drug Boss Convicted at Trial for Supplying Crack and Heroin 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. Yet the city has promised zero tolerance for encampments before, and the crackdowns have not yielded a long term solution. Many progressives endorse the idea of allowing addicts to get high in certain sections of cities without fear of arrest. Official estimates vary as to how many people are living on Kensingtons streets. Its mid-century decline due to deindustrialization paralyzed Kensington. [35][citation needed]. Corridor vacancy, lower costs of real estate, and dedicated community groups and entrepreneurs make for an attractive location. [7] Police, after a year and a half, removed these encampments causing its residents to spread up Kensington Avenue. Along with its teeming trade in illicit materials, Kensington is also a highly dangerous neighborhood. People are scared to take the train to work.
But users who buy in the Badlands come to Kensington to shoot up. Mark Squilla is the Councilmember for District 1 and Maria D. Quiones Snchez is the Councilmember for District 7. The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler".
Local news should be free and accessible, which is why we ask readers like you to support our work rather than charging a fee to see it. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington. The super brief history is Kensington was a thriving industrial area of factory workers until deindustrialization happened which left the neighborhood impoverished and jobless. A recent piece chronicles the authors adventures day drinking in forgotten Philadelphia. According to NeighborhhoodLink, an online source for demographics, geography and economic statistics, the average house value in the 19125 zip code of Kensington is now at $43,500. 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. 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. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. 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.
Zombie Infested Shithole: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue Theres gotta be somewhere you could put your tent, a park, an area, some sort of designated spot, Meyer said. . [51] After Philadelphia Police forcibly removed a large encampment of these people from an abandoned railroad track by Lehigh Avenue, several smaller encampments formed under the tracks. [4] It was also the birthplace of the K&A Gang, currently known as the Northeast Philly Irish Mob, an Irish American organized crime network. Nobody rousts or arrests the line of addicts nodded out in full view in the gutter. Each program mixes interviews with guest travel experts, your call-ins with questions and comments, and music. The decision has saved the city millions, and won cheers nationwide from drug-law reformers. Gun shots are heard at night. Is the city now looking the other way when it comes to heroin users? [8] People suffering from addiction and/or homelessness concentrate around the Somerset and Allegheny train stations, in nearby parks, and on residential streets, angering long-term residents. "The blocks [where drug dealing takes place] never closed," said Christine Russo, 38, who's been using heroin for seven years. During our visit, addicts casually moved in and out, bringing and injecting their Badlands-bought heroin. The U.S. Worse, still, are the articles characterizing this commercial corridor as an adventurous destination for the open-minded shopper. The problem is, no one seems to want to write about the good. Drug activity is not hidden here, especially not when heroin can go for as cheap as $5 a bag. Its a scene that will look familiar to viewers of HBOs The Wire, an episode of which, titled Hamsterdam, showed Baltimore police effectively legalizing drugs within an established zone of an infested neighborhood.
Is Philadelphia's Kensington section safe? - Quora Frankford Avenue Baptist Church, 2347-49 Frankford Avenue, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (1889). According to police, the man was transported to Temple. This energy is not relegated to existing businesses. [32], Kensington's high percentage of low income renters puts its residents at risk of displacement from gentrification. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. Some, such as the second location for the Baltimore Avenue-based Vientiane Cafe, are just getting started. There is a common criticism that officials would never let this happen in whiter, more affluent parts of the city. Users flock to the scene. The city's violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas.1 Also alarming is Philadelphia's drug overdose rate. They eventually set up a new encampment under another railway bridge nearby. Get your daily rundown of Philly happenings in less than 10 minutes, Philadelphia local news: Neighborhoods, politics, food, and fun, Get Philly smart with BPs free daily newsletter. The number of drug overdose .
This is a regional problem that Kensington is very graciously dealing with., Nice to see you. Kensington Avenue's ghoulish world of addiction and prostitution exists outside the law. Multiple people injured after crash in Kensington. As of right now, I dont think anyone is confident that theres any sort of larger plan that can account for each person.. 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. Kensington and Somerset. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. You can do that in Amsterdam, Will Sims says, comparing hard-ass Kensington with what he perceives to be the touchy-feely Netherlands, but this is Philly, and Philly aint Amsterdam..
Philadelphia, PA - Eight-Vehicle Collision Leads to Injuries on GDP . 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. 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. Kensington is home to a large population of Hispanic Americans, mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and African Americans. The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. The number of drug overdose deaths in the city . The whole city, its always a battle for space, and any open space is going to get filled., Love Philly? Worse than plain heroin. Many died there. For too long, Kensington residents have resorted to other neighborhoods to shop. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. Not everyone who takes advantage of the trade on Kensington Ave lives nearby, though. It is craft fully omitted, in lieu of the salacious and the tragic. Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave.Philadelphia's most dangerous street.Problems with Drugs and Crime in Kensington Ave, PhiladelphiaIn Philadelphia as a whole, violent crime and drug abuse are major issues. Youre out there talking to junkies with a couple ounces of drugs in them who cant be trusted to make a lucid statement.. Yellowstone vs Zion: Which National Park Should I Visit? You cant walk down the sidewalk, he said.
