Cathedral Park Association

Letters to the Mayor and Library Officials

Jul 14, 2005

On May 30, 2005, letters were sent to Mayor John F. Street, Elliot Shelkrot, Director of The Free Library of Philadelphia, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Councilman Michael Nutter.

The letters stated the following:

George Institute Branch located at 1461 North 52nd Street sits directly in our community. Our community covers 52nd and Lancaster Avenue to 52nd and Girard Avenue, from 52nd and Girard Avenue northeast to where it crosses again at Lancaster Avenue, then back up Lancaster Avenue to 52nd Street.

Cathedral Park Association is the community-based organization that governs this small triangle of residents in the neighborhood called Cathedral Park.

Patiently, we have waited, since 1999, for the re-opening of George Institute. Our after-school program was forced to discontinue its Saturday library trips when the branch closed. Our children now depend upon parents going to work and downloading homework assignments. Our children, directly impacted by the shutdown of this branch library, used to participate in the LEAP program at the branch.

Cathedral Park can boast of many college graduates who include law students, nurses, accountants, a pharmacist, an HR administrator, systems, and network administrators and various other college graduates who utilized George Institute branch library while living in our community.

Our leaders have been diligently smoothing over things in our community in reference to why this branch did not re-opening as fast as the other Free Library branches.

We relayed to our community the stories that were given to us. The community was told that the branch was to expand as soon as the City acquired the adjacent properties. We were, also informed that negotiations with property owner were underway and that we should be patient.

Later we were informed repeatedly that the renovations were in the works ?“soon.?”

In the winter of 2003, the community was told that the library?’s renovations would begin early in 2004. This past winter, again, the community was informed, upon inquiry, that the work would begin in January 2005. After waiting patiently for more than five years, we find that no work is being down. To make matters worse, it appears that workers are dismantling the library.

Cathedral Park is very upset. We pride ourselves as a community that tries to work with city administration. It appears that being docile and agreeable is not the respected way. We have no desire to be squeaky wheels; we just want service to our community that will allow our children to compete in the new global society with as much ease as the children in South Philadelphia, Manayunk, or the Northeast.

A call Kevin Vaughn stating that our community wants to know the following: 1) if our branch library will be completed, 2) how soon will renovations take, and 3) can we have a timeline of the branch re-open.