The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. Looking to be close to Center City by both car and transit, young white collar workers have been moving to cheaper neighborhoods around downtown. Kensington is worst nightmare for family of runaway daughter [39], The proposal to open a supervised injection site in Kensington has faced backlash from residents, despite the area's prevalent public drug use. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. They declared a statewide disaster over the drug epidemic in 2017. Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. Additionally, 65.8%, almost two thirds, of Kensington residents can be described financially as "poor or struggling" (defined by a Ratio of Income in 2020 to Poverty Level of under 2.00). Sections of the neighborhood are frequented by a significant number of people experiencing drug addiction and/or homelessness. Soon, it too will house a commercial tenant and NKCDCs new offices. The area is densely residential, but crime rates are highest in this part of Kensington and, because of relocation actions taken by Philadelphia's Police,[7][8] it has the highest concentration of homeless and opioid addicted residents. In 1903 Mother Jones organized a "Children's Crusade" of children from the local mills and mines to protest against child labor. From there, drug dens sprung up across the neighborhood and allowed for gangs to breed in the area. They have attempted to clean up the neighborhoods, planting trees and replacing broken street lights. Strong community groups and nonprofits in Kensington have used the neighborhood's empty lots as an opportunity to create community garden spaces. Its mid-century decline due to deindustrialization paralyzed Kensington. Addicts say. [56], In 2010, three women (Elaine Goldberg, 21; Nicole Piacentini, 35; and Casey Mahoney, 27) were strangled to death in the neighborhood. 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. We have four outreach teams out in Kensington every day. Who is Henry Winklers Son? The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. These sites have proven to avoid overdoses and connect users to long-term help. The storefront challenge is a proactive answer to the inequity created by corridor vacancy. Philly's Kensington is a zombie apocalypse ignored by Biden on city visit Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets. . ", "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. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. [41] However, some residents and many harm reduction advocates in the area are supportive.[35][42]. The U.S. Like many corridors, there are destination spots for Philly foodies. Kensington's Recovery Plan - The Philadelphia Citizen 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. It has one of the largest rates of shootings in the city and is the scene of many murders. Fentanyl has devastating withdrawal effects, though. Weisbrod & Hess' Loading Room, Condenser & Storage/Boiler & Wash House, 2117 E. York Street (189091). The majority of the neighborhood is renter occupied, 55.6% overall, and up to 66.3% in one tract. Additionally, there is a large population of homeless individuals. Even the pandemic doesn't slow down Philadelphia's drug markets 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. At least four hurt in eight-vehicle pileup on Kensington Avenue in Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. 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. This energy is not relegated to existing businesses. Its how we live. Central Kensington, or "the Heart of Kensington" as it is called in a recent Impact Services neighborhood plan,[6] stretches along Kensington Avenue from Tusculum and Somerset Streets to Tioga Street (see Impact Services plan[6] for a more accurate map). Before the Act of Consolidation, 1854, the Kensington District included portions of the neighborhoods known today as Olde Kensington, East Kensington, West Kensington, and Fishtown, with its northern border at Lehigh Avenue. The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. The adjacent Fairhill and Norris Square neighborhoods are more separate but may be included in Kensington; Fishtown and South (Olde) Kensington were previously included but have developed new identities with gentrification. The number of drug overdose . The situation feels like its at a breaking point for some. Persuading the federal government to change its prohibition stance will prove difficult, considering how fiercely divisive the issue is among law enforcement. [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. Re: Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave. Building a Philadelphia that works for every neighborhood with a focus on equity, opportunity, efficiency, and inclusion. Juniata, the neighborhood to the north, and Kensington are similar demographically, yet the former is slightly wealthier and has more green space. Then enter opiates. Its so well known that a simple Google search for really bad drug areas brings it up. Theres gotta be somewhere you could put your tent, a park, an area, some sort of designated spot, Meyer said. 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). Philadelphia, PA - Eight-Vehicle Collision Leads to Injuries on Despite research on the positive effects of these sites, the Trump administration blocked them from being established. 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. The city sees hope in this kind of intervention. On the night we visited, police cars cruised past, their lights flashing, but never stopped. Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). 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. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. Views Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. NKCDC is working on the redevelopment of the Orinoka Civic House. This number is shockingly low compared to the overall Philadelphia average of $122,113 but is still better compared to previous years. Nine years later and were still talking about it. They tried to institute safe-injection sites, where users can shoot up without fear of prosecution. 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. Watch on Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington Philadelphia Drug & Crime Problems Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. They marched from Kensington to Oyster Bay, New York, carrying banners demanding, "We want to go to School and not the mines! [37] The station was reopened on April 5 with increased police presence. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. These self-described low-bottom dope fiends havent bathed recently, and many have been running and gunning around the clock for days, selling needles and prescription pills, or prostituting on the Avenue to hustle up enough money for another bag of heroin. Soon, thanks to this effort and efforts like it, they wont have to. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Documentary, June 23 - YouTube Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed over the last two decades in the United States and Philadelphia is no exception. Probably for. Since Mayor Jim Kenney took office in 2015, encampment closures in the name of public health and safety have been a near constant in Kensington. But this is an ongoing process. 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. [55] It is also known as an area of prostitution. The case was dropped in July. Official estimates vary as to how many people are living on Kensingtons streets. The white residents fled to the suburbs and people of color and limited means moved in. initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. It is not safe . Philadelphias District Attorney Seth Williams risked backlash from hardcore law-and-order types when he recently stopped criminally prosecuting minor marijuana offenses. MeekMill on Twitter: "Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. The Star Carpet Mills, 1801-03 N. Howard Street, Kensington (188082). 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. The neighborhood has long been a catchment for people from the suburbs, Delaware and New Jersey who suffer from addiction, and yet the city has been left on its own to clean up the mess. The conflict between clean residents and dealers can escalate, sometimes so high that a person once threw a Molotov cocktail through a residents window. This is not a one and done, and well keep doing the work.. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. [32][failed verification] The majority of its population is Hispanic or Latino (59.9%), consisting primarily of Puerto Rican and Dominican Americans. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. You have to do [legalization] right if youre going to do it, otherwise you create more problems, says Franklin of LEAP. Disinvestment and general neglect has led to high abandonment in some sections of the neighborhood, catalyzing several grassroots actions from its residents. In the absence of a larger plan, he was certain those encampments would grow in the coming weeks. Mattresses lie in the mud along the railway where prostitutes trick, and rapes and assaults are common. In 2017, the city cleared it out in an attempt to begin to tackle the cyclic issue of homelessness and drug use. All About Max Winkler. [38] However, the decision to close the station "indefinitely" led hundreds of Kensington residents to march from Somerset Station to Allegheny Station in protest, recreating the longer trip many of them had to take to access the MFL since the closure. Help in Kensington - State of Emergency Read more ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer by Alfred Lubrano Published Aug 5, 2021 Wednesdays encampment closure was initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. Those who do not frequent it rely on the medias interpretation and are primarily getting this message: Kensington Avenue is a barren wasteland where no happiness can find purchase. Shes comparatively clean cut, probably from the suburbs or middle-class Northeast Philadelphia, whose residents with a taste for heroin are drawn to Kensington for its freewheeling addiction-bazaar atmosphere. As momentum grows, more and more entrepreneurs are looking at Kensington Avenue as a viable corridor for their businesses. Days before the start of the New Year, the 16-year-old girl from the Philadelphia suburbs disappears for the third time in four months as she battles a heroin addiction that . Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Please give today. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible "tent cities" that grew along a series of underpasses. Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. This is Kensington Ave my friend. Mayor Jim Kenney is possibly one of the worse mayor in the Philadelphia history and does nothing to stop it. August 18, 2021 / 5:22 PM / CBS Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- City officials broke up a homeless encampment in Kensington Wednesday afternoon, with outreach teams tearing down the. (2021 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Is Pittsburgh Safe To Visit? At first fentanyl was used as a cutting agent to lets dealers water down their heroin with a cheaper alternative to make more money. 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. The area is known as the center of Kensington and was historically the commercial center of the neighborhood. 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. 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. 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. During the hunt for the strangler, the area was flooded with cops. Many of these residents dont have homes. They paint a picture of a poverty zoo. McNeil Laboratories began with the purchase of a pharmacy in the area in 1879 by the company's namesake. Users flock to the scene. Philly police release video, photos of person they say cut fiber-optic 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. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. kimgary 263K subscribers Subscribe 24K Share 3M views 1 year ago Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington. 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. 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 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. The decision has saved the city millions, and won cheers nationwide from drug-law reformers. It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. 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. sekiyuji on Twitter: " Streets of Kensington has always been a rough area since before the 70s. Progress, even the slightest measures, can have enormous impact. Whos got works? she calls out to nobody in particular. Heroin isnt sold here muchthat trade is controlled by Latin drug crews in the Badlands. Construction is slated to start this week on Arguto Court, an adaptive reuse project featuring office space and a cafe. Philadelphia is beautiful this time of year : r/tooktoomuch It is craft fully omitted, in lieu of the salacious and the tragic. The camp was cleared, the people chose new spots in the neighborhood to overrun with used needles, overdoses, and trash. During the hunt for the strangler, the area was flooded with cops. 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. Agraduate of Temple University, he has produced award-winning journalism on local politics, criminal justice, immigration [10] Initially, employment focused around the nearby waterfront and the activities of fishermen and ship- and boatbuilders. Called the largest open-air narcotics market on the East Coast, Kensington Avenue has, without a doubt, made a name for itself. It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington. Representatives from these organizations economic development teams work hand in hand with business owners, residents, developers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the business community. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021 During our visit, addicts casually moved in and out, bringing and injecting their Badlands-bought heroin. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened.. | There still is no answer for the full number of people out here, McKinney said. On March 21, 2021, SEPTA indefinitely closed the Somerset Station of the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). 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. 2913-15 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134 (215) 634-5272 Prevention Point Philadelphia is a harm reduction center that provides syringe exchange services, free medical care, linkage to drug treatment, housing services, HIV/HCV testing, free meals, mail services, medical care, legal services and overdose prevention, and reversal training. Philadelphia deadly stabbing near Kensington park on 4th Street under It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington Avenue. Stories About Kensington - CBS Philadelphia According to police, the man was transported to Temple. More recently fentanyl is being replaced with an animal tranquilizer called Xylazine or Tranq. [Meta] Sticky Comment. Through it all, I consistently found myself impressed in awe of the merchants on Kensington Avenue and hopeful for their entrepreneurial futures. You have to bring services to addicts, offer them treatment. Looks not far from K&A, the intersection of Kensington and Alleghany Ave. Ironically, even some addicts on Kensington Avenue dont believe in legalization. Harrowgate is the furthest north, bordering Juniata and named for Harrowgate Park. Postal Service designates Kensington as ZIP codes 19125 (Kensington Station). A recent piece chronicles the authors adventures day drinking in forgotten Philadelphia. 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. Eight months after Kensington's disaster declaration, progress is [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. Kensington mostly lies under the 180th State Representative District, being represented by Jose Giral. pic.twitter.com/yXU3zfzpGp. On Wednesday, Steve, a 30-year-old fentanyl user who declined to give his last name, said he sympathized with the residents plight. City workers clear two encampments on Kensington Avenue - Inquirer.com Over time black and Hispanic street dealers took over larger portions of the drug trade, especially heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. 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. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, What happened Today, October, 05, 2021. kimgary 266K subscribers 348K views 1 year ago Most dangerous street in Philadelphia 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. With such a high concentration of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have focused on the neighborhood in an attempt to address Philadelphia's problem.#SBCNews Sign up for our weekly newsletter. The city has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Arrest made after deadly crash in Kensington, Philadelphia police say The incident happened at the intersection of G and Tioga Streets around 4:40 p.m. Nov 13, 2022 00:17 Arrest made after. Kensington Independent Civic Association), This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 14:40. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler". Nobody rousts or arrests the line of addicts nodded out in full view in the gutter. It happened shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday in the area of Fairhill Square Park at 4th Street and Lehigh Avenue. 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. Jason Meyer watched from his wheelchair as city personnel tried to clean up the chaos near Kensington and Allegheny avenues on Wednesday morning.