Whos got works? she calls out to nobody in particular. Addicts duck into vacant lots on the Avenue after returning from dope corners a couple of blocks away and, barely concealed by high weeds, casually cook and shoot speedballs. (2021 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Is Pittsburgh Safe To Visit? Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened.. 14 19 . 4 2023 , ! Words such hopeless and dystopian punctuate an endless scrawl of depressing articles. In 2017, officials moved to raze a large-scale encampment known as El Campamento that had long existed, hidden out of sight along the Conrail train tracks. Parts of it were once called the 'Badlands' and it is hell on earth. Progress, even the slightest measures, can have enormous impact. Construction is slated to start this week on Arguto Court, an adaptive reuse project featuring office space and a cafe. A Google search for Kensington Avenue Philadelphia yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. We talk about our favorite travels in Europe, as well as travel anywhere in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed over the last two decades in the United States and Philadelphia is no exception. Kensington Avenue also benefits from the non-profit organizations operating there. Every day Jorge Rosario, 52, a resident of the Kensington section Philadelphia cleans the sidewalk along the 2700 block of Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. When resources are limited, you get to a point as a police officer where you ask yourself, Why am I doing something ineffective? says former Maryland State Police officer Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of criminal-justice professionals who favor drug-law reform. Some residents of Kensington wont go out without driving, not wanting to walk through the neighborhood despite living there. Suffice to say it is not a place to go at night. The storefront challenge is a proactive answer to the inequity created by corridor vacancy. Representatives from these organizations economic development teams work hand in hand with business owners, residents, developers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the business community.
Max Winkler is an American director, writer and producer and is also the son of legendary actor Henry Winker. Some people cleared from the street sought out permanent housing or treatment, he said but most of the population wouldnt leave an area where they had easy access to drugs. Of the non-Hispanic or Latino population, 19% is White, 15.1% is Black or African American, 3.6% is Asian, and 2.2% identify as two or more races. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue the city shut them down one by one, vowing improvement at every step of the way. Were trying to make sure people are attaching to services rather than moving, Gladstein said. 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. 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. Though Kensington addicts seem to think so, the police department pushed back forcefully against this notion. The Tracks, a mile-long wooded stretch of shipping railway cutting across the Badlands, is a section of Philadelphia long ago ceded by law enforcement to drug users. Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . The drug is even cheaper to produce and procure than fentanyl and is more dangerous in the sense that Narcan is not effective against overdoses. Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit. But about 15 people remained around 8 a.m., many shielding their faces from news cameras as outreach workers helped them fill plastic bins with their belongings. It is my sincere hope and belief that Kensington is arming itself against the forces of apathetic, tone-deaf gentrification. There have been many petitions by residents to take care of Kensington. '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. 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. The number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50% from 2013 to 2015, with more than twice as many deaths from drug overdoses as deaths from homicides in 2015.2 A big part of Philadelphias problems stem from the crime rate and drug abuse in Kensington. However, fentanyl has replaced heroin completely and it is rare that you find anyone using pure heroin in Kensington. Kensington has several medium and small sized parks and playgrounds which offer a variety of uses for visitors. 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. Police confirmed that a total of eight vehicles became involved in a messy collision in the [] Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion.
Kensington's Recovery Plan - The Philadelphia Citizen This should not be ignored, and is, in fact, impossible to avoid. Two men nodded in a drug-addled stupor on a sidewalk on Kensington Avenue. 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. ", "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.
Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today This is not a one and done, and well keep doing the work.. Weisbrod & Hess' Loading Room, Condenser & Storage/Boiler & Wash House, 2117 E. York Street (189091). 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 . As momentum grows, more and more entrepreneurs are looking at Kensington Avenue as a viable corridor for their businesses. The entire estate consisted of 191.5 acres of land, much smaller than the present-day Kensington area. Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a hellscape. These articles tell an intentional narrative, one which has no room for hope.
Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened - YouTube In Philly, Will More Police Officers Reduce Gun Violence? The few other businesses Chinese take outs and Irish pubs have missing persons signs hung in the windows. Eva Gladstein, Philadelphias deputy managing director for Health and Human Services, said outreach teams have helped more than 20 people connect with social services during the last month of engagement at the two targeted camps, plus an additional four people on Wednesday morning. Who is Henry Winklers Son?
Kensington is worst nightmare for family of runaway daughter Mayor Jim Kenney is possibly one of the worse mayor in the Philadelphia history and does nothing to stop it. We have four outreach teams out in Kensington every day.
Business for Good: Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge Fentanyl has devastating withdrawal effects, though. 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. Kensington mostly lies under the 180th State Representative District, being represented by Jose Giral. 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